Chhanar Dalna and the Mermaid

                       Chhanar Dalna and the mermaid

This chanar dalna is a far cry from my Maa’s. The recipe was taken from Rajasthan Patrika and the paneer cut in cubes and fried. The seasoning was done with chota elaichi, onion-garlic paste and garnished with coconut. Kyar Singh even added a pinch of sugar but it was not the same. Firstly Maa used to mash the chana and knead it with a bit of maida and garam-masala and a pinch of sugar. She made little roundels of it and deep fried it in mustard oil. I used to just love popping them in the mouth even before the dish was complete. Little wonder she never liked me hanging around the kitchen.

The mermaid looks a little bewildered as it is out of its own sea. Nowadays the rich celebrate their grandchildren’s birthday with unusual invitation cards tucked inside a toy. So this mermaid arrived with one such missive.

The other bowl contains louki in chana dal. Nutricious and a complete meal with  roti.