Friday, June 22, 2007

V is for Varan Bhaat and Vangi Kaap

Darn the camera!! As it is I am a lousy photographer.. to add on.. the lousy camera!!
OK, I'm done with my display of despair... thank u for bearing with me!
This is 'The' simplest meal and also one of the most comforting foods of all time is the down-to-earth 'Varan Bhaat' that is made in every Maharashtrian home. This simple meal can be made without any fuss and more importantly, without oil!
The simplicity of making it is something that will make u clap your hands in glee and get down to making it and one morsel of this 'varan-bhaat' will have you hooked!! Varan- bhaat is served with with a wedge of lemon and a dollop of 'shudh ghee'. The best part is this pure food (for want of better way of putting it) lies in the fact that there are no 'masalas' in it. A delight for the young and old and a must have for every occasion, weddings, pooja's, festival time and also when recuperating from an illness!!!
How to make this Varan?
1/2 cup Toor daal
2 pinches Asafetida
1/4 tsp. Turmeric
Salt to taste
Jaggery - small lump (Optional)
1 1/2 cup Water
Wash the Toor Daal in 3-4 changes of water. Add water, asafetida, salt, turmeric and jaggery. Set it in the pressure cooker and cook for up to 3 whistles or as long as it takes the cooker to cook daal to a mush.
Once the daal is cooked,remove from the cooker, with a spoon mash and mix evenly. If it is too thick, add little of water, keeping in mind that it has to be thick. That's it!!!


The ghee melted by the time I captured the picture :(

As an accompaniment to the Varan bhaat, I made Vangi Kaap.. for M

I believe every cuisine from every region in India has their own version of making this accompaniment! Here is my Maharashtrian Version

You need:
1 Large Brinjal (eggplant /vangi/ baingan) , sliced into med-thick slices
1/4 tsp. EACH, turmeric, Red Chilly pwd., Cumin pwd., Corriander pwd., Amchur pwd.
1/2 tsp, Rice Flour
1/2 tsp Sooji / rava/ Farina (this was my inclusion)
Salt to taste
Oil to shallow fry

Mix all the dry ingredients. Spray the brinjal slices with a bit of oil, sprinkle the masala on it (on both sides). Heat a skillet. Drizzle the oil on the skillet and then place the seasoned brinjal slices . Cook on a medium heat on both sides. Serve with lunch/ dinner. As an option, to keep it very simple, you can also exclude the cumin-corriander powder and use the basics to make vangi kaap.

This will go to Nupur as my contribution for V of the A-Z of Indian Vegs. ...

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17 comments:

bee said...

your pic looks fine, and your varan looks great. what happened to your camera?

Manasi said...

Hi bee... Duno wot happened to it!! giving fuzzy pix... this pic looks OK after making hazar modifications to the original :(

Sharmi said...

lovely palate! I came across the varan recipe while researching for rci. it sound similar to AAMati right?

TheCooker said...

photo theek aahe ki.
what a meal: varanbhaat, kaap, koshimbir & chutney!!

Manasi said...

Thanx Sharmi!! Aamti and Varan us e Toor dal, but in Aamti we use 'goda masala' , whereas Varan is plain, no masalas at all, except for turmeric and pinch asafetida.

Manasi said...

Hi Cooker.. to photo theek kelay!!! Jamla ekdacha!!! except for the kaap, i like everything!! that was for the hubby!

Suganya said...

Yr mood meter is.. well.. ahem!!

Pics are fine. Stay cool..

Swapna said...

Ati sundar. Ti jevnachi plate evdhi inviting vattye. Masta bet aahe.

Viji said...

Nice ones Manasi and great entry too. It is really interesting to learn about other cuisines. Viji

Coffee said...

I have had this vangi kaap at my SIL's house but I think she makes it with besan. Rice flour seems like a good idea as well. :)

Nupur said...

Ah, this is the sort of meal that money can't buy! Heavenly combo!

Anonymous said...

Varan Bhaat is indeed heavenly....the simple taste of it makes it so worthwhile to eat....my kids love it!

Sig said...

that is one plate full of comfort Manasi... looks yummy... picture looks fine to me, but yeah, I totally go "darn the camera" many times myself :D

Anonymous said...

fantastic...recipe...

FH said...

YUM! Both look great Manasi:))

Unknown said...

amazing ..i have some eggplants which i had forgotten about..dinner is going to be exciting for my hubby as he absolutely loves them...thanks manasi...

ram said...

Can Suran kaap be made in the same way

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