Sometimes the simplest of food can bring such comfort. For me, my comfort soul food is sindhi fote bhugi khichdi, accompanied by a potato sabji, crispy brinjal or karela and a piece of fried fish. Being a Sindhi, I have grown up eating delicious simple food cooked by my mom. Sindhi food is really simple and easy to put together.
When I got married, every sunday our food was FOTE BHUGI KHICHDI( khichdi cooked with cardamom) methi patata, dahi and fryums.. it was the family sunday meal. Over time I changed the methi aloo to a fusion aloo sabji( aka malaysian and Bengali fusion). Now its cooked twice a month😊But its a meal I look forward to . Please do try this combination. SOULFOOD FROM MY HOME TO YOURS.
Fote Bhugi Khichdi
- 2 cups rice
- 1/2 cup split green moong dal (with skin)
- 2 tsps freshly ground elaichi (cardamom) powder
- 2 tsps shah jeeri
- 2 tsps salt
- 2 to 3 tbsps oil
Method:
- Mix the dal and rice, wash well and soak for an hour. Drain out the water.
- Heat a pan, add oil, jeeri and elaichi powder. Once fragrant, add the rice and dal mix.
- Saute for few mins, add salt and enough water to cook the khichdi. We want each grain seperate, not a mushy khichdi.
- Ps: I cook the khichdi with enough water to cover; once water dries up I shift the rice to a steamer and steam cook for 20 mins.
Fusion Aloo Sabji
- 3 boiled, peeled and cubed potatoes
- 1 small onion sliced
- 1 small onion chopped finely
- 2 medium tomatoes, finely chopped
- 1 tbsp minced ginger
- 1 tbsp minced garlic
- 1/2 tbsp paanch phoran (mix mustard seeds, cumin seeds, methi seeds, onion seeds, saunf)
- 10 curry leaves (1 sprig)
- 2 heaped tsps curry powder (I used malaysian baba brand)
- 2 tsps red chillie powder
- Salt to taste
- Corriander, finely chopped
Method:
- Heat 2 to 3 tbsps mustard oil in a pan, add panch phoran, followed by curry leaves.
- Add minced garlic and ginger; saute. Add the diced onions and saute till translucent.
- Add chopped tomatoes, curry powder, salt, and red chillie powder. Mix well.
- Add the cubed potatoes and sliced onion. Mix and finally add corriander leaves. Done.
Typical Sindhi Fried Fish
- Take one boneless fillet of snapper. Marinate in turmeric and salt, give a lime rub, and shallow fry in oil.
- Remove and sprinkle generously with red chillie powder, corriander seed powder, and amchoor (dried mango powder).
- This is a typical Sindhi sprinkle mix for fried fish or fried arbi.