What did Indians Eat before Rice and Wheat ?

So what do you think our forefathers used to eat centuries ago ? How old are rice and wheat?

There have been some surveys that millets are much older than rice and wheat
(Ref: http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=166480)

As Rice and Wheat have become staple diet across the Indian subcontinent then why is that now, rice has been looked down as a strict no-no at later years of our lifestyle. Well the reason is simple, "polished rice". As a lifestyle change in recent decades we are all now used to polished rice which is devoid of all essential fiber and nutrients. This is where rice began to loose out to wheat. Otherwise calorie (energy) wise both are same. The generation before the 1980's was more involved with physical work as part of their regular work and lifestyle, so the rice that was consumed was well accounted for. But as we moved into this century our lifestyle and work became more sedentary and this misfit is gaining notoriety for rice.


So when did we start eating rice ?

I'm not sure but rice and wheat became our stable diet but the polished rice concept came into being around the time of Britishers and was considered to be rich man's rice. Unpolished rice is still associated with the poor but ironically that is what is more beneficial to our health.

Green Revolution

We all know how the green revolution helped us in achieving self reliance on our food security but what it also did was to promote food grains like wheat and rice to a greater extent and healthier options like millets reduced in area of cultivation.
(Ref: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_Revolution_in_India)

http://www.indiaonestop.com/Greenrevolution.htm

Millets can grow in regions where there is water scarcity and that is why in many dry region millets are the staple diet [Rajasthan(Bajra), Telangana and Raylseema Region in AP, south Maharashta and North Karnataka (Jonna - Jowar), South Karnataka (Ragi) etc].


Learn more about agriculture in India here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agriculture_in_India

Just my two cents and I may be incorrect in certain conclusions. Please do correct me if I'm wrong and do share your views.

Try millets !

Bajra Roti: Simple and Easy

Here is how you can make soft Bajra rotis without actually breaking them. This is going to be a part of the millet roti series in my blog taking a cue from a Team Asha Runner, Anita. I'm going to Illustrate with lot of pics and step-by-step process.

Bajra Roti: Preparation:

Ingredients:
2 cups of bajra floor (available in Nilgiris, Namdharis etc in Bangalore)
2 cups of water

Serving: Makes 8 Bajra rotis

Method:

1. Take 2 cups of water and bring it to boil. The moment the water starts to simmer pour the the 2 cups of Bajra in the boiling water.
2. Adjust the stove to "sim" and do not mix the Bajra with the water. Just leave it like that.

3. Now After 2 minutes turn off your gas and get then mix the floor thoroughly.
(If you feel you need to add some more Bajra floor you can add it. But if you want to add more water then you need add hot water.)

4. Now allow the dough to cool down (10 minutes)

5. Then roll them into small balls

6. When rolling them out into circular shapes puff/dust them with try Bajra floor

7. Now place it on the hot pan.

8. Use a cloth to press it on all sides and then keep changing the sides of the chapati.

(You can use your hand, but cloth is a better option)

9. Optionally you can also add/spread some oil on the chapati to get the Paratha effect.


Similarly you can make jawar (jonna/jolada), ragi rotis as well.

Aside: Lot of people also mix equal quantities of Bajra floor and wheat floor so that the Gluten in wheat holds them together. Millets are gluten free and thats the reason you need to add hot water if you want to hold them together (instead of wheat floor).

You can also add onions and other dressing but I guess just kept them simple here.

Thanks to my chef, Sashikant for his tips and tricks !

From now on I'm going to add some new exciting and simple recipes. My mom will come up with some new stuff and I guess "Oats Dosa" will be the next one.

Read more on Millets and their benefits at Anita's Millet blog: Must read. Check out http://millets.wordpress.com/

Bon Appetite !

All about Millets

I'm a big fan of millets and I generally make sure that it is also part of my diet.

Anita a dear friend and a Team Asha runner has come up with this wonderful blog on millets ranging from their types, health benefits and even recipes.

Must read. Check out http://millets.wordpress.com/

The bean family is my next unexplored area !

Carbohydrate Choices

So all you health freaks who are planning to get into a diet and keep track of your calorie or carbohydrate choices then I'll just throw some primer here.

• Typically, one gram carbohydrate is equal to 4 calories. So a teaspoon of sugar is around 4 grams and it will give you 16 calories and thereabouts.
• If you have seen an energy or oat bar, you typically see "Carbohydrate Choices: 2" ? What does that mean.
• One carbohydrate choice = 15 grams carbohydrate. So that would mean, if you eat that energy bar you get 30 grams of carbohydrates (2 carb choices = 30 grams = 120 calories)
• Your Pepsi and Coke has around 7 teaspoons of sugar. So you calculate on your own.
  

