Malvani gajali with malvani masala
Patoli is a traditional sweet dish generally made during Ganesh festival. The wonderful blend of steamed rice four and sweet coconut jaggery mixture, with fresh aroma of turmeric leaf is a superb treat to Malvani food lovers.
Black peas are probably not one of the most popular peas in the other parts of India, but in Kokan usually they are regular items in the grocery list. In old times spicy curry (OR USAL as it is known in Marathi) was one of the main dishes made during festive times.
Nachani also known as raagi is one of the most nutritious cereals. It is rich source of iron, calcium, proteins and several vitamins. Hence it should be included in the regular diet for children.
In Kokan, black pomfret (locally known as Saranga or Halwa in Mumbai) is one of the most popular fishes. This is very simple and yet extremely tasty cuisine, made using head of black pomfret.
Amboli is a special type of rice bread made in Malvan. It can be considered as Malvani relative of dosa or uttappa. However it is much fluffier and hence like sponge, it can soak spicy curries very well.
‘Khadkhade’ is very interesting name for a dish and it depicts a mixture of things cooked together… The real challenge
here is to get right ingredients. So it is recommended to search ingredients first on the internet and see pictures, before you go the market and buy them. Most of them are different kinds of yam.
Here is my honest effort to provide you with a recipe that has been taught from one generation to the next in a typical malvani family. The famous ‘Malvani Chicken Curry – Sagoti’
This recipe is now world famous due to internet and advertisement. You might find it in some overseas Indian restaurants. However tastes differ depending on the recipe and the ingredients. Vada is completely vegetarian part of this cuisine. It is slightly thicker than puri but has different ingredients. It can be eaten with any other curry or even tea.
Although you can buy all sorts of garama masala in the market and it makes life quite easy, homemade masala has its own quality and taste. If you are enthusiastic enough to make you own Malvani masala, here is the recipe for 2 kg masala. You can store it for one year at least and can use it either for both veg and non-veg preparations.
Fish and rice are the most favourite food items of Malvani people; however simple daal bhaat in kokani way is also very tasty and regularly made in every kokani household. Sometimes daal bhaat with fried fish is itself a delicacy. Daal is made in different way compared to common daal that you would find outside Kokan. We use coconut even in daal recipe