Chattua Panaa ( The Vegan Version )

Panaa Sankranti or the Odia New year is marked by the consumption of the signature drink, 'Panna' . Cooling and refreshing, this traditional drink comes in many versions. Infact everyone I seem to know has their own 'secret little ingredient' for this drink. Little wonder that none of the ones I have sampled over the years has ever tasted alike.

My favorite panaa however is the 'Bael Panna', a light drink made with just 3 ingredients. Wood apple pulp, yogurt and sugar diluted with water, this has the most unique taste experience that one can come across. But since the fruit is not available easily outside Odisha, I end up making the 'Chaatua panna' or 'Aam panna' most of the times. But this summer, I have reduced my intake of the 'Aam panna' as it requires copious amounts of sugar.

With today being 'Panaa Sakranti' and me being caught up in one of those #govegan moods, I decided to try out a vegan version for the 'Chattua Panna'. Used some almond milk instead of using yogurt and chenna. And added a tiny amount of rose water to the concoction. Turned out to be super delicious and healthy too !!

Read on for recipe -

Ingredients -

• 3 tsp chattua ( roasted gram flour )
• 1 cup almond milk 
• 1 small banana
• 1/2 of one apple
• a few green grapes
• 2 tsp powdered jaggery
• a pinch of cardamom
• a few drops of rose water
• a few slices of fresh coconut 
• 1 tsp freshly grated coconut
• water to adjust the consistency

Preparation - Chop the banana and apples into small pieces.

Transfer everything (except coconut slices) into a grinder jar. Buzz for a few seconds till the jaggery gets dissolved.

Check the consistency. While it is generally kept thick, you can add a little more water if you prefer a thinner consistency.

Pour into a glass and garnish with coconut slices/grated coconut. (Add 2-3 ice cubes if you want it chilled)

Serve immediately.

Note - To prepare the almond milk, soak 1 cup almonds overnight. Next morning, discard the water and peel them. Blend on high for 3-4 mins along with 2 - 2 1/2 cups water. Strain and remove the pulp. Use the extracted milk within 3-4 days ( when refrigerated ).

The pulp can be kneaded into the dough for making rotis/puris/parathas.

Shukto ( The Run up to the Bengali new Year and apprehensions galore )

Situation A ( Girl is gonna meet boy for the first time )
No. Never. There is no way I am going to wear a saree just to meet HIM.

But you do like wearing a saree. You wear it sometimes to office or even for a puja.

Yes. But not in this case. I feel that most guys have certain prejudices when it comes to a saree clad female . It is not something I would wear when I am meeting a guy for the first time. Btw where am I supposed to meet HIM ?

Preferably at Minu Aunty's place.

What ? How can you Mom? What is the point of meeting him there instead of inviting the guy to our own house? You know about my ambiguous feelings for your adorable cousin. As for the rest of her clan, the less I say, the better it is.

Ok. Do whatever you want. I will ask them to shift the venue to your favorite restaurant.

That's a lot better. Mom you are a sweetheart. And finally, who all are going to be there with him ?

His Mom and a few cousins .

Cousins ? Is this supposed to be a swayamvar where I can pick a guy of my choice? Why can't I just meet the guy and his Mom ? Haven't you heard that too many cooks spoil the broth. And in this case I might end up sampling this broth for the rest of my life. I just don't want too many surprise elements for this one. Anyways his Mom is going to the deciding factor.

Ok. Then it will be just HIM and his Mom. But then go easy on her else you will end up with a bitter experience.

Huh. Aren't they all the same. Anyways I got it !!

Situation B (Your's truly is cooking Shukto for the first time)
No. Never. There is no way I am going to cook Shukto with Karela.

But you do like Karela. You have it sometimes as a fry or a bharta.

Yes. But not in this case. I find it to be too overpowering. I don't want it to be the sole reason I end up hating Shukto for life. What about the other veggies in it ?

Those are your regular Dalma vegetables. Aubergine, green banana, raw papaya, pumpkin, string beans, drumsticks and sweet potato.

What ? Do I really need to buy so many veggies ? You know how i feel about aubergine and sweet potato. What will I do with all the leftover veggies ?

Ok. Use whatever you find in the fridge. Except for those imported veggie that you love so much.

