Foodistan!
February 10, 2012 Friday AT 3PM CT

 
 

A new front in the decades-old standoff between India and Pakistan, Foodistan, an Indian reality TV show, pits the best chefs of the dueling nations against each other in a cross-border cook-off. In this showdown, tactical deployment of spices is what "curries" the day. A food fight or a recipe for peace?



Guest
  • Poppy Agha is the lively and talented chef behind the popular Pakistani TV show The Taste of Fusion, and founder of the first professional culinary institute in Pakistan. Agha is one of the Pakistani chefs featured on Foodistan.
  • Manish Mehrotra, trained under master chefs from Thailand at the Taj President, Mumbai, and is known for creating an award-winning menu at Indian Accent at The Manor, in New Delhi. He is part of the Indian team competing on Foodistan.
  • Ira Dubey is the sparkly co-host of Foodistan. An actress and self-professed foodie, she brings her love for all things tasty into the tense culinary face-off between India and Pakistan.
Related Links

Recipes

Pakistan:

Aubergine Masala With Sweet Potato Mash
Aubergine cooked in a spicy gravy and served with sweet potatoes on the side.

INGREDIENTS
  • 5 sweet potatoes
  • 1 kg aubergine (preferably long ones)
  • 1 cup cooking oil
  • 5 tsp cumin seeds
  • 3 tsp red chilli flakes
  • 2 tsp fennel seeds
  • 3 cloves
  • 2 tsp coriander seeds
  • 2 tsp black pepper
  • 3 tsp red chilli powder
  • salt to taste
  • 1 bunch fresh coriander, chopped
  • 10 green chillies, chopped
  • 8 medium-sized tomatoes, chopped
  • 1/2 kg  yogurt
  • 4 tbsp soft paneer
  • 1 bunch mint
  • 1 cup single fat cream
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 1/2 cup olive oil
  • juice of 3 lemons
  • 2 tsp brown sugar
  • 3 medium-sized green onions, chopped
METHOD:

Put sweet potatoes on to boil.

Slice the aubergine in long strips.

Add cooking oil in pan and add spices. Once the spices are cooked, add in the red chilli powder and salt.

In a separate pan, sear the aubergine strips.

Add in fresh coriander and green chillies, and then the tomatoes, as well as the yogurt and soft paneer.

Add stock and reduce the sauce.

Once the sauce is ready, sieve and reserve some masala for the aubergine.

Once sweet potatoes have boiled and are cooked all the way through, mash well. Add cream, milk, olive oil, lemon juice, brown sugar, red chilli powder and some green onions and salt.

Mix well.

Plate up with a layering of mashed sweet potato and aubergine strips with a drizzle of the sauce and the masala reserved earlier.


Hariyali Machli With Onion Pulao
A succulent fillet of fish cooked in an aromatic sauce made of mint, coriander and chilli, served with a smoky brown rice.

INGREDIENTS
  • 2 bunches green coriander
  • 2 bunches mint
  • 12 green chillies
  • 1/2 kg  yogurt
  • 2 lemons
  • 1/2 cup olive oil
  • 5 tsp salt (or to taste)
  • 6 tsp cumin seeds
  • 2 tsp coriander seeds
  • 1 pc cinnamon stick
  • 1 cup cooking oil
  • 4 medium-sized onions, sliced
  • 2 tbsp garlic paste
  • 2 tbsp ginger paste
  • 6 whole red chillies
  • 1 cup basmati rice
  • Water as required
  • 8 pcs rohu fish, 4.5"x 2.5" (rectangular, single serving fillet)
METHOD:

Grind coriander, mint, green chilies, yogurt, lemon, olive oil, salt and cumin into a smooth green paste.

Make garam masala mix with coriander seed, cumin, cinnamon.

In a pan, heat a little cooking oil and sauté onions for fish till brown.

Add garlic paste, ginger paste and green masala mix. Bring to simmer and let it cook for 8 minutes.

In a separate pan, brown onions in cooking oil for rice. Add in fresh grated ginger and garlic paste. Add in red chilli and salt.

Add a dash of water and once masalas have cooked, add in the rice. Add enough water for the rice to boil and cook till rice is done.

As the green masala cooks and oil is released, add in the fillet of fish and cook till fish is done.

