love - Travels for Taste

Kairee Panhe/ Raw Mango Summer Cooler/Aaam Ka Panna

April 29, 2013 by manjirichitnis 5 Comments

It’s almost 40 degrees Celsius in the afternoon in Pune nowadays, summer is at it’s peak, one needs to keep the mind and the body in sync and cool, at times like this a chilled summer drink and that too one made from raw mangoes is a treat, more so if it’s made by my old mother who is recovering from knee replacement surgery and is walking around using a walking stick. She is just waiting to get back on her feet and go into the kitchen and cook up stuff but under strict orders from her doc can only do so about once in 2 days.

Growing in Mumbai , summer holidays were great fun with my cousins around, mum always made loads of this concentrate from raw mangoes and it was such a treat to come home all sweaty and panting and drink tall glasses of this tangy cooler doused with ice cubes of various animal shapes 😉 aaahhh summer holidays!

Manjiri Chitnis

Kairee Panhe / Aam Ka Panna / Indian Raw Mango Cooler

Traditional Indian Raw Mango Cooler, a firm favourite in our household

Print Recipe

Course: Drinks

Cuisine: Indian

Ingredients Equipment Method

Ingredients

4 Raw Mangoes
Sugar as needed
Green Cardamon /elaichi powder
Freshly ground black pepper powder
Aniseed/ Vilayati Saunf

Equipment

1 Pressure Cooker / Electric Cooker / Saucepan with Lid
1 Strainer
1 Large Glass bottle to store

Method

Pressure cook the raw mangoes by allowing for 2 whistles to happen. Then drain the water and allow them to cool
Once these are boiled and have cooled down, peel the mangoes and collect all the lovely green pulp in a saucepan
The sugar proportion to be added is 3 times the quantity of the pulp, so if the pulp of these 4 mangoes were to fit into a small bowl of about 200gms capacity sugar would be 600 gms
Stir in the sugar into the pulp and keep stirring until it is completely dissolved
Add a large spoon of elaichi powder,some freshly ground black pepper,some aniseed ground – green Cardamom powder and give this mix a stir in the mixer for just about a minute
Store in a glass jar in the fridge. Do not freeze
Remember never to add salt to this mixture , only while preparing the drink from the concentrate add salt in the glass
While preparing the cooler, add 2 spoons of the raw mango concentrate and add a pinch of salt to this, top this up with cold water and strain after mixing to remove any strands from the pulp, then add ice cubes, dress it up with a spring of mint if you will and drink up this homemade goodness! aaahh! Summer!

I picked these raw mangoes from my granny’s garden , they look stunning don’t they ?

EXPLORE MORE RECIPES FROM MAHARASHTRA, INDIA:

Valache Birdhe – C.K.P style recipe -वालाचे बिरडे
Konkani Pompfret Fish Curry पापलेटचं कलवण
Prawn Khichadi – कोळंबीची खिचडी
C.K.P Style Prawn Curry
Masoorachi Aamti – Whole Red Lentils with brown skin on – Traditional Maharashtrian Curry Recipe

FIND BELOW A LIST OF INDIAN RECIPES ON MY BLOG, SOME TRADITIONAL, SOME FUSION, AND MANY REGIONAL FAVOURITES!

Spicy Chicken curry

August 20, 2012 by manjirichitnis 12 Comments

Sunday Special Lunch – A Family Tradition

What a Sunday Roast is to a traditional English Family Sunday Lunch is what the combination of Spicy Chicken Gravy and Jeera rice or layered Chicken Biryani is to my family. My sister and I, have been brought on such wholesome, hearty, home-made totally from scratch – delicious food.

All these divine yet easy to recreate dishes, which my parents have always cooked with great passion and a lot of effort are what fuel my desire to share them with all of you.

My Aai and Baba ( Mum and Dad in Marathi) who wake up early every Sunday morning and work as a team to produce this brilliantly tasty chicken curry. Saturday morning my Baba would take me with him to te butcher to buy fresh chicken curry pieces. After coming home he would very patiently explain to us how he marinates the bird using all the freshly ground pastes and purees that Aai used to prepare while he was out shopping. On Sunday morning they would again team up to cook us the most amazing lunch. My best memories of Sunday morning are of waking up to the aromas of food wafting through the house.

