Xewali Phool bhaji

There are quite a few flowers which are used in several cuisines of the North Eastern region of India. One such flower is the Night-flowering jasmine. It is a beautiful flower with a lovely fragrance. Although tastes bitter, bitterness is reduced to almost nil after cooking. Can be eaten fresh or sun dried. 

 Assamese name : Xewali phool

Bangla name : Shefali/Shiuli 

Hindi name : Parijat/Paarijata

Tamil name : Pavazha malli 

Malayalam name : Pavizha malli

Odiya name : Shefali/Shiuli

Marathi name : Parijat

English name : Night-flowering jasmine

Scientific name : Nyctanthes arbor-tristis

sun dried Xewali phool

This is a simple yet very tasty recipe.

Ingredients: 

1. 1 cup dry Xewali phool 

2. 3 cups boiled rice

3. 3 tbsp oil

4. salt, to taste

5. 1 big onion, sliced 

6. 2 green chilly, whole 

7. a pinch of turmeric (optional) 

Method : 

Soak the dry flower in water for an hour (like the above picture). Rinse well, squeeze out water and pour more water. This way rinse three times. This procedure will lessen the bitterness. 

Heat oil and add the flower, onion, chilly, salt, turmeric (optional). Fry on low heat for a few minutes. 

Add boiled rice and stir fry for two to three more minutes. Your "Xewali phoolor logot Bhaat bhaji" is ready. 

Stir fried King Prawn

Ingredients : (Serves 4)
 For marination :
     1. Jumbo Prawn 5oog
     2. Paste of Ginger 1 tbsp
     3. Paste of Garlic 1 tbsp
     4. Salt half tsp

  For frying :
      1. Refined oil 3 tbsp
      2. Onion 2 medium, big slices
      3. Green Chilly 3 (or to taste), cut lengthwise
      4. Soya Sauce 1 tbsp

Method :
Mix all the ingredients for marination and leave for at least 4 to 5 hours. 
Heat oil and stir fry onion, chilly for a minute or two. Add the prawn and soya sauce. Stir fry for a minute, cover and cook on low heat till done. Take care not to over cook which will turn the prawn hard. 

Loochi for breakfast

Ah, the joy of taking a few days off after a big successful event at work place. And what can be more relaxing than to have an intense affair with the kitchen!
Here is my first date ... a breakfast platter. Everything is fair in love and cooking, no calories counted smile emoticon

Loochi (Poori), scrambled egg and Kothal (jackfruit) sabji. Loochi is favourite of the Assamese. Goes well with any sabji, meat curry, halwa or kheer. Loochi is normally preferred exactly like the above pictures, pale fried.

Kothal (Jackfruit) sabji :


Ingredient :
1. One small tender Kothal, around 500g. Peeled and cubed.
2. 3 medium potatoes, peeled and halved 
3. Paste of : 2 medium onions+6 to 8 pods garlic+little ginger
4. Dry ground masala : 1 tsp each garam masala, jeera, dhania, chilly of course to taste
5. Salt to taste
6. Half a tsp turmeric
7. A few bay leaves
8. 3 to 4 tbsp mustard oil

Tender Jackfruits

Method :
Blanch the cubed kothal, leave aside.
Add salt, turmeric to potatoes and stir fry a little, keep aside. Accordingly fry kothal adding salt, turmeric and keep aside.
Heat oil, put in bay leaves, fry wet paste a little, add dry masala, salt, turmeric. 
Add kothal and potatoes when the masala turns pale brown. Keep frying for a while. 
Add water, cover and cook till done.

Loochis are wonderful with any accompaniment like fried potatoes, daal, halwa, kheer  etc .

Any curry or sabji can be a good accompaniment to Loochis

One of my favourite accompaniment with Loochi is BILAHI r OMBOL

Happy Women's Day

My Daughter

You are the woman who taught me the joy of being a mommy; who pulled me along wherever she went, teaching lessons on life. The woman who taught me to stand on my own, to speak out and fight for the right. The woman, in whom I find all the women rolled into one, be that a mother, a daughter, a friend, a philosopher or a guide. 
You are the most wonderful thing to happen in my life ....


My Sister 

No matter how delicate and petite you are, turn out my strongest support. Just one hug from you strengthens me to tackle a thousand misery. Your reading me even before my saying anything is simply amazing. That your dainty shoulders are always there for me to lean on for comfort, feels wonderful. 
You are one awesome woman, don't know what would I do without you ...

Some wonderful souls like you are the ones for whom celebrating womanhood finds a meaning and joy.
Thank you so much God, for bringing them to my life. It is wonderful living with these beautiful WOMEN ...