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Mah-karai
Roasted rice and sesame mix
মাহ-কৰাই: roasted rice, black gram, sesame and peanuts eaten together on Bohag Bihu
On Goru Bihu, the first day of Bohag Bihu in mid-April, Assamese families bathe the cattle in the river and then sit down to a handful of mah-karai, a crunchy mix of separately roasted grains and seeds that is said to keep the body strong for the year ahead. It is nutty, dry and gently salty, with the odd sharp slice of fresh ginger, and is passed round in a small bowl alongside jolpan and pitha. Common mistake: roasting everything in one pan; each item browns at its own pace, so roast them one by one until they smell toasted and crackle when shaken. Chef's tip: roast the black gram first and longest, until it splits and turns deep brown, because undercooked gram stays hard as gravel.
- Total time
- 25 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 6
Ingredients
- 2 ⅞ oz whole black gram (urad)
- 2 ⅞ oz short-grain ricewashed and patted dry
- 2 ⅞ oz raw peanuts
- 1 ⅜ oz white or black sesame seeds
- ½ tsp salt
- ⅔ oz fresh ginger (optional)cut into thin slivers
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Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Dry-roast 2 ⅞ oz whole black gram (urad) in a heavy pan over a medium-low heat for 8–10 minutes, shaking often, until the grains split, darken and smell nutty. Tip into a wide bowl.
10 minStep 2: Roast 2 ⅞ oz short-grain rice in the same pan for 4–5 minutes until it turns opaque, then pale gold, and a few grains puff. Add to the bowl.
5 minStep 3: Roast 2 ⅞ oz raw peanuts for 5–6 minutes until the skins blister and the nuts are golden inside when you bite one. Add to the bowl.
6 minStep 4: Roast 1 ⅜ oz white or black sesame seeds for 1–2 minutes, just until the seeds start to pop and jump, and add them to the bowl at once so they don't scorch.
2 minStep 5: Sprinkle over ½ tsp salt, toss well and leave to cool completely. Serve in small bowls with ⅔ oz fresh ginger on the side, or store airtight for up to 2 weeks.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 230 kcal
- Protein
- 10 g
- Carbs
- 22 g
- Fat
- 12 g
- Fibre
- 5 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does mah-karai take?
- About 25 minutes in total: 5 minutes to prepare and 20 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 6 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegan?
- Yes. It has no meat, fish, dairy or eggs.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- Can I make it ahead?
- Yes. It keeps well, so you can cook it earlier in the day or the day before and reheat it.
- What can I use instead of short-grain rice?
- Any long-grain rice, same amount.
- What can I use instead of white or black sesame seeds?
- Poppy seeds or finely chopped pumpkin seeds, same amount.
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