Friday, April 05, 2013

Amader Barir Chirer Pulao, Flattened Rice Pulao from a Bengali Home

Apparently some Professor of some University somewhere around the world put up a note in class about how he knows when students are “texting” in class, “because no one looks at their crotch and smiles”, it said.

Now that may have triggered some chuckles in campus, but that’s the reality. And it’s not the teens and tweens who are having endless conversations on their smartphone devices. Its us adults too. In between meals, meetings, coffee breaks, at the dinner table and while out on a date, and even while putting the baby to sleep.

Its wonderful how our two thumbs can do so much talking! Thank god there are no Dronacharyas around in this day and age. Between the husband and me, cell phones and television are banned during meal times. That is something I have learned from my own Mother. We wouldn’t have TV on during lunch or dinner, unless there was some life changing India-Pakistan cricket match happening. Cell phones with texting features did not exist then.

What did exist were plain old black telephones, with their black curly cords. Where people would chat for hours, without the fear of being charged by the minute. The receiver was so heavy, our hands would ache from just holding it. I still remember when as a 10-year-old, we got the first phone at home. It took us three years of wait time to have a phone connection back then in the late 1980s. But then it was another century then. The Nineteen Eighties. That was also the time, I as a budding pre-teen hated taking a lunch box to school. Though, now that I look back, I’d probably say my sister and I had the best lunches in class. Nutritious and interesting food prepared by my Mum every morning.

IMG_1215This Chirer Pulao was a winter favourite of hers. It makes for a sumptuous mid-day snack for growing kids if you pack it with seasonal vegetables and nuts. There were also no nut allergies back then!

The ingredients for Chirer Pulao are:

1 cup chire/chura/flattened rice, choose the thin, long-grain variety
1 potato, remove the skin and cut into small cubes
1 small red onion, finely chopped
Handful of cauliflower flowerets, cut into small pieces
Few green chillies, finely chopped
Half cup green peas (frozen or fresh)
Handful of broken cashew nuts
Handful of peanuts
Handful of raisins
Handful of fresh coriander, finely chopped
Vegetable oil
Sugar
Salt

Begin by heating oil in a thick pan. Add the cubed potatoes and shallow fry till they turn golden brown. Remove with a slotted spoon and keep.

IMG_1203

In the remaining oil, add the cauliflower. Shallow fry till lightly browned and keep.

IMG_1204

Add the peanuts (first), cashew and raisins in that order and sauté on low heat till the peanuts and cashew are lightly browned.

IMG_1205Add the green peas and cook for a few minutes without parching the peas and making them look all wrinkly. Keep them out with the potato, etc.

IMG_1206

In the remaining oil, add the green chillies and onions and sauté till translucent.

IMG_1207

IMG_1208Quickly but thoroughly wash the chire and drain in a colander. Add to the cooked onions, etc. Mix.

IMG_1209

IMG_1211. Now add the other shallow-fried ingredients – potato, cauliflower, peas, nuts, and raisins. Mix well. Keep moving the wet chire around in the pan till it gets coated with all the other ingredients.

IMG_1213Season with salt and sugar and add the chopped coriander.

Do a taste test and adjust the seasoning if needed. Serve the Chirer Pulao warm in little bowls or send some packing for lunch to your kids’ school.

IMG_1212

9 comments:

Chandrani said...

made this for an evening snack.worked out excellent :-) Mum-in-law superrrrr happy.

PreeOccupied said...

Chandrani, already? I just posted it. :-)

Chandrani said...

See ur recipes r such couldn't hold myself.Thanks for posting.

Priya Suresh said...

Can have it anytime,drooling here.

Chondryma said...

Chirer Pulao was a hate hate dish for me when I was a kid. God said, dara toke dekhachhi mauja. He sent a hubby who loves chire and craves for poha (Maharashtrian style) every weekend... hahaha !!! Hubbys' happy that Pree posted a Chire recipe... Surely making this for next Sunday's breaky

sulagna said...

Pree i used to hate anything to do with chirey as a kid, and then i landed in Poha city...
However, this is my moms favorite Bikel belar ranna..i can almost see my Ma in her chiffon printed saree, light lipstick,red bindi, cooking in the kitchen :) oh by the way..since Ma is here she just taught me Chirey diye aalor chop...

Dawn said...

Ran into your blog from a random search.. What a pleasure to find such a beautiful one!! Thank u for this. I know the North Indian version and the South Indian upma version with chirey but not the true blue Bengali version.. Thank u for the connection with roots.. This brings back memories of evening snacks with grandma!!

In my mind's eyes... said...

PP..i tried this one for Tojo's school tiffin and he loved it...next day I also got it to offc :P

Bhishon bhalo hoyechhilo....

Unknown said...

Thanks for the recipe it was awesome 😊