That's so much more acceptable. And what about the seasoning ?

Try ginger, panch phoran and radhuni .

That's too much. Let's just leave out the panch phoran. I keep adding that to every other dish. Just want to get acquainted with Radhuni. Anyways it's going to be the deciding factor in this case.

Ok. But then go easy on it. It tends to leave a bitter aftertaste in mouth.

Huh. Don't I know Mom.

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Apprehensions. Apprehensions. Apprehensions. Phew !! First acquaintances can be really awkward . Don't you agree ? And it turned out to be no different when I cooked and savored Shukto for the first time. Despite all the apprehensions I had in mind, it turned out to be  real light and delicious, the classic 'love at first bite' kind of encounter . Do try out this perfect side dish for a summer meal. Or cook some for the 'Poila Baisakh' festival. Highly recommended.

Read on for the recipe -

Preparation Time - 30 mins

Ingredients -

• 1 cup green banana pieces
• 1 cup raw papaya pieces
• 1 cup potato pieces
• 1 cup pumpkin pieces
• 1/2 cup string beans
• 2 tsp oil 
• salt to taste

For the tempering -

• 1/2 tsp Radhuni
• 1 bay leaf
• 2 dry red chilis
• 1 1/2 inch long ginger (crushed)
• 1 tsp oil (mustard preferably)
• 1 tsp sugar

The paste -

• 1/2 tsp mustard seeds
• 2 tsp poppy seeds

Preparation - Cut all the vegetables into long pieces of medium thickness. Dunk the banana pieces into a bowl of turmeric water to prevent then from turning black.

Make a fine paste out of the mustard and poppy seeds. One can also add a bit of radhuni to this paste but i skipped it.

Cooking - Heat the oil in a wok. Add all the veggies along with a sprinkling of water and some salt. Cook till it is almost done. ( To minimize the use of oil, i sprinkled water from time to time and kept it covered most of the time )

Remove the veggies to a bowl.

Heat the remaining oil in the wok. Add the broken red chili, radhuni seeds, sugar and bay leaf. Follow it with the crushed ginger. Cook the ginger for 1-2 mins till raw smell goes.

Add the cooked veggies to the same wok. Give a toss to mix the seasoning with the veggies. Stir frry for 2-3 mins.

Dilute the mustard-poppy paste with 1 cup water and add to the wok. Let it simmer for 4-5 mins.

Remove from the flame and serve at room temperature.

Goes really well with white rice and yellow dal.

Note - This cannot be tagged as an 'authentic Bengali recipe' as I have made quite a few modifications to it. Mainly, this is targeted at folks who are scared of having a bitter experience while attempting to venture into alien territory. 

Oats Kothimbir Vadi ( And a Happy Gudi Padwa/Ugadi to All )

Kothimbir Chi Vadi. This healthy steamed snack from Maharashtra is a wonderful 4 pm friend. Yep, that's when the hunger pangs begin to strike when you are particular about your meal times.  And if you have had a wonderfully light lunch, this is exactly when you are tempted to binge on those super oily samosas/bhajjis/ pakoras . End result ? Not only you end up undoing all the good work, you are also saddled with those tiny guilt pangs that keep bothering you for the rest of the day.

That is why it is very much important to ensure that snacking remains healthy. And this super healthy version of the 'Kothimbir Vadi' is my tribute to the 'World Health Day'. Substituting most of the gram flour with oats is just one way of adding more of oats  to one's diet without compromising on that very important aspect - taste ! Oats contain a specific dietary fiber called beta-glucan which helps to lower bad cholesterol levels.

This recipe is a 'no onion no garlic recipe' which is apt for people who usually avoid these ingredients during fasting. One can also serve it during the ongoing navratri festival.

Read on for the recipe -

Preparation Time - 30 mins

Ingredients -

• 2 cups finely chopped coriander leaves
• 4 tbsp powdered oats
• 1 tbsp besan
• 1 tbsp rice flour ( optional during navratri )
• 2 tsp yogurt
• 1 tsp lemon juice
• 1 tsp chili powder ( adjust as per taste )
• 1 tsp canola oil
• 1 tsp sugar
• 1 tsp grated ginger
• a pinch of baking powder
• salt to taste
• 1/5 tsp turmeric

For seasoning -

• 1/2 tsp mustard seeds
• 1/2 tsp cumin seeds
• 1 tsp sesame seeds
• 1 sprig curry leaves
• a pinch of asafoetida
• 1 tsp canola oil

Preparation - Take all the ingredients into a mixing bowl. Knead into a firm and smooth dough. Keep aside for 15 mins.

