Gauranga Potatoes (Ekadasi)

In this dish, slices of potato are folded with herbs, butter, and sour cream and baked to a golden brown. It is irresistibly rich and delicious, yet effortless to prepare.

• PREPARATION & COOKING TIME: 50–60 minutes
• YIELD: Enough for 4 to 6 persons
• 8 medium potatoes, peeled and sliced into 0.5 cm (1/4-inch) disks
• water
• 1 tablespoon (20 ml) olive oil
• 3/4 teaspoon (3 ml) yellow asafoetida powder
• 1/2 teaspoon (2 ml) ground dried rosemary
• 1/4 teaspoon (1 ml) freshly ground black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon ( 2 ml) turmeric
• 3 cups (750 ml) sour cream
• 1 tablespoon (20 ml) melted butter
• 2 teaspoons (10 ml) salt
• 1/2 cup (125 ml) water
• 1 teaspoon (5 ml) sweet paprika
• 2 tablespoons (40 ml) chopped fresh parsley

1. Boil the potato slices in lightly salted water in a 4-litre/quart saucepan until they are cooked but firm. Remove and drain.
2. Add the olive oil to a medium saucepan, over moderate heat and when hot, add the asafoetida. Saute momentarily; add the rosemary, black pepper, and turmeric and stir briefly. Add the sour cream, melted butter, salt, and water. Whisk it into a smooth sauce and remove from the heat.
3. Combine the potato slices and sour cream sauce in a mixing bowl. Pour the mixture into a casserole dish, sprinkle with paprika, and place in the top of a preheated 200°C/390°F oven. Bake for 30 minutes or until the top is golden brown. Garnish with fresh parsley and serve hot.

Indonesian Gado Gado Salad

This version of the exotic Gado Gado salad, popular throughout Indonesia, can be served as a side salad to accompany a main meal for four persons, or as a main dish for two persons. Obtain the Chinese bok choy, coconut milk (santan), and the tofu (bean curd) from any well-stocked Chinese or Asian grocer. This salad is served with a steaming-hot peanut dressing.

• PREPARATION TIME: 15 minutes
• COOKING TIME: 25 minutes
• YIELD: Enough for 2 - 4 persons
• 250 g (9 ounces) Chinese bok choy leaves washed and cut into bite-sized pieces
• water for boiling and blanching
• 125 g (4 1/2 ounces) mung bean shoots
• 2 or 3 small new potatoes
• 1 cup (250 ml) French beans, "topped and tailed" and cut into 3.75 cm (1 1/2-inch) lengths
• oil for deep-frying
• 450 g (1 pound) firm tofu, cut into 1 1/2 cm (3/4-inch) cubes
• 3/4 cup (185 ml) raw peanuts
• 4 Brazil nuts
• 1 teaspoon (5 ml) chili powder, or more for a hotter sauce
• 1/2 teaspoon (2 ml) yellow asafoetida powder
• 1 teaspoon (5 ml) salt
• 1 teaspoon (5 ml) brown sugar
• 1/2 cup (125 ml) coconut milk (santan)
• 1/2 medium cucumber, unpeeled and cut into batons.
• (To cut into batons, cut cucumber into slices 1 cm [3/8 inch] thick and 5 cm [2 inches] long.
• Cut each slice again into 1 cm [3/8-inch] strips.)
• 1 small bunch watercress, washed and separated
• 1 tablespoon (20 ml) fresh lime or lemon juice
• 1 cup (250 ml) cold water

1. Blanch the bok choy leaves in boiling water for about 1 minute. Rinse in cold water and drain well.
2. Wash and blanch the bean shoots in a similar fashion, but for just 30 seconds. Rinse and drain.
3. Cook the potatoes whole in lightly salted boiling water until soft; then peel them and cut them into bite-sized pieces.
4. Cook the beans in lightly salted boiling water for five minutes; then drain and allow to cool.
5. Place the oil over moderate heat. When fairly hot 185°C/365°F, deep-fry the cubes of tofu until slightly golden. Remove them with a slotted spoon and drain in a colander.
6. Reduce the oil temperature to about 180°C/355°F and deep-fry the peanuts until golden (2 to 3 minutes). Remove and drain.
7. Deep-fry the Brazil nuts until golden (about 3 minutes) and drain.
8. Place the chili powder, asafoetida, fried nuts, salt, and sugar in a food processor and blend to a smooth powder. Add 1 cup (250 ml) cold water to the blended ingredients.
9. Transfer the contents of the blender to a heavy pan, bring to the boil, and simmer for 5 minutes. Add the coconut milk (santan) and remove from the heat.
10. Pile the Chinese bok choy leaves, bean shoots, potatoes, beans, tofu, cucumber, and watercress in individual neat piles on a large plate. Boil the dressing, add the lime juice, and immediately pour the dressing over the salad. Serve immediately. The dressing may be served separately.

