Thinking about the Seven NE States surely had all our BP going high and we were ardently hoping we will end up with something at least. It happened again with Assam. Thinking I had half the dish planned, I wasn't really giving a lot of importance to the order of states I was doing, until I realized that I still had a couple of states in the first week to be done. I decided I better do it in order if I ever want this to be done on time.
I remember going through Sunita's space during ICC and knew she didn't have anything in the category I wanted to make. Then I read about Boror Tenga / Assamese Tomato Curry With Lentil Dumplings by Aparna and decided to do it. However, she had written that this is served with rice or roti and there was not any specific bread that I could pair it with.
One link led to something and I finally saw myself in the Assamese Recipes in FB. I immediately sent a message to the admin and was thrilled to get a prompt reply. I asked for some bread or something other than rice that I can make. I was suggested to make Kholasapori Pitha, a rice pancake made with Night Jasmine and few other ingredients.
I was told that one can do without these flowers as well, however Assamese add these natural ingredients to make it more healthy. I asked if I can serve it with Boror Tenga and was told that these Pithas are mostly served with Aloo pitika, a dry potato fry. The Admin was kind enough to send me links and pictures as well.
I then searched for these names in hand and landed in many other blogs which proved quite helpful. I finally selected Madhu's space for dishes.
I was hoping to make Boror Tenga, Rice, Pithas and some aloo pitikas. However, just a couple of days before this, Amma had made Banana blossom Vadas. When I saw the blossoms all cleaned and kept, I suddenly remembered reading about some connection with Assam cuisine.
I wasn't wrong, I landed in Koldil Bhaaji from Madhu. She said this bhaji is very famous in their cuisine and I reasoned that when they can serve a dry aloo pitika with the Pitha, I can surely serve this Bhaaji. Trust me, it was such a delicious combination. It was a simple meal, rather it was a brunch for me. Of course, Amma, Athamma, and Konda enjoyed eating this. They, in fact, felt I could have made it for all. The Bhaaji was a first for all of us. We are not used to making/eating a dry dish with rice or rotis as such. Still, it was very good experience.
A bit on the Assamese cuisine. This is again predominantly nonvegetarian in nature. And they do not use much of oil or spice. Thinking about this reminds me of our Assamese neighbour. That Aunty used to make fish curry and especially calls Dad for dinner. Dad sort of used to this mildly spiced fish curry during his early college days. I can't imagine hubby dear even tasting it. Anyway reading this state, got me remembering those friends. Maybe I could've tried getting in touch with that aunty to know about recipes.
Anyway, I made this for a brunch and we all enjoyed this combination. Of course, it was only we who had it and gave a small piece for tasting to Hubby dear.
Assamese Koldil Bhaaji / Dry Banana Flower Sabji
Ingredients Needed:
Banana Flower - 1 cup
Potato - 1 big
Green Chilli - 2 long
Garlic chopped - 2 cloves
Onions chopped - 1 medium
Panch Phoran - 1 tsp
Salt to taste
Turmeric a pinch
Oil - 2 tsp
How to make the Sabzi
Clean the banana blossoms and keep it ready.
Peel and cut the potato into cubes.
Heat a nonstick pan with 2 tsp oil.
Add panch phoran and when it sputters add finely chopped chilli, onion, and garlic.
Next add the banana flower and the potato, mix well.
Now add Salt, Turmeric and mix well. Cover and put the flame on low. Let it cook. Simmer for 10 mins
Serve hot, with Kholasapori Pitha
How to make Kholasapori Pitha
Kholasapori Pitha | Assamese Rice pancake
Ingredients Needed
Rice flour - 1 cup
Onions, finely - 1 medium
Grated Carrot - 1/2 cup
Water to make a batter
Oil - 2 tsp
Salt to taste
How to make the pithas
In a bowl, take all the ingredients and make a lump less batter of rice powder, chopped onion, grated carrot, salt, and water.
Heat a Tawa pan. Smear oil and pour two ladlefuls of batter and spread round .
Turn over when done and cook the other side.
