Passport & Plate - HALDI PATRA PITHA (PAN CAKE IN TURMERIC LEAVES)
India | Friday, March 6, 2015 | 4 photos
Ingredients
Cooking Time Required: 30 mins
Persons served: 4
Ingredients:
1. Black gram (urad dal, 125 gm.),
2. Raw rice (500 gm.),
3. Coconut (2 nos ),
4. Sugar (100 gm.),
5. Cardamom ( 4 nos ),
6. Turmeric leaves ( 8-10 nos ),
7. Salt to taste
How to prepare this recipePreparation:
1. Soak the black gram and raw rice separately overnight. Grind black gram into a fine paste. Coarsely paste raw rice.
2. Add to the black gram paste along with 1/2 tsp. salt to the raw rice paste. Keep for 6 hours or till it ferments. (The fermented batter should not get sour.)
3. Grate the coconut.
4. Heat a kadhai. Add the cardamom powder, grated coconut and sugar. Stir fry till the sugar mixes well. Remove from the fire and keep aside to cool.
5. Heat water in an idli maker/pressure cooker. Bring to a boil. Tie a muslin cloth over the idli maker tightly.
6. Wash the turmeric leaves and cut into 6 inches long pieces.
7. Take a blob of the batter and spread evenly on the leaf.
8. Spread 2-3 tsp. of the coconut mixture over the batter.
9. Fold the leaf carefully and place on the idli stand.
10. Repeat the process for the remaining batter/leaves. The leaves can be stacked one over the other for 2-3 layers. Close the lid and steam for 15-20 mins.
11. Remove from the stove.
12. Remove the turmeric leaves. Serve the pitha or pan cake.
N.B.: This is a seasonal recipe. In other times when turmeric leaves are unavailable they can be replaced by banana leaves. But if banana leaves are used, then crushed raw turmeric has to be added to the water inside the idli maker so that the turmeric flavour is retained.
The story behind this recipeEarly in December it was, and time to celebrate Prathamashtami, a ritual in Odisha for the prosperity of the eldest child in the family. I was nine years old and was visiting my Granny for holidays. I being the eldest child in the family obviously drew all attention and felt like a little prince, as the atmosphere was getting charged by the chanting of mantras that came from a cassette player that was as old as my Granny.
There was my Granny in the kitchen screaming at my mom for not doing something that she had asked her to do. So typical of a granny! She was busy steaming something. I got rather curious to see what was being prepared me to eat and ran into the kitchen. Oh my god the subtle smell of fresh turmeric tickled my nostrils as I closed my eyes and took a few deep breaths to imagine the taste of the pan cakes that were being made; My granny caught me by my ears and told me to go and sit quietly until the food for offering to the Lord was ready! Disappointed, I went and sat wondering why she said it was being prepared for the Lord and not me.
As the time passed the entire house had smell fresh turmeric and I was getting impatient to eat them. It was soon time for the ritual. There I could see 7 pan cakes wrapped in turmeric leaves that were neatly placed on a brass dish. I had water in my mouth and was getting impatient to taste them while a whole lot of mantras were being chanted and the ceremony being performed.
Finally it was time and my Granny unwrapped one pan cake, placed the turmeric leaves aside, and gave it to me! One big bite and oh it was a fusion of flavours and what a treat for my taste buds. The taste of sweet coconut, cardamom, and a perfect blend of turmeric kept me enchanted with every bite into that pan cake! The more I my tongue rolled from side to side the more mesmerised I was by the flavours. I hugged my Granny to thank her for this wonderful dish, and had those pan cakes all day long! And till today this remains my favourite dish.
