Key Highlights
- Sarita D.S. shares her Mangalorean heritage through delicious home-cooked meals, preserving the flavors of her upbringing.
- Her rice dumpling curry, a favorite in her husband's homeland, is a heartwarming one-pot dish that reflects her culinary passion.
- Sarita emphasizes cooking "from your heart" as a way to create food that fosters connection and celebrates cultural backgrounds.
ifetime GetSetUp Learner Sarita D.S. fondly recalls the days spent in the kitchen with her mother and mother-in-law, learning the art of Mangalorean cooking. Now living in Goa, Sarita shares her heritage through delicious home cooked meals. She recently shared an authentic Mangalorean rice dumpling curry recipe with us to showcase the food of her husband's homeland.
"I wanted to represent my background with this traditional Mangalorean dish," says Sarita. As a respected home cook within her community, Sarita stays dedicated to preserving the flavors of her upbringing.
Born in Mumbai, Sarita didn't start cooking until after marriage. She credits her mother and friends with teaching her the basics. But it was her mother-in-law who inspired Sarita's culinary passion, encouraging her to learn Mangalorean specialties in their visits. "I became determined to learn to cook and that's how my cooking journey began," Sarita recalls.
These days, Sarita delights family and friends with nostalgic Mangalorean meals. Her rice dumpling curry balances spice and coconut milk for "a one-pot recipe that is easy to clean up." The dish holds special meaning as one of her husband's favorites, transporting them both to his childhood.
When asked about her cooking style, Sarita emphasizes cooking "from your heart." For her, "the food will turn out better" with care and passion behind it. Through sharing meals, Sarita fosters connection, remembering evenings her sons' friends enjoyed her multidish Mangalorean feasts. Wherever life takes her, Sarita remains dedicated to nurturing community in the kitchen and celebrating her rich cultural background through food.
Recipe: Mangalorean Steamed Dumplings in Veg Curry
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Ingredients and instructions for Sarita's warming Mangalorean specialty have been included below. Bon appétit!
Cooking Time
35 - 45 minutes
Ingredients
Rice dumplings:
1 cup rice flour
3/4 cup warm water
1 teaspoon oil
1/4 teaspoon salt
Vegetable curry:
Stage 1
2 tablespoons coriander seeds
1 teaspoons cumin seeds
5-6 peppercorns
3 cloves
1 piece cinnamon
1 green cardamom
1 tablespoon poppy seeds (optional)
5-6 red Bedki chilies
Dry roast the above on slow fire for 2 to 3 minutes
Stage 2
3 medium onions, sliced fine
2 big garlic flakes
1 green chili
1 cup freshly grated coconut
1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder
Small marble size tamarind
In a bit of oil roast, the stage 2 ingredients till the coconut are light brown.
Stage 3
1 cup boiled mixed vegetables (green peas, carrots, French Beans)
You can use vegetables of Your choice.
3 tablespoons coconut powder mixed in 1/2 cup lukewarm water
Stage 4
Seasoning
2 tablespoons pure ghee
1/2 onion, sliced fine
1 tablespoons coriander leaves
Directions
1. Boil water with oil and salt, and knead the rice flour into a dough.
2. Then make small round balls with a slight dent in the center.
3. Steam in a steamer for 12 to 15 minutes.
4. Rice dumplings are ready.
5. Set dumplings aside.
6. Dry roast the stage 1 ingredients for the veggie curry for 2-3 minutes.
7. Set aside.
8. In the same pan, add 1 tablespoon oil and roast the stage 2 ingredients till the coconut turns slightly brown.
9. Allow it to cool.
10. Grind the stage 1 and stage 2 ingredients to a fine paste.
11. Pour the ground masala into a pot, add 2 cups of water, and bring it to a boil.
12. Once it starts boiling, add the vegetables and the coconut milk.
13. Add water to create the consistency of curry you prefer. Keep in mind the dumplings will soak up some of the curry.
14. For seasoning, melt 2 tablespoons pure ghee in a pan.
15. Add 1/2 an onion, minced, and sauté until light brown. Then add a tablespoon of coriander leaves.
16. Pour this into the curry.
17. Lastly, add the rice dumplings into the curry and let it soak.
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