Taste the Punjabi exquisite Chow

Nothing is as best as treating one’s taste buds with rich Punjabi meal! The people of Punjab (North India) are die-hard fans of eating and their same love is reflected in their sumptuous, lavish and religious dishes. Punjabi fare is so damn delicious in its form that not only wowed national but international folks as well. Punjabi food is the most in-demand and popular in Indian restaurants situated across the globe. Punjabi dishes are healthy, easy-to-cook yet fascinating to tongue.

Punjabi food presents a wide variety of mouth-watering dishes with hot spices ranging minimal to pleasant to high. The food is savoured by people of all communities. Punjabi restaurants or dhabas make a liberal use of desi ghee, cream and butter to make tasty finger-licking and lip smacking food. Dhabas are one such place which represents traditional food in desi style. 

When it comes about Punjab, how can one forget to visit traditional village theme resort, Haveli! Displaying the real essence and culture of Punjab, Haveli is supremely popular for its sumptuous food and warm hospitality. One can witness the vibrant, thick and colourful Punjabi culture at the place.

Sarson ka Saag, Makki Ki Roti and Lassi (butter milk) constitutes the staple food items of Punjabi culture. Haveli also specializes in these food items. People from all around come up to taste these three exotic dishes.  Apart from these, stuffed paranthas, chhole bhature, rajma, laccha paranthas, mah ki dal and milk products are also present on the menu. These cuisines surely tickle up the taste buds of foodies.

The top three ‘part and parcel’ dishes of Haveli are mentioned below along with their recipes. 

Makki Di Roti (fried maize bread)

It is a traditional North Indian maize loaf; Makki Di Roti is served straight off the pan with a spoonful of fresh butter or ghee!

Ingredients:

•           1 cup maize flour
•           Water to make dough
•           Salt to taste
•           Ghee to fry

Method to Prepare:

•           Mix the maize flour and salt-to-taste in a flat plate.
•           Make a dig in the centre and add a little water at a time to knead the flour into dough. The consequential dough must not be so hard or so soft. Make it normal.
•           Break up the dough into small balls.
•           Spread flour on a surface and roll each ball into a shape of circle just like in case of wheat loaf (chappatis)
•           Heat a pan on a medium fire.
•           Put roti on the pan and cook on the first side for 30 seconds then turn.
•           After 30 seconds spread ghee on the top surface and turn immediately. Fry for a minute and turn again. Continue this until the roti is turns crisp and golden.
•           Serve hot, crowned with a small dollop of butter.

Sarson Ka Saag

This is another typical Punjabi dish that tastes really awesome with Makki Di Roti and a spoonful of fresh butter.

Ingredients:-          

•       1 bunch spinach washed and chopped (250 gms)
•           1 bunch mustard greens washed and chopped (250 gms)
•           2 green chillies
•           1 tbsp grated ginger
•           1 tbsp grated garlic
•           1 large onion grated
•           1 tsp coriander powder
•           1 tsp cumin powder
•           1 tsp garam masala powder
•            Juice of 1/2 a lime/ lemon
•           1 tbsp gram flour/ maize flour
•           Salt to taste
•           2-3 tbsps ghee

Method to Prepare:

•           Make a mix of the greens, green chillies and salt to taste. Boil in 1 cup of water till it all cooked up.
•           Crush or mash the greens mix well to make a paste.
•           In another pan, heat the ghee on a middle flame. When it gets hot add the grated onion and fry till then its turns pale golden.
•           Add all the other ingredients mentioned above and fry till oil separates from the masala.
•           Add the greens mix to this and stir well.
•           Garnish with a dollop of butter and serve hot with Makki Di Roti.

Lassi (Butter Milk)

It is another Punjabi complementary yogurt-based drink. It is a mix of yogurt, water and spices. It can also be garnished with fruits, roasted groundnuts or cumin. Another form of lassi is known as chaach which is salted lassi and contains more water than lassi. Butter milk adds new and mesmerizing flavour to the meal (sarson ka saag & makki di roti).