Serve Kholasapori Pitha with aloo bhaji / (potato fry) or Koldil Bhaaji
Notes:
The batter needs to be on the thinner side so that it can spread well. If you find it hard to spread as you do with regular dosas, you can drop it as a circle and quickly swirl the tawa to make a circle.
These pancakes actually went well with the dry subzi.
We do make Rice flour dosas regularly at home. Since this is such a simple one, I have not shared it.
Nalini's Kitchen says
Sounds very inviting and interesting Valli..both the dishes look so yummy and healthy.
Manjula Bharath says
wow very very delicious and yummy assamese platter 🙂 love the kholasapori pitha 🙂 and ha koldil bhaji looks very delicious even I made them 🙂 Lolz yes My BP is already High .. Awesome recipe selection .. loving it totally 🙂
vaishali sabnani says
Hats off for searching these recipes...the dry banana flowers are new to me...but the rice pancake...well we do make these with lot of variations. So glad you guys enjoyed the brunch:))
Priya Suresh says
Kholasapori pitha sounds almost like our instant dosas, bhaaji with banan flower looks absolutely quick and delicious as well.Beautiful dishes together.
Harini-Jaya R says
I have a vague recollection of banana blossom curry which was very popular there. Your post reminded me of it!! Good one, Valli.
Suma Gandlur says
While searching for the recipes, I think I came across these pithas. More like instant version of dosas. That bhaji is interesting.
The Pumpkin Farm says
i tried laying my hands on banana flower but realised it is too much of h ard work, i suddenly feel ashamed of complaining about same veggies each time, when i see the north east opetions, they have survived with so little and yet flourished their cuisine ,anyway, pitha is also a good dish and your combo must have been superb, kudos
Ranjani says
Looks too good..
Jayanthi Padmanabhan says
Kholasapori Pitha is a little like the maida dosa that my mother makes with maida and rice flour. looks yummy. so much homework for every recipe.. great work Valli. keep it up. the bhaji looks real tasty too
Nivedhanams Sowmya says
I love your write up on how you landed on this recipe!!! good one!! both these dishes look yumm
Sapana Behl says
Very unique combo and nice to know about your recipe searching !
Priya Srinivasan says
Love that banana blossom subji, it is a bit of work but then when it is all cleaned it is good to make!!! Cleaning is the part i dread!!! Love that dosa/pitha too!!!
Pavani N says
It's very interesting to see how similar all our cuisines are. Your plate looks so yummy. I made rice dosas for another state -- coming up really really soon.
Vanamala Hebbar says
Love the pitha, looks like rava dosa
Varadas Kitchen says
Nice story. FB Admins of these groups are really helpful. The end result looks great!
Veena Theagarajan says
Both dishes looks great.. healthy too
Sandhya Ramakrishnan says
I also want to make this bhaji because I love banana flowers, but we don't get it where i live...Looks delicious and tempting. Love the pitha...So simple and full of flavors!
Gayathri Kumar says
Both the pitha and bhaaji look delicious. I am awestruck with all the research you guys are doing...
Saraswathi Tharagaram says
Seems delicious and interesting.. I am going to try this very soon.
Chef Mireille says
i was going to go with one of the many banana flower recipes on the fb page also but then changed my mind at the last minute. Your meal looks delish
Kalyani says
so much like instant rice dosai.. and the curry looks soooo inviting... ! yummmm...
Rajani S says
banana flower is cooked in Kerala as well, but no idea how it is done :D. I somehow found cooking from Assam much easier than the other states. At least we had some pnline resources for this state!
Padmajha PJ says
The NE states were giving me jitters!And as Rajani said, Assam was the easiest of all!I too read that night jasmine is used in their cooking and was wondering how it would taste!
The rice pancakes look nice and must try the banana blossom curry with potato.
Sreevalli E says
The pancakes look yummy.. They are looking a little like ravva dosa & the plantain curry is so welcoming.
Usha says
Kholasapori pitha preparation is similar to rice flouw chila or biyyam attu. No matter how far apart the states are, there is some similarity in the preparation. You ended up cooking some good dishes for the state.