For the month of February, the theme for "Shhhhh Cooking Secretly" event is cuisine from Meghalaya.
Meghalaya is one of the seven North Eastern states of India. Meghalaya - alaya("abode") and megha("clouds") which means "the abode of clouds" in Sanskrit. It occupies a mountainous plateau of great scenic beauty. It is the home to three major tribal population - Khasis, Garos and Jaintias(in order of population). The staple food of people is rice with meat and fish preparations.
For the cooking event, I am paired with Seema Doraiswamy Sriram, who gave me sesame seeds and rice as my secret ingredients. I have made this black sesame seeds pulao called "Janeiiong. I gave her rice flour and jaggery and she made a sweet rice flour cookie named "Pu klein". Do check her blog - 'Mildly Indian' for the recipe.
Recipe Source: DesiFiesta
Ingredients:
- Cooked rice - 1 cup
- Black sesame seeds - 1/4 cup
- Onion - 1 small sized
- Ginger minced - 1 teaspoon
- Green chilies - 2
- Oil - 1 teaspoon
- Salt to taste
Method:
- Dry roast black sesame seeds on medium flame for around 5 minutes. Keep stirring continuously to avoid burning of seeds.
- After dry roasting, place the sesame seeds in a fine sieve and wash in running water.
- Grind the sesame seeds into a fine paste by adding 1 tablespoon of water. Set aside the ground paste.
- In a pan, heat a teaspoon of oil and add finely chopped onion, minced ginger and slit green chilies. Saute until onions turn translucent.
- Add sesame paste and salt to taste. Mix well and let it simmer for around 3 minutes.
- Add cooked rice and mix well. Serve hot.
