Food Bizzare Contd.

Cooking is just another way to bust your stress and the satisfaction it gives is the most amazing thing. Sorry for the long break. Here I am back with another recipe from the far eastern reach of India.

Pork Curry with fermented Bamboo Shoot

Yet again I don’t have a picture to complement the dish. Please forgive me for that.

Ingredients:

·         Pork Steak - 2 lbs

·         Fermented Bamboo Shoot – few strands

·         2 tomatoes (sliced)

·         Sliced Red Chilies (As per taste)

·         Dried red chili flakes

·         Spring onions

·         Ginger paste (2 Tsp)

·         Garlic paste (1 Tsp)

·         Salt to taste

Preparation:

·         Take a deep cooking container and put the Steaks into it.

·         Add the sliced tomatoes, Red chilies, Ginger and Garlic paste, spring onions and add salt.

·         Mix the ingredients together and pour water into the container up to a level so as to submerge the contents in it.

·         Cover the lid and place the container over the flame and put it to boil.

·         Keep checking at regular intervals if the steak is cooked properly. Replenish water if the gravy gets dried up.

·         Once the steak is properly cooked add the fermented bamboo shoot strands and cover the lid once more and let it cook at a low flame for few minutes.

·         Once done, put the flame off and serve the dish in a platter.

·         You can garnish it with fresh coriander leaves and boiled Chayote (also known as Squash locally)

·         Serve it with rice and relish it to your heart and belly’s content! J

Food Bizzare - India

When we talk about Indian food, what we think of are Curries, Chappatis, Paranthas, Chicken Tikkas and several others. What we don't know is there are some delicacies within the Indian geography which would blow your mind and would leave you pondering how they are savoured?

Below is a personal favorite preparation which you would also name as Simply Bizzare!!

Dried Fish (Shidol/Hidol) Chutney!

First of all you've got to know what Shidol or Hidol means.. :)) It is a salted Puti Fish preparation fermented in a closed clay container.

Frozen Puti Fish

I couldn't find the picture for Shidol.. :( sorry for that!

Warning: The following preparation is a delicacy from Eastern India and disseminates a very high pungent smell. Make sure that your kitchen is properly ventillated and use a room freshener after preparing the dish.

Ingredients:

1. Hidol (3 - 4 numbers)
2. Onion (2 finely chopped)
3. Garlic Cloves (5 - 6 finely mashed)
4. Tomatoes (2 finely chopped)
5. Very hot Red Chillies (2 -3 finely grated)
6. Corriander Leaves (as per taste, finely chopped)
7. Mustard Oil (2 Tsp)
8. Salt to taste

Preparation:

Using a tong, char the Shidol over a flame for 3 - 4 minutes until it is roasted properly and then clean it off. On a frying Pan, put 2 tablespoon of mustard oil. When the oil is hot, put the chopped onions and add garlic and fry untill they turn golden brown. Add tomatoes and chillies and then cover the container and cook it for 5 minutes over a low flame. It would turn into a semi-paste by then. Add salt to taste and then add the charred shidol and mix them properly and cook on high flame for 2 - 3 minutes until the preparation emits a pungent smell and turns brown in color. It might induce sneezing so cover up your nose properly. Sprinkle the chpped corainder leaves on top and turn the burner off.

Put it in a bowl and serve with Steamy Rice and Dal.

Bon appetit!!