Satvic Burritos

Hello everybody! Today was my last day of Ayurveda Cooking Course. And we had a cooking competition. We had to make any dish prepared with ayurvedic methods and keep it satvic. So I made these burritos with red beans and Pico de Gallo. Guess who won the competition! :) So here is the prize winning recipe for all of you.

You will need:

For Pico de Gallo

½ cup fresh coriander

2 large tomatoes, chopped

1 tsp garlic, minced

1 green chili

Juice of ½ a lemon

Salt

For the Beans

I cup red beans, soaked overnight

1 cup tomato puree, made by steamed tomatoes

Oregano

Salt

For the tortillas

1 cup Whole wheat flour

½ tsp Chili flakes

½ tsp Oregano

Water

You will have to:

1. Take all the ingredients of Pico de Gallo and put them in a mixer. Mix till it becomes thick, chunky paste. Check the taste. If it is too sour you can add a bit of crushed jaggery.

2. Take your soaked beans and add salt. Steam till cooked. Add tomato puree, salt and oregano and run in the mixer for a few seconds, just to have the beans and puree mixed well.

3. Take the flour. Add chili flakes and oregano. Add water and make dough. Now, make balls of the dough the size of balls of chappatis. Roll out the balls as thin as possible and prick it with a fork to prevent inflation while heating. Cook them like chapatti.

4. To serve,take the tortilla. Put a layer of Pico de Gallo. Add the beans. Roll the tortilla. Put a toothpick to secure it into place.

The recipe ensures satva as it is steamed and not pressure cooked or fried. Also you may have noticed we have used NO oil at all.

Pull me a Face!

Some teachers pride themselves for teaching and some pride themselves for getting a salary. They are easily distinguishable from the way they teach, their strictness in punishment and tolerance of humour in classroom. The former are obviously much agreeable. But the problem is that you may not like to attend classes of either or for that matter any classes at all. So to save you from the dungeons of hell, I have come out with my first hand experience of facial expressions which when pulled will help you go through these classes unnoticed, undisturbed.

Teaching teachersFor them you ought to look pleasantly interested. A slight smile, eyes a little wide open and nodding gently now and then.


The other kind
A look that says I am seriously interested. A decent frown, eyes small as if narrowed with concentration. If you can manage to look totally non-kissable while pouting, then pout.


Golden Rule
Practice at home in front of a mirror before trying the face in front of a prof.
Best of Luck!

Special thanks to Ali for being the great model for these pictures.

Ayurvedic Cooking

Today is my Day 4 at the Ayurvedic Cooking Course. The name being a misnomer, for cooking is only the tip of the iceberg. The workshop is about cooking, eating, thinking – basically living the Ayurveda way.

But, for me this course was actually about being amazed. Firstly, at the recklessness and disregard we show for our bodies. Next, at our absolute ignorance or neglect of fundamental principles of healthy living and eating. Then I was amazed in a good way when I witnessed the most hideous (my personal prejudice against pumpkin, okra etc) being transformed into the most delectable of dishes. The wafting concoction of flavors and aromas has never been so sensuous before. And yes, at the most unconventional, the most healthy and by the mysterious ways of God the most easy methods of preparation and cooking.

At the level of learning, the course illuminates the basic principles of Ayurveda so as to enable out of (good) shape people like me to become healthy.

Happy Janamashtmi!

I danced before my Giridhara.
Again and again I dance
To please that discerning critic,
And put His former love to the test.
I put on the anklets
Of the love of Shyam,
And behold! My Mohan stays true.
Worldly shame and family custom
I have cast to the winds.
I do not forget the beauty of the Beloved
Even for an instant.
Mira is dyed deeply in the dye of Hari

-Mirabai

Hung Curd Sandwiches

One of my favorite fillings for a sandwich is hung curd. I always feel I don’t use it frequently enough. So here are a few ideas for using hung curd as a sandwich spread.

Ground Work
The basic thing to do in any of these recipes is to hang some curd. So, take a muslin cloth (a handkerchief, mom’s dupatta all work just fine) and put the curd into it. Now tie up your cloth and hand it up. Please put a bowl beneath the hanging curd so you can collect the whey and use it later on. Ideally, the curd should hang about for 12 hours but anything after 4 hours suffices. In very hot summers, the curd may become a little sour as well due to not being refrigerated, so you may need to add little bit of powdered sugar to suit your taste. Click here to see Bawa’s photo by photo version of hanging curds.

The Hungarian Sandwich
This one I have altered from Nigella Lawson’s recipe. Take your hung curd. Add equal amounts of cream (malai does the job) and grated paneer. Take a slice of some nice whole grain bread. Put a thick layer of the spread. Now spread a layer of any flavored jam you like. Try cherry, strawberry and blueberry. Put another slice of the bread, cut in half and enjoy!

Easy Teasy Sandwich
Divide your hung curd into two parts. In one part add mint chutney. In the other add tomato ketchup and jeera powder. Layer the two spreads on two slices of bread. Add a third slice to complete the sandwich. You can try interesting shapes like the pinwheel with this.

