PANI SANTULA ( an awesome dish from Odisha)

During my recent visit to Odisha, I had decided to eat only Odiya food and this dish Pani Santula was top of the list. Of course I often make this here based on recipes from my blog friends (reference given below)  , Both of them are very good in Odiya recipes and I often cook their dishes.

Now during my visit I picked up the finer points of making this simple dish, from my friend and his wife, both are very good cooks.

THE RECIPE. 

Most Odiya dishes are famous for their simplicity , , low use of oil and spices and down to earth dishes.

There are 2 types of Santula , I will give the recipe of pani santula here. basically many types of vegetables are boiled and a post tempering of garlic , onion , chili and spice is given.

THE INGREDIENTS 

Any vegetable can be used. in Varied quantity 

here I have used

Potato 1 cut to 3/4th inch

Ol kofi ( Kohlrabi ) 1 small cut to 1/2 inch

Radish 1 cut to 1 inch

Pumpkin cut to 1 inch 8 pieces

Brinjal 1 cut to 1inch

 cauliflower cut 20 11/4 inch 6 pieces 

Sim 6 cut to 1 inch

french beans 6 cut to 1 1/2 inch

Greens of radish, ol kopi and stems of matured spinch ( Sish Palak) . greens are normally not added. I just added instead of throwing them

(Other vegetables that can also be added , Papaya, drumstick, sweet potato, ridge gourd, Patol , green banana / plantain etc etc . You can use 1 or 2 tomato )

Turmeric powder 3/4th tsp

FOR THE TEMPERING 

Panch phodon 1 heap tsp

red dry chili 2 

green chili chopped 4 

garlic 8 cloves chopped 

small onion 1 inch dia , chopped fine.

Oil 2 tsp ( I use 2 tsp ghee) 

OPTIONS IN TEMPERING  

The following variation is also used in tempering , like use mustard seeds or a combination of mustard and jeera  in place panch phodon.

Some recipes use ginger in the tempering . All these variations give a slight different taste .

THE PROCESS.

Heat minimum water, add turmeric and salt, When water comes to boil add vegetables in order of their softening point. Like add potato, radish and Ol kofi 1st and after few minutes add the other ingredients one by one. Brinjal will go in last. Cover and boil. DONT OVER BOIL the vegetables. Sufficient Water will be left with the vegetables. 

In a Khadai , heat oil / ghee , give tempering of red chili and panch Phodon. When the aroma comes add garlic, green chili soute for few seconds  and onion. Fry on high heat for few minutes ( onion to become light brown.)

Immediately add the tempering to the boiled vegetables and cover. Mix the tempering. 
Eat with rice or roti. 

Further reading on this dish 

homeoriyafood by Sommu


mugdha-cookingfundas  by Mugdha