VARAN, BHAT (Dal - Rice) & FRIED SHRIMPS - A simple yet delicious meal...!

I do not need to serve an elaborate menu (Panch-Pakwana) to satisfy my picky eaters. A simple, but most comforting meal of Varan-Bhaat and Fried Shrimp (Curry, Rice and Fried Shrimp) works well.

Dal is a preparation of dried lentils, beans or split pulses, and is  an important part of the Indian cuisine - and Varan is the simplest form of the different kinds of dals.. It is eaten with rice, roti (an indian flatbread) and vegetables. Dal is a good source of protein for a balanced diet containing little or no meat. There are many varieties of Dal - Toor Dal, Chana Dal, Moong Dal, Masoor Dal, Urad Dal - to name a few.

Today lets start with the basic but most relished, comforting and simple form of Dal - VARAN..

VARAN

    Ingredients

• 1 cup Toor Dal ( Yellow piegon peas)
• 3 cups Water
• 3/4 tsp Turmeric Powder
• 1/2 tsp Asafetida
• 1tsp Jaggery
• 2 tsp Ghee (Clarified Butter) - I add just 1 tsp ghee to the varan for the sake of dieting and allow everyone to add more if desired to their serving.
• 1 Lemon - cut into 8 pcs - to sprinkle on the varan-bhat if desired
• Salt according to taste

    Directions

• Wash the toor dal 3-4 times. Add 3 cups water and cook in a pressure cooker for up to 5 whistles. The softer the dal the better it tastes.
• Pour the cooked dal in a saucepan. Add some water if desired depnding on the consistency you want. 
• Add turmeric powder, asafetida, salt and jaggery, mix well and let it boil on medium heat for 6-8 minutes. Add ghee and turn off the heat.
• Serve hot with rice, papad, pickle, and potato fritters. My family loves fried shrimp with varan-bhat.

RICE

No fuss dish is what I call plain rice. You can use any kind of rice you like, but Basmati tastes best with varan.

Ingredients

•  2 cups Rice
• 4 cups Water

Directions

• Wash rice in a microwave safe glass bowl. 

• Add the required quantity of water ( twice that of rice)
• Cook in the microwave for 14 minutes.
• Cook for another 3 minutes.
• The rice is nice and fluffy and ready to be served.

FRIED SHRIMPS

     Ingredients

• 30 medium Shrimps - cleaned, deviened and washed
• 2 tsp Red Chili Powder (for medium spicy) - If you prefer more or less spicy add chili powder accordingly
• 1/2 tsp Turmeric Powder
• a pinch of Asafetida
• 1/2 tsp Garlic powder
• 1/4 tsp Ginger powder
• Salt according to taste
• 1 cup Rice Flour to coat the shrimps before frying
• Oil for shallow frying

    Directions

• Mix chili powder,turmeric powder, asafetida, garlic powder, ginger powder and salt in a bowl and add some water to make a thick paste.
• Add the shrimps coat well with the spice mix (masala).
• Heat oil in a pan.
• Dip the marinated shrimps in rice flour and shallow fry for about 3-4 minutes on medium heat.
• Turn the shrimp and fry for another 2-3 minutes.
• Remove on a plate lined with a paper towel so the excess oil gets absorbed.
• Serve hot with Varan and Bhat.

For my vegetarian friends you can make potato fritters instead of fried shrimp.
Follow the same method and ingredients for the shrimp. Instead of the shrimp use potatoes. Peel the potatoes and cut into 1/4 inch thick slices. Rinse in water, drain and pat dry with a paper towel. Coat with the same spice mix as the fried shrimp and follow the same procedure.


Enjoy your meal and see you again soon...with some Holiday treats..!