I call it 'Wedding Palya'!

Well, well...so here I am! Yes, I haven't disappeared from the face of the earth :) To tell you the truth, I have been so busy that I haven't had time to post. 'Pretty cliched and lame', you may say...but it IS true! The way I've been cooking for the past couple of weeks, I should probably be posting every single day! Oh the irony!

Anyways, so I thought I'd sign in and share this recipe with you. I had to share it. This is something that I talk about often but had never tried before. And today, I made it at home, just like that! Okay so now I better tell you what I'm talking about, right? It's what I call 'maduve palya' (literally translated: wedding steamed salad). no points for guessing why :) This kind of palya is typically served at weddings or other large gatherings where a traditional south Indian meal is served on a fresh plantain leaf. All you south Indians or more particularly from south Karnataka would probably know that this dish is generally made with suvarna gedde or suran or yam. I made it in my cozy little kitchen with kent pumpkin.

Here's the recipe -

• 2 cups diced pumpkin
• salt to taste
• a pinch of turmeric

 For the spice paste -

• 1/4 cup fresh coconut
• 5-6 dry red chillies
• 1/4 tspn black mustard seeds
• a pinch of hing
• a (very) small piece of jaggery/molasses
• 1/4 tspn tamarind paste

For tempering -

• 1/2 tspn oil
• 1/4 tspn mustard seeds
• 1/4 tspn urad dal
• 1/4 tspn chana dal
• a few curry leaves

Method -

1. Microwave/steam the pumpkin with a pinch of turmeric. Try and keep the pieces firm (but cooked) and not very mushy.
2. Make the spice paste with all ingredients mentioned. Use very little water. (all ingredients are to be ground just the way they are, no roasting required)
3. Heat oil in a pan and add all ingredients for tempering, in the same order.
4. Add cooked pumpkin, salt to taste and mix well.
5. Put in the spice paste and mix well.
6. Serve with hot rice and tomato rasam.

As I was cooking this, the subtle aroma brought back memories of the several gatherings we used to have back at home. The familiar sights, the sounds, the food! I think I'll do a post on wedding food soon :)

Till next time...cook, serve, eat, love!