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HOME WISE
PRESERVING WITH THE SUN
Before companies rolled out perfectly canned perishables, our grandmothers used sundrying to preserve
the seasonal vegetables. We don’t see why we can’t do the same nowadays. By Gaurav Pote
MOSAIC 12
12 JUNE, 2015, FRIDAY
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Traditionally practised
in almost every Nepali
household to preserve
seasonal vegetables and
fruits, sundrying is not
a new concept. A little spark of
interest is all it takes for you
to open your kitchen doors to
a world of sundried food, more
economical, healthier and a
whole lot simpler than any
other methods of food preservation.
Here are a few seasonal
vegetables that are commonly
sundried in Nepali houses.
Raddish
Thinly cut slices of juicy
raddish are left to dry out in
the sun for several days until
all the moisture evaporates and
all that’s left is pale-coloured,
crunchy pieces of dry raddish.
They are stuffed in an airtight
container and stored in cool,
dark place.
USE: Lainsoo or the soup of
sundried white radish with
onions, potatoes and beans is
very common in Newari kitchen,
and is an almost inseparable
component of their
feasts. You can prepare it like
any other soup by first stirfrying
the rehydrated sundried
radish with some onions.
SHELF LIFE: Up to 2 years
Cauliflower
Sundried caulis can be a delicious
addition to a curry both
in terms of taste and texture.
Medium-sized stalks with florets
are sundried for up to 7-10
days without any seasoning
and then sealed in an airtight
bottle. When ready, it shrinks
drastically, turning dark brown
and giving out a strong aroma.
USE: Caulis have a stronger
taste but overcooking in a
pressure-cooker turns it bland.
SHELF LIFE: Up to 1 year
Spinach
A great way to preserve spinach
for off-season consumption
is to dehydrate them under
medium sunlight. Thick
sheaves of fresh spinach are
firmly tied with a rope at their
stalks and hung upside down
in the sun. They are ready
within a few days. They don’t
need to be bottled and stored
away; in fact, just keep them
hanging from a wall safe from
rain and moisture is enough.
Preferable spinaches are taro
leaves, fenugreek leaves, mustard,
and mostly commonly
used, spinach.
USE: There is only one way
to consume this dry spinach
and it is by turning it into a
pulse to go with rice—spicier,
the better.
SHELF LIFE: Up to 1 year
Koiralo
Koiralo or bauhinia are
edible flowers found in colder
regions of Nepal. They taste
great in curries and Newari
bhoye-achar or mixed pickle.
Particularly for the latter fare,
the buds of bauhinia flowers
are thoroughly sundried.
USE: Soak the buds in warm
water before marinating alongside
other vegetables in spices,
salt and oil to prepare a tangy
pickle or add the rehydrated
buds in a regular curry.
SHELF LIFE: Up to 2 years.
Potatoes
Some people go through the
trouble of drying the grated
potato strips or slices in bulk
because when deep-fried, nothing
beats the crunchiness and
taste of these dehydrated potatoes.
They are good for a quick
snack and can be stored for
months if kept airtight.
USE: Heat some oil in a
round-bottom pan. Grab a
handful of the dried chips or
strips and chuck them into the
hot oil. But careful, it can easily
get overdone.
SHELF LIFE: More than 2
years.
Other vegetables and fruits
that can be sundried are tomatoes,
eiskus or chayote/poorman
orchid, carrots, oranges,
mangoes, dates, grapes among
others.
BIEBEK CHAMLAGAIN: It would
have to be David Beckham. He’s a
heartthrob, successful and rules
the hearts of millions of beautiful
girls. All the fame, riches and a
multi-talented wife in Victoria
Beckham. What more could you
want from life?
SUDESH THAPA: I would love to
live as Usain Bolt as he is the fastest
human on earth—I can reach a safe
place as soon as the earth shakes.
He also likes playing my favourite
sport, Cricket.
ISHAN BIJU SHRESTHA: Lionel
Messi might not have the body
structure of a physical sportsperson
which consists of being tall and
muscular but has the determination
and love for the game which can be
seen on the pitch. He never boosts
about his talent and never underestimates
anyone. A fair and a true
sports star who is also a respectable
human being.
MAMTA SHAHI: I would like to be
Sania Mirza. She set a new mark
SPEAK UP
We asked you: “If you could live the life of a
sportsperson, who would it be and why?” Here
are the best answers—in no particular order.
for tennis players and became the
daughter of the entire country where
she was born. She even went on
to marry someone from a country
that was in a cold war against hers.
I want to live her life so that I could
make a difference.
SPARSH JUNG RANA: I would
like to be Ronaldinho. I would be
living my dream with a smile on
my face because I have never seen
any sportsperson enjoy the game
they play as he does. I would have
exceptional footballing skills. I would
be loved and admired by all and
hated by none. Most importantly, I
would earn the respect as he has
of everyone which no amount of
money can buy.
SWETA JOSHI: I would like to be
our own Nepali sportsperson Bimala
Tamang. Though many of us may
not know her, she was the only
player to win a medal for Nepal in
the 17th Asian games. I want to feel
the excitement of winning the only
medal for my country and making
my country proud.
Your question for this week is: “What are your thoughts on the recent friendly
football match between our politicians and celebrities?” Send your answers to
facebook.com/moversandshakers
50%
of the total
annual rainfall
occurs within 10
days of summer.
Antarctica is
the driest
continent on
Earth.
The
monsoons
are responsible
for almost 90% of
South Asian water
supply.
Our
monsoon
coincides with the
season of summer,
from June to
August.
More
than 80
percent of the
precipitation is
received during
monsoon.
FUN DUH!
Rain
check
After enduring the scorching
heat, monsoon comes as a
relief. Here are some rainy
details you probably
didn’t know.
5,000
Animals can
actually rain from
the sky too—most
commonly fishes,
frogs and birds.
In Uganda, it
rains with a
thunderstorm
about 250 times
a year.
Australia
recently suffered
from a rainfall of
spiders.
In Cuba, it
rains only during
a siesta; and in
Thailand, only at
night.