Life-Giver #1


On my children's phones, my contact information is saved under Life-Giver #1. I take comfort in the fact that despite their daily acts of defiance, this gesture is an acknowledgement (grudging, perhaps) that they originated from and continue to draw sustenance from me, their Life-Giver. My husband has the dubious distinction of being Life-Giver # 2. Fortunately, he is a very smart man who readily relinquishes the top spot in parenting to me, knowing well that the honor comes with very few perks.

When it comes to food, rice is Life-Giver # 1 in our family. Rice is a staple of Indian food, showing up in various avatars in virtually every course of an Indian meal. It is the holy grain of India that symbolizes prosperity, fertility, and good fortune. Annual festivals herald the rice harvest cycle throughout the country. Rice also plays an integral role in most Hindu religious ceremonies and rituals -- whether it is the baby's first morsel of solid food or the blessing of newly-wed couples. There is such regard for the essential, life-sustaining quality of rice that many people are loathe to waste even a grain, believing that they are inviting bad luck in doing so.

Perhaps it is my deep-seated reverence for rice that led me to purchase a second 25 lb. bag of basmati rice as the fears about Corona virus-related shutdowns started circulating last week. While others stocked up on toilet paper, bottled water, and hand sanitizers, I felt fortified by the fact that I had two 25 lb. bags of rice in my pantry. We all have our priorities.

Not surprisingly, two of the meals I cooked in the past few days were rice-centered. Both Biryani and Khichuri are one-pot meals, but they have completely different flavor profiles and serve different purposes. Biryani is a decadent, multi-layered meat and rice preparation that is infused with aromatics like saffron, nutmeg, and, mace besides a host of other spices. The preparation involves several steps and requires slow cooking over a low flame. A tiny part of me felt guilty as I embarked on preparing this elaborate dish last weekend just as we were becoming aware of implications of the Corona Virus outbreak in the community. The pleading and cajoling got the better of me though, especially when I was reminded that I had not made Biryani in 2020. You see, one expects more from Life-Giver #1. Anyway, the product that emerged at the end of the six-hour process was excellent, fragrant with just a touch of meetha attar, that potent extract that I picked up on our last trip to India.


Khichuri, by contrast, is a humble dish, yet, equally comforting and nourishing. Traditionally, this wholesome vegetarian dish is served as prasad during religious functions. It is also the quintessential rainy day meal in Bengali households. The ease of preparation makes this dish a good choice for feeding large groups or feeding your family when you are short on time and supplies. I threw this version together in under an hour. Besides rice and moong daal, I added fresh carrots and beans to sneak in some vegetables. As sides, we had roasted cauliflower florets (tossed with olive oil, salt & turmeric and baked in a 375 degree oven for 30 minutes) and papads (cooked in the microwave). With a dollop of pure ghee on top, this hit just the right spot.








Comments

  1. AnonymousApril 29, 2020 at 9:55 AM

    Intrigued by the 'Meetha Attar' reference..what is it?

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Khoba Roti

Image
Do you ever get a tune stuck in your head? That happens to me with food -- instead of a tune, a new dish/preparation gets stuck in my head and till I actually cook whatever it is I am obsessing over, it stays with me. That was the case with this Khoba Roti that has been in the back of my mind for a long time -- ever since I saw the winning team of the Big Family Cooking Showdown make them in the finals. A regional variation of the basic Indian roti, this rustic, whole-wheat flatbread with handmade patterns, hails from the majestic state of Rajasthan. Before I saw Khoba Roti in the show, I did not know that any Indian flatbread had patterns on them. This, in itself, made it an enigma worth exploring. The technique for creating the patterns by pinching the dough was simple as well as fascinating. I could see that the ridges helped the dough cook evenly and formed nooks and crannies for the ghee to collect. In spite of my extensive musings on the Khoba Roti, I shied away from making...
Read more

The Echo

"Today at 5:00 PM, Modi has asked everyone to come to their windows, balconies, and rooftops to make some noise -- ring bells, beat thalis (metal plates), blow conch shells, clap our hands," my mother announced during one of our daily phone calls. "Why? To ward off Corona?" I found myself asking, realizing both the incredulity of the question and the probability of this scenario actually playing out in India. India is the land of magical realism, a place where the mundane is never too far removed from the fantastic. It is a place where life is firmly rooted in the ever-present reality of poverty, hunger, illiteracy, and corruption. Yet, the supernatural lurks at every street corner promising escape and oblivion. " Jaani na, kintu hoteo paare." (I don't know, but it is possible.) My mother went on to elaborate that some times loud noises create reverberations that can ward off evil spirits. "Why else do temples and churches ring their bells an...
Read more

The Incredible Egg

Image
This week has gone by in a flurry...well, as much of a flurry as this lockdown allows. We have settled into a rhythm of sorts --  calls and virtual meetings all day, a quick lunch in-between, a walk around the neighborhood in the evening, then dinner followed by a show or movie on Netflix. We hardly get a chance to talk to each other during the day, but I am thankful that we are together under one roof and safe. It is amazing how this virus and the lockdown has altered our lives. I went into work briefly one day to pick up some documents. That seemingly routine activity felt like a highly risky endeavor. I discussed the decision with my husband who told me I should only go if those documents were absolutely essential. My kids, uncharacteristically for them, expressed concern about me going into work and I had to assure them that I would be back before they knew it. I had to request permission to go into the office building and certify that I did not have any of the common sympto...
Read more