My life – most of it – has always revolved around food. My mother’s father was a hotel / restaurant inspector and my father is a hotelier. As a little girl I spent most of my time in the various kitchens of the hotels. I watched as the pastry chef made my sweet patisserie dreams come true, squealed in disgust as the butcher axed the chickens, was intrigued by the way the sous chef magically whipped up the smoothest sauce béarnaise or waited impatiently as the trucks came into the delivery loaded with tropical fruit and vegetables from all over the world.
The bustle that probably looked like chaos from the outside worked in fact like a perfectly tuned engine. Each person knew what his or her job was, where to step and most importantly when! The professionalism really fascinated me.
There was always a lot of bustle in my grandmother’s kitchen. When we visited my grandparents during our vacations it was always a warm reunion of several family members gathering from different parts of the world in their comfortable colonial Delhi home. Like a moth to the flame I was drawn to the fire of the stoves in the kitchen. There were no fancy gadgets like those in the big shiny hotel kitchens. Instead her kitchen was powered with a mortar and pestle, rolling pins, old sharp knives, cast iron pots and skillets.
My grandmother was a phenomenal cook who could whip up a meal for a party with such ease it was almost like alchemy. A pinch of woody coriander, a dash of earthy cumin or peppery turmeric came together with ripe tomatoes, sweet onions and garlic. Succulent chunks of roasted lamb simmered until it melted at the touch of a fork, long grains of perfectly steamed Basmati rice perfumed with cloves and coriander and a touch of saffron – watching her in the kitchen was pure magic.
Luckily my mother was an avid learner and once back home, she was able to recreate several of my grandmother’s dishes, with her own special touch. I remember my mother’s incredibly rich vegetable biryani with soft pieces of spiced cauliflower and potatoes cooked on a slow flame until everything is tender and aromatic. Sometimes she added a touch of sweetness with sprinkles of raisins or nutty cashews.
Then there was her wonderful keema – a flavor packed dish made with ground lamb laced with whole and ground spices and sweet green peas. It was a small feast, especially when served with her rich parathas. My dad however loved to scoop up the ground meat with morsels of brown pita bread – a specific kind he buys at a Syrian bakery in Dubai.
A few weeks ago my son and husband spent a couple of days in Bavaria on a boy’s trip. I was home alone one evening feeling homesick and craving my mum’s meals. Keema craving to be specific. As I started to prepare my own dish I chatted with mum via Skype.
“You know mama it never quite tastes the way you or nani made it!” My mum laughed and said “That is because you spice it with your own special memories unique only to either nani or me!” Then she told me to make sure I add fresh tomatoes and not to forget the eggs. “Then think of nani just before you take your first bite!” You know what? It was the best keema I ever made.
My mum always topped her keema with boiled eggs. Like jewels they would sit on top of the browned curried lamb and we would all grab large spoonfuls of the meat with half an egg balancing precariously on the serving spoon. Wrapped in memories of my grandparents and parents each bite was just like I remembered. The best part was I was able to find a similar brown Syrian pita bread that my dad enjoyed. Do you have a favorite dish that you remember your parents or grandparents making?
Verdict
This dish for me has all the flavors of pure umami – that unexplainable flavor that sets not just one taste bud reeling, but seems to get all of them working overtime. It is as spicy as you want to make it, sweet, savory and aromatic – our Indian answer to the Italian Ragù or the Mexican Chili! The key to this recipe is using the whole spices and roasting them in the ghee to release all the powerful aromas and locking them right at the beginning. Make sure the spices you use are fresh and if you can grind them freshly in a mortar and pestle or a electric grinder. You won’t regret it.
In my Spice Infusions series I share a lot of useful details about the Indian spices and how to use them and in my Enspiceopedia – Spices of India I explain how various Indian spices are used. Worth checking out if you are unfamiliar with some of the spices.
Power-packed 2-day photography retreat in the stunning rolling hills of Sabina!
Currently participants are coming from California, Switzerland and Italy – join us!
Meet like-minded people and focus on your passion for food / lifestyle photography in a positive and encouraging environment. I believe in providing a memorable experience – be it the stunning landscapes, the delectable dishes we cook, the knowledgeable tours we take and the incredible insight of the people connected with the workshops.
You might like these Indian curries from What’s for lunch. Honey?:
All photographs and written content on What’s For Lunch, Honey? © 2006-2017 Meeta Khurana Wolff unless otherwise indicated. | All rights reserved | Please Ask First
Need to check our Shop? Check best places for that. Choose only with one you wanna be!
From Chef To Chef’s
Don’t miss our future updates! Get Subscribed Today!
©2022. Maketech.pl All Rights Reserved.
