Daal Maash- Maash Lentil

Daal Maash was abbu’s favorite. Ammi used to cook it frequently during winter days. Fast forward many years, my husband cannot get enough of daal Maash. I love all Lentils but somehow I never quite liked daal Maash. Daal Maash has a very distinct nutty flavor which my taste buds could not appreciate as a kid. There were many foods many of us did not appreciate as kids, growing up changed that for most of us.  Daal Maash, French beans and Spinach were less favored foods for me back then.

This particular Daal Maash recipe belongs to my Mother-in-law. Her simple technique brings out the best of Maash daal’s flavor. I remember the left over Maash daal was always made in to a paratha the next morning for breakfast. The cooked lentils were stuffed between two layers of flat bread and cooked with desi ghee (clarified butter) or butter and eaten with copper colored sweet chai – tea as the mercury hovered around freezing point. I never said no to maash lentil paratha. I still make a paratha out of left over Daal Maash the next day and have it with sweet chai like old times. Somehow it transports me back to ammi’s house in winters. This is served with Home made Chappati - Flat bread. Here is the recipe.

Ingredients:

Maash Lentil – ¾ cup – soaked overnight

Onion – 1 Large – chopped in small cubes (save 1/4^th for Tarka- Oil tempering)

Oil – 2 Tbsps.

Fresh Tomato Puree – ¾ cup

Fresh Ginger & Garlic paste – 1 tsp. (Heaped)

Cumin seeds – 1 tsp. (heaped – gently crushed in pestle mortar)

Whole coriander seeds – 1 tsp. (Heaped – Gently crushed in pestle mortar)

Whole dried chilies- 2

Salt – ¾ tsp. (taste and add more if needed).

Chili powder – ¾ tsp. (taste and add more if needed).

Turmeric – ¼ tsp.

Cumin powder – ½ tsp.

Water – 1 cup

Dried Kasuri Methi (Dried Fenugreek Leaves) – 1 tsp. (Heaped)

For Tarka –Oil tempering:

Oil – 1 Tbsps.

Onion – ¼ of a large onion – thinly sliced.

Ginger – 1 Inch Julienne cut

Green chili – 1 medium – chopped

Fresh Coriander – chopped (for garnish).

Method:

1. Heat the oil in a medium sized pan that should have a lid. Add onions and let them turn translucent. Do not brown them.
2. Add crushed Cumin seeds, crushed coriander seeds and whole dried chilies. Cook for 1 minute on medium to high heat.
3. Add drained Maash Lentil. Cook on high heat till the water dries up.
4. Add tomato puree, ginger-garlic paste, salt, chili powder, turmeric and cumin powder. Mix and cook for about one minute.
5. Add one cup of water and let it come up to a boil. Once it starts boiling, reduce the heat to a simmer, cover with the lid and let it cook for 45 mins. Check after 20-25 mins. Lentils in different places take different amount of time to cook. In Pakistan Maash lentil is cooked in about 25-30 mins. In my current location I need about 40-45 mins to cook it despite soaking it overnight. Keep an eye on it as it cooks.
6. Once the water has dried up and Lentil has cooked completely, add the dried Kasuri Methi to it and mix. Switch off the stove.
7. Now prepare the tarka. Heat the oil in a small frying pan and fry onions till gently golden. Add Julienne ginner and green chilies to it. Add it to the lentil. I had fished the fried items and added them to the lentil leaving out the oil in the frying pan to control the calorie count. If you are not worried about calories then feel free to add the oil as well.
8. Garnish with Fresh green coriander and thinly chopped green chili.

Maash Lentil is paired beautifully with fresh roti/ chappati and Mint chutney with a tomato, cucumber, onion salad. Don’t forget to make a paratha out of the left overs the next day and have it with sweet chai.

Mutton Dum Piyaza

Each Eid reminds me of the happy Eids I celebrated as a kid at my maternal grandparent’s house in Rawalpindi some 20 or more years ago. It was the hustle and bustle a day before Eid which I found more exciting. Being the eldest grandchild, I believed my job was the most important one.  Which was to make sure that the Mehndi – Henna was prepared well in advance by nagging ammi & khalas (maternal aunts).  Mind you this was not the instant cone mehndi era. A lot of time and effort was put in preparing dry Mehndi with brewed tea and mustard oil. It was left to sit for hours before it could be applied on the hands.

