Jhinga Shami kabab with Khichidi and Dahi Raita

There has been some gap between the last time I posted a recipe here and today. That is because my beloved chote bhaiyya (brother) is here.
                One thing is realised is that you are very fortunate to have a sister. In many ways she will become your mother. Especially in terms of cooking. She will more or less cook similar to your mom's cooking and she will know what you like and love to eat. There will be hardly any people in this whole wide world who would not like thier mom's cooking or who would like their wife's cooking better than their moms'. Ofcourse they would have to say that they like their wife's cooking better than their moms' else you know...

           So here is is. These are my brother's favourite dishes. This is actually my beloved DaadiAmmi's (my father's mother) recipe. She was a terrific cook and so was my mom. And I guess my brother likes my cooking too ;) . The dish Khichidi I am giving below has many many versions and this is my family's version. It is simple and yummy

Khichidi (Rice with lentils)

Moong Dal Khichidi

Ingredients:

1. 2 cups uncooked basmati rice washed and soaked in water for 15 minutes
2. 1/2 cup moong dal
3. 2 tablespoons oil
4. 1/2 cup thinly sliced onions
5. 2-3 cloves and 1 inch cinnamon broken into 3-4 pieces
6. 1 teaspoon ginger-garlic paste
7. Handful of cilantro chopped
8. Few mint leaves chopped
9. 2 green chillies slit
10. 3/4 teaspoon salt

In a pressure cooker heat the oil and fry the onions till they start changing color. Add ginger-garlic paste and the cloves and cinnamon and fry for a couple of minutes. Add the slit green chillies and fry for a minute. Add 4-41/2 cups of water and add salt to it and bring it to a boil. Add cilantro and mint and rice and washed moon dal (If you can dry roast this before hand, it will enhance the taste of the khichidi). Close the cooker and cook for 3 whistles. Let the steam escape, open the cooker and serve hot with Jhinga Shami and Yougurt Raita

Jhinga Shami (Shrimp cakes Indian style)

Ingredients:

1. 1 lb small shrimp peeled and deveined
2. 1/2 cup chana dal soaked for 20 minutes
3. 1 medium small potato boiled
4. 1/2 cup chopped onion
5. 1 tablespoon oil
6. 2 green chillies or to taste
7. 2 big or few small garlic pods
8. 1 inch peeled ginger
9. 1/2 teaspoon cumin
10. 1 tablespoon chopped cilantro
11. Oil for shallow frying

In a pan heat 1 tablespoon oil and fry the cumin for2-3 minutes. Add onions and fry till they turn translucent. Add all the other ingredients except shrimp. Fry for 5 minutes. Add shrimp and fry for 5 more minutes. Cut the heat and add cilantro and stir once and set aside to cool. Once it cools down grind it to a coarse paste. Make 2 inch wide and 1/2 inch thick patties and shallow fry it till they become deep brown. Turn carefully and fry on the other side. Serve as is or along with Khichidi

 The raita recipe I am giving here again has hundres of versions. This is again my family's recipe

Dahi Raita (Yogurt with onions)

Dahi Raita

Ingredients:

1.  1 cup plain yougurt
2. 1/2 teaspoon salt
3. 1 or 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice (adjust to taste)
4. 2 tablespoons red onions finely chopped
5. 1 green onion finely chopped (or to taste)
6. 1 tablespoon finely chopped cilantro

Mix all ingredients together along with half a cup of water. Serve with Khichidi or with any kabab