Sindhi Recipes - Sai bhaji - the favorite Sindhi dish

Recipe: Sai bhaji - the favorite Sindhi dish 

Ask any Sindhi their favorite dish, it will be Sai bhaji - Bhuga Chawaran ( Caramelised Onion Rice) without second thought (of course along with Sindhi Curry)

I think our older generations figured out balanced diet concept long back probably that's why today while we like to try out different 'healthy' recipes, most of nutritionists urge us to go back to old classics like this one as a part of our daily meals

Sai Bhaji is protein packed vitamins rich dish which can be accompanied by any bread or rice. You can have it while adhering to only protein rich diets

Even today if there is any function or wedding in Sindhi community, this dish will be part of at least one meal. If you have it any Sindhi household, it will accompanied with plain rice/ caramelized onion rice, fried masala brinjals, curd/raita, pickle and ofcourse all time favorite papad....mmm it does make your mouth water, isn't it?.

Well, here is a recipe :

Ingredients:

1 bunch Spinach Leaves ½ cup Dill (Sua/shepu)
1 cup Sorrel (Chuka)
10-12 cloves garlic
2 medium sized onions chopped
3 big tomatoes chopped 1 cup
chana dal (Bengal gram) soaked for 2-3 hours
1 green chilly chopped ½ cup carrots chopped (optional)
½ cup brinjal chopped (optional)
Salt to taste
1 tsp turmeric powder
1 tsp red chili powder
1 tbsp oil

Method:

1. Heat oil in a pressure cooker. Add garlic and green chilis. Saute till garlic turns light brown
2. Add onions and saute till they turn transparent. Add tomatoes and saute for a minute
3. Add chana dal, spinach leaves, dill and sorrel. Add all spices and mix well. (if you are adding carrots and brinjals add them now. If your kids don't eat brinjals this is good way of camouflaging as they won't know
4. Put on cooker's lid and cook then for 2-3 whistles and let it pressure cook for 10 minutes after you turn off the heat (there is no need to add any water)
5. Mash all the vegetables lightly with back of wooden spoon or blitz it with hand blender (don't mash it completely, you should be able to see chana dal)
6. Serve hot