Cream of Pumpkin Soup

Pumpkin soup is a great winter favorite. Milk and a simple seasoning of black pepper and nutmeg allow the pumpkin flavor to predominate.

• PREPARATION AND COOKING TIME: 30 minutes
• YIELD: Enough for 4 persons
• 3 cups (750 ml) water
• 1 1/2 cups (375 ml) milk
• 90 g (3 ounces) butter
• 1/4 teaspoon (1 ml) nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon (1 ml) freshly ground black pepper
• 4 cups (or about 1 kg, 2.2 pounds) pumpkin, peeled, seeded, and cubed
• 1 tablespoon (20 ml) plain flour
• 1 teaspoon (5 ml) salt
• 1 tablespoon (20 ml) light cream
• 2 tablespoons (40 ml) chopped fresh parsley

1. Melt half the butter in a 6-litre/quart saucepan over moderate heat. Add the nutmeg, black pepper, and pumpkin cubes and saute for 10 minutes. Add the water and bring to a boil, cooking until the pumpkin is very tender.
2. Empty the contents of the saucepan into a blender and add half the milk. Puree, being careful to ensure the lid remains on the blender.
3. Rinse the saucepan, add remaining butter and heat gently. Stir the flour into the butter. Return the pumpkin puree to the saucepan along with the remaining milk, stirring constantly until the soup is well-blended. Bring to a boil, simmer for a few minutes, and season with salt. Serve the soup in individual pre-warmed soup bowls, garnished with light cream and chopped parsley. Serve hot.

Bengali Royal Rice (Pushpanna)

Pushpanna is the "queen of rice." It contains pure saffron threads and a variety of nuts, dried fruit, vegetables, and spices. It is ideal served on special festive occasions and is worth the time and effort put into gathering the ingredients.

• PREPARATION TIME: 10 minutes
• COOKING TIME: 40 minutes
• YIELD: Enough for 6–8 persons
• 1 1/2 cups (375 ml) basmati or other long-grain white rice
• 1/2 teaspoon (2 ml) saffron threads
• 1 tablespoon (20 ml) hot milk
• 3 cups (750 ml) water
• 2 teaspoons (10 ml) salt
• 3 teaspoons (15 ml) nutmeg, freshly ground
• 1/4 cup (60 ml) ghee
• 1/4 cup (60 ml) cashew bits or halves
• 1/4 cup (60 ml) raw almond slivers
• 3 tablespoons (60 ml) raisins
• 1 teaspoon (5 ml) fennel seeds
• one 2.5 cm (1-inch) cinnamon stick
• 1 teaspoon (5 ml) cumin seeds
• 6 cardamom pods, bruised
• 6 whole cloves
• 1 teaspoon (5 ml) coarsely ground black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon (2 ml) cayenne pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon (2 ml) yellow asafoetida powder
• 2 tablespoons (40 ml) shredded fresh coconut
• 1/4 cup (60 ml) cooked green peas
• 1/4 cup (60 ml) brown sugar
• home-made curd cheese (panir), made from 6 cups (1 1/2 litres) milk cut

  into 0.5 cm (1/4-inch) cubes and deep-fried until golden brown

1. Wash, drain, and dry the rice.
2. Soak the saffron in the milk for 5 minutes.
3. Boil the water, salt, saffron milk, and nutmeg in a 2-litre/quart saucepan over moderate heat. Keep it covered to avoid evaporation.
4. Heat half the ghee or oil in a 4-litre/quart saucepan over moderate heat. Add the cashews and almonds, saute until golden brown, and then remove with a slotted spoon. Set aside. Stir-fry the raisins for a few seconds until they swell, remove them, and place them in a bowl with the cashews and almonds.
5. Add half the remaining ghee or oil to the pan, Saute the rice for 2–3 minutes over moderate heat; then add the boiling water. Stir raise the heat, and bring the water to a full boil. Immediately reduce the heat to low, cover with tight-fitting lid, and gently simmer, without stirring, for 15–20 minutes or until all the water has been absorbed and the rice is tender and flaky.
6. Remove the rice from the heat, leaving the lid on for another 5 minutes to allow the rice to become firm.
7. Place the remaining ghee in a heavy pan over moderate heat. Stir fry the fennel seeds, cinnamon stick, cumin seeds, cardamom pods, and whole cloves for 1 minute or until seeds are golden brown. Add the black pepper, cayenne pepper, asafoetida, and fresh coconut. Saute the coconut for 1 minute; then add the peas, sugar, deep-fried panir, nuts, and raisins. Remove from the heat.
8. Carefully combine the cooked rice with all the other ingredients. Serve on a warmed serving dish or on individual plates.