A savory snack - Saanja

I find it very interesting how our mind correlates food with memories and these correlations are so strong (well, atleast for me :-)). Warm smell of freshly made tortialla and spanish rice reminds me of my San Diego days when I used to frequently visit old town to satisfy mexican food cravings..... similarly thinking of Maggi noodles takes me back to my college days back in India preparing for exams late into the night and relying on Maggi for a larger part of sustainance! What a treat it used to be to enjoy hot Maggi noodles in the middle of a cold wintry night!

Saanja has some similar memory lane associations for me: it is a very common marathi snack made out of semolina (rava). I find Saanja as a lesser-known but equally potent cousin of the ever-so-famous Upma! When I was growing up my Masi (Mom's sister) would stop by few afternoons to visit us. We used to look forward to Masi's visits because each of her visits would be filled with warm talks, laughter and a fresh batch of gossip! On most such days my mom would make Saanja when she would know that masi is coming. Mom, masi and I would sit around the kitchen savouring the saanja with a hot cup of Chai and an equally exciting chatter! More than 15 years have passed since then but still whenever I think of Saanja somewhere subconciously the image of us sitting in our kitchen and laughing on something silly flashes by....



Anyways, so here is how I make (or rather my mom makes) Saanja: If you have toasted rava ready in your pantry then this dish hardly takes 20mins to make and can be cooked with a near-empty pantry (always a plus!)


Recipe:
1C Upma Rava (most Indian stores carry this; otherwise cracked wheat is a good healthy substitute too)
1.5C water
3 small chillis - chopped
1/2 onion - finely chopped
1/4tsp turmeric powder, 1/2tsp cumin seeds, salt, 1Tbsp oil

Garnish (optional): lime juice, cilantro, raw onion, fresh/frozen coconut flakes

Toast rava in a heavy bottom pan for 5-10mins until it gets slightly pinkish golden (be careful not to burn it -- continuous stirring/monitoring is best). You can toast the rava ahead of time or use pre-toasted rava available now-a-days at some grocery stores.

Heat oil in another pan on medium heat. When oil is hot add cumin seeds. Follow up with chillis and then add onions. Let the onions cook until they start browning; this step takes patience: you need to keep stirring on-and-off so onions don't burn. As there aren't many spices in this recipe, I find that browing of the onion is essential to the flavour. When onions are ready add the turmeric powder and then add toasted rava and cook for a few more minutes. Add the salt next. Then add hot water to the rava and continue stirring. Be very careful now as the rava mixture when mixed with hot water has a strong tendancy of spluttering and as its hot its best to be cautious and not stand too close to the stove for next few minutes. The spluttering will stop in few minutes; keep stirring. Take off the heat after nearly 5more minutes of cooking. Garnish with lime juice, cilantro, raw onions (for texture) and coconut flakes and serve warm!

Comments

amt said…
sanja is my favorite dish.. yours looks yummy.
Sonia said…
Hey PJ, this Upma, used to my alltime fav breakfast with tea (of course!)during hostel days and still is.:) Very comforting and satisfying one. Your writing tracked me to my past...talking with Masi and Mom just like most comfort zone in the world! what a golden time it was! :) Now, it's become history only. :(
Well, I prepare Upma same way except haldi-coconut. I have posted it in my blog long time back. :)
Malar Gandhi said…
Savoury sounds nice...best for tea time, I guess. The recipe sounds unique and totally new...good one:)
April said…
Hello, nice post! This sanja is an Upma..right? Look delicious with onion on topping. :)
PJ said…
Sonia, I know! It was indeed a golden time :-)

Malar, glad you liked it!

April, you are right, Saanja is a kind of upma. My mom calls it a saanja if she adds turmeric - without turmeric its upma for her! For me though, both of them are my favorite equally delicious snacks :)
Winnie said…
Looks yummy...I'll have to check my favorite Indian grocery for the upma!
PJ said…
Winnie, glad you liked it :)
Yasmeen said…
yummy snack.I've all the ingredients to give this a try right away :D
Desisoccermom said…
Hi PJ,
Hopped over from Aqua's blog. Your sanja brings back memories of a picky eater refusing to eat sanja her atya had prepared. Ten years later, I arrived after a long India trip, jetlagged and tired. A friend's mom sent over some sanja, which my husband and I wolfed down with relish.
It was indeed comforting.
Good memories, good post and a delicious recipe.
PJ said…
Yasmeen, I hope you like the saanja! thanks for stopping by :)

Jaya, I know what you mean, when my Aai used to make saanja for us, i have made comments urging to her make something tastier.. but after I came to US saanja was one of the first thing I craved and asked a recipe for! such a comfort food.. :-)
sangeeta said…
thanks for dropping by PJ . it's a pleasure to discover your blog .... loved it !!

this recipe i make with daliya and love it but my husband doesn't like it ....your picture looks great n the story telling is very very good.
actually i find this blog a very comforting zone in itself...
happy blogging !!
PJ said…
thanks Sangeeta! I am so glad you liked it :)
Pari Vasisht said…
hi PJ, very true we call it Sanja when we add turmeric, else it's upma, quite some time I made this version.Chhan ahe Sanja. Thanks for dropping by, loved ur blog and following it.
PJ said…
Welcome to my blog, Pari! I am so glad you liked it :)