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Pujo in West Bengal is not merely a festival but signifies community harmony and goes beyond the social constructs of class, caste, and religion. While other Hindu communities worship Goddess Durga as a deity, for Bengalis, she is their daughter who comes to her parental home for a few days. It is obvious that she will be offered all her favourite foods, including sweets and savouries. But with changing times, recipes have to evolve to cater to the health requirements and busy schedules. This is where you can use Usha OTG to its full potential. It will help you quickly work around the kitchen, prepare multiple dishes at the same time, and cook healthy variants of traditional favourites. Take a look at how this appliance will be your right hand during Pujo celebrations.
Chanar Pulao
It is a fragrant rice dish topped with fresh cottage cheese. This festive dish combines the sweet and savoury notes. The grains are layered with paneer, raisins, cashews, and sugar solution. Instead of slow cooking on a gas stove, you can bake everything together. To elevate the dish, you can use whole spices like nutmeg, cardamom, and cinnamon. The OTG will help you achieve a fluffy texture without worrying about burning the grains. It will be the centre of attraction during Pujo feasting.
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Narkel Naru
Narkel naru is nothing but coconut ladoo prepared during Pujo. You can use OTG to give these traditional recipes a quick twist. Instead of cooking the blend on a stove top, roast coconut, jaggery, and dry fruits in the oven. The mixture will turn aromatic, jaggery will melt, and roasting will impart a unique smoky note that will elevate the sweet dish. Baking will also reduce the moisture that often leaves the ladoos disintegrated after you shape them and store them in a box. This way, ladoos will retain their shape and can grace the dining table throughout the day as guests keep coming to your home for a meet and greet session.
Labra
Labra is a dish prepared for bhog during Pujo. It is a kind of mixed vegetables boasting earthy notes of pumpkin, brinjal, potato, and beans. Some home chefs also add drumsticks to it to make it more nutritious. Tempered with ghee, spices, and mustard seeds, this is a slow-cooked delicacy that can be prepared in an OTG in which you can regulate the temperature and keep the stovetop free for other delights that need high-flame cooking. Make sure to add panch phoron and seasoning of salt and pepper before sliding the vegetables into the appliance.
Bhoger Khichuri
For a special feast offered to Goddess Durga, bhoger khichuri is prepared, consisting of moong dal, gobindobhog rice, and vegetables of your choice. It is considered the most sacred part of the Pujo spread. This year, you can bake a large amount in the OTG and serve it to your guests, who will be forced to guess the source of the mild smoky touch. After lightly roasting lentils and spices, combine them in a baking dish along with vegetables, rice, and water.
Mishti Doi
Mishti doi in OTG? You must think that the author is kidding. Though traditionally prepared in an earthen pot, the sweet yoghurt can be caramelised and turned into a baked sweet using the Usha appliance. If you are sceptical about it, prepare a traditional batch and experiment with the OTG using a small amount. You will witness that the baked dish carries nostalgia with it, but has a more consistent texture.