Cooking - Roll the dough into cylindrical shapes.

Boil water in a steamer. Once it gets to steaming, steam the dough at medium high for 15 mins.

Remove and keep aside till it cools down. Cut into small bite sized circles.

Heat the remaining oil in a wok. Add the mustard and cumin seeds, followed by the asafoetida, curry leaves and sesame seeds.

Add the vadis and toss gently to ensure that each and every bite is coated with the aromatic seasoning.

Serve hot with some tea.

Pomfret Recheado ( The Truly Goan 'Chakna' )

N: What's your idea of a perfect paradise for travelers ?

P: A place lined with endless pristine beaches buffeted by the enigmatic blue green waters that stretch as far as one can see.

N: Sigh, that's interesting. Did you miss anything ?

P: How about some heritage buildings to bring on that old world charm !

N: Good doing. Anything else you want to add to that list ?

P: Ummm. Maybe a hidden cove or two to up the mystery quotient.

N: Ahh. Now you getting better. How about capping it up with something to cater to those baser instincts ?

P: Yesss. How could I forget ? I wish for dozens of beach-side shacks serving seafood to the tune of some exotic music ( Bollywood, gimme a break ),

N: That's my girl ! Now you are getting almost as good as me ! You have almost seduced me into believing that Nirvana is within arm's length. I could spend my entire life listening to the music made by the waves while lying in one of those seaside shacks. Goa, here I come !!!

Snap. Snap. But just as I am about to slip into the throes of this fantastic daydream, I remind myself that the blog post needs to be up before the terminator arises from his afternoon siesta. (Focus, focus, focus.) Still wondering about that conversation ? That's just me ( P aka Poor little pedestrian me who is happy to make do with whatever life throws at me ) and my doppelganger ( N aka Narcissist me who is always striving to break free and reach for the stars ) making those noises in my head. :)

Back to the beaches of Goa. Given the reputation of being a drunk's paradise, it is hardly surprising that Goan food includes some delectable 'chaknas' or those finger foods that go wonderfully well with alcohol. Spicy and tangy, and often marinated in some kind of toddy (local brew), they add punch to the beers and the fenis that are part of the Goan charm. One such dish is the fish Recheado. While it can be made with other varieties, I picked up a nice and juicy Pomfret for mine.

And since my family tree is very much restricted to the eastern parts of the country, I had to refer to this wonderful recipe by Chef Sainora ( Marriott resort, Miramar). Tweaked it a bit as per my preferences and it turned out to be amazing !! I served it with white rice, yellow dal and a salad.

Read on -

Preparation Time - 1 hour 15 mins ( includes 1 hour marination time)


Ingredients -

• 1 Pomfret fish ( 250 gm )
• 4 dry red chili
• 2 inch cinnamon
• 3-4 cloves
• 2 green cardamom
• 10-12 garlic flakes (fat ones)
• 1 inch ginger
• a thumb nail sized piece of tamarind
• a pinch of cumin seeds
• 1/4 tsp black peppercorns
• 1 small onion(finely chopped)
• salt to taste
• 1 tsp lemon juice
• 1/3 tsp sugar
• 2 tbsp oil for frying
• 2-3 tsp vinegar( toddy vinegar preferably )
• lemon wedges for garnishing
• onion rings for garnishing

Preparation - Soak the dry spices and the ginger and garlic in vinegar . Grind into a smooth paste along with the tamarind.

Cooking - Brown the onions using about 1 tsp oil. Add the spice paste to the same wok. Fry for 2 mins. Add the sugar and salt to taste. Remove from heat and keep aside.

Clean the fish,make a slit and remove everything from the belly. Also remove the soft mass from the head. Make 2-3 slits on each side. Stuff the masala inside the fish and also rub it all over the sides.

Sprinkle lemon juice and salt over the fish. Marinate in the fridge for 1 hour.

Heat the oil in a skillet. Add the fish and fry on each side for 7-8 mins.

