Ghugni

Ghugni.... Reminds me of sunday mornings as a kid. My Mom used to make Luchi and ghugni; a bengali delicacy, for most of the sunday breakfasts. My dad used to like it sprinkled with "Bhaja masla" which is a mix of different whole spices dry roasted and ground together. But I like it with finely chopped onion and coriander leaves and a little lemon juice... Yummm!!!!!

There are many variations of Ghugni. Generally bengalis make it with small cubes of potatos but one can make with small cubes of chicken pieces, and it will be "Mangsher Ghugni". I once made it without the aloo and the chicken (I was in a diet :D). It was delicious too.

So lets get cooking..Shall we??

Ingredients: (serves 4)

Dry yellow peas : 1 cup
Potato : 1 (medium) cut into small cubes
Onion : 1 (medium) thinly sliced
Tomato : 2 (medium) chopped
Green Chillies : 1 or 2 broken (I like to break them rather than cutting)
Cumin Seeds : 1 tbsp
Ginger paste : 2 tbsp
Turmeric powder : 1 tsp
Chilli powder : 2 tsp
Cumin powder : 2 tsp
Coriander powder : 1 tsp
Salt to taste
Oil : 3 tbsp
Lime juice : 2 tbsp
Fresh coconut slices : cut into small pieces
Fresh coriander leaves for garnishing

Bhaja masala : Dry roast 1 dry red chilli, 1 tblsp. cumin seed, 2 cloves, 1 cardamon pod and immediately grind it to fine powder

Method:

I get whole yellow peas here as Ghugnir dal. Take 1 cup of that and soak into the water. In India we need to soak it overnight but here, 3-4 hrs is enough.

soaked

Once soaked put it in the pressure cooker with salt and turmeric and put 1 whistle. 1 whistle because you don't want it to be overcooked. If it is little undercooked that's okay. You can boil it for few more minutes after opening the lid of the cooker and it will be all fine.

Now put a kadhai or wok on the heat and pour some oil into it. Once the oil is heated add the cumin seeds and saute for few seconds and add the potato cubes into the oil. Add little turmeric powder to the potatoes and fry them till they are little golden.

Now add the onions and coconut slices and again fry for few minutes. Add the tomatoes, broken chilis and grated ginger and staute for some more time. Add salt, cumin powder, coriander powder and chili powder and mix well.

I din't have tomatoes today :(

Now add the boiled yellow peas in the masala mix and stir to combine will. Add water to your desired consistency and bring it to a boil. Check for the seasonings and adjust if needed. Take it off the heat and sprinkle some freshly squeezed lemon juice.

Garnish with finely chopped onion and chopped coriander leaves or the "Bhaja Masla" mentioned earlier. Serve hot. :)

The final product.

Bon Appetit!!!!!!

If you want to make it with chicken then cut the chicken pieces in cubes and saute it with the potatoes and onions. Every thing remains same, only saute it for some more time. Once the chicken cubes are cooked you can put the peas in and Voila!!!

P.S: My husband finished the whole thing within 1/2 hr today.. I am sooo happy.. :)