Happy Cooking:MURG-Gulbadan Kofta....Indian Masala

In the land, as diverse as our Country, it is to expect that our culinary range is vast. Every raider had left behind, a repertoire of good lip-smacking recipe, both in the vegetarian and non-vegetarian layout. At home, our household were the domain of our women folk and they ever so ready to please the family, produced some remarkable dishes that are simple to cook, very tasty and excellent accompaniment to the family dinning spread.

The desi ‘murga’ in different regions was cooked under given conditions and flavored by the local produced Masala and herbs. This recipe, originated in the Northern plains, has under gone a sea of change, and if at all has only helped to improve, than otherwise.

Flavor is of essence in the preparation of this dish. To prepare a serving for two, you would require:-

Mince of chicken -300 gms
Onion diced fine – 02 cups
Tomato diced fine -01 cup
Fresh single cream -02 tbps
MASALA in powder form -02 tps each of-
Jeera
Dalchini (Cinnamon)
Choti Elaichi (Green Cardamum)
Dhania (Coriander)
Red chili
Turmeric
Branded Chicken Masala
Cloves -05
Salt to taste
Fresh curry leaves -10
Garlic press & dice fine -06 pods
Ginger diced fine – 25 gms
White of one egg - beaten
Corn floor -01 tps
Cooking Oil – as per requirement
Water

METHOD


Step one


1 In a bowl, sprinkle the mince with a little salt, 01 spoon of elaichi powder, 1/4 Dalchini and 01 tps Chicken Masala.
2 Mix, and add enough egg white and Corn floor. Blend with hand to form dough to make balls of 1” diameter.
3 Keep in fridge for 30mts.
4 In boiling water gently, one by one, put in the balls and boil for 04-05 mts.
5 Remove, and set aside the balls to drain.
6 After the balls have drained, make + incision deep enough, but not lower than half of the kofta
7 After the balls are sufficiently dry, gently fry them on low flame till golden. Each ball will open up like a flower.

Keep aside for later use.


Step two

1 In a wok / Kadai put in 75ml Oil on medium flame, when hot put in the Onion and fry along with cloves, ginger and garlic.
2 When the onion is transparent sprinkle a little salt and fry.
3 As the Onion start to brown, put in all of the dry Masala. But retain half of the Elaichi powder. Stir, add the Tomato, blend and stir fry.
4 Sprinkle water time to time, to help blend and to avoid the mixture from sticking to the bottom of the pan.
5 Take one of the fried kofta, smash it and put it in to fry along with the Onion. Stir fry and watch for the oil to separate from the Masala.
6 Put in the curry leaves, fry. Adjust salt and pour in a little over 1&1/2 cup water. Bring to boil.
7 Put in the fried kofta boil for 03 mts and remove them without the gravy to serving dish.
8 Continue to boil the curry on low flame in covered vessel for few minutes or till the curry gets to semi thick state.
9 Remove from fire, pour the Masala over all the kofta in the dish. Garnish the dish with the single cream and finally spread the Elaichi powder over the dish and serve.

A THOUGHT FOR INDIA

Never a day passes by, in this country of ours we seem to produce, in regularity, cases of corruption, mayhem, lawlessness and waging war against the Nation. Discouraging, ‘set-back’ state of affairs. Whom do we blame? When will it stop? Should we begin to accept the fact that this is going to be an unending process? Is this the price to be paid because we are a populace big Nation, striding ahead to achieve ‘Super Power’ status.

Is it because, we were so busy to achieve a growth level that we have erred in paying due attention to the required infrastructure of policing and internal security. Is it that our increasing population has produced persons proportionally in numbers both avaricious and shellfish? Many having little, or no, Nationalist feelings. That our Defense Officers can succumb to bribe and flaunting flesh! Almost, daily the media highlights or breaks out in the open nefarious activities of well placed individuals and institutions. Even the very citadel of Democracy vibrates with ever raising questions of impropriety in Public life.

We are engulfed in a very serious situation. Nations, far and near will plan to take undue advantage of the economy. If not checked, the Country may have to face a very grim time in future. Criminals will abound. Our generation next will perforce inherit a weak and crumbling infrastructure. It then will be difficult to accord defense and security to Citizens and the Nation. Such conditions prevailing, attracts close border and far placed Nations to feel encouraged to try and apply their nefarious writ.

It is yet not too late to do a mid stream course correction. Plan to strengthen the infrastructure. Uphold the Law against all and sundry for every rule infringed. Inculcate honesty in the rank and file of our organized forces. Orient our young, who are the future, and educate the values of life and good living. While we ensure literacy, effective planning for better socio-economical conditions will reduce, beside others ill effects, crime in the Country.

Notwithstanding the above, I feel encouraged on the strides we have made in our National life. We have a vibrant Democracy in place that makes all feel proud. We have the technology to produce almost all that can be manufactured. We are fast acquiring the knowledge to reach the Moon. Our National productivity is on the up. We nearly achieve our predetermined growth rate. While the world went through the upheaval of economic crisis, we managed to sail through and some.

LET US RESOLVE TO BE BETTER CITIZENS

A percentage of our Country’s city population is educated. A larger percentage, over the entire land, may not be people of letters, but do keep a sane mind on their shoulders. A few have to be explained, and motivated to react favorably to our purpose: and we will succeed in our resolve to be better Citizen. In doing so, we will become a better Nation, a more appreciated Society and we will earn respect internationally.

No doubt in my mind that it will be hard work, de-motivating at times but in the long run we would win applauds and accolades for the effort we would have put in, collectively.

We ALL in our own sphere of life: where we live, where we work, where we can, without appearing to interfere, softly and surely, motivate the people living therein to try and understand and put in to practice the points listed below. If, we all together, make a small beginning, soon the effort will acquire shape of a movement and the purpose would be achieved. I am confident.

Let us, and get all around us, to understand and emulate on the points listed:

• Begin by help keeping your surroundings clean, teach people to understand the value of cleanliness. Assist the local body to remove thrash and maintain hygienic drainage system.
• Be aware and make all those living around you, of importance of security of life & material. Plan your area watch groups, in demarcated zones and report to police of ANY unusual OCCURRENCE.
• Accord assurance to the elders, women and children of your area of residence and work. Get them to be of assistance in any manner which is within their reach and feasible
• Carry and explain to all in the vicinity, the advantage of carrying any sort of recognized identification on person, at all times away from place of residence.
• Be civic minded, and explain the benefits of Civic amenities. Encourage all to stop abuse of these amenities. Report, rather than taking on the onus of correction on your own self.
• Stand in queue where one is required to, and encourage others to stand in line as well. A QUEUE HELPS ALL, CONVEYS A SENSE OF EQUALITY AND ENCOURAGES FAIR ADVANTAGE TO ALL.
• DEMAND to be attended to, where you are expected to be attended and report where this privilege is not extended to you, fairly.
• Give way to Senior Citizen, medically handicapped, women and children. WHENEVER and WHEREEVER.
• Teach school going children by example. DISCOURAGE rowdies.
• Without falling back on to the politics of the situation, encourage all to follow a given idea and gain majority in consensus.

It would be to every ones advantage if you encourage all those with you to add to the above list and achieve.

Whenever, you feel that your effort has produced the desired result, do not hesitate to celebrate the fact, and, praise all and sundry, at the same time, for this achievement.