Delights of Ker-Sangri

The unique cuisine of Rajasthan adds plenty of value to the heritage, mainly because amongst all the Indian cuisines, Rajasthani cuisine is sensitive to predominantly dry climate which makes it difficult to obtain fresh vegetables. Though it’s a common notion that Rajasthan like its neighbour Gujarat is predominantly vegetarian, it’s a misconception that can be verified through the abundance of non-vegetarian dishes that varies from chicken, lamb to boars, venison, peacock, quail and even camels.

Rajasthan cooking is actually quite simple. The main objective that is adopted by the natives is that no food element should be thrown or wasted, non- perishable and could be eaten without heating. So the whole principle of cooking revolves around using flour, seasonal sun-dried vegetables, grains, pulses, oil and traditional spices of the state.

Ker-Sangri ki sabji aka Panch-kuta is a spicy stir-fry vegetable dish which is bascally a combination of five dried vegetables and spices like Ker (wild berries), Sangri (dried beans), Khumbatiya (gumthi), Lisoda (or lesuaa) and dried mango prepared in curd and rajasthani masalas. These berries are very easily available in the grocery stores in Rajasthan. These berries are washed and soaked overnight to remove the dirt and then they are boiled and stir-fried in oil, spices and yogurt. If you are willing to experiment with more flavors, you have the option of soaking the berries in buttermilk.

Prep Time: 15-20 minutes (excluding the overnight soaking of the berries)

Cooking Time: 15 – 20 minutes

Cuisine: Rajasthani, Indian

Level of Cooking: Easy

Spice level: Medium

Serves: 4 – 6

Main Ingredients:

For convenience sake, let’s stick with only 2 berries for now, instead of all the 5

Dried Ker and sangri – 1 cup/100 gm
Green chili (hari mirch), chopped – 2 tsp
Chili powder (lal mirch) – 1.5 tsp
Dried whole raw mango pieces (sabut amchoor) – 5
Coriander powder (dhaniya) – 1.5 tsp
Mango powder (amchoor) – 1 tsp
Yogurt (dahi) -4 tbsp (optional)
Pickle masala (achar ka masala)– 1.5 tsp
Turmeric (haldi) -1/2 tsp
Salt (namak) – to taste

Tempering Ingredients:

Cooking oil – 1/4 cup
Cumin seeds (jeera) – 1tsp
Mustard seeds(rai) – 1 tsp
Fennel seeds (saunf) – 1/2 tsp
Asafoetida (hing)– 1/4 tsp
Whole red chilies-5

Preparation:

Once the ker sangri has been soaked overnight, it is washed in normal tap water 3-4 times to get rid of all the dirt.

In a pressure cooker add ker sangri and enough water to cover it. Pressure cook for 3 whistles on medium heat. Let it cool down completely then drain all the water from ker sangri.

Heat oil in a heavy bottom pan or a kadai. Add all the tempering ingredients in the oil.

Add chopped green chilies and boiled ker dangri to the pan and saute it for a minute. Add rest of the dry spices in it and continue stirring. Yoghurt is still an optional ingredient. So if you are willing add the curd and mix it well.

Cook on low heat until all the moisture dries up.

Serve: Hot/ Cold with missi roti or bajre ki roti, poori, daal- rice

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