Sorisha Sajana Chuin (Drumsticks in mustard paste)

You know, when we start to talk about "pakhala bhata" all we Odiyas go crazy...Yes.. we are crazy for food.. we are food "crazies" !!

The side dishes for "pakhala" are simple to make and yet delicious..one of them which I adore is drumsticks in mustard sauce...

Ohh, please do not think that it is some curry.. it is quite dry.. and yummy...

Since this takes mustard paste, mom used to make a lot and store in glass closed containers. Why make the paste again and again? Odiya kitchens use mustard paste for many many other things.. Drumsticks are just one teeny tiny part of that..

What she used:

6-7 medium sized drumsticks.

4 table spoons mustard seeds.

6 fat garlic cloves

4 green chillies

1/2 spoon panch phoran (If you don't have panch phoran, you can use only jeera and mustard seeds)

Mom would clean and cut the drumsticks very carefully. The hard scale should be scrapped off.

A wet paste would be made with mustard seeds, 4 garlic cloves and 4 green chillies. She adds water also to this paste so that its smooth like silk.. yes.. thats what she says.. and believe me, when its ready it looks like slight green silk..

Here's her process now:

Heat pan and add 1-2 spoons of mustard oil

Mean time, crush the rest garlic with a pestle.

Add panch phoran when oil is hot.

Then add the crushed garlic

Immediately add the drumsticks and fry for like a min or so.

Then add a little bit of water (like 2 spoons) and cover.

Leave the whole thing covered for 3-4 mins.

After 4 mins, remove cover and stir fry by adding turmeric and salt.

By this time, drumstick will be half cooked.

Now add 2 tbl spoons of mustard paste with 2tbl spoons of water.

Let it simmer away. Simmer until the water dries up. By the time water dries up, the drumsticks are fully cooked and ready to be served.

Enjoy your Odiya favorite food.