Today is India’s Christmas and New Year rolled into one: Diwali, the Festival of the Lights. Raman is chopping walnuts, almonds, cashews, pistachios and raisins to make atta panjiri for tonight’s potluck dinner.
Let’s begin in outer space. We approach the Earth. Zoom in on India. Delhi. What’s cooking in every kitchen?
Mostly mithai (sweets). Stuff like ladoos and halwa. Dry fruits.
I guess the mothers are doing all that. Where are the kids?
Kids are in the streets, lighting crackers.
What are the dads up to?
Dads are just sitting and talking, watching TV, meeting friends. Some men will be drinking and gambling. This is the time of the year when people gamble in their homes.
How many mithai can you eat in one day during Diwali season?
So let’s say we are going to distribute gifts to our relatives and friends. We do about ten houses in one day. In every house, you will be forced to eat at least three to four pieces of sweets.
That means 30-40 pieces in one day.
Yeah, and that’s on top of the regular three meals of the day.
Is anyone in your family a doctor?
My chacha (paternal uncle) is.
Does he get busy after Diwali season?
With all the diabetic patients? Yes.
If this is the last Diwali of your life, what mithai will you have?
Anything to do with besan (chickpea flour), like besan ki barfi, besan ladoo, besan panjiri. Then kaju katli, which is kaju barfi (cashew fudge). And there are special mithai like chum chum, anarkali…
…disco chali! Is there something like a special savoury Diwali food?
No, but it’s generally vegetarian food everywhere. All the special vegetarian food like chole, rajma, kadhi. Festival food.
I’m making something quite different. Gobi manchurian, stir-fried cauliflower born Chinese, brought up Indian. Thanks Sinfully Spicy for the recipe! I wish I could cook and photograph like you one day.
Mom makes the best…
CHOLE PURI!
You will never forget someone who makes you…
Aloo methi ka paratha, because it’s not a standard recipe. You won’t find it in restaurants everywhere. It’s usually made from leftover aloo methi subzi. So it’s quite close to me because it’s rare and I like it a lot.
Panjiri‘s ready and off we go!
Masala Egg 