Serve with a garnish of lemon and green chilli.


India:

Nariyal and Soya Paneer Vada, Thayir Sadam and Tomato Chutney (starter)
Coconut and tofu croquettes flavoured with herbs and spices. Served with chutney made out of spicy tomato pickle.

INGREDIENTS
  • 2 cups fresh tofu, grated
  • 4 tbsp paneer, grated
  • 3 tbsp ginger, chopped
  • 1 tbsp green chillies, chopped
  • 3 tbsp garlic, chopped
  • 1 tsp curry leaves
  • salt to taste
  • 1 tbsp fine sugar
  • 1 tsp garam masala powder
  • 1 tsp cinnamon powder
  • 1 tsp white pepper powder
  • 5 tbsp coconut milk powder
  • 7 tbsp almonds, peeled and chopped
  • 1 pkt tempura batter mix
  • 10 tbsp panko bread crumbs
  • oil (for frying)
  • 2 tbsp tomato pickle
  • 1 cup mayonnaise
  • 7 tbsp cooked rice
  • 1 tbsp oil
  • 1 tsp black mustard seeds
  • 1 tbsp urad dal
  • 3 onion, chopped
  • 4 cucumber, chopped
  • 2 tbsp coriander, chopped
  • 5 tbsp hung yogurt
  • 2 tbsp cream
  • 2 tbsp raw mango

For plating (optional):
  • 1 coconut, whole
  • 1 banana leaf
METHOD:

For soya and tofu vada:
Squeeze tofu and paneer in muslin cloth to remove maximum amount of water.

In a mixing bowl, cream tofu and paneer to a smooth mixture so that there are no lumps left.

Add chopped ginger, green chilli, garlic, salt, fine sugar, garam masala, cinnamon powder and white pepper powder and coconut milk powder.

Mix it thoroughly and place it in chiller for mixture to harden a bit.

Give tofu mixture a shape, dip in tempura batter and first roll in almonds, then in panko breadcrumbs.

Deep fry and serve with tomato pickle chutney, curd rice.

For tomato pickle chutney:
Whirl the tomato pickle in mixer and pass through conical strainer.

Add mayonnaise and adjust the seasoning.

For curd rice:
Prepare the south Indian tempering of curry leaves, black mustard seeds and urad dal and strain to remove oil.

In a bowl, take rice. Add south Indian tadka, chopped onion, cucumber, coriander, ginger, raw mango and green chilli.

Add hung curd, salt, fine sugar, and if required some cream as well.

Mix thoroughly and chill.

Break the coconut and serve the curd rice in the shell.


Tellicherry Pepper Prawns Fry, Saboodana Papad (main course)
Black tiger prawns cooked with freshly crushed black tellicherry pepper and other spices

INGREDIENTS
  • 10 black tiger prawns (approx 1/2 kg), head off & shell off
  • salt to taste
  • 1 tbsp lemon juice
  • 1 tsp ginger garlic paste
  • 1 pkt tempura batter mix
  • 2 tbsp oil
  • 1 tbsp ginger, chopped
  • 3 tbsp garlic, chopped
  • 15g oyster sauce (optional)
  • 1 tbsp Maggi bhunna masala
  • 2 tsp black pepper powder, coarse
  • 2 tbsp coriander, chopped
  • 30g mashed potato (optional)
  • chilli flakes to taste
  • 2 saboodana papads
  • 2 tsp garam masala
  • oil for frying
METHOD:

Devein the prawns and give a butterfly cut.

Wash thoroughly and pat dry.

Marinate in half oyster sauce and half lemon juice.

Add little tempura batter (2 tbsp) to the prawns.

Fry in hot oil till golden.

In a pan, heat oil and sauté chopped ginger, garlic and bhunna masala.

Add water (6 tbsp) and add salt to the remaining oyster sauce.

Add crushed peppercorn and garam masala.

Reduce the sauce to coating consistency.

Add the crisp fried prawns and toss to coat evenly.

Add chopped coriander and finish with remaining lemon juice.

Add chopped coriander, salt and little black pepper to mashed potato.

Fry saboodana papad.

In serving plate, place quenelle of mash potato and stand the fried sabodana papad on it.

At the other end, stack the prawns and serve hot.

 

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