All about Carbohydrates:
A very good powerpoint (PPT) listing all about carbohydrates and diabetic food habits is available online. Download and see it

Average requirements for a normal adult is around 2000 calories per day. Of course we are not Michael Phelps to consume 12000+ calories in a single day and workout as much as he does everyday.

Start looking at those processed food or the chips and biscuit packets that you pickup before you munch. Just look at the calorie and ingredient chart before you binge.

Eat Healthy and Stay Fit !

Silver Metro - Total Mall (Koramangla)

Silver Metro comes from the Ohris chain. Ohris are a very popular and old chain in Hyderabad. Silver Metro is in Bangalore near to Koramangla/Madiwala right inside Total Shopping Mall in third floor. Guess there is "Serengity" within the same area which is much more upscale than this.

Its among the very few places in Bangalore where the buffet is priced below 200. It is 199 + taxes on weekdays and the ambiance is fantastic. Weekends I guess it is some 30 odd bucks more. We were here last Monday to send off Damien who interned here at Labs for over two months. It is a delight for both veg and non-veg folks. The Veg and non-veg items are well separated. All the Non-veg dishes are written down in RED sketch pen and veg items in BLUE (not green? why?). There are too many varieties, I mean way too many !

(Pic:Assorted starters above)

(Pic: Some of the main course in veg)
As usual it starts with a soup, starters like Manchurian balls, dahi papdi chaat, some pasta salads, smoked eggplant salad ("baingan bartha") and many. Main course has noodles, pulav, panner, mixed veg, koftas, breads, rotis, pastas.... the list too big and I haven't added the non-veg items yet. Way too many and it will be hard for others to complain. A similar one is there in Ohris Basheerbagh in Hyderabad.

The set is made up of a typical metro rail and the seating is very comfortable. On a given weekend it might get very crowded, so suggest to make a booking (080 40003333) or reach there by 12.30ish for lunch. If you haven't been here, your kids would love it. If you haven't been on a Metro train either in Delhi or Kolkatta then this is a pretty decent alternative (pun?). You hearing to sounds of a moving train just to add up to the real feel (thankfully they don't move the train). Quite a few plasma TVs around to keep you hooked onto TV.

Deserts have couple of ice creams, kheer (Payasam), cakes, baby rasogullas. Guess these might change depending on the day of the week, but after what I heard from others, they are pretty much the same menu everyday. But if you are in a binge mode or getting to be treated by your friends then this is the place. People living in and around Koramangla, BTM or Madiwala will find this place very accessible. Parking is never an issue here.

You can order other beverages and supposedly they have a pitcher for fresh lime soda (not sure). I'm not sure if they have regular food other than buffet but you can ask for regular menu in case you are interested. Total mall which houses Silver Metro is also a pretty decent place to visit in case you wanted to walk leisurely after you meal. Overall a nice place to be and probably worth its money !

Bon Appetite !

Trident Haveli - Kormangla

If you are looking for a Rajasthani and Gujarati delicacy combined in one single buffet then Trident Haveli in Koramangla is the place to be. It is a very very small place that can host 12-15 people. It is located within the Nandana Grand hotel in Koramangla 5th block (right opposite "Filling Station"). It is on the first sloor and the ambiance looks little cramped though well decorated. They are part of the "Ghar Ka Khana" group, Trident Hospitality.

To know more about them, check out their homepage and you can also check their daily menu. It is now priced at 100 plus taxes (surprisingly the tax here is @ 4%). The taste is very simple and nothing special as such. Quite a good number of variety and the rotis/pooris come in a tad slow. Guess the food is made elsewhere and is brought in here and the chapatis/rotis are heated before they are served.

There is unlimited "chaas" (buttermilk), kachori, some daily snack as well. Two types of dal and the Gujarati dal is mostly sweet in taste. Initially the prices were 80 + taxes but now it is 100 and may not be worth its price now. Last time when we checked in it was wonderful and they had ran out of "Chole". But this time the service was pathetic and the taste was just about okay. Things like soups were served almost cold, the finger bowl was not hot either. The "Thepla" (roti) was just heated and served to us for obvious reasons (as they don't cook anything it here).

Probably that is one of the other reasons I may not be giving a favourable review as the day when we went in here it was bad. So if you don't plan get biased then, yes you try this out for sure. The food taste is authentic as many of my friends who visited this place have said. So in Koramangla if you are looking for a Gujarati food with mix of Rajasthani then this a decent try.

Like the BJN group of hotels who run plush restaurants here in Bangalore, "Ghar Ka Kahana" chain is very healthy and home oriented food is available without much masala and oil. To know more about this group and their hotels, click here.


Until then, bon appetite !

