Chhanar Dalna (Paneer kofta )

The other day I was left with a litre or more of milk in the fridge. Since hubby was leaving for an official tour , I was in no mood of making a dessert of the milk. So i decided to make Chhanar dalna . Chhana in bengali means paneer, and dalna is a curry. These are small paneer balls in a thick gravy. My Ma makes it amazing.Now I thought of trying my hand at it.

So here goes my recipe:

Ingredients:

For Chhana:

Milk a litre or more

lemons/ lime juice

For the paneer balls :

Green chilies,salt, little of aata,a boiled potato, coriander, ginger

For the gravy:

Tomatoes, ginger, jeera powder or paste

Put the milk to boil in a sauce pan. Once the milk has boiled put the gas in simmer. Now start adding lime juice slowly and keep stirring. The paneer will seperate and float on top. Strain the water in a muslin cloth. You may hang the muslin cloth for an hour for the excess water to drain. Once the water has drained , take the paneer in a bowl. Add the boiled, peeled and mashed potato, salt to taste, finely chopped coriander, ginger and green chilies. Now add a little ( a teaspoon or so) aata, the aata is for the binding. I sprinkle a little water to make it softer. Heat oil for frying. Make small balls of the mixture. You can put a raisin inside the paneer balls if you like. Fry the balls (kofta) till golden brown. Drain the excess oil in a kitchen towel. Now for the gravy. I usually prefer gravy without onion and garlic. One can make a onion gravy as well. My version is: Heat 3 teaspoon oil in a kadhai. Add cumin seed and bay leaf. Now add chopped tomatoes, salt and little turmeric. Slit some green chilies and add. Lower the flame and let it simmer for 3-4 minutes with the lid closed. After 4 minutes open the lid and increase the flame, keep stirring. Add ginger paste and jeera paste(do not put water), garam masala, red chili powder. Keep stirring till it leaves oil. I usually add a little curd to my gravy at this point and a pinch of sugar..just to add color and enhance the taste. Stir it again for 2 mins or so. Now add water a cup. Let it simmer for 5-7 mins. Now add the koftas and turn off the flame. garnish with coriander. Believe me the paneer koftas will be so soft and delicious.

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Season of colors and festives

After a long time Iam writing, just finished off my mid-sem so felt like scribbling something.

This time of the year makes me very nostalgic: days of school, days of my childhood. After a year long wait for Durga Puja , the 4 day festival of a Bengali is back. Fragrance of shiuli phool (parijaat) in the air, cool morning breeze , cotton puff clouds in the sky,cool and pleasant evenings, lots of shopping for the 3-4 days outings ... all speak out loud and clear that Ma Durga is coming to her parental home. Yes thats what we bengalies believe: during Durga Puja Ma comes with her 4 children to visit her father's abode. She is welcomed with all grace ,warmth and extravaganza. From shashti through saptami,ashatami,navami starts the pooja rituals , pandal excursions, outings, donning the best of dresses and of course devouring the tastiests. Vijaya Dashami marks the departure of the deity back to her husband's home to come again the next year. With Vijaya Dashami starts the episodes of family get-togethers and trips to elders (if they are near) to offer our regards(pronaam).Its complete fiesta time. Wait for a fortnight and then we have Diwali the festival of lights. Houses adorned with Rangolis and lights and decorations invite goddess Lakshmi to bestow happiness and wealth on all households.

One of my friend used to say "Come monsoon and the 6 month long season of festival starts in India.. " and thats so true. Starting from rakhi , janmashtami , ganesh chaturthi to Durga pooja, diwali and finally Christmas and New Year, not to mention the Id and gurunanak jayanti which fall between. Ours is truly a land of festivals, fiestas and diversity.

Back in US , I was busy reading my text books during the Pooja but missing my home badly. I dont smell the sweet aroma of Shiuli but yes definitely the air has little festive spirit.. halo ween, Thanksgiving Christmas and New Year are all lined up. The trees are changing colors everyday and thats one beauty no artist can overlook, from green to pale green to red , then to orange . and then one fine day when you wake up you find a single leaf on the bare branches ready to fall off any time. Fall is really beautiful in US, but nothing can match the festivals of my country. Waiting to go back and celebrate all the festivals with all the grandeur....

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