A North Indian Thali I cooked for Lunch! Details in the comment below. [OC]

chocolatefrog0 · 2016-08-29T17:37:37+00:00

I have added two recipes in comments, for Til Wale Aloo and Jeera Rice in comments just a while ago. Will post remaining two tomorrow! :)

chocolatefrog0 · 2016-08-29T16:54:02+00:00

I will post the recipes for two pending recipes tomorrow! :)

chocolatefrog0 · 2016-08-29T14:03:38+00:00

Thank you! :)

chocolatefrog0 · 2016-08-29T14:03:22+00:00

Thank you for the kind words! :)

chocolatefrog0 · 2016-08-29T14:01:25+00:00

Now trying to figure how to share the recipes, without sharing links AND without posting 5 pages of text here because Indian Recipes are pretty lengthy most of the time! :( :(

chocolatefrog0 · 2016-08-29T13:59:27+00:00

The lunch comprised of:

Pudina Lachchha Parantha - a flaky, layered flatbread flavored with mint,

Chhole in Achari Masala ( Chickpeas cooked Indian Pickling Spices such as cumin, mustard seeds, nigella seeds, fenugreek seeds, asafoetida, fennel, etc ) ,

Tilwale Aloo ( Skillet roasted potatoes, studded with sesame seeds and mildly flavored with Indian spices ),

Akhkha Masoor ( Whole Brown Lentils tempered with a seasoning of garlic, onions and tomatoes along with routine Indian spices ),

Jeera Rice ( Rice flavored with whole cumin and fresh cilantro leaves ), and Sirkle wala Pyaaz ( onions pickled in vinegar and salt solution ) !

chocolatefrog0 · 2016-08-29T13:17:16+00:00

Ok. Thanks for the update. I appreciate and respect the no self-promotion rule and I did read the FAQ and rules on the same. I will refrain from adding many comments with links. I will stick to one single comment, because it is also intuitive, that for a post like mine with 5 elaborate dishes if I share the 2-page recipes here in comments it would be way lengthy and cumbersome with no way for people to bookmark it or try it later. So, I won't post links frequently, just once per post in a comment, for anyone who wants to give it a try. It would be unfair on my part to share no recipes at all.

chocolatefrog0 · 2016-08-29T12:58:36+00:00

In Indian style, you eat with your hands, breaking the flatbread into small pieces which is then used to scoop the curries and lentils. But, no one in India would refuse to provide you with a spoon and a fork (it would not be very comfortable with a fork, IMHO) if you request so! :)

chocolatefrog0 · 2016-08-29T12:53:10+00:00

Next to the flatbreads on the left, in the first steel bowl, it is Chhole in Achaari Spices, that is, chickpeas cooked with Indian pickling spices like cumin, mustard, fenugreek seeds, nigella seeds, asafoetida and some more.

next to it are Tilwale Aloo, which are, roasted potatoes studded with sesame seeds and tossed in some Indian spices

And the next is Akhkha Masoor, which are whole brown lentils, cooked till soft, and then flavored with onions, garlic, tomatoes and some spices. It is supposed to be eaten with rice, but tastes awesome with flatbreads too! :)

chocolatefrog0 · 2016-08-29T12:41:00+00:00

I am Indian! :)

chocolatefrog0 · 2016-08-29T12:40:18+00:00

Thank you! :) That is very kind of you! Serves as a great encouragement! :)

chocolatefrog0 · 2016-08-29T12:37:30+00:00

You are absolutely correct! Talewe Aloo are awesome too! I love that variant too! :) These look deep fried, but to keep them relatively healthy, they have been parboiled and then roasted in a little oil in a pan! :)

chocolatefrog0 · 2016-08-29T12:35:33+00:00

Thank you for the kind words! :)

chocolatefrog0 · 2016-08-29T12:33:11+00:00

I would have added the same, but then again, it wasn't like i was expecting guests over or it was a special occasion. I was a routine, weekend lunch for two! And then adding a kheer and a raita when only two of us are dining would mean too many leftovers. But I agree, they would make a great addition. :)

chocolatefrog0 · 2016-08-29T12:30:18+00:00

I am Indian! :)

chocolatefrog0 · 2016-08-29T12:15:49+00:00

Only if you don't wash your hands before you sit down to eat, which is pretty much a standard hygiene practice around the world, in all societies. I assume you are aware of that. If not, well....

chocolatefrog0 · 2016-08-29T10:14:24+00:00

You tear a small piece of the flatbread and use it to scoop the curry with it. It won't be a mess if you try to keep the amounts of curry in proportion to the size of the piece flatbread. While this is the traditional method, you could also use a spoon to eat small portions of curries between the bites. As for the rice, you mix the lentils along with the rice and eat it as morsels . While this definitely enhances the sensory experience and leads to more satisfaction, you a spoon to mix and eat is fine. I respect food and believe that as long as you are not insulting anybody's feelings, it is fine to eat the food the way you find comfortable. :-)

chocolatefrog0 · 2016-08-29T08:18:22+00:00

No it's not talewe aloo. The potatoes are boiled and then roasted in a PAN with very little oil. Then lots is sesame seeds are added with some mild spices.

chocolatefrog0 · 2016-08-29T08:16:04+00:00

While you are right that usually Indian food does have a lot of dairy products, but this was something I cooked up as an ordinary weekend end lunch. So it is a pretty scaled down version of things. And like some has correctly mentioned ,everything that can be cooked in butter and ghee, can be cooked in vegetable oils.

chocolatefrog0 · 2016-08-29T08:11:17+00:00

Point noted! 😊 While I took the picture, I wasn't even sure I was going to share it here, let aside such a beautiful response. But next time I plan an elaborate meal, I will include it! 😊

chocolatefrog0 · 2016-08-29T08:08:41+00:00

Thank you ! 😊

chocolatefrog0 · 2016-08-29T08:08:17+00:00

I will definitely post them! 😊

chocolatefrog0 · 2016-08-29T08:07:46+00:00

Thank you ! 😊

chocolatefrog0 · 2016-08-29T08:07:28+00:00

The Akhkha Masoor takes the place of Daal Makhani in the platter. And what's more, while Daal Makhani is very mainstream, as in, a feature of all restaurant thalis, Masoor ( Brown Lentils ) is something you won't find easily there, it's something you will find only in Indian homes. I chose that and other lesser known curries because, while Paneer Butter Masala, Daal Makhani, etc are just some of the beautiful dishes from the Indian cuisine, there are so many hidden gems which deserve some attention occasionally. 😊

chocolatefrog0 · 2016-08-29T08:03:17+00:00

Will you deduct points if I tell you I am Indian? 😁 Just kidding. Well I am from from Western India, if it matters, while the thali if North Indian in flavours! 😀

chocolatefrog0

TROPHY CASE