Guguni(Chat From Orissa)

Guguni is a popular chat food from Orissa  and most eastern side.Each region has different versions.Today I'm presenting my way of Guguni from Orissa.I got to know more about the dish from my husband who hail from orissa.Though I SPENT MOST OF MY CHILDHOOD DAYS IN ORISSA I haven't tried to prepare guguni at home.Now I tried my attempt though I cooked vatana curry many times.Guguni is prepared with dried white peas.Dried peas soaked over night and cooked in the morning with some spices.There are many variations in the Guguni recipe entirely depends on your choice.In some areas they add Potato and sauces at the end.My way of presenting Guguni is entirely my choice which satisfies our family tastebuds.You may  make changes according to your preferences.Here is my recipe.

Ingredients:

• white dried peas 1 cup
• onion paste 1/2 cup
• Green chilli2
• Potato( optional)
• jeera 1/4 tspn
• Bay leaf 1
• ginger garlic paste 1 tbspn
• tomatao 1
• cumin(jeera) powder 1/4tspn
• coriander powder 1 tspn
• redchilli powder 1/2 tspn
• coriander leaves few chopped
• turmeric 1/4tspn
• salt to taste
• garam masala 1/4tspn
• curd 1 tbspn ( optional)
• chat masala 1 tspn
• mixture or sev 1 tbspn ( entirely your choice)

 Spice powder:

• cumin seeds 2 tbspns
• Red chillis 2
• Dry roast jeera and redchillies into powder and blend into fine powder.store in a jar.

Procedure:

• Soak white peas( vatana) whole night and next day ready to cook chat.
• Pressure cook vatana adding little salt and turmeric just for one whistle( some variety peas will be mushy,make sure you switch it off the stove just before the whistle blows.
• Drain the white peas and keep aside.Don't throw the water.
• Heat a tbsp of oil in a pan add jeera,bay leaf then add Onion paste( one big onion made into paste)
• fry well until raw smell of onion goes off.
• Add ginger garlic paste fry few mins then add tomato paste( one tomato made into fine paste) saute few mins, add chill powder, coriander powder,cumin powder
• Fry everything well until raw smell goes off.Add cooked peas and cover the lid cook few more mins.
• Now add water which stored before,let it cook few more mins till it completely cooked.
• Finally add garam masala1 tspn and 1/2 tspn of spice powder(mentioned in the ingredients, you may reduce or increase the spice
• powder)
• Arrange 4 tbspns of curry in a bowl,sprinkle some chopped onions,chopped coriander leaves,mixture or sev 1 or 2 tbspsn) chat masa,little curd on top.Yummy GUGUNI is ready to eat.Enjoy!!