FOOD FIT FOR A KING!
The Great Paya Korma
Paya or trotters is a rich traditional gastronomical delight which has all the ingredients of a non-vegetarian potboiler. Most butchers have paya/ trotters available round the year but they are specially coveted during winter because paya soup is considered quite healthy when the weather is cold and clammy, and its said to provide warmth to our blood!
Have your payas chopped into pieces of threes and fours for easy cooking. I usually use goat trotters because they are easier to cook than beef trotters and take less time too. The recipe below has been made with half a dozen of goat trotters. Make sure your trotters (not yours, of course) are well cleaned. Butchers have a process in which they boil and skin them and then burn them over live fire to get rid of wanted hairs.
RECIPE
Wash the paya in clean water till you are rid of of the hairs and dirt sticking to them. If you are even the more queasier types, soak them in hot water for five minutes: the remaining scum will separate from them. Then wash them once more in cold water.
Chop at least two or three onions in slices and fry lightly in cooking oil till translucent but not browned. Use a pressure cooker to save time (and gas). Add paya pieces with half a teaspoon each of garlic & ginger paste and turmeric powder. Fry for 2-3 minutes. Pour sufficient water to cover the payas. For half a dozen payas, I recommend two and a half mugs (the one you use in the bathroom - mugs, not the water!) Add salt to taste and red chilly powder depending on how fiery you it to be. Lastly add 2 teaspoons of garam masala powder. You can use any good quality ready made powders but avoid using Biryani masala - leave it for the Biryani! I make my own garam masala and in my future posts I will show the different variations I use and how that could affect or ruin your cooking.
Let it cook on high heat for 10 minutes and lower the heat and let it simmer for at least an hour. When ready the flesh should be slightly falling off the bones. If it has all fallen off the bones that's okay too, My Mom used to cook Bade Ka Paya (beef trotters) and we would find that even the bones were edible!
Top it up with fresh chopped coriander leaves for that heavenly aroma! Serve with Naan, fresh from the bakery or Tandoori Rotis.
Make sure that you make this concoction when you have ample time to chill later on, because food this sinful deserves a couple of hours of after-meal nap. But then, we like to doze off after any meal,anyway!
