Ambrosia, from the Assamese kitchen

557 Pages·2008·1.9 MB·English

AMBROSIA

Jyoti Das was born in Shillong. Her other works include Aponar Akhilot
Chinese Byanjon and Manxhar Vividh Byanjon. She also writes food columns,
short stories and articles for various magazines like Nandini, Xadin, Parijat and
Prantik in Assam.
Her social activities have taken her to different pockets of Assam where she
got the opportunity to pick up the finer nuances of Assamese cuisine. At present,
she is working as a volunteer teacher at Sishu Saratha, a school for spastic
students in Guwahati.
For more information, log on to www.assamesecuisines.com.

Published by
Rupa Publications India Pvt. Ltd 2008
7/16, Ansari Road, Daryaganj
New Delhi 110002
Sales centres:
Allahabad Bengaluru Chennai
Hyderabad Jaipur Kathmandu
Kolkata Mumbai
Copyright © Jyoti Das 2008
Foreword copyright © Victor Banerjee 2006
Photographs by Aanzan and Jyoti Das
All rights reserved.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, transmitted, or stored in a
retrieval system, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical,
photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the
publisher.
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2
The moral right of the author has been asserted.
Typeset in Palatino by Mindways Design, New Delhi
Printed at Saurabh Printers Pvt. Ltd., Noida
This book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of trade or
otherwise, be lent, resold, hired out, or otherwise circulated, without the
publisher's prior consent, in any form of binding or cover other than that in
which it is published.
This book is dedicated to Raji, Rakhee, Rasween and Ronku for their support
and encouragement
From the Author's Desk...

I had the privilege of spending a part of my life in Upper Assam, in Duliajan
and Moran, thanks to my conjugal life that required us to move from one place
to another. My interaction with people from different spheres during my stay in
these places, especially in Moran, motivated my interest in cooking and the
kitchen culture of my state. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the
people of Moran for inspiring me and showering me with their unconditional
love and affection.
This book would have been incomplete without the unwavering support from
my husband Mr Ashok Das. I would like to thank Mr Victor Banerjee for his
encouragement and help during the endeavour. I must mention Mr Pradip
Acharyya's interest and guidance that facilitated this effort of mine. I also thank
my sister-in-law Mrs Sarbari Saikia and my daughter-in-law Rasween, whose
moral support from time to time meant so much. A special mention would be my
nephew Trisham, who helped me while I dealt with Microsoft for my work. My
heartiest thanks would go to Rahul Bhuyan for organising the book. Finally, this
effort would not have progressed beyond a dream, if not for my children Raji
and Rakhee who worked on my weak points and made the final output look the
way it is.
Contents

Acknowledgements
Foreword by Victor Banerjee
About Assam
Assamese Cuisine
Pithas
Kholasapori Pitha
Rice Pancake
Til Pitha
Sesame Pancake
Ghila Pitha
Fried Pancake
Narikolor Bhoja Pitha
Fried Coconut Pitha
Phula Pitha
Puffed Pitha
Kol Pitha-1
Banana Pitha-1
Kol Pitha-2
Banana Pitha-2
Poka Mithoi
Rice Powder And Jaggery Balls
Tekeli Pitha
Pitcher Cake (sweet)
Tekeli Pitha
Pitcher Cake (savoury)
Anguli Pitha
Finger-like Pitha
Aam Aru Bora Chaulor Pitha
Mango and Sticky Rice Pitha
Narikolor Laru
Coconut Ladoo
Kathali Seppa
Carambola
Chaul (Rice)
Baanhor Chungat Bora Chaul
Sticky Rice in a Bamboo Hollow
Chunga Chaul
Rice in a Bamboo Hollow
Baanhor Chungat Kharisa Diya Bhat
Fermented Bamboo Shoot Rice in a Bamboo Hollow
Bor/ Pakoras (Fritters)
Rongalao Phulor Bor
Pumpkin Flower Fritters
Sewali Phulor Bor
Coral Jasmine Pakoras
Mosmosiya Bengena Bhoja
Cruncy Brinjal Fritters
Maachor Konir Bor
Fish Egg Pakoras
Masur Dailor Bor
Red Lentil Pakoras
Khar (Alkali)
Amitar Khar
Papaya Khar
Sanmehali Kharor Lagot Kathal Guti