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A delicious treat, Maharaja style
Machchli khasa is good for those who avoid spicy and oily stuff
We've heard of food fit for kings, but this festival brings the phrase full circle. From the royal kitchens to common knowledge, and now to a five-star restaurant in the Capital.
`He laid stress on fresh fruits, milk, good quality rice and was partial to meat cooked in rich gravies, besides preserves like mangoes, oranges and grapes. His interaction with foreigners made him take interest in their cuisine, and as a result, his court cuisine contained plenty of sauces, gravies and food cooked in wine,' says corporate chef Manjit Gill, presenting the festival Celebrating Cuisines from the Court of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. The food festival is running at the Pavilion, Maurya Sheraton and Baywatch, Marriott WelcomHotel.
"The Maharaja was a gourmet. It was a ritual to include sattu and milk in the cuisine," adds Gill, who, in collaboration with the Maharaja Ranjit Singh Trust, has researched the various types of cuisine of the Maharaja's time.
Some of the recipes are exclusively from the Maharaja's kitchens, while others are known dishes with changed names. Sattu goes well with the scorching summers as it is refreshing and not too sweet. Machchli khasa is good for those who avoid spicy and oily stuff. Shahi dal, on the other hand, is the usual dal makhni. Bater malai or quail with cream sauce is worth trying, if only because it is not a dish commonly cooked in homes.
Rare delicacy
The other rare delicacy to be found at the festival is duckling with pistachio. This is duck, roasted and then cooked using the dum technique along with lamb stock. Paneer hauz pasand or the more nourishing version of palak paneer with nuts and kishmish is a good option for vegetarians.
Most of these dishes can be eaten with sweet and sour relish of mango, lemon and grapes.
As for the royal desserts, a whole array is here to tease the royal palate, but tiltandula and amphulla are intriguing, said to be the outcome of the French connection. One can also try karrah paneeri, an Indian dessert that is said to have caught the royal fancy. All three can be served hot or chilled, depending on the mood and season.
D.R.
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