The kitchen was the most happening & exciting place where Haleem and Kheer was prepared a day before Eid. 6-8 kilos of Kheer – Rice pudding was prepared on the outdoor firewood stove as the big cooking pan - Daighcha (Similar to a Giant stock pot) was too big to fit on the conventional gas stoves in Barri Ammi’s (Nani – Maternal Grandmother) kitchen. The Kheer would take 5-6 hours of physical labor to become thick, creamy and gently pink in color. The trick to perfect Kheer was to stir it constantly for 6 hours to ensure it does not get burnt at the bottom of the pan spoiling the taste and smell of Kheer. That much labor was not one man’s job. So ammi, Khalas, mamoos(maternal uncles), sheeda-the cook, Shayra- The cleaner, Jan Bhai – The driver and Mali Baba –the live in Gardener all took turns to stir the kheer for 6 hours. Barray Abbu(Nana – Maternal Grandfather) was the final authority & quality control to sign off on the Kheer before it was cooled, ladled in to serving bowls and decorated with silver leaf, slivered  almonds and pistachios.  

Those who contributed their muscle power in stirring the Kheer were the first ones to be offered to enjoy the Kheer on Eid day. I find myself smiling as I recall those cherished Eids I had spent at my grandparents’ house. Technically I should be sharing the recipe for that very Kheer but ET had asked me to write a savory, meaty post for Bakra Eid. Hence I am sharing the Mutton Dum Piyaza recipe from ammi’s Eid Menu which was a favorite of everyone and befits Eid Dastarkhuan perfectly.  The expat Pakistanis in Far East like me will celebrate Eid on Tuesday- 15th.  Eid Mubarak to everyone back home. Please pray for peace, stability and harmony to return to Pakistan and let’s not forget to include the less fortunate ones in our celebrations.

Cooking Utensil – Pressure cooker & a nonstick pan with lid. This dish is served best with Naan.

Ingredients:

Mutton – ½ kg

Onions – 3 Large - sliced

Tomatoes - 4 medium sized– chopped

Ginger paste – 1 tsp. Heaped

Garlic Paste – 1 Tsp. Heaped

Oil – 5 tbsps. (I prefer sunflower oil)

Cinnamon Sticks – 2 (1 ½ inch long)

Black Cardamom – 2 whole

Roasted cumin seeds (zeera) – 1 tsp. (Heaped - slightly crushed in pestle mortar).

Roasted whole coriander seeds – 1 tsp. (Heaped- slightly crushed in pestle mortar)

Dried red chilies whole – 4

Cloves – 6

Black Peppercorn – 8-10 (whole)

Salt – 1 tsp. (adjust to taste)

Water – 1 ½ cup

Garnish for Dum (steaming):

1 Large Onion – sliced in rings

2 Medium Tomatoes – sliced in rings

1 green chili thickly cut.

Ginger –Julienne – 1 tbsp.

Oil – 2 Tbsp.

Roasted Cumin seeds – 1 tsp. Heaped – crushed.

Method:

