153) MASHINGA BHAJJILÉ UPKARI

MASHINGA BHAJJILÉ UPKARI

A CHILI COATED ROASTED

DRUMSTICK SIDE DISH

Ingredients:

     1)    Tender drumsticks – 500 gm.

     2)    Hot red chili powder – 1 teaspoon

     3)    Turmeric powder – ¼ teaspoon

     4)    Rice powder – 1 tablespoon

     5)    Asafoetida powder – 2 pinches

     6)    Mustard seeds – ¼ teaspoon

     7)    Coconut oil or other cooking oil – 1½ tablespoon

     8)    Tender curry leaves – 2 sprigs

     9)    Powdered salt – ½ teaspoon

To Cook:

          Cut off the tips of the drumsticks and scrape off a very thin string-like layer of skin with a sharp knife. Cut into 5 to 6 cm. pieces. Wash, drain and transfer to a bowl. Sprinkle the powdered salt, the chili powder, the turmeric powder, the rice powder and the asafoetida powder. Mix nicely with your fingers (use a glove if you have sensitive skin) and set aside to marinate for 10 minutes.

          Set a thick cast iron wok on high heat. Pour in the oil. Tip in the mustard seeds. As soon as the mustard seeds are about to finish crackling, tip in the marinated drumsticks together with their juice if any. Stir well, turn down the heat and cover with a lid. Stir occasionally. After 10 minutes, stick a knife into a piece of drumstick to check if it is cooked. When cooked, the knife will go in smoothly if pressed along the long grains of the drumstick.

          The skin will start to brown slightly. Now pluck the tender curry leaves from their sprigs and add. Stir well and switch off the heat. Serve as a side dish to rice with mild curries (dali toye, muringa ilaparippu curry, moggya toye, saambar etc.).

A note – to those who are not familiar with eating drumsticks

          Drumsticks are very fibrous and cannot be eaten as such, but the delicious, nutritious pulp and tender seeds can be sucked.

          To eat the drumsticks, hold one end tightly with your fingers, insert the other end into your mouth, clamp down with your teeth at the middle of the piece and pull out, while leaving the flesh and the chili coating in your mouth. Now turn around the piece, hold the other end and repeat. Chew and enjoy!!!