Janhi-Kakharu Raaee

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 This pandemic has taught us a lot of things. Being independent in household chores... do your own work at home & outside home....teach your kids every day... take care of diet (aka do not over eat because you have nothing better to do)... learn how to cool your favorite foods (because restaurants are closed)... learn how to grow your own food (because farmers market are scarce)...

In the attempt to grow our own food, my husband took up this challenge this summer to grow some of his favorite vegetables in our own backyard. 


He chose vegetables like squash, tomatoes, green beans... which you know every home farmer choose at first. The crop was awesome. We have had baskets full of tomatoes made into Tomato Khatta (Odiya style Tomato Chutney). Then he moved on to some typical Odiya vegetables like Kakharu (aka Pumpkin but not the orange kind that comes out during Halloween) & Laau (opo) etc. 

Today, we picked a very young green pumpkin which is slightly yellow in the middle & whose seeds are almost zero to none. 

Made some yummy Kakharu-Janhi raaee.. This is a Odiya dish made with ground mustard paste & any vegetables that are softer in nature. Mixing the pumpkin with ridge gourd was our mom's idea that came all the way from India via a Whats-app message when she heard that we have grown green young pumpkin in our yard.


Here's what we used..

  • 2.5 cups of medium cubed Kassi Kakharu (young green pumpkin)
  • 1 cup of medium cubed Janhi (ridge gourd)
  • Odiya mustard paste (Black mustard seeds + garlic pods + green chillies + wee bit water)
  • Salt + Turmeric + Kashmiri Red Chili Powder
  • Mustard oil
  • 1/2 tsp Pancha Phutana or Five Spice Mix (Cumin + Fennel + Mustard + Fenugreek + Nigella seeds)
  • A heavy bottom pan with cover
  • Wooden spatula
Process
  • Heat mustard oil in the heavy bottom pan.
  • Once oil is hot, add the Pancha Phutana & let them splutter
  • Next goes everything --> Pumpkin + Janhi + Salt + Turmeric + Kashmiri Red Chili Powder + 1 tbsp Mustard paste



  • Give it a good mix
  • Cover & cook for 17-20 mins until vegetables are soft
  • Open the cover & mix in between (may be every 8mins or so)
  • And done !!

Yes it is that simple... Enjoy !!

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