1. Heat 5 tbsps. of oil in a pressure cooker and add the mutton. Sauté it on high heat for 3-4 mins till it changes color on all sides.
2. Add ginger/garlic along with all the whole dried spices to the meat (Cumin, coriander, cloves, cardamom, peppercorns, and cinnamon). Fry for 1-2 mins. Don’t let the garlic burn.
3. Add onions and fry them till they are translucent. No need to brown them. Deglaze the pan as per need with ¼ cup of water and cook the onions further. Ensure nothing gets burnt at the bottom.
4. Add salt and chopped tomatoes. Cook further for 1 minute. Add about a cup of water. Mix and put on the lid to pressure cook the meat. The meat I use takes about 15 mins of pressure cooking resulting in 3/4 of the meat tendering done. The rest is cooked in dum(steaming).
5. Once the pressure cooking has been done, remove the lid and check the tenderness of the meat. Once the meat is tender to your liking then proceed with shifting the meat and the liquid in to a nonstick pan to dry the water over high heat.
6. Watch out for the aggressive boiling bubbles jumping out of the boiling liquid. It will splatter on the stove and hands. Protect your hands, stove can be cleaned later.
7. Once ¾ of the liquid has dried, add 2 tbsps. of oil and cook further till all the water dries up and the oil comes out on the sides.
8. Lower the heat to the minimum. Now add layers of sliced onions, green chilies, Julienne ginger & tomato slices. Also sprinkle the crush cumin seeds.
9. Close the lid lightly and let the raw vegetables steam cook over low heat for 15-20 mins.
10. Open the pan and mix it. Serve it with a garnish of fresh coriander and green chili.
11. It pairs beautifully with Roghni Naan.

Chicken Haandi

My recent work trip to Pakistan took me to Multan (Located in the South of Province Punjab), a city I have only passed through as a kid while my father was posted at Bahawalpur many years ago. So I took this opportunity to go all touristy in Multan and did some serious sohan halwa, multani chappals, blue pottery shopping binging. What joy! 

As a kid I remember our house always had a continuous supply of Multan’s famous sohan halwa and Kushaab’s dooda. It was regularly served with tea & shami kebabs to the guests visiting us. Somehow these two items were so much part of my childhood while growing up in Pakistan. Which explains why I bought a ton of sohan halwa from Multan.  I also visited the shrines of Bahauddin Zakaria & Shah Rukhn- e – Alam and was in awe of the architectural marvels these shrines are despite their age. The city indeed was a pleasant surprise. I also ended up having the best ever Karahi at Ramada Multan. I am still in the process of reverse engineering it and will share the recipe if I succeed. I look forward to going back to Multan and enjoy some more sohan halwa in near future.

On my arrival at my base camp - Rawalpindi, my mother in law had prepared an incredibly delicious chicken Haandi for me. She was kind enough to show me this simple and delicious recipe in her kitchen. This dish is cooked in a traditional Pakistani clay pot called Haandi. This can be served with Chappati - Flat bread or Naan.

(I have not used clay haandi- traditional Pakistani clay pot for cooking this recipe simply because of the difficulty in photographing the food inside a haandi.)

Ingredients:

Chicken – ½ kg (boneless)

Onions – 1 cup (make a paste in blender)

Garlic – 1 tsp. (paste)

Ginger – 1 tsp. (paste)

Oil – 4 Tbsp.

Salt – ½ tsp. (adjust to taste)

Chili powder – ½ tsp. (Adjust to taste while keeping in mind the use of green chilies in the recipe)

Cumin – 1 tsp. (crushed)

Dried whole Coriander – 1tsp (crushed)

Water – ½ cup

Lemon Juice – ½ lemon (large)

White Vinegar – 1 Tbsp.

Green Chilies – 1

Fresh Coriander for Garnish

Method:

1. Heat the oil in a pan & add the onion paste.
2. On high heat let it change color to pink. It will take 5-7 minutes.
3. Now on medium heat add half of ginger & garlic. Also add cumin & coriander. Cook for another 1-2 mins.
4. Add boneless chicken, half of the green chili, salt, red chili powder, remaining ginger/garlic and mix. Cook till it chicken changes color. Lower the heat.
5. Now add ½ cup of water and let the chicken simmer for 1-2 mins.
6. Now add the vinegar and lemon juice. Mix and cook till the water reduces to half, the oil has separated on the side and the smell of vinegar has disappeared from the food. It will take about 5-7 minutes on low heat.
7. Garnish with fresh coriander leaves and green chilies. Pair it with Tandoori Roti and Mint Chutney.

