Monday, March 7, 2016

My Favorite “Fast” Food : How to Cook it – and – How to Eat it

My Favorite “Fast” Food 
How to Cook it and How to Eat it 
By
VIKRAM KARVE


“Fast” Food
 
My “Better Half” observes various “fasts” – and she consequently subjects me to all types of fasts. 

No – she does not go on a hunger strike – but “fasts” with food – “fast” food. 

“Fast” food includes fruits, roots, milk/milk products and non-cereal dishes.

In fact – there is plenty of “fast” food to eat on a “fast”.

She fasts on Monday, Chaturthi, Festivals – or on any occasion she wants to fast – and I have no choice but to “fast” along with her too.

Actually – her fasts are not extreme rigorous fasts in the ascetic Spartan sense. 

In fact – they are delicious satiating fulfilling “fasts” – an appetizing change of cuisine. 

Instead of the routine normal food – she enjoys what I call lip-smacking “fast” food – which is quite mouth-wateringly yummy – and – maybe – a bit more calorie-rich than normal food. 

That’s the “fast” food I am referring to – not the “fast food” like burgers and pizza that you probably thought about when you saw the title of this blog post.


Kachori – My Favorite “Fast” Food

My favorite “fast” food is the Kachori.

No! No! 

It is not the scrumptious Rajasthani style lip-smacking “Khasta Kachori” that I am referring to.

I am referring to the “Sweet” Crunchy Coconut Kachori served by most Udipi eateries in Mumbai and Pune. 


Recipe – The Art of Cooking Kachori

It is quite simple to make this scrumptious vegetarian delicacy. 

Just take boiled mashed potato – add a bit of sabudana peeth (sago flour) for binding – a pinch of salt and sugar – and knead into a dough.

This is for the outer crust of the Kachori. 

Now – let us make the inner filling to go inside the outer crust.

In a pan – heat pure ghee – and roast fresh juicy grated coconut with sugar, khus khus, dry fruit like raisins, cashews – till it is nice and crispy (khamang) – and your filling is ready. 

You must use roast in pure ghee – since oil is not permitted for “fast” food.

Make largish round patties with the potato dough on the outside – and a generous portion of the roasted sweet coconut filling inside.

Heat plenty of pure ghee in curved pan – and deep fry the patties till nicely crusty, crisp and light brown – and your “Fast Food” Kachori is done.

Fast and simple recipe – isn’t it?

Serve the freshly made Kachori with a bowl of whipped sweetened Curd and your “Fast Food” Kachori is ready to eat. 

This is how your “Fast Food” Kachori will look like when served with a bowl of whipped sweetened curd (I have clicked this picture on 28 June 2014 of my favourite Kachori served by Apsara Restaurant Tilak Road Pune)

“Fast Food” Kachori with Sweet Curd

The Art of Eating “Fast Food” Kachori

You will be tempted to break a piece of Kachori – dip it in the curds – and then eat it. 

Please don’t do this.

That is not the right way to eat “Fast Food” Kachori. 

You will ruin the eating experience as the concoction will turn soggy.

What you must do is to place a chunk of crisp hot kachori on your tongue.

Then – close your eyes. 

Now – savor the khamang crunchy taste of the lively roasted coconut filling for some time – then press your tongue on your palate –and roll till the heavenly sweet filling and the crisp potato covering amalgamate. 

Tell me – dear fellow foodie – it tastes really yummy – isn’t it?

Now – it is the time to open your mouth and pop in a spoon of sweet whipped curds.

Then – close your mouth (and eyes) – and let the feisty assortment of flavors dance and mingle on your tongue till the food dissolves in your mouth – and disappears into you – giving you a feeling of supreme satisfaction.

I once saw a movie called “Blow Hot Blow Cold” in the 1970s. 

The art of eating “Fast Food” Kachori is similar – hot and cold – hot and cold – crunchy and soft – crunchy and soft – sweet and sour – sweet and sour...

I first tasted this delicious dish (“Fast Food” Kachori) long long back – maybe around 45 years ago in the early 1970s – at a cafe called Apsara near Hirabaug on Tilak Road in Pune. 

The Kachori served at Apsara is still my favorite “Fast Food” Kachori.

I have enjoyed this delectable snack at many restaurants like Vihar – at Churchgate (Mumbai) – and Vaishali, on Fergusson College Road in Pune – and many Maharashtrian/Udipi restaurants/cafes serve excellent Coconut Sweet Kachori too.

I am sure you will find it on the menu of almost all Udipi restaurants.

So – next time you want to relish your “Fast” – you know which “Fast” Food to eat – in addition to the usual sabudana khichadi, sabudana wade, ratalyacha kees etc

Happy “Fasting” 

VIKRAM KARVE
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