"My Pejje Jevana Thali~169 : Rajavale Nonche (Indian Star Gooseberry Pickle), Kooka Upkari (Chinese Potato Bhaji), Airfried Vodi/ roasted cucumber mini papads (Fryums), Ukde Tandla Pejja (Red Boiled Rice Porridge), Toop (Ghee)" ... heartwarming lunch today ... Jeevaka heetachi jalle ... Yummilicious ….
** A delicious simple “Pejje Jevan” on my menu today. These days I have been frequently relishing boiled rice porridge for lunch as my Thali or combo meal, it not only gives me comfort but somehow is heartwarming and keeps me fit if I have had a few heavy meals in the previous days. Non-Veg specially chicken meals somehow always end up making me feel uneasy after a day as I tend to overeat if the curry has turned out good. Well there is nothing for me to pen here about pejja as almost all of you are aware of rice porridge and its benefits. There was a time, say 2 decades back when people were skeptical about having rice porridge meals believing it to be loaded with starch etc. and that it was not good for health. However, I have grown up relishing it often and my Mother too loves it to date and often has it as her meal. My grandmother too relished it often, in fact if not porridge she always drank a glass full of the cooked water from the rice ie the starch water called nishe' in konkani and kanji too, with a dash of salt, pinch of pepper powder and a teaspoon of cow’s milk ghee and trust me it is very delicious and good when you have throat or cold issues.
** My late father, grandfather, my uncles have all had it for dinner as they aged simply with a dash of papad, pickle or some veggie or leafy bhaji. It tastes also great just with a piece of fried fish specially surmai/visonu, try it, I vouch for it. Come monsoon and winter pejje jevan has always topped our dinner list for decades now. I think most of south Indians relish pejja for dinner, but since I have switched over to very light dinner in the past few years, I now prepare it often for lunch instead of rice as both hubby and me love pejje jevana especially the when prepared with red boiled rice/ ukde sheetHa. Kooka or Chinese potato is in season during winter and we Konkani Saraswat’s prepare many dishes using it. We prepare simple bhaji, spiced bhaji called song or add it to pulses while preparing curries. You will find many dishes prepared using it if you use the search option or label option too. Sharing this comfort food for many people specially during monsoon or winter. It spreads in warmth in the body and induces a good sleep. Red boiled rice pejja is considered very healthy option among porridge/ peja as it is unpolished and has more or nutrients intact in the same.
** I have shared quite a few combo patterns of peeje jevan before and I amt sharing another mix and match of dishes again here today that is relished in most of the Konkani Saraswat homes in Southern parts of India. Well frankly now my friends who have settled abroad in various parts of the world too tell me that they have pejje jevan for dinner as it is not only an easy option but healthy and tummy filling too after a day long work, when the body is too tired to slog out again in kitchen but the heart, mind and tongue all want something warm for dinner, more so in cold places. I will not run into details of dishes much and will share in links to particular dishes separately below, do try them out and relish with your family and enjoy health benefits. Remember to always serve the rice porridge/ pejja with a dollop of fresh homemade cow's ghee for added health benefits, Ayurveda gives a lot of importance to ghee that is obtained from cow's milk, as it is loaded with good nutrients. I have served with Star Gooseberry pickle, you can serve with any pickle you desire, but do serve a dash of the same, a little bit of pickle served makes the dish that much more appetizing.
** Given Below are the links to each Individual posts of the recipes to the dishes in the Pejje Jevan Thali above … Please go through the links for the same …..
1.. For “Rajavale Nonche (Indian Star Gooseberry Pickle)” Recipe, Please follow the link given below ….
2. For “Kooka Upkari (Chinese Potato Bhaji)” Recipe, Please follow the link given below ….
3. “Airfried Vodi/ roasted cucumber mini papads (Fryums)” are store bought sun dried vodi that needs to be just roasted either on a hot tava or thick bottomed kadai. I microwaved the same, you can serve with any fried papad, Vodi or fryums too.
4. For the simple method of “Red Boiled Rice Porridge/Ukde sheeta Pejja” Recipe, please follow the cooking method for red rice given below, wherein the recipe for pejja is also included … the link to which is given below …
** You can also use the search option for “Pejja” where you will get other meals that are posted previously in the blog. Do try out various options and enjoy with your family and friends and do give me a feedback.
** You can use the search option for "Thali" where you will get many more combination of thali’s. Do try out various types of mix and match dishes to relish with your family and friends. Also remember to me a feedback if possible.
** You can also click on the link below for checking the same.
** An Earnest Request : There are many more recipes of different types in the blog. For all my Recipes, use the search option or the label section in the Blog. If you are still not able to find it or have a query, please leave a message in comment section or mail me the same. I will try my best to get back to you as soon as possible. Do try out various types of dishes included in the Blog and Enjoy them with your family and friends and do give me a feedback if possible.
** I am happy to inform you that I have also started a food group for by the name "KONKANI DELICACIES" which is over and year old, with about 23 K strong members. It is a pleasure to inform that you will find in the group many more recipes posted by our expert members and you too can share some of your own. The link to the group is posted on the left side of the blog page. Do join us in our culinary journey. I strongly believe in Sharing and always endorse that "Sharing Is Caring" Thank You.
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