Food memories.I have so many memories that I associate with food...with someone who cooks it in a particular way,something i ate somewhere many years back, food associated with growing up years..they all become such vivid memories.One such dish is the "Ghugni" - a curry dish made of dried white peas.This dish takes me down the memory lane and takes me back to my school days in Haflong where i spent some beautiful years while growing up.Many wouldnt know about this lovely pristine little hill station nestled in the N.C Hills of Assam.By the virtue of my dad"s posting there I had the privilege of living there.
pic courtesy - google
Now coming to my school " St. Agnes Convent " - reverence is all i have for it! It surely made me the person I am today instilling a strong value system in my life.
Now for the food connection.My school had this quaint little canteen that was run by few young girls who came from the villages and stayed in the hostel accomodation run by the sisters.There would be just a few food items available and the star being Ghugni or 'chana' as we would call it then.I remember to be the first in the queue as soon as the recess bell would ring to buy and savour a platefull!!! not to forget all the coaxing I had to do with my mom to allow me not carry a lunchbox fom home.
Over the years I have tried innumerable times to replicate that taste but have never been fully successful.Something would always be a miss - maybe it was the love with which it was made that the simplest of food will taste so good.Today again i tried to take a walk down the memory lane. Heres the recipe for u to try -
Ingredients :
White dried peas - 1 cup ( soaked overnite and boiled in the pressure cooker with 1 tsp salt and 1 tsp turmeric
Chopped onion - 1 medium
Chopped tomatoes - 1 medium
Green chillies - 5-6
Garlic paste - 1 tsp
Ginger paste - 1 tsp
Refined oil - 1 tbsp
Method :
In a pan , add the oil , fry the chopped onions, ginger, garlic paste till light brown in colour.
Next add the tomatoes and fry till the water dries up.
Toss in the boiled peas , taste for salt. If required add a little more. Mix well , garnish with green chillies and serve.
Now coming to my school " St. Agnes Convent " - reverence is all i have for it! It surely made me the person I am today instilling a strong value system in my life.
pic courtesy - facebook school page
Now for the food connection.My school had this quaint little canteen that was run by few young girls who came from the villages and stayed in the hostel accomodation run by the sisters.There would be just a few food items available and the star being Ghugni or 'chana' as we would call it then.I remember to be the first in the queue as soon as the recess bell would ring to buy and savour a platefull!!! not to forget all the coaxing I had to do with my mom to allow me not carry a lunchbox fom home.
Over the years I have tried innumerable times to replicate that taste but have never been fully successful.Something would always be a miss - maybe it was the love with which it was made that the simplest of food will taste so good.Today again i tried to take a walk down the memory lane. Heres the recipe for u to try -
Ingredients :
White dried peas - 1 cup ( soaked overnite and boiled in the pressure cooker with 1 tsp salt and 1 tsp turmeric
Chopped onion - 1 medium
Chopped tomatoes - 1 medium
Green chillies - 5-6
Garlic paste - 1 tsp
Ginger paste - 1 tsp
Refined oil - 1 tbsp
Method :
In a pan , add the oil , fry the chopped onions, ginger, garlic paste till light brown in colour.
Next add the tomatoes and fry till the water dries up.
Toss in the boiled peas , taste for salt. If required add a little more. Mix well , garnish with green chillies and serve.