Kashmiri Chicken Curry

During the long summer school holidays in Pakistan, as we roamed around the beautiful Northern areas of Pakistan for summer vacations – Muzaffarabad – The capital of Pakistan’s side of Kashmir would be one of the stops. Hotels were less in number in that area back then so the government guest houses were the place to stay on such trips. Regardless of which part of northern areas one went, the government guest houses would have one thing in common – A Kashmiri cook or Khansama as it’s called in Pakistan. Those trips were the reason for my delicious encounters with Kashmiri chicken curry. The curry was eaten with equally divine steaming hot wood oven cooked tandoori rotis. One could smell pine trees in the rotis. For most of us who have had Kashmiri cooks at home, we have eaten Kashmiri chicken curry at homes many times. I learnt to make it from our Kashmiri cook as well. 

I have often wondered why Kashmiri men were such good cooks. I haven’t quite found the answer yet. The same Kashmiris from Mirpur who had gone to UK as labor in 1960-70s to fuel UK’s textile revolution have ended up establishing UK’s most famous desi food restaurants and Pakistani food franchises. I must also acknowledge that we Punjabis are utterly grateful to the Kashmiris for introducing us to the most amazing Shabdegh – Slow cooked sweet & savory lamb & turnip curry. This dish is cooked in a clay pot sealed with dough over low heat all night long.  In the morning the meat is falling off the bone and melts in the mouth!

This post is to remember the beauty of our Kashmir, the smell of pine trees, the long summer holidays on road and the divine curry that makes me smile every time i think about it. 

Here is my version of Kashmiri Chicken Curry. I love to serve it with Naan, chappati - Home made flat bread or Rice pulao.  

*Cooking Utensil – Pressure cooker.

Ingredients

Chicken – 8-10 medium sized pieces – 1 kg

Onions – 3 large - chopped

Tomatoes – 1 cup fresh puree

Ginger/Garlic – 1 tsp heaped.

Potatoes – 3 medium sized – medium diced

Oil – 4 tbsp

Cinnamon – 3 1 inch sticks

Black Cardamom – 2-3 whole

Cloves – 5-6 whole

Cumin seeds– 1 tsp heaped – lightly crushed in pestle mortar (I dry roast my cumin seeds)

Coriander seeds– 1 tsp heaped – lightly crushed in pestle mortar (I dry roast my coriander seeds)

Chili powder – ½ tsp

Coriander powder – 1 tsp

Turmeric – ¼ tsp

Salt – 1 tsp – adjust to taste if needed more.

Water - 3 cups.

Roasted Cumin seeds – ½ tsp crushed for dusting on curry

Fresh Coriander – chopped handful for garnish.

Method:

1. On medium heat, warm the oil in a pressure cooker and gently fry the onions. A pressure cooker saves time in breaking down the onions in to a paste. Once the onions are gently browned, add a cup of water and give it a pressure for 5 mins. 
2. The same can be done without a pressure cooker as well but it will take more than 30 mins. The water is added in intervals to break down the onions. Then it is dried, onions are mashed up and then the process is repeated again till the caramelized onion paste is formed.
3. Going back to the pressure cooking: Once the pressure is done, add whole cloves, cinnamon & cardamom to the water and onions mixture. Dry the water completely and mash the onions till it becomes a paste.
4. Now add chicken, tomato paste, ginger/garlic paste, dried coriander seeds, dried cumin seeds, salt, chili powder, coriander powder & turmeric to the onion paste.
5. Cook on medium heat for 5-8 mins till the chicken changes its color and the liquid from tomato puree dries up. The oil should separate from the gravy.
6. Now add diced potatoes and cook further for 2-3 minutes on medium heat. Don’t let the onion paste burn.
7. Add 2 cups of water to the mixture. Mix and let it boil on a high heat. Once boiled, reduce the heat to a gentle simmer(cover the pan) and cook for 25 mins till potatoes are thoroughly cooked, curry has thickened and the oil starts floating on the top of the curry. If the curry has thickened too much for your taste then add ½ cup of hot water and let it simmer for 2-3 mins.
8. I love to add a dusting of roasted & crushed cumin seeds on the curry along with fresh chopped coriander leaves before serving.

* If you don't have a pressure cooker then let the onions and garlic ginger cook in oil, as it changes color add a bit of water and make a paste of it in liquidizer. Pour it back in the cooking pan and dry the water till oil comes out on the sides and follow the step # 3 on wards.