There’s hardly a meal that comes close to the langar, the community meals served in Gurudwaras. Cooked and served with the intent of giving back to the community (sewa), langar is eaten in a simple steel thali. With dal, aloo sabzi, roti, salad, and raita as the staples, the thali always serves you a balanced meal.
And to bring a small part of the spirit home, this Gurpurab, also known as Guru Nanak Jayanti, why don’t you prepare the staples at home? While you might not have the bhattis (wood-fired hearths in Gurudwaras) at home, Usha’s infrared cooktop will make the cooking process feel like a breeze. With its four preset menus and eleven power stages, you can get precise control over the temperature for each dish.
Kada Prashad
Image Credit: Freepik
No langar is complete without kada prashad. While traditionally the prashad is made in iron vessels, you can simply use an induction safe pan and make it on Usha’s super convenient infrared cooktop. Made with basic kitchen ingredients including whole wheat flour, sugar, ghee, and a little water, you can make the Punjabi staple in less than fifteen minutes. Just remember to keep stirring to avoid any lumps, garnish kada prashad generously with chopped dry fruits, and serve hot.
Langar Vali Dal
Image Credit: Adobe Stock
Urad dal, a less refined version of the popular dal makhani, is typically a part of langar. Its distinct velvety and creamy texture can be obtained when simmered at a low temperature. Thanks to Usha’s infrared cooktop, you can easily control the temperature and get the perfect consistency. Once the lentils soak up the flavours of garlic, ginger, cumin, and ghee, add a dollop of cream on top and add to your thali.
Aloo Gobhi
A dry sabzi like aloo gobhi is always a part of the langar vali thali. To complete your traditional meal, you can make home-style aloo gobhi. You can start by chopping potatoes and cauliflower and cooking them with a little oil till golden brown. With the addition of spices like haldi powder, jeera, garam masala, and dhania powder, your sabzi will take you back to a familiar feeling. Garnish with freshly chopped coriander leaves and pair it with a bowl of raita.
Jeera Rice
Jeera rice can be prepared on Usha’s infrared cooktop in less than fifteen minutes. To pair your langar vali dal and aloo gobhi sabzi, you can’t miss making fluffy rice. Just saute cumin seeds with a little salt and add rice. Pour in double the amount of water as rice, and pressure cook in an induction-safe cooker, or use a pan. Cook till you get separate, soft grains, and you’ll be ready to serve.
Kheer
Kheer is one of the most widely made Punjabi desserts, not just in the state but also in almost every part of the country. To give a sweet touch to your langar thali, make the rich pudding. Simmer milk, rice, and sugar on Usha’s infrared cooktop till the rice is soft. Flavour the kheer with cardamom seeds, take a taste, and adjust the sugar if required. You can serve the kheer hot or chilled as per your preference.