Keeping the tradition alive

Few years ago when my husband and I moved to London, I was determined to keep this Sunday family tradition alive. I cooked the chicken adding my own twists and trying my best to recreate the same flavour that my parents seem to get spot-on every single time! So, when they came to London to visit us shortly after we had moved here, I was super delighted that they would cook this special Sunday family meal for us. As promised they cooked us their Sunday special while hubby and I eagerly took notes, clicked pictures and took in the whole energy they bring to this whole process.

This recipe is a spicier version of our traditional Sunday Chicken curry. The bord is cooked in thick gravy bursting with flavour. My Baba loves serving this with Jeera Rice and a beautifully simple Maharahstian Kakdichi Koshimbir in Dahi – Cucumber yoghurt raita. I hope you will enjoy cooking up this dish and hopefully creating happy family memories of your own.

Spicy Chicken – Chitnis Family Sunday Special recipe

manjirichitnis

My family’s Sunday Special Chicken curry recipe

5 from 4 votes

A spicy and easy traditional Indian chicken curry recipe

Print Recipe

Cook Time 25

Servings: 4

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Indian

Ingredients Equipment Method

Ingredients

For marinating overnight

1.25 Kilos Chicken – curry pieces / 1 medium sized whole
25 gm fresh coriander
1 tbsp toasted Dhane/coriander seeds
1 tsp Toasted Jeere/ Cumin
3 cloves Lasun/Garlic
15 gms Aale/Ginger
2 Dry Laal Mirchya/ Red Chillies
2 Dry Kashmiri Laal Mirchya/ Red Chillies
2 Hirvya Mirchya/ Spicy Green chillies
2.5 tsp Halad/Turmeric powder
2 tsp Meeth/Salt
1 tbsp Tel/ Cooking Oil

Tomato-Onion Mix for the gravy

1 tbsp from the marinade above
2 medium Ripe Tomatoes
2 medium Kaande/Red Onions/ Bombay Onions
2 cloves Lasun/Garlic
10 gm Aale/Fresh Ginger
5 gm Fresh coriander leaves

For the Phodni/ Tadka

2 tbsp Tel/ Oil
1 tbsp Sajuk Tuj/ Pure ghee
2 Tamalpatra/Bay Leaves
1 small piece of Dalchini/Cinnamon stick
Pinch Hing/Asafoetida
3 tbsp Garam Masala
2 tsp Coriander powder
2 tsp Halad/ Turmeric powder
3 tsp Laal Tikhat/ Extra Hot Red chilli powder
1 tsp Meeth/ Salt – or as per taste

Garnish

One dry red Kashmiri chilli and one green chilli sautéed insome oil /ghee
Few fresh leaves of coriander to tear and scatter on top

Equipment

Large heavy bottomed pot with Lid/Pressure cooker/ Instant Pot / slow cooker
Spice grinder
Blender
Knife
Chopping Board

Method

Wash the chicken curry pieces and place in a large mixing bowl. I always use chicken without skin
Make a thick paste in the mixer-grinder/ blender using all theingredients , asfmentionedabove for the marinade.Ensure the consistency is that of a thick paste and not a watery mixture
Using a sharp knife make small cuts to the chicken flesh to allow the marinade to really penetrate inside the chicken, this will ensure that each piece is flavourful and not just from the outside
Apply the marinade onto the washed chicken curry pieces, season with some salt and a splash of oil. Mariante overnight in the refigerator
The next day get the marinated chicken out of the refrigerator about an hour before cooking
While the chicken is coming to room temperature, make the puree usingall the ingredients as mentioned above for the tomato and onion mixture. Ensure this mixture it is not watery. Set aside.
Heat oil in a heavy-bottomed pan or a pressure cooker
When the oil is hot, add the asafoetida, sauté the bay leaf and cinnamon stick (dry red kashmiri chilli at this stage is optional)
Add the garam masala, coriander powder and sauté
Then add the onion-tomato mixture and cook for under two minutes until the mixture thickens
Now add in the marinated chicken stir and some water, mix well. Add the red chilli powder turmeric powder and salt
Add just enough water to allow for a thick gray. Stir , cover and cook on a medium flame until the gravy begins to boil
Cover and cook until the chicken is totally cooked through and the oil seperates, this shoud take approximately 20 minutes on a low flame. Stir occasionaly to ensure the gravy does not dry out In the pressure cooker this takes two whistles – for a large bird three whistles
Garnish with roughly chopped fresh coriander leaves and the fried red kashmiri chilli and green chilli
Serve hot with a side of pipping hot jeera rice and some cucumber raita

Loved this recipe? For more chicken recipes try some more of my creations:

The Sand Man

May 30, 2012 by manjirichitnis Leave a Comment

Ok it’s official then , I am the WORLD’S worst aunt ….I love my 4 year niece dearly but to make her bedtime stick I scared her with a story … I told her that if she didn’t fall asleep by 8 pm every night …then …the SAND MAN would come ….

