This has been something on our list for a long time, at least since Viha's birth. Finally the tickets were booked and we were off to Amritsar to visit the Golden Temple. I, for one was really really looking forward to loads of stutmptous and finger licking food. I had made a list of all the joints I wanted to eat at, which unfortuantely I couldnt make a visit to all. Very honestly the food expectations from this City was very disappointing. We had food at many different places, some talked about, and some not - but eventually the result was "not upto the mark"!!!
However there were two other things that I will never forget from this trip.
One is the visit to the Wagah Border where patriotism is seen at its best. Even the most low profile patriotics will be awakened shouting Jai Hind, Bharat Mata Ki Jai at the top of their lungs - at least I did. It was one unforgetful experience. I have never felt so "Indian" before in my life. What was it.........just two simple gates made of iron and two huge gates made of brick and mortar with "India" written on one, and "Pakistan" written on the other, creating a boundary between land which is as brown as it is here, with trees as green as they are here, with the sky looking down upon in the same way. It was really a very strage feeling as we approached the Border and saw signs showing "Lahore - 23 kms".......never thought I would go down that lane.
Second was the serene peace that transcends all the noise and humdrum of thousands of visitors at the Golden Temple. The fact that you can be oblivious to the world around you, is something which is beyond comprehension. All you can hear is the constant hymns from the Gurudwara and what your eyes can see. Golden mystic beauty surrounded by a calm waters. There is a certain chill in the air, or maybe it was the weather, but you can really loose your unrest somewhere in the waters and come back a lot more calm from there.
Though the food at Amritsar was not as per my expectations, what I cooked after coming home sure was.
TANDOORI STUFFED POTATOES
4 big potatoes
1/2 cup curd
2/3 flakes garlic
pinch garam masala
salt to taste
1/4 tsp red chilli powder
1/4 tsp jeera powder
1/4 tsp pepper powder
FOR STUFFING
150 gms paneer
green chillies
corriander leaves
salt to taste
50 gms kishmish
RECIPE
put the potatoes in the cooker after washing and after a whistle switch off the gast
after they cool down, scoop a boat after cutting them into half
be careful not to break the potatoes.
Lightly shallow fry the potatoes to a golden colour.
Beat the curd well and add the ingredients for the marinade.
Pour this over the potato boats and leave them for about 30 mins
meanwhile in a pan saute the inner portion of the potatoes alongwith the mashed paneer and kishmish and salt till the water dries up.
Add corriander leaves
Carefully stuff the paneer mixture into the potatoes
Take a cookie tray and grease it. Place these potatoes and bake for about 30 mins
Serve hot with corriander chutney
However there were two other things that I will never forget from this trip.
One is the visit to the Wagah Border where patriotism is seen at its best. Even the most low profile patriotics will be awakened shouting Jai Hind, Bharat Mata Ki Jai at the top of their lungs - at least I did. It was one unforgetful experience. I have never felt so "Indian" before in my life. What was it.........just two simple gates made of iron and two huge gates made of brick and mortar with "India" written on one, and "Pakistan" written on the other, creating a boundary between land which is as brown as it is here, with trees as green as they are here, with the sky looking down upon in the same way. It was really a very strage feeling as we approached the Border and saw signs showing "Lahore - 23 kms".......never thought I would go down that lane.
Second was the serene peace that transcends all the noise and humdrum of thousands of visitors at the Golden Temple. The fact that you can be oblivious to the world around you, is something which is beyond comprehension. All you can hear is the constant hymns from the Gurudwara and what your eyes can see. Golden mystic beauty surrounded by a calm waters. There is a certain chill in the air, or maybe it was the weather, but you can really loose your unrest somewhere in the waters and come back a lot more calm from there.
Though the food at Amritsar was not as per my expectations, what I cooked after coming home sure was.
TANDOORI STUFFED POTATOES
4 big potatoes
1/2 cup curd
2/3 flakes garlic
pinch garam masala
salt to taste
1/4 tsp red chilli powder
1/4 tsp jeera powder
1/4 tsp pepper powder
FOR STUFFING
150 gms paneer
green chillies
corriander leaves
salt to taste
50 gms kishmish
RECIPE
put the potatoes in the cooker after washing and after a whistle switch off the gast
after they cool down, scoop a boat after cutting them into half
be careful not to break the potatoes.
Lightly shallow fry the potatoes to a golden colour.
Beat the curd well and add the ingredients for the marinade.
Pour this over the potato boats and leave them for about 30 mins
meanwhile in a pan saute the inner portion of the potatoes alongwith the mashed paneer and kishmish and salt till the water dries up.
Add corriander leaves
Carefully stuff the paneer mixture into the potatoes
Take a cookie tray and grease it. Place these potatoes and bake for about 30 mins
Serve hot with corriander chutney