Remove from skillet and garnish with lemon wedges and onion rings.

Serve hot.

Roasted Aam Panna ( Aka Smoked Mango Nectar )

Beginning with the day the first blossoms were spotted on the mango trees to the day when the last fruit of the season was plucked ( or brought down by the rains ), a period of sheer madness would descend on the household. The mornings would begin with a round of close inspection wherein each and every branch was inspected for the tiny fruits ( amba chaana ) that emerged slowly amidst the masses of sweet smelling flowers. Multiple sighs would follow each tiny fruit that was found lying on the ground. And since a lot of then actually dropped off, one can easily imagine the plight of the poor family member who did the inspection and broke the news to the others.

An agonizing period of waiting followed till the tiny mangoes turned somewhat bigger and plumper. Not they hadn't ripened. But one could still savour them raw in the form of many chutneys, an occasional pickle or the most awaited combination with some salt and red chili powder. Such simple bliss. Sadly, it would easily turn into sheer agony when one went overboard with the mangoes or the red chili powder. And when such occurrences turned frequent, the elders would take turns ensuring that we did not venture too close to the mango trees.

But the elders were not the only ones who kept the kids in check. Tradition demanded that the first fruit be offered to Lord Krishna on Dola Purnima ( Holi ). And a rather strict grandmother ensured that the mischievous kids fell in line with that diktat of hers. The stories concocted by her would seem dubious in hindsight but at a young age, they instilled enough fear in mind to quell any lingering notions of mischief.

However, once the curfew on the green mangoes got lifted, they would lose their charm all too rapidly. Everyone looked forward to relishing the sweet flesh of the ripe yellow ones. And most of the ripening would be done at home. Once the mangoes reached a certain size and took on a particular hue, they would be plucked carefully and tucked into a dark corner within the house to ripen in the safety of those bamboo baskets. Apparently, homo sapiens are not the only species who enjoy this delicious fruit. Other species ( and your neighbors too ) can also take a shine to this rather yummy fruit . Hence, the extra protection, though painful at times, is always recommended.

But everything is forgotten once the mangoes start to ripen and fill the house/garden with their excruciatingly sweet smell. Suddenly mangoes are a part of every meal. For mango lovers like me, this period of sheer bliss is nothing less than an annual honeymoon. And a guaranteed one too. This is often followed by a period of abstinence (thanks to the overdose of mangoes) which is quickly replaced by renewed enthusiasm as the mango seasons draws to an end. And finally one says goodbye to the mango with a heavy heart. Sigh !!

But worry not. This is just the start of the mango season and the recipe that I am sharing is one made from the green mangoes. 'Aam Panna' or the green mango drink is sheer delight on the senses. It is a traditional summer cooler which is a great way to beat the heat without resorting to bottled drinks with loads of added chemicals. While panna is usually made from boiled mango pulp, I have roasted the green mangoes to infuse the flesh with a smokey flavor. Also, I have used jaggery instead of sugar which makes it all the more healthy.

Read on for this refreshing recipe -

Preparation Time - 15 mins

Ingredients -

• 1 green mango
• 3 tsp jaggery or as per taste
• 2 pinch black salt
• a pinch of table salt ( recommended for the sour mangoes )
• 2 pinch pepper powder
• a pinch of cardamom 

Preparation - Wash and dry the mango. Roast it on the gas burner on a low to medium flame till the skin is 60 to 70 percent blackened.

Remove and cover with a steel bowl. Keep aside till it cools down. Peel the burnt skin and chop the flesh.

Transfer the flesh to a blender jar along with the remaining ingredients, 2 cups water and a few ice cubes. Blend together.

Serve immediately. Else keep it chilled and serve within a day or two.

Note - The color of the panna will vary according to the sweetener used. Sugar will give it a pale yellow color while jaggery will give it golden brown to richer brown tones.

Oria Arna ( Odisha Special )

With rice being the staple grain of Odisha, there many kinds of 'Khichidi' that one can find in this state. Unlike the Southern states which have rice varieties that include veggies and a whole lot of spices, the Odia folks simply cannot do without their dal. The running joke in the community is that even if one serves a guest with half a dozen gravy dishes along with rice, they would still berate the fact that the host forgot to serve dal. The only exception to this 'till dal does us apart' rule is the 'pakhala' , a watery rice dish that is served mostly during summers. This dish dispenses the need to pair it with anything that remotely resembles a gravy. As for the others, no exceptions can be made. Never ever.

