Rainy Day Eats

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         Good food can do wonders! Without proper food, my brain won’t 'brain' and my mind will start to 'mind'—as in, it will be bothered. Most of us cannot function efficiently without the right stuff going into our tummies. Good food is definitely a good mood for me. Being a foodie, I love eating seasonal, fresh, and healthy foods. My mom cooks the best dishes, and this might be one of the reasons (even though I don't admit it aloud) for my disinterest in stepping out of home.

When it's raining cats and dogs in the Western Ghats, my taste buds, in association with my tummy and mind, crave strong flavors. It's not hard to find edible species here in our region. (If you're a non-vegetarian, you might find every creature edible here!) I really enjoy this sometimes. Going into the plantation, on a slippery path, fearing every step and being very careful not to slip; looking out for leeches and checking for any blood if they have sucked me; finally collecting all the ingredients for the day’s lunch; then coming all the way back home with twice the effort because of carrying the harvested stuff—this isn’t a task for the 'real' inhabitants of the Western Ghats, but it is for me.

                                   

        The feeling when I have my first morsel is priceless. It totally feels worth the effort of harvesting and cooking. The first picture here is a dish commonly known as 'Karakali' in Kannada. This is a regional recipe not known to many. It is easy to cook and great to taste! The recipe goes like this: we clean the fresh Colocasia leaves, chop them, and boil them with the required amount of salt, a little sugar, and a tiny piece of tamarind. Once cooled down, we add a good amount of bird’s eye chilies and coarsely grind everything. (Specifically these chilies because they taste great, cause no harm to the body, have medical benefits, are authentic, and most importantly, are satisfying for us.) Lastly, we give it a strong garlic tadka, and it’s absolutely ready to serve. This tastes heavenly when served with hot, steaming rice.

        The next picture shows one of my most comforting lunches. My mom had prepped this excellently (as always) and I can still smell it on my hands as I type. On my plate, there’s white organic rice, Surinam-spinach salad (we call it 'hashi' in Havyaka Kannada), and some jack chips! A symphony of flavors that dances on the palate.






Location: Sirsi, Karnataka, India

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