Her deep black pretty eyes widened with fear and she shook a little in her cute little bed and covered in her pink duvet she looked even more tiny ,surrounded by soft toys and what have you …

She whispered ,” but WHO sends him… and WHY ?”

Well, I said with a grave face , ” It’s the QUEEN !”

Shocked beyond her wildest fears A looked and me and said ” But the QUEEN is so NICE ,why does she do THISsssss????”

Pat came my reply ,” Well it’s part of her duties to see that all the little people in her Kingdom are well-behaved so if any one below the age of 8 is found to be AWAKE beyond 8pm he or she are made to face the SAND MAN”

Now really terrified she said ,”But WHAT does HE do?” her voice only a whisper now and she looked nervously at the door and clutched my hand even tighter …

”Oh , nothing he just mumbles something and POOF blows a bit of sand into the eyes of the kids and they fall asleep instantly (HA!) ”

A went all quiet and shut her eyes as tight as she could and tried to fall asleep , all the while her smart little brain thinking about this whole new threat to her 4-year-old play time way past her bedtime 😉

”But HOW does the QUEEN know I am awake ??”

AAH smart one little girl but I have an answer ready HA !

”Well, MY DEAR the QUEEN has a massive GPS tracking device fitted into all TV sets of families with little people below the age of 8 and that’s how she KNOWS”

A swallowed that bait and tried to fall asleep , but sleep was eluding her in the wake of this breaking news !

She peeled open her eyes and said ” what is the time?” I told her it was ten minutes past 8pm, she almost shrieked and said ”PLEASE tell the QUEEN not to send him today I am a GOOD girl,aren’t I ? I shall ALWAYS fall sleep by 8pm !! IS HE COMING go check ….”

Now my ”grown up’s” conscience pricked me a little and I comforted her ,telling her and assuring her that I knew she was an angel and so did the Queen so no Sand Man tonight but from tomorrow onwards surely he would keep a close watch on her lest she behaved badly and refused to sleep off by 8pm or even refused to brush her teeth before bed ….sigh the fibs one has to tell !

Just when I thought she has slipped into la-la land , her sleepy voice asked ” But why don’t GROWN UP’s like you have a SAND MAN too? What is YOUR bed time ??”

Now she had caught me off guard , but without skipping a beat , I told her the HARD fact of life ,” my dear , we grown up’s are supposed to be RESPONSIBLE for our actions and so we should also be asleep at least by 11pm , or it’s not good for our health ”

Satisfied with that reply she fell asleep still clutching onto my hand …as I crept out the room and switched on the little night lamp , I felt triumphant at having ensured that a 4-year-old will hopefully now sleep on time almost everyday .

A few days later I received a call from my sister-in-law , she was happy to inform me that the SAND MAN story was still quite fresh in her mind and she had even tried standing in front of the television set beyond 8pm waiting for him but unnerved by the consequences had run up to her room and slept off almost immediately ! we giggled like school girls but I admitted how guilty I felt at having scared her into sleeping on time …

How innocent is the mind of little children who do at times , even in today’s times , believe what the adults tell them , especially the one’s they trust … If nothing I felt more protective towards her and of course fell in love with my sweet little angel all over again ….

Hail SAND MAN and yes apologies to Her Highness the Queen for adding yet another responsibility to your long list of duties , but I do want you to know that my sweet 4 year likes you a lot and so do I …

When the DAY takes control …..

February 8, 2012 by manjirichitnis Leave a Comment

I had a lovely day today, a close pal came over with her cute four year old and I cooked us a simple meal , we then went do some much needed shopping for groceries for us and after the boy had a good run around in his favourite play zone, I was dropped home to spend the evening relaxing.

I honestly hadn’t planned any of this and expected today to be like any typical day at home when I am not working part time and spend my time doing an unpaid job – LOOKING for a job – applying online to as many suitable vacancies as I can.

