Mumbai… Pav Bhaji at Sardar’s or the hostel or the Sophia College Canteen…my friends and their love for VEG food…Hogging… Dosa-wala down the Sophia’s lane…Café Mondegar in Colaba with the NON-VEG goodies…or our so Indian-ised veg masala burgers treats at McDs… eating from each others tasty Tiffin boxes… cooking in the hostel or at certain friends places…sleepovers… Sandwiches at Right Place, Breach Candy… Ice-Cream- first day of the month at Gelatos… Dominos…

Lots of memories… many friends… many emotions… many instances… all with a mixture of sauces and spices.

Friendship Day is one such day when friends are given much more importance than otherwise, and are praised for all their goodness and specially for being a part of one’s life. However, today as I have my friends scattered all over India and some of them overseas too, and as I can’t be near them in person I decided to prepare or create a new dish which I haven’t before, as a tribute to all of them. Something new, something spicy, something tangy, something flavourful, something in VEG, a Friendship day special pulao, Sunday special too… something which is very easy to make and shall remind all my friends of me.

I shall surely treat each of my friends at my restaurant when it is ready. (Few more years to go, hopefully.)

A grand friendship day celebration yet to come.

This dish is inspired by few of my close Sophia College friends- some who dislike tomatoes but wouldn’t mind ketchup, many who are pure vegetarian, some who were vegetarian for fun, and some whose moms and grand moms cooked lovely food, which we ate during the break sitting only in the canteen and not in the classrooms (Strict BMM rules). This dish is also a combination of different ingredients which are like the different friends I made until now.

I hope you all love it, just like I did!

TANGY MASALA PULAO with RAITA

TANGY MASALA PULAO RECIPE

INGREDIENTS:

2 cups Basmati Rice- washed and soaked for 10 minutes

5 cups Water

2 tsp Pepper Powder

½ tsp Turmeric Powder

5 Veg Maggi Cubes- powdered

Oil as per requirement

1 ½ tbsp Garlic-Ginger Paste

3 large Onions- diced

5 large Tomatoes- diced

2 large Capsicums- diced

1 large Carrot- finely cubed

1 cup Fresh Green Peas

1 cup Paneer- cubed

3 tbsp Pav Bhaji Masala

1 cup Tomato Ketchup

2 tbsp Soya Sauce

METHOD:

Cook the rice with 4 cups of water, 2 tsp oil, maggi cubes, pepper and turmeric powder on a low flame until done. Cover and keep it aside for later use.

Heat 3 tbsp of oil in a large Kadai. Later add the garlic-ginger paste, and sauté for 10-15 seconds. Add the onions and sauté them until they turn golden brown. Add the tomatoes and let them cook on a low flame. Mix the Pav Bhaji masala, Tomato Ketchup and soya sauce in a small bowl and add it to the mixture. Leave it to simmer.

Add the rest of the ingredients i.e. the carrot, capsicums, fresh green peas, paneer, water and let it cook until the carrot is a little tender.

Add the cooked rice to the veggie mixture and toss well.

Serve hot with raita.

RAITA RECIPE

INGREDIENTS:

2 small cups Fresh Curd

3 small cucumbers- finely diced

2 large onions- finely chopped

A handful of fresh Coriander Leaves- finely chopped

A pinch of Salt and Pepper- as per taste

METHOD:

Add the cucumbers and onions to well beaten fresh curd. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and toss the mixture well. Refrigerate. Garnish with fresh coriander leaves before serving.

Voila! Friendship Day Special meal is ready.

Enjoy the feast! Cheers!