Matki usal



Serves 4-6

Ingredients:
3 cups sprouted matki [moth beans]
1 cup onion
1 medium sized tomato [about 3-4 tbsp chopped]
4 tbsp cooking oil
1 1/2 cup water
1 tsp salt

Fresh spices:
1/2 tbsp ginger-garlic paste [finely diced is equally good]
1/4 tsp tamarind pulp

Whole spices:
5 cloves
5 blackpeppers
1 big bay leaf [i used three small pieces]
1 big cardamom
2 inch cinamom stick

Dry spices:
2 tsp red chilli powder
1/4 tsp turmeric powder
1/4 tsp garam masala
1/4 tsp ground coriander powder
1/4 tsp ground cummin powder


Cooking instructions:
1] On medium heat start with oil in a deep pan,
2] Add all of the whole spices together. Because I am using whole spices I avoid using sesame/cumin seeds,
3] When the whole spices release aromas and turn slightly brown, add onions,
4] Saute onions untill golder brown and add ginger-garlic paste,
5] About 30-45 seconds later add the tomatoes. You may need to add a tsp of water at this point to avoid the mixture sticking to the pan,
6] Roast the mixture for about 3-4 minutes,
7] Add the dry spices. It helps to add some water at this point to help the ingredients come together but not more than 1-2 tsp at a time,
8] Add the beans after another 5 minutes. Dry roast the beans for couple of minutes,
9] Add water. Cook for 15 minutes. Normally sprouted beans will not take too long to cook.



Additional Comments -
1] This recipe will result in a dry-ish usal. Increasing the amount of water to 2 or even 2 and half cups will give a more 'gravy/curry' finish.
2] The usal has strong whole spices aroma and taste. For those who enjoy milder flavours the bigger cardamom and half the cinamom can easily be left out of the preparation.
Alternatively remove the cardamom and cinamom stick as soon as you turn the heat off/well before serving.
3] For those who want MISAL, simply make the usal more watery [see #1] and then add chopped onions, coriander and some bhel mix.
4] Beat some yogurt and add to the concoction and you have Dahi Misal!!



Dhyanam for dummies {me!}

Lately I have begun to want to recite certain stotras. I really like the meaning and truly feel like offering the words. Although not entirely convinced I refrained from mere recitation; I began conducting देव पूजा.
Couple of weeks ago I was at the end of the still-not-sure-why process of bathing the idols, offering गंद, हलद,कुंकू, दिवा, धुप, and was about to do namsmaran. I got called out for a phone call and I decided to take it assuming of course I could get back to the recitation part after. Conversation over I walked back and sat myself ready to begin the स्मरण and स्तोत्र.
I couldn't do it! I completed the prayers but had to force myself to finish it and it was an excercise of will to not abandon it. My mind kept going over and over the conversation I just had and would not stop thinking of endless "what if?". Usually I enjoy the recitation and it is actually what I look forward to while going through {what I beleived} the motions of देव पूजा!
Then it dawned on me. The so far redudanat process was actually meditation. No one can plug into their consciousness immediately {well not everyday folk like me without any prior practice} and that is where 'rituals' of worship come into the picture. It is a sub or un conscience fine-tuning of the mind. This is what I see now;

The tapping of the mind into the consciousness begins with waking up early in the morning. It is the most pleasant part of the day in terms of weather, the body is rested and relaxed, mind is at ease not only from the night's sleep but also because nothing has trasnpired yet to work the mind or emotions up. A bath helps soothe the body and mind at the same time invigorates them. Once the process of pooja begins the mind is knowingly or unknowingly tuning unwanted thoughts out and focusing on the idols and offerings actually steadies the mind. Because you are not rushing through, your breathing also gets steady and regulated. The flowers, incense and mellow light of the lamp all enforce the steady state and help you reach a point where  all unwanted and distrubing thoughts are gone and your mind is blank, ready to recieve. Thereafter when you recite the shlokas and stotras you are in a position to reap its true benefits.
Reaching this state is quite difficult for someone without regular yog or without योगविद्या.  When every day issues, problems, complications, aspirations, dreams weigh on a persons' heart, mind and soul this simplistic process in terms of things-to-do can release wonderful rewards.

I was fooled by the simplicity. I took simplicity as masking stupidity all this while. Although I still wish someone would have taken time and effort to explain this to me earlier in life it is not lost on me that even on my own this realisation did not come to me untill I was ready and willing to recieve it.