Ooti
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Dried peas cooked very soft with a little cooking soda, rice and spring onions into a thick, mild dish served at feasts.
Region: ManipurOccasion: Festive meals and community feastsTime: 1 hour + overnight soakingServes: 4Vegan
Ingredients
- 1 cup dried green or white peas, soaked overnight
- 2 tbsp rice, washed
- ¼ tsp cooking soda (baking soda)
- 4 spring onions, chopped (white and green parts kept separate)
- 1 inch ginger, crushed
- 1 tbsp mustard oil
- 1 green chilli
- Salt to taste
- 3–4 cups water
Method
- Boil the soaked peas and rice in water with the soda until the peas are very soft and start to break up.
- Heat the mustard oil and fry the white part of the spring onion, ginger and green chilli.
- Add the cooked peas and rice and mash some of them with the back of a spoon.
- Simmer, stirring, until thick and creamy. Add salt.
- Stir in the spring onion greens and serve hot with rice.
History
Ooti is a traditional Meitei dish. Cooking soda is used to soften the peas quickly and give the dish its smooth texture.
Significance
Ooti is a regular dish at Manipuri community feasts and family celebrations.