Monday, April 28, 2008

American Paplu....Tribute to my Papa


This is my entry to . Magic Bullet Giveaway Contest, hosted @ Fun and Food Cafe.

I don't know where to start. I guess I will start with how he was. My dad, my dearest papa, was full of life, always smiling, always confident. He was simply the biggest influence in my life. He lived a tough life. He lost his father when he was 22 years old. He left his cricket career and opened a shop to earn a living as he was kinda head of the house in a family of 9 with 3 younger unmarried sisters. I lost him 2 years back and ironically and sadly, my brother was 22 at that time. It was the biggest loss of our lives. I had a tough time coming to terms with this loss. I still hear his voice and see him in my dream sometimes. He always wanted to see us smiling, me, my brother, and my mom. There are a lot of my father's memories that I want to share, but I can't otherwise this post will be pages and pages long. He used to call me - "Queen Victoria". He was a big foodie, and as I mentioned in my profile, I developed interest and passion for cooking because of him.


Coming to the recipe, we had this dish at one of my cousin's wedding many many years ago. I was a little kid and couldn't remember the name but it was awesome. My mom always wanted to make it, but she couldn't because she did not have the recipe. One day papa found this recipe and told my mom to make it in next cooking competition. Before the actual contest, she made it and it was a hit. My neighbors and family members loved it.

In Diwali of 1999, he and my mom submitted my name for one of cooking competition instead of my mom without asking me. I was surprised and reluctant at first because I never took part in any cooking competition before that, but he kept on saying "You can do it and it’s a "paplu" of a dish. In Bambaiya Hindi, the word "paplu" means very very easy. He also named the dish as "American Paplu."


I took part with this recipe, and I won. I was very happy, and my dad was even happier. One day he told me that he thinks American Paplu is nothing else but a recipe for spicy American Potato Pastry.

After this whenever I asked him about what he wanted to eat, the answer invariably was American Paplu. So here's your favorite dish papa. Love you, dad.

Ingredients:-


  • 2 Potato, boiled
  • 1/2 cup Green Peas, boiled
  • 1/4 cup Red Bell pepper, chopped
  • 6 Garlic cloves, crushed
  • 1 tsp Ginger, grated
  • 1/2 tsp Turmeric
  • 1 tbsp Red Chile Powder
  • 1 tsp Paav-Bhaji Masala
  • 1 tbsp Green Chili, chopped
  • 1 tbsp Sugar
  • 3 tbsp Lemon Juice
  • 2 tbsp Cilantro, chopped
  • 1 tbsp Mint, chopped
  • Bread, slices
  • All-purpose flour
  • Amul Cheese, grated
  • Chat Masala
  • Maggie Tomato Ketchup
  • Mint chutney
  • Salt to taste

Method:-
1. Take 2 bowls. Mash both potatoes in separate bowls.

2. In first bowl, mix peas, green chili, cilantro, salt, mint. Split garlic, ginger, lemon juice, dhania-jeera, and turmeric in half. Put it in first bowl. Mix well.

3. In second bowl, mix carrot, red bell pepper, red chili powder, paav-bhaji masala, remaining half of garlic, ginger, sugar, lemon juice, dhania-jeera, and salt. Mix well.

4. Cut the edged of the bread slices. Spread potato mix from first bowl on one side. Flip the bread around and spread potatoes mix from second bowl.

5. Cut slice into four pieces and cover them with all-purpose flour.

6. Fry until its golden brown.

7. Drain access oil and immediately sprinkle cheese on hot paplus/pastries.

8. Garnish one corner with mint chutney and other half with tomato ketchup and chat masala.

9. Serve hot.

Enjoy...

This is my entry to Priti and Purva's Rakhi – Thread of Love event.




This is my entry to Magic Bullet Giveaway Contest, hosted @ Fun and Food Cafe.

26 comments:

Unknown said...

Hey lovely story and a lovelier dish. Looks great!

Homecooked

Arundathi said...

what a beautiful post to your dad. they always encourage us in the smallest ways and give us all our confidence, huh? very nice. thanks for sharing.

Jayashree said...

Nice write-up.....

Namratha said...

What a lovely dish to remember Papa with, looks pretty! Nice post Madhavi :)

Cham said...

He has a beautiful smile. Nice tribute and recipe Madhu

Uma said...

well written post, Madhavi! Nice way to remember to our dads! The Paplu recipe looks so easy and unique.

Suganya said...

Hi Madhavi...
That was a excellent tribute for ur dad...... Nice recipe...

Dhivya said...

lovely story madhavi!paplu recipe looks so delicous

Meera said...

That's a wonderful tribute to your dad, Madhavi. It brought tears in my eyes.

American Paplu recipe is awesome. Even the name is wonderful. Thanks for sharing.

Unknown said...

That is a beautiful tribut to ur dad Madhavi..love those paplu s

Pravs said...

wow ! awesome recipe ! what a tribute to your father...was sad to read the loss.
Thanks for supporting me :D

Cynthia said...

Your dad was obviously a gentle, generous, kind and loving father. Thanks for sharing the memories with us.

Rupa said...

Lovely Tribute to your Dad..He will be proud of you..Paplu looks yummy :)

Padmaja said...

Madhavi!! Great dad and I am sure he will be proud of u and your brother.

Chandani said...

lovely post madhavi..paplu looks so pretty:)

FH said...

Great post Madhavi, wonderful to read. Beautiful dish too!:)

Nanditha Prabhu said...

that was a wonderful tribute to you dad!
loved the recipe too:)

Trupti said...

Nice post madhavi & nice tribute to your father

ranji said...

lovely combo of colors..well presented madhavi...loved reading ur write up too..and nice name for the dish:)

Vaishali said...

Madhavi, This is such a touching tribute to your dad. He must have been very proud of you and I can imagine you miss him very much.
The paplu looks gorgeous, and I love the name!

SASHREE said...

Hey madhavi..I think itzz a gr8 tribute to ur dad.nice pics too..

Madhavi said...

Thank you so much gals for visiting and read my tribute to my papa!!!! i still don't know what to say/write hope u gals undersatand..

Anonymous said...

Madhavi, thats a simple but tempting dish - with a unique name ... a great tribute to ur dad - he would surely be proud of u!

Swati Raman Garg said...

hey madhavi.... it was so good to read this one.... iam back nd so much to read but just couldnt miss on stopping by here.... he looks so charming... life goes on though... three cheers to american paplu... :) i love d name....

Sukanya Yogesh said...

Hi Madhavi, The recipe for American paplu is too good. I think you can send it for Lore's Original Recipe event also. This is Lore's blog
http://culinarty.sapiensworks.com/

Anonymous said...

Nice tribute to your papa. Nice write up and a delicious recipe too. Saw the pic of american paplu on orkut promote and came to your blog looking for the recipe. I am glad I did.