Parota with Alu Bati Charchari -- Divine
1.We had an amazing Christmas party.
2.The Liberty Science Center is a whole lot of fun when there is no one around.
3.The kids faith in Santa was re-instilled. BS got her toy which changes hair color only it needs icy cold water to do that and I am unable to provide icy cold water in this icy cold weather. LS got her "geef",a Thomas engine and couple of books.
4."Pippi Longstocking" and "Katie Kazoo" are some new series that I got for BS.
3.I must edit my last post to add that Sheela and Munni are now the mainstays of Bong parties. So move over Ms.Lahiri.
4.Indian Chinese for Christmas works perfect.
5.We have been snowed in and housebound for the last 3 days and I wish Santa had gotten me a gift, a transmogrifer.
6.I saw "Up" after every one in the world has seen and said everything about it.
7.Teen kona parota or Bengali Triangular Parotas are not all that difficult and can be made without the aid of a compass and protractor. I say Bengali because I have not seen Triangular Parathas in any of my non-Bong friend's house.
Parota with Notun Gur(Palm Jaggery) sent from home for Winter -- Priceless
I have been so afraid of making the standard Bengali Triangle Parota all my life that I never ever attempted them. I would wait patiently for the Ma or Ma-in-law to turn up and serve them. I had such a mind block that I never even stood beside them while they rolled out the perfect isosceles triangles. And geometry wasn't even my weak point.
Honestly, I wasn't even sure why they were better than the circular ones and I thought it was just a lot of hype. My doubt still continues.
Then everything changed on a sunny November Sunday morning, when I told a friend staying the weekend with us, "Chal Parota banai"(Let's make Parota). Timidly I asked her if she knew to make triangular Parotas. She pooh-poohed the whole thing, saying it was no big deal and showed me how. While she expertly made 10 of them in 5 minutes, I struggled with two but at least I got some bell like shape out of it.
There after I got into the groove and made them again. They now looked better. After some more attempts I can now say, Triangle Parotas are easy to make. Why they are important I cannot tell.
Repeat after me.
You guys have a great next year. Make your resolutions and stick by them. When making teen kona parota is the high point of my life, it is natural that I resolve to do nothing better.
Happy 2011
Read more...
Bengali Triangle Parota
What You Need
AP Flour/Maida ~ 1 cup
Whole Wheat Flour ~ 1 cup
White Oil for shortening ~ 1&1/2 tbsp. many people use ghee as shortening too.
Salt ~ a pinch or say 1/4tsp
Warm Water ~ 1 cup(added gradually). Some people add warm milk to make a softer dough, I haven't, you can try.
Dry Flour ~ in a plate for rolling the Paratha.
How I Did It
In a wide mouthed bowl add the flour, the salt and the oil for shortening.
With your finger tips rub in the oil into the flour.
Now gradually add the warm water working the flour into a dough. If it becomes too watery don't panic and add a smattering of flour but it is smart to be cautious with the water.
Knead the dough till it does not stick to your fingers at all.
Keep on kneading till the dough becomes alabaster smooth, soft and pliable.
Cover with a damp cloth or damp kitchen towel and let it rest for 15-20 minutes.
Once again pummel/knead the dough and make small ping-pong sized balls from it.
Now start rolling as follows
Take a ping-pong size ball, flatten it between your palms, dust with flour.
Roll a small circular disc
Fold along the diameter to form a semi-circle
Take the right end of the semi-circle, lift and fold along the radius to meet the left end
Gently roll and elongate the sides to get a triangular bell shape
Roll some more, maintaining the shape. Thickness should be like the regular paratha.
Heat a skillet/tawa. Place the rolled paratha on the heated tawa and cook on one side until bubbles starts to appear.
Flip the other side and pour oil in drops around the edges of the paratha or spray the surface with cooking oil.
After half a minute or so flip again and again add oil around the edges. Keep doing this, every side half a minute or so until the paratha is cooked on bot sides. There will be little brown spots on the surface and then you know you are done.
Alu Bati Charchari
I have a post on bati charchari with a lot of vegetables
This one is done only with potatoes
Peel and chop 3 medium sized potatoes in 2" long pieces.
In a heavy-bottomed deep pan heat 3 tsp of Mustard Oil
Add 4 hot Indian green chili, slit halfway
Add the potatoes
Add salt to taste + 1/4 tsp of turmeric powder and mix well. Saute for a minute
Add 1 to 1&1/2 cups of water.
Cover and cook without any stirring till potatoes are cooked and water dries up. If needed add more water for cooking
Once done, add 1-2 tsp of Mustard oil on top before serving
Best enjoyed with Parota, Luchi or Roti
Test