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Sunday, May 17, 2020

Minjni/Meenja






Minjni is a gram flour-based dish, mostly cooked in western up,  the procedure is a little tricky but once its ready to eat it tastes super delicious.
My mother in law liked it very much.
This is generally consumed with rice or roti. In early days people used to eat raw onion with it, now everyone prefers fancy salad with it.
If you serve the Minjni once you have let it sit for about 2 hours after cooking, it tastes even better as the spices get absorbed evenly.
Need lots of practice ๐Ÿ™
My mother in law always failed to make it so she used to make a dough and then make small goli and fry it but it didn't taste the same. So she told me to make it for her๐Ÿ™‚

What is Gram Flour:-  it is chana dal powder. I use homemade gram flour which is more flavorful. You can use mota besan. 

Curry base- this curry needs very few basic ingredients, no tomatoes or curd required. 

Making of fresh boondi-  you need lot of practice to make it. 

Can we use ready made Boondi? I say no.
Because the ready made Boondi gets soft and mushy.

Can I make the gram flour at home? Yes you can if you have a good food processor.  Just grinned the chana dal and you can get the fresh gram flour.


Preparation Time:-40 minutes
Cooking Time:-20 minutes
Served:-6
Recipe Type:- main course





Ingredients:-

For base:-

  • Gram flour 3 cup
  • Salt to taste
  • Heeng 1 pinch
  • Turmeric powder 1/2tspl
  • Water as required
  • Oil for frying


For gravy:-


  • Onion paste 2tbsp
  • Ginger garlic paste 1tsp
  • Turmeric powder 1tsp
  • Red chili powder 1tbsp
  • Coriander powder 1tbsp
  • Oil 1tbsp
  • Salt to taste
  • Garam masala powder 1/2tsp
  • Coriander leaves for garnishing


Recipe procedure:-


  • First you need to make minjni .
  • Place the besan in a plate with salt, turmeric powder, heeng and sprinkle it with water. Then strain it in a plate and let the thick droplets of besan dry in the plate.
  • Continue the procces till all the flour is finished.
  • The raw boondi will dry within 15 minutes.
  • Now heat oil and fry them on medium hot heat till they turn golden.
  • Dish out the fried minjni in a plate.
  • Heat oil in the same pan add, cumin seeds and let them crackle, add ginger garlic and onion paste, then saute it.
  • Now add turmeric, coriander and red chili powder. Mix well, add 2tbsp water and cook the masala till oil separates.
  • Now add fried minjni, mix it well and cook for two-three minutes.
  • Add  3 cups of water lower the heat cover and cook it till the boondi becomes soft.
  • Switch off the gas.
  • Before serving ร dd coriander leaves.  Serve hot with rice or chapati. 



Note:-

  • Use mota besan for minjni.
  • You can add tomatoes or curd.
  • You can see step by step pictorial process. 










19 comments:

  1. Have not heard about this recipe. .. Will try it out sometime

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  2. Sounds new and very interesting recipe to me, I am also from UP but never heard about it. This looks really delicious, hope I could make it someday like you ๐Ÿ˜Š

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  3. This looks so easy and delicious.. never heard of this..would love to try it.

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  4. Hema Lata, I'm always intrigued by your posts as you introduce us to so many traditional dishes. Minjni is one such dish.. with very few ingredients but looks so inviting.

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  5. Love this traditional dish which is absolutely new to me. Thank you for the detialed recipe explained so well.I am sure it tastes insanely delicious with minimal ingreditens.

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  6. My mother used to cook it ...now I will also cook it...thx for sharing recipe with visuals..this tastes yum that I know .

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  7. Wow...it sounds amazing. A very unique recipe made with boondi that too made and dried at home. Something worth trying.

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  8. The traditioal dish meenja looks wow. I have never heard or tasted this ever. Made with handy and minimal ingredients, this is worth trying.
    Lata

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  9. That's a very different and traditional recipe and I have not heard of it before. Love the process of making the gram flour dumpling. Thanks for sharing.

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  10. Wow. It's a unique recipe. Never tried and tasted it. It must taste awesome. The resting time would definitely build lots of flavors into it. Great recipe.

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  11. This recipe totally new to me. I loved your detailed post, and thanks for the recipe. will definitely try this recipe soon...

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  12. This sounds totally new to me but it's and very interesting recipe!! This looks absolutely delicious, hope to try out this unique recipe someday !!

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  13. Never hard of this recipe but it sure does sounds super delicious. I love besan gravy based dishes and am sure would love this as well.

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  14. We too make this recipe, it is hails from Rajasthan, but make without onion garlic. So yummy!!

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  15. Step by step preparation of minjni is helpful. This is a new recipe for me though we do make a curry with cooked besan batter cubes. Isn't it interesting how different states have curries in some of the other using besan? Thanks for sharing the recipe.

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  16. This is something new. Never heard of this meenja. But sounds interesting and delicious. Will try.

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  17. My mother taught me this. We can also store the besan after it is fried and keep in fridge and use when desired. This recipe doesn't take much time so is useful when there are no vegetables at home or when feeling lazy .

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