Season’s best

Season’s best

Sarson ka saag Winter’s here, bringing with it the lush green flavour of mustard greens. Available only during winter – restaurants serving it year-round use the canned variety – sarson ka saag is traditionally eaten with makkai ki roti or roti made from corn flour. The classic Punjabi dish can be found at institutions like Sher-e-Punjab and Kailash Parbat. At Urban Tadka in Seven Bungalows the saag-roti is accompanied by a tall glass of masala chaas, a generous dollop of white butter and a bit of jaggery. Kailash Parbat Hindu Parbat, Sheila Mahal, Near Colaba Market, Colaba (2287-4823). Also at Crystal Plaza, A Wing, opposite Fame Adlabs, Link Road, Andheri (W) (6702-3300). Daily 10.30am-11.30. `179. India & Beyond Building No 1, Ground Floor, Mahapalika Nagar, KAG Khan Road, Worli (2492-0033). Daily noon-3.30pm, 7pm-midnight. `230. Sher-e-Punjab Shahid Bhagat Singh Road, Near GPO, Fort (2269-0431). `180. Urban Tadka Shiv Shopping Centre, near Banana Leaf, Junction of Seven Bungalows and Versova, J P Road, Andheri (W) (2632-8172). Also at Mulund (W) (2561-4473) and Ghatkopar (W) (2561-4473). Daily noon-3.30pm and 7pm-12.25am. `170. Ponkh Surtis have ponkh picnics to celebrate its arrival. Families gather at farms, where farmers roast sheaves on coal stoves. The bundles are threshed in cloth bags and winnowed. The jade-green, sweet, aromatic ponkh is now ready to eat as is, but the preferred dressing is a typical Gujarati medley of flavours – pepper lemon sev, young garlic chutney, white sugar balls and a little squirt of lime. The price for ponkh rises with the temperature. The smaller the grain, the more flavourful and expensive it gets. Buy it cheaper at full season and you can keep it frozen for several months. All it needs is a gentle steam to revive it. Even the slightly larger varieties have their place. They go in to spicy pakodas where the ponkh grains that pop between your teeth. Chheda Dryfruits and Snacks 41 Ridge Road, near Jain Temple, Walkeshwar (2369-9442). Mon-Sat 10am-8pm. Approx `360 per kilo. Chheda Stores 9/10 Elavia Building, TH Kataria Marg, Matunga (2430-8594). Available after late December. Hiralal Kashidas Bhajiawala 2-4 Vithalbhai Patel Road, off Thakurdwar Main Road, C P Tank (2242-3716/2242-8375). Daily 7am-9pm. Approx `320 per kilo.

Source : Time Out Mumbai ISSUE 8 Friday, December 10, 2010