Thursday, August 13, 2009

Janmasthami Bhog


Happy Janmasthami everyone. It was a lovely Day celebrating Krishna's birthday. Even my daughter tried fasting for a few hours in the morning. I had started when I was 8 years old and it was nice to see her attempting it too....
Back home lots of items are made for Krishnastami. In my (Aei) grandma's place, at least 20 + items are made. My aunts cook all day (we have a big joint family) for the puja and feast at night. But my mother-in-law being a working woman who lived in Bengal had a different recipe for all fast days. She would make a simple chana dal, puris and fried vegetables. Here is an adaptation of her puja meal.

I am sending the chana Dal for the Festive food event conducted by Purva and Priti.

Chana Dal

1 cup of Chana dal washed and soaked for 3-4 hours
1 tea spoon Turmeric powder
1 tea spoon Chili powder
1 tea spoon whole Cumin Seeds
2 tea spoon garam masala powder
couple of Bay leaves
handful of Raisins
handful of fresh coconut (optional)
1-2 green chilies
1 table spoon ghee
Salt to taste

How To

Boil the Dal with turmeric powder, chili powder, bay leaves and salt. Once it is nearly cooked, take off the heat.
Heat the ghee in a pan. Add Cumin seeds and green chilies. Once it sputter, add the chana dal and boil again. Add garam masala and raisins.
Add a handful of fresh coconut before serving.

Fried Cauliflower

Deep fry the cauliflower, roll it in a bed of dhania powder and chili powder. Sprinkle salt and eat it hot. Yum! Do the same with thinly sliced potatoes or eggplant.







I am not sure if these 2 dishes count as fast food or feast food, but they are a treat. We enjoy these on fast days only - guiltless pleasures!


I had a nice lovely short break. I went to visit few friends and met few relatives too. My mom got to spend some precious time with her old childhood friend and she has a glow about her since she is back.

32 comments:

  1. welcome back after the break dear,, dal and gobi look delicious! happy Janmashtami

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  2. Happy Janmashtami. Dal and fry looks yummy :).

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  3. Am hooked seeing the fried cauliflower. Looks sinfully delicious.

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  4. Happy Janmashtami...Both dishes looks fabulous!

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  5. Wishing you and ur family Happy Janmashtami....everything looks divine....you can sent in this post for Festive Food event....

    For more details kindly follow the below mentioned link

    http://purvasdaawat.blogspot.com/2009/08/announcing-krishna-and-ganesh-chaturthi.html

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  6. Happy Janmashtami! both dishes look delicious!

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  7. Happy Janmashtami..bhog looks gud..love the pokda

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  8. Happy Janmashtami.... both the dishes look delicious :)

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  9. Both make a nice combo! New to me:) Thanks for sharing!

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  10. Happy janmashtami!
    Luv both the dishes...really delicious!

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  11. Happy Janmashtami..Daal and fry looks delicious,and easy to prepare..

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  12. Delicious!They look like feast food to me,done fast of course!

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  13. Both look absolutely delicious. Nice one.

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  14. welcome back after the break. Hope u had a gud \one. I used to keep checking ur page eveery single day.I loved the deep fried cauliflower and the simple dhal.Will try them soon.

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  15. Thanks freinds, even I missed bloggin a lot. It is very addictive. I am glad to be back. I will start visiting blogs too now...
    Even I am not sure if it fast or feast food... But easy to put together after a day of fast... I cant cook for long when I am hungry!

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  16. Yumm food dear, the Gobhi is fried to perfection. Wish u a happy independence day.

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  17. Bhog looks gr8! this dish is new to me. Thanks for sharing it. Happy janmashtami! :-)

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  18. Bhog looks delicious and so inviting! Happy Janmashtami to you too!

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  19. Pari - Happy Independence day to you too...
    Vijitha - thanks for dropping by
    Parita - thanks. Happy Janmastami to you too...

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  20. Happy jonmashtomi... we got a holiday :) I think we were the only ones closed though.

    Did you make chholar daals' partner in crime, luchi?


    Luchi chholar daal were the only Indian dishes that I would eat when I came to India as a kid. My granny (mom's mom) would make it for me... she still does when we go to Cal

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  21. Both dishes looks lovely and yummy. Happy Janmashtami.

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  22. Looks really yum dear..esply that fried gobi.:)

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  23. Knife - yep had puris with it... Luchis are difficult to roll out, they shrink each time you roll out, hence I stay away from them...
    Valarmathi - thanks and Happy Janmastami to you too..
    Varsha - thanks... The gobi was so simple and so easy...

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  24. both r new to me..have bmkd .thanks!!

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  25. Thanks Chitra - both are simple to make...

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  26. Both the recipes you have given can be cooked for a regular meal too. I love to have chana daal with rice. And with this fried gobhi the meal will be complete.
    I am regular reader of your blog. My husband is Oriya. While I am not. So your blog is great resource for me to learn Oriya food.

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  27. Lone Acorn - so happy to hear from you... I cook simple dishes, hope you like them...
    Yes are both normal day meals, though it is easy to indulge when you have fasted for the day

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  28. Good for you Somoo...I am butter fingers when it comes to dough so no chance of puris

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  29. Kalyan - yep I have mastered it after trying for years... Have to di it, since I love Puris a lot. Also my kids love it...

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  30. The bhog looks tempting!!!! the chana dal looks divine!!!

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