Chow chow Eldorado

 

Welcome to the Siamese twins in the mouth watering breakfast recipes; Xanadu of spice and sweet in equal measure called as Chow Chow Bath, no it is not a bathed dog breed from the land of the dragons, but from namma Karnataka. This exotic cuisine consists of two dishes made from Semolina – the sweet part is called “kesari bath” and its spicy counterpart is “khara bath” or “uppittu”. I also assume that “bath” has something to do with cooking two items together such as rice and dal, a pair off!!!

Let us start with the nectarous toothsome kesari, a dish that makes all of us drool for more.

Ingredients required:

Semolina – 1 cup

Water – 3 cups

Milk – ½ cup

Sugar – 1 cup

Saffron – a small pinch

Colour – orange, a small pinch

Ghee – ½ cup

Cashew nuts – 5 nos

Raisins – 5 nos

Cardamom – 1 tsp powdered

 

Method:

In a non stick kadai or fry pan fry the cashews and raisins in a small quantity of ghee to a golden brown colour and keep it aside

Next fry the semolina on low flame till you get an aromatic flavour, this should take only couple of minutes and set aside.

Boil the water and milk together, add the sugar and ensure that it dissolves completely.

Add the semolina slowly by continuously stirring so as to avoid lumps

Keep stirring till the mixture thickens, add the melted ghee and stir till it starts leaving the sides of the pan.

Turn off the gas, add the fried cashews and raisins and powdered cardamom.

The Eldorado of sweets is ready to be relished and savoured!

Now for the savoury spicy twin khara bath

Ingredients required:

Semolina – 1 cup

Tomato – 1 number finely chopped

Onion – 1 number finely chopped

Green chillies – 2 to 3 finely chopped

Ginger – small piece cut finely

Curry leaves

Mustard seeds – for seasoning – 1 tsp

Urad dal – 1 tsp

Bengal gram – 1 tsp

Cashew nuts – few numbers

Water – 3 ½ cups

Salt to taste

Oil for seasoning

Ghee – 2 tbsps

Method:

Add oil to a pan or kadai and fry the semolina to a light brown colour. Remove from fire

Allow the mustard seeds to splutter along with urad dal, Bengal gram, ginger, chillies and curry leaves.

Add the chopped onion and sauté in the oil, then add the tomato.

Ensure that the raw smell goes and the ingredients become soft

Now add the water and then the salt.

Bring it to boil, slowly add the semolina and keep stirring so that no lumps are formed.

Add the ghee and stir till it becomes thick.

Have coconut chutney to go with the khara bath

 

Revel in the aromatic uppittu and luxuriate in the deadly combination of spice and sweet to your heart’s content.

This platter will tantalize your taste buds and make the mouths of your envious neighbours to water!