Vermicelli Magic

History (background):

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup of ghee or clarified butter, or plain pasteurized butter
• 2 cups of pre-broiled vermicelli (if unavailable you could use the regular type too)
• 1/4 cup of diced potatoes, diced carrots, diced cauliflower, frozen peas or fresh peas (each)
• 1 green chili
• 1 teaspoon of black gram (split variety)
• 1/2 teaspoon of mustard seeds
• 1/2 cup of desiccated or fresh grated coconut (optional)
• 5-6 curry leaves
• 1-2 cups of lukewarm water
• Salt to taste

Popular Accompaniments:

Preparation:

1. You need to first heat part of the clarified butter or ghee in a thick bottom pan.
2. Add the vermicelli in and if it is of the pre-broiled variety then you need not stir till brown.
3. However, if the regular un-broiled variety is available then you need to stir fry the vermicelli till it gets a rich golden brown color.
4. It is important to be around the stove since vermicelli burns quick without supervision.
5. Once the vermicelli is done, set aside.

Main Cooking:

1. Now heat the remaining clarified butter or ghee or butter in the same pan.
2. Once the butter begins to crackle on medium heat, add the mustard seeds.
3. Allow the mustard seeds to pop; each one of them and then add the split black gram.
4. You need to reduce heat and stir fry the gram and mustard seed seasoning for at least 2 minutes.
5. You will know when the seasoning is ready when the split black gram attains a nice red color.
6. Next you need to add in the curry leaves.
7. Allow the water content from the curry leaves to crackle and leave the pan and then add the chopped green chilies.
8. Add your chopped vegetables, the carrots, beans, peas, potatoes and cauliflower and fry the mix briefly.
9. The vegetables won’t take much time to integrate with the seasoning.
10. Add the fried vermicelli and thereafter add the lukewarm water and the salt quantity that you prescribe for the family and bring the along with salt to taste and bring the mix to a boil.
11. Reduce the heat, cover the pan and cook the vermicelli magic on low-medium fire, stirring consistently for around 2 minutes.
12. Prior to closing the heat double check to see that all the water has evaporated and each strand of vermicelli is well done.

Presentation: