Seek out any Punjabi and ask him or her about the first choice of breakfast. There is a nine out of ten chance that the answer will be parathas lopped with homemade butter and relished with spiced or sweet lassi (buttermilk). You may also get to witness a deep lurking desire for deep-fried Puri’s with spicy Potato curry or Chole Bhature. These meals invariably end with a cup of steaming tea. Even imagining and writing about this stuff is making my mouth water.
As a Punjabi, I too can relate to these choices and empathize with them. As we enter middle age, the amount of butter and the accompanying fats may reduce, but the basic meal course more or less stays put until we can munch and digest the stuff. We just cannot wean ourselves away from a satisfying hot breakfast to begin the day.
Likewise, there are various hot breakfast options in various regions of India. South India gives us Hot Steaming Idlis and a crisp Dosa downed with strong filter coffee. Central India has its delicious combination of Poha and Jalebi. As we go from region to region, one can have Sabudana Khichdi, Khaman Dhokla, a hot serving of Pav Bhaji, Sattu Ke Parathe, Kachori’s, Chole Kulche, and the breakfast delights abound all across India. I am sure that there are many more exotic options and I sincerely apologize, if I have not included your favorite dish in this narration.
However, times change, and as our children grow up and go places (literally), they start to explore and introduce exotic foody ideas. These ideas germinate, sprout and start to gradually dominate the daily food menu at home. Our country has a pioneering history of democratic ethos. Likewise, most families too practice and follow democracy, therefore, diversity, different choices, and opinions about food are well respected and imbibed. Our politicians and powers-to-be can take a cue from us on these essential principles.
However, the problem starts, when these ideas start to infringe on the breakfast menu and that too of a Punjabi. You find your stuffed Parathas getting replaced with guacamole and variants of healthy oats and that is the time you yearn for a bit of autocracy.
A typical Punjabi eagerly awaits to get up in the morning, freshen up (a polite euphemism for a satisfying visit to the toilet), and a hearty breakfast to begin the day. A wholesome breakfast followed by a satisfying burp can carry a Punjabi through an entire busy day. Therefore, it was somewhat difficult for me to reconcile to the new breakfast options, sans the usual stuff.
Without being sarcastic, I can state with certainty that many of us may not be familiar with Avocado fruit. You can then very well, imagine our dour expressions on seeing toast with Guacamole spread and Pickled Onions for breakfast. Do not get me wrong here. I have nothing against this Mexican delight. But replacing my “Stuffed Parathas” with it…. . On top of this, the morning cuppa tea too is now being threatened by Cold Coffee brew.
Meanwhile, more changes are underway. A typical spicy masala omelette has given way to Turkish eggs in Garlic Yogurt sauce. Tender Paneer has begun to be replaced with Fetta and Goat cheese. Shawarma is replacing the Humble Roti wrapped around leftover veggies. King of fruit, Mango, now goes into a mildly spicy Mediterranean Style Mango salad instead of a sweet Mango Shake. Traditional Arbi(Taro Root) recipes have all but vanished from the table. Stuffed bell pepper has also disappeared; instead, multi-colored bells have found their way into an Omelette. Purple/ Red cabbage Coleslaw has elbowed out traditional green cabbage. Potato combos with Beans (Beans Aloo) and Peas (Aloo Matar) are on their way to extinction. Like Darwin, I too can come up with a thesis on the evolution of veggies in an Indian home.
Whenever we have such new dishes for breakfast or other times, I can always see my wonderful family watching me discreetly. Before you all start thinking otherwise, it is not the kind of patriarchal stuff where everyone waits for “Man of the House” to take the first bite and after his nod reach into their plates. Knowing me as a ‘Paratha’ person, they are eagerly waiting for the fun moment to capture my expression, when I take the first bite of Guacamole or Oatmeal. I try not to give them that pleasure but at times I fail in my attempts but that failure does bring a peal of merry laughter on the table, which makes the failure worth it.
However, times change and I too have now started to relish these new culinary delights and the variety of tastes it brings to the table. I have come around to a belief that as one starts to love and relish food recipes from different cultures, one tends to become a better person.
I would go on to suggest that the government of the day should bring out a diktat to have everyone across India include breakfast from other regions in their menu at least once a week. An announcement to this effect can be made on Television at 09:12 pm and I am certain that people will follow as they have done in the past with other diktats. We will then have idlis gaining popularity in Punjab homes, and people in the south vying for Stuffed paratha and Dhokla, Guacamole, and Pancake too will find their way into Indian homes. This will be a National integration and a globalization masterstroke at the same time. As they say, what an idea Sirji!!
Meanwhile, I do need to sign off for now. Thai curry with sticky rice has been planned for dinner today and I cannot wait to reach home.
Cheers for now!!