Shorshey Paneer

                                                                                           
                      

Anecdote

Zinia is a true blue flower. There is no one in the universe, not even Gautam’s mother, who does not adore my friend Zinia. She has taught me to be chilled out about everything (If my husband and son read this they will change the tense to present continuous), stay calm and just enjoy life. Z is okay with everything and is super subtle when something does not go right. I have not heard her complain about anything except for not being able to  cook non vegetarian food at home in the last ten years that we have been friends. Her home is a happy and peaceful abode even though the son eats only “Bhindi”, the house help breaks expensive crockery and cleaner woman talks at high decibel levels.

Zinia became my friend soon after she lost her mother, and somewhere I like to think that I came into her life at the rightest time. We are there for each other and though I am a non-hugger and she is a non-crier, there are moments of self defining depth.

Zinia likes to take it easy, yet it all gets done, and her latest punch line to me was , “ you know Abhi, I always listen to my body.”

Stuff that you must have:

½ kilo paneer

sarson paste (2 teaspoon)

1 onion grated

1 tomato

kalo jeera/kalonji

Green chilly

Finely chopped coriander leaves

What to do:

1.  Pan fry paneer and soak in lukewarm salty water

2.  In a pan put oil, add kalo jeera

3.  Add onion, tomato, and green chilli and fry till done

4.  Put little salt and turmeric powder

5.  Add water which was used to soak the paneer (approx. ½ cup)

6.  After a while add sarson paste, followed by paneer

7.  Sprinkle coriander leaves

         

How to serve:

Pour it into a serving bowl and serve with plain long grained rice.

Trivia: 

All parts of the mustard plant are edible, including the leaves, seeds and flowers.

In Denmark and India, it’s thought that spreading mustard seeds around the exterior of the home will keep out evil spirits.

National Mustard Day and The Mustard Festival are held on the first Saturday of August each year.

Pope John XXII was so fond of mustard that he created a new Vatican position, the 'grand moutardier du pape' (mustard-maker to the pope) and appointed his nephew to the post.