One such little known but nevertheless delicious rice variety is the 'Oria Arna', an offering at the famous Lingaraj temple in Bhubaneshwar. A simple rice and lentil preparation with a seasoning of ginger, bay leaf and asafoetida in desi ghee, it is sheer delight on the taste buds. Apart from the 'no onion no garlic' days, I also like to cook this dish on the days when I am feeling lazy and want an easy one pot meal.

Read on for the recipe -

Preparation Time - 20 mins

Ingredients -

• 1 cup arwa rice ( jeera rice)
• 1 cup split yellow moong dal
• 2-3 tsp desi ghee
• 2 tsp sugar
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 1/2 inch ginger
• 2 pinch asafoetida
• 1/4 tsp turmeric
• 4 tsp chopped cashews
• 4 tsp raisins
• 4-5 tsp finely chopped coconut pieces
• salt to taste

Preparation - Wash the lentil and rice together. Strain and mix in the turmeric. Air dry on a flat surface for 2 hours.

Crush the ginger and keep aside.

Cooking - Heat 2 tsp ghee in a deep vessel. Add the cashews and raisins. Fry for 5-6 seconds and remove.

Add the bay leaf to the ghee. Once it releases fragrance, add the rice and dal to the same vessel. Stir fry for 3-4 mins till the ghee coats each and every grain.

Add 4 cups water, crushed ginger, sugar and salt. Also, add the finely chopped coconut.

Cook till done.

Heat the remaining ghee in a tempering pan. Add the asafoetida and allow it to crackle. Pour this tempering over the rice. Mix in the fried cashews and raisins.

Serve warm.

Note - I personally like to have it with some fried papad and occasionally some thick yogurt too.

Citrusy Coconut Pasta ( Vegan Pasta Recipe )

IMP - This is an original recipe created by the blogger and has been published for the first time on oriyarasoi.com. 

The twain shall meet ! And how !!

Well, my latest experiment of fusing South Indian flavors with the Italian staple aka pasta only reinforces my faith that cross-cultural marriages are not just stimulating but fraught with numerous possibilities. For example, I have always been a big fan of light summery pasta sauces that just about tickle the taste buds without ever dominating the natural taste of the pasta. And the citrus coconut combination is just that.

Keeping it vegan, I omitted the cream and instead opted for freshly squeezed coconut milk. The slight notes of garlic and curry leaf add subtle character to this sauce while the coconut milk infuses it with sweet overtones. But the best part is the uplifting citrus notes that make it the perfect pasta dish for the oppressive Indian summers.

But given that some people are not too fond of coconut, I have tested this recipe by substituting a spot of cream instead of the fresh coconut milk. And it works just as fine. Just remember to go easy on the cream as we do not want to add up on the calories.

Read on for the recipe -

Preparation Time - 15 mins

Ingredients -

• 1 cup chifferi rigate / penne
• 1/2 cup orange juice
• 2 tsp lemon juice
• 1/2 tsp honey
• 2 garlic flakes (minced)
• 1/4 cup coconut milk
• 1/2 tsp chili flakes
• 1 sprig curry leaves
• 2 tsp canola oil
• salt to taste

Preparation - Bring 5 cups water to boil in a large saucepan. Once it gets to bubbling, add salt and then when it gets to a rolling boil, throw in the pasta. It will take about 15 mins to cook to an al-dente stage.

Once the paste is done, save a cup of the pasta water and drain the rest using a colander. Give a good shake to the colander to prevent the pasta from sticking to each other.

Cooking - Heat the oil in a wok. Add the minced garlic and fry till golden. Add the orange juice and lemon juice along with the honey. Cook on low flame till it thickens.

Remove from the flame. Add the coconut milk and stir it in for 1-2 mins.

Throw in the cooked pasta along with the curry leaves and chili flakes. Add about 2-3 tsp of the pasta water as it helps the sauce to stick to the pasta. Put it back on the burner and cook for 1 minute.

Remove and allow to cool down.

Serve at room temperature.