Varan bhaat
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Plain toor dal with a touch of turmeric and hing, poured over rice with ghee and lemon: the first course of a Maharashtrian feast.
Region: MaharashtraOccasion: Everyday meal; naivedya (offering) and festive thalisTime: 30 minServes: 4Vegetarian
Ingredients
- ¾ cup toor dal
- 1 cup rice
- ½ tsp turmeric
- A pinch of hing
- 1 tsp jaggery (optional)
- Salt to taste
- Ghee to serve
- Lemon wedges to serve
Method
- Wash the dal and pressure-cook with turmeric, hing and 2 cups water until very soft (4 whistles).
- Cook the rice separately until soft.
- Whisk the dal smooth, add salt, jaggery and a little hot water, and simmer for 5 minutes to make varan.
- Serve a mound of hot rice with varan poured over it, a spoon of ghee and a squeeze of lemon.
History
Varan, unspiced dal, is the simplest dal of Maharashtra and the base of its traditional feasts.
Significance
Varan-bhaat with ghee is offered to Shri Ganesha as naivedya and is the first course served at Maharashtrian weddings and festival meals.