The Veggie Filler
Mix some grated carrot into your hung curd. Spread this on one slice of nice sandwich bread. Put a leaf of lettuce. Add slices of tomatoes and cucumbers. Add some slices of olives (for that matter any other veggie) if you like. Sprinkle some salt and pepper. Add the second slice of bread.

Honey Chunks Sandwich
Take the hung curd. Add a little honey, chopped walnuts, grated orange rind and salt and pepper. Spread on a slice of bread and munch. You can use this one as a dip as well.

Dupatta Tera Sat Rang Da

Hello! I am bringing to you another translation of a superhit Punjabi song. It is Dupatta Tera Sat Rang Da by Surjit Bindrakhiya. The lyricist is Shemsher Sandhu (and hence the reference in the last stanza) . The song has a very rustic feel to it with traditional Punjabi lyrics. You will find conventional style of poetry (danna danna danna and taiyaan taiyaan taiyaan).

Also I have not translated the word Dupatta. If you don't know what that means (gasp!), then well let this whole song be a puzzle for you to solve. And yes also, the word Heer. First, I thought I should translate it as Juliet, but decided against it for once again I expect everyone to know who Heer was. (Hint - Her boyfriend was called Ranjha) If you want to hear the song click here If you want to watch the video (which I recommend) click here

Modhe ton tilkda jave
Sataraa wal khave
Dupatta tera satrang da,
Sohniye
Dupatta tera satrang da,
Mundeyan nu barda tardpave
Seene agh lave
Dupatta tera satrang da

Heeriye

It keeps slipping away from your shoulder
Twisting itself 17 times
Your Dupatta of seven colours
O gorgeous
Your Dupatta of seven colours
It stirs up the boys
Igniting their bosoms with passion
Your Dupatta of seven colours
O Heer

Oh sakhiyan che rehaniyan tu rani ban ke
Oh sath wich lange patrani ban ke
Peeng ambharaan de wich ehe pave
Ni jadon leherave
Dupatta tera satrang da

You behave like a queen with your girlfriends
With me, you walk past like some hotshot
Forms a swing in the skies
When it flutters
Your Dupatta of seven colours

Kehande he jawani hundi pukhi pyaar di
Taang ehnu rahe sada dildar di
Taiyan taiyan taiyan
Dupatte utte morniyan
Dus kede shownk nu paiyan
Sajana noo piya eh bulave
Na bhora sharmave
Dupatta tera satrang da

They say youth is hungry for love
Always yearning for a beloved
Taiyan Taiyan taiyan
These peacocks on the duppata
Were embroidered out of what inspiration
Saying sweet nothings
Without a trace of bashfulness
Your Dupatta of seven Colours

Mirgan ne tor hey udhari tethon mangi
Mitran dee jaan ni toon
sooli utte tangi
Danna, danna, danna
Dupateyah sach das ve,
Mein kehrde pind muklave jana?
Kittey chan na koi nava hee chadave
Kasoota jabh pave
Dupatta tera satrang da

The deer have borrowed their gait from you
The life of your suitors you have hanged on the gallows
Danna Daana Daana
Tell me the truth oh Dupatta
Which village will my husband be from
Hope it does not do any new mischief
Creating trouble
Your Dupatta of seven colours

Sandhu dekh hoya nee shudayee phirda
Photo teri batuey che payee phirda
Geet teri hee dupatte de oh gave
Nee man lalchave,
Dupatta tera sat rang da

Look! Sandhu has gone crazy
Roams around with your picture in his wallet
Sings now only of your dupatta
Tempting his heart
Your Dupatta of seven colours

The Guru of Joy

A few days back I read The Guru of Joy. It is Guruji’s biography penned down by Francois Gautier. Well first things first – it has the best cover jacket in the world. There is a picture of Guruji and it just compels you to pick the book up and read it cover to cover. Second thing that really impressed me was how well Mr. Gautier wrote. Unlike the disdaining francophone, Gautier writes English effortlessly (I would like to think he thinks bilingually.)

Now coming to the book, it is amazing. It is a biography but only of sorts. It really has no more than one out of its 13 chapters on Guruji’s life. Rather, it narrates personal experiences, anecdotes from other teachers, and other Guru stories from devotees far and wide. It’s actually a delicious melting pot of devotion.

His prologue is excellent. Further into the text, he maintains the tenderness of new love, respect of an oriental student and yet the mind of a modern critic. Gautier weaves yarn after yarn of tales of Guru love, miracles and faith. And also the tooting of his own critical somewhere in the background. I believe that is what makes The Guru of Joy such a fine book. The ‘Testing the Guru’ Stage is part of every disciple’s life. And that is why any devote can relate to Gautier.

The book is mostly enchanting, especially when Guru Stories are being related. Also, my heart was overwhelmed with joy at the idea of little Guruji and his divinely cute mischief. But at the end, I found it a little dawdling when it spoke about all the AOL courses at length.

All in all, it is a great handbook for any devote.

Rating- 4 / 5