But that’s exactly what I love about today. Sometimes such unplanned surprises what turn a ho hum drum day into a simply delightful one .Cheers to more such relaxed simple days.

Oh , spring when will come so we can spend more time outside than freeze every time we step out of the door??

Sweet Solitude, Sweet Love

February 7, 2012 by manjirichitnis Leave a Comment

O Solitude I seek thee,
As fresh rains want open fields and dancing children run home after light ,
For only you, thus, Intrigue me.
As I dive deep into thy Abyss,
Cold blue waters engulf me all around,
It’s only then that I see ALL else slip away,
And only your love surrounds ,
For that’s when you truly open up to me and I hear your sweet silent sound .
Strange as it may seem too you,
This appalling silence holds,
a thousand screams that befall,
On ears that listen and eyes that speak,
And yet they never seem to talk ,
Just walk past without a nod or smile ,
And all that’s left around in that abyss is Solitude and me .
So drowning dead and sinking to a watery grave is but obvious I need not implore ,
I wait eagerly for the cold embrace in the blue waters of my mind ,
It’s only when I am dying that I know I surely will find,
What we all wish to behold but never really find ,it’s always been there somewhere ,
Lost in the recesses of our mind ,
I fall asleep silently with death embracing that is so cold ,yet warm in Solitude’s embrace ,she , caresses my troubled soul,
Such is the love of solitude that I couldn’t resist, just had to seek n find ,
If this wasn’t true love ,my dear beloved
Please be so kind and pray tell me what is true love , that we have never found .

the last embrace

The above post was done by me last year on a lovely group called Phrase Catchers on Facebook where I post from time to time , it was written when I was in a grey period for a while ,feeling lonely in this big city and missing my old life , the image posted above is from a very, very beautifully written blog and the post it is from is so touching it made me sad … very emotional blog (http://circuschildren.blogspot.com/2009_11_01_archive.html) ….thanks for letting me use the image here Ms.Circus Princess , I am sure your blog writing was catharsis in itself. I also like how she has written a polite but firm request for her friends to respect her privacy. Read her blog it takes you on a journey …

Of movies and GREAT MOVIES

January 25, 2012 by manjirichitnis 6 Comments

Some movies have such an impact that they make you smile somewhere deep inside , they give us hope , that kind of hope that can stir up a twinkle in the eye of even the most deprived of souls …The Shawshank Redemption is one such movie.

I cannot fathom why I haven’t seen it for all these years …

It’s the kind of movie I would see with my Father , he loves watching war movies ,old westerns and the like .When he and my mother came to visit us last year we had a lovely few weeks together. He made a list of his all time favourite films all old English awesome one really …I would love to share that list will try and find the paper where he wrote it …

We would have an early dinner and then I would download the movie on my laptop using utorrent and my parents and me would crowd around my laptop and watch it only stop if I wanted a break in between I always do, movies make me hungry errr hungrier to be honest …am always hungry 😉 My mum doses off after the first 15 minutes and wakes up after a few more and asks why so and so did this and what is happening and then dose off blissfully again , though she’s one determined person I tell you , she wouldn’t quit halfway would sit through to the end with me and daddy.

Anyway, this ritual went on for about 15 days after which my Laptop crashed due to some bug and when it was done up again it was time for them to go , the weather had changed ,it was much colder than their old bones could handle so they would turn in earlier and stay home most day.

I do miss them, but I miss my dad the most when I see such movies. I almost imagined I was curled up next to him as I was seeing this movie. Will call him tomorrow and tell him about it, of course am sure he has seen it and will have some interesting movie facts to tell me, he always does.

The following lines are ingrained in my mind forever and ever – “Hope is a Good Thing,Maybe the BEST thing and Good Things NEVER Die” – Andy from The Shawshank Redemption.

It’s a movie that will stay with me for a long long time to come ,maybe some day I too shall sit down with my kids and share such moments ….hopefully 🙂

P.S: Baba’s List of Must watch movies , family favourites at ours and anytime watchs for a LIFETIME…

*Where Eagles Dare

*North By North West

*The Bridge on the River Kwai

*The Eagle has Landed

*The man who knew too much – who can forget Doris Day singing “Que Sera, Sera Sera (Whatever Will Be, Will Be)“

*Dial M for Murder

*Psycho

* Butch Cassidy and the Sun Dance Kid

*Mackenna’s Gold

*It Happened One Night

*The 39 Steps