(Pic courtesy: Bharath's new Nokia mobile phone camera)

Sri Krishna Kafe - Koramangla

Sree Krishna Kafe, popularly known as SKK among it's loyalists is in Koramangla 5th block. It is on the one way where other pouplar restaurants such as "Filling Station", "Nandana Grand", "Kairali (Kerala specialty)" and others are located. It is right next to Anand Sweets adjacent to GK Vale (above Kairali). Very narrow steps lead you to the top and the service is available in the first and second floors.


The meals are available only during lunch time alongside some tiffin items like dosas (all varieties), chapati kurma, parotha kurma, curd rice and some mixed rice depending on the day of the week. Meals are priced at Rs 68 on weekdays and 75 on weekends. If you are looking for traditional Tamil types south Indian with Brahminsh flavour with a tinge of Palaghat then this is the place. Authentic I must say and people who are sick of the Sagar kind of sambhar, then this is the place. Yes, you'll find coconut mixed in everywhere but probably that's what makes it so tasty. You need to go the second floor where they serve both tiffin and meal items during lunch as the first floor serves only meals during this time. Otherwise during breakfast and dinner both the floors are teeming with people.



Service is quick and prompt and you needn't tip them (at least during the lunch time). They have a tip box hidden somewhere near the bill counter. Don't expect finger bowls, just head to the wash basin and wash. The tiffin items during the evening keep changing depending on the day of the week. See the above menu card to know what it has to offer. "Adai" is one of my favourites here, though "onion rava masala" is the best. Chutneys and Sambar keep pouring as you keep summoning the chap who is very busy.


For lunch, it is mostly carbo-loading to me. Fridays are our favourite as "brinjal" curry and "Avial" is served here with the meal. If you are late (say post 2.30PM) the brinjal curry might just be over and they compensate with a quickly made "Aloo" curry. Three types of "Koimbu" or gravy items you get here apart from the Sambar: "Rasam", "Moru Koimbu" (made of buttermilk), "Karra Koimbu" (with "parpu urandai" - balls made out of dal). Then you get curd, one sweet dish and little "more" (buttermilk). Apalam (fried plain papad) and "more molega" (fried chilli) and pickle as additional accompaniments. Weekend lunch is more grand and you might end up eating more in temptation.


As I keep reviewing this place I catch up with Mr. Pandian who now heads this current place. There is (was) one more SKK on Bannerghatta road but looks like both the managements are different now. I cannot vouch for it, but the one at Koramangla road is the one you must go for if you haven't already been. They've been here for a long time now and have made each and every guest who comes to SKK feel home. Even sometimes the owners lend a helping hand in serving. Usually you'll find the place fully occupied but sometimes you might have to wait for 10-15 minutes, which just passes in a jiffy.


Coffee here is equally tasty, Madras degree coffee types. A trivia on how the word "degree" coffee came about. Looks like during those days they used to measure the hotness of milk with some degree-scale and from there the word degree crept in, and hence the term degree coffee. Got to know about it recently when I was in Chennai and talking to a fellow friend. Try their different varieties of Idlies that they have to offer. "Kheema Idly" is my favourite and also "Kheema Parotha" is my kind of snack and answer to the Chaat. There are many other standard delicacies available apart from the special ones.

So if you wanted to try a meal or looking forward for a heavy or light snack or tiffin then just crash in here. A tiffin for two will be around 80 bucks. Give it a shot and you'll feel sumptuous for sure. It is Sri Krisna "K"afe. "Adi wandi Yanai Balam" (the last gulp gives you strength equal to that of an elephant).

Majja Maadi !

Sukh Sagar @ Majestic - Gujarati Thali

There are two Sukh Sagar hotels at Majestic (Bangalore). This one that serves the Gujarati delicacy is right opposite to the Majestic movie theatre. When you are on the State Bank of Mysore road on Majestic, you need to take the left that takes you to Railway station (right takes you to the Bus stand at Majestic). Right on that turn you'll find this Sukh Sagar.

I guess it is on the 2nd floor and Gujarati Thali is their delicacy. Abhay and I were there some time back and the Thali is priced at some 100 odd bucks. The purists will like it and it is a nice place for people who have a very high appetite. Not all that sweet but what more can you expect from a Gujarati meal.


I've kept the Menu pic as well, just in case you wanted to know what all their Thali entails.

Idly Bazaar - Koramangla

Idly Bazaar @ Koramangla is right on the road to SKK (Sri Krishna Cafe). I had been a similar place on Indira Nagar CMH road long long time back. It serves 5-6 different varieties of Idlies at a decent price.

Kunal, Amit and I decided to devour over these Idlis sometime back. You also get some Dosas, Adai Avail (average taste) and others. For the first timers its a nice little place to try at least once. If you've hated Idli, then the camouflaged Idlis here will be a nice try. Heard new varities of Idlis have started at the SKK as well during evening snacks.

Also the special Idli varities are available after 4PM during the day.

(Amit and Kunal in the Pics alongside the Idlis)