BENDA KAALU ON TOAST
'Benda Kaalu On Toast' - The unique title of the latest play by the renowned playwright Girish Karnad raked up my nostalgia, and fond memories of my childhood started brimming in my mind. I remembered the delicious Peas On Toast which I enjoyed with my parents and siblings at Sri Kanteerava Narasimharaja Sports Club, Mysore. Secondly I felt an unsupressable urge to taste THE DISH - BENDA KAALU ON TOAST - NOW! Both the thought processes culminated in bringing out this post!
INGREDIENTS TO PREPARE BENDA KAALU
Fresh Field Beans / Kaalu - 2 cups
Sesame oil - 2 tbsps
Cumin seeds - 1/2 tsp
Finely chopped onion - 4 tbsps
Finely chopped garlic - 1 tsp
Finely chopped fresh ginger - 1 tsp
Salt - 1 tsp
Juice of 1 lime
Finely chopped fresh coriander leaves - 2 tbsps
METHOD
1. Boil Field Beans/Kaalu in enough water adding one pinch of salt.
2. Drain the cooked Kaalu and keep aside.
3. Crush the ginger and garlic together using a mortar and pestle and keep aside.
4. Heat oil in a pan and add cumin seeds.
5. When the seeds puff up add the crushed ginger and garlic.
6. Add the finely chopped onion and fry till they become golden in colour.
7. Keep a low flame and add the sambar powder and salt.
8. Retain one table spoon of Kaalu and stir the rest into the pan.
9. Mash the retained Kaalu with one table spoon of chopped coriander leaves using a mixer or a mortar and pestle since the quantity is not much.
10. Add the mashed coriander and beans mixture to the Kaalu in the pan and stir well.
11. Cook till the Kaalu curry becomes thick and comes together.
12. Mix in the lime juice and the remaining coriander leaves.
Benda Kaalu is now ready.
INGREDIENTS TO PREPARE THE TAVA TOAST
Bred Slices of your choice - 4
Unsalted butter - as required
METHOD
1. Place a thin slice of butter on the tava and heat it on low flame.
2. When the butter starts melting, place a slice of bread on the center and toast on low heat.
3. Gently push the bread slice around the tava using a spatula so that it absorbs all the butter melting around.
4. When the bottom becomes golden in colour place another thin slice of butter on top of the bread slice. Do not flip.
5. Top it with a thick layer of the Benda Kaalu.
6. Remove it on to a serving plate.
7. Repeat the procedure for the rest of the toasts.
Start biting into the luscious layer of the benda kaalu and proceed into the soft and buttery top portion of the bread slice, and experience the bliss when you arrive at the heavenly golden crunch at the bottom.The effect of the explosion of the flavour and taste of Benda kaalu On Toast on the taste buds is tantalizing! Do not forget to sip a strong filter coffee in between bites to enhance the rich experience.
