Khichudi Bhog, Labra, Payesh and Chutney on a Navami Morning
Hello Readers, I am back like more than a year after. Different commitments on personal and professional fronts kept me away from my blog which I missed so much. And what can be a better time to be back other than our very dear Durga Pujas.
Just as Mahalaya was approaching the smell in the air also started changing. Especially in the mornings, one could distinctly smell the Shiuli, the signature smell of Durga Puja mornings. The place where I stay has a few Shiuli Trees on the way and passing them brings back a lot of childhood memories. During the Durga Pujas as a kid I visited my maternal grandparents house. We had a Shiuli tree in the garden. My dida used to wake very early in the morning and gather the flowers fallen on the ground for doing prayers. That earthy smell of morning mist and Shiuli is something I can only talk about but one has to experience it to understand.
This time around Durga Puja is happening on all weekdays. Hence I decided to take two days off on Ashtami and Navami. Pushpanjali, Pandal Hopping and Pet Puja was the main agenda for the days. Yesterday I went for the Ashtami Pushpanjali at Apte Road. Its a Puja hosted by the Bengali Association. The Puja used to happen in Siddhi Garden on Raja Mantri Road till last year which was considerably closer to my place. But for some reason this time they shifted base to the Central Park Hotel grounds which is pretty far from my place. By chance I noticed the change in venue, when it came in paper but many were not so lucky and ended up clueless after reaching Siddhi Gardens. Hence I felt the attendance was quite less as well at the pandal. Plus the previous location seemed better in terms of ambiance and space. I felt overall look was also lackluster unlike last year. Post pushpanjali I had luchi and cholar daal at the stall and it was super! Breaking the fast with such a scrumptious dish makes your day really.
Top: Congress Bhavan , Bottom : Apte Road |
Fish Fry & Misti Doi |
Bhoger Khichudi is very special to every Bengali. It not only has the flavours of spices but the aroma of dhuno, which makes it taste awesome. Now when you prepare at home the aroma of dhuno apart everything else can be mimicked. I had made many mooger daaler khichudi before but this particular recipe that I found on the net today really came out awesome! I just added a little things here and there differently from the recipe. See the original recipe here.
Niramish Moong Daal Khichudi
Preparation Time: 30 minutes
Cooking Time: 1 hour 45 minutes
Serves: 4
Cuisine: Bengali
- Sona Moong Daal/ Unpolished Moong Daal - 1 cup
- Gobindobhog Rice / Kolam Rice - 1 cup
- Fresh Ginger paste- 2 1/2 tbsp
- Green Chillies - 3
- Potato - 2 medium , diced
- Cauliflower - 1 small, Cut into medium sized florets
- Fresh Coconut - half cup cut into small pieces
- Green Peas - 3/4 cup or as per preference
- Raisins - handful, soaked for 5 minutes in water
- Cumin Powder - 1 tbsp
- Turmeric Powder - 2 tbsp
- Everest Sahi Garam Masala Powder - 1 tsp
- Ghee (clarified butter) - 2 tbsp
- Mustard Oil for frying
- Sugar as per taste
- Salt - as per taste
1. Wash the rice and keep aside
Cooking Time: 50 minutes
Serves: 4
Cuisine: Bengali
- Potato - 2 medium, each cut into four pieces
- Sweet Potato - 4, diced
- Pumpkin - 100 gm, diced
- Brinjal - 2 medium, diced
- Borboti (yard long beans) - 12, cut into 1 inch pieces
- Fresh Ginger paste - 1 tsp
- Fennel seeds - 1/2 tsp
- Kalonji - 1/4 tsp
- Fenugreek seeds or Methi dana - 1/4 tsp
- Mustard Seeds - 1/4 tsp
- Dried Red Chilli - 1
- Turmeric - 1 tsp
- Mustard Oil - 1 tsp
- Sugar as per taste
- Salt - a pinch
1. Cut the vegetables as mentioned and keep them in water for 15-20 minutes.
Cooking Time: 15 minutes
Serves: 2
Cuisine: Bengali
- Gobindo bhog chal - 5 tsp
- Full cream milk - 400 gm
- Bay Leaf - 1
- Raisins - handful
- Nolen gur (optional) 2 tbsp
- Sugar - 2 1/2 tsp
1. Wash and keep the rice soaked in water for 30 minutes
Click here to see the recipe ->
1 comments
I really liked your recipe Khichudi Bhog, Labra, its very tasty and we as a family enjoyed it. Thank you for sharing this recipe with us. I recommend it for everyone to try once its a very amazing. Milk Powder
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