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Ramblings
Heritage Cuisine - Misal
The Signature Dish of Maharashtra
by Vikram Karve
It’s pouring
heavy rain, there is water all around, the rivers of Pune, the Mula and
Mutha, are flowing in spate, I’m feeling wet and cold, and there’s
nothing better to fire up your insides and perk you up than a hot spicy
dish of Misal. Since I’m on Lakdi Pul, near Deccan, I head up Tilak Road
to Ramnath, my old favorite.
I don’t delve too much on the contents, or the ingredients, which
basically comprise an Usal, rassa (the spicy curry) and the garnish of
sev, chiwda, farsan, onions, fresh coriander and green chilies, arranged
in three tiers and served with a wedge of lemon. There are two bowls and
spoons. Using both spoons, I mix the contents thoroughly, squeeze the
lemon, and eat. It’s hot, delicious, my tongue is on fire, my nose and
eyes water – the true test of a genuine misal. I bash on regardless.
(Never try to douse the appetizing zesty fire in your insides by sipping
water or ruin the gastronomic experience by succumbing to a bite of pav
or bread they may have the temerity to place alongside).
Pav with Bhaji or Vada may be fine, but if you want to savor the genuine
taste of misal, and experience the ‘proof’ of the real stuff, it would
tantamount to sacrilege to have pav with Misal.
The misal at Ramnath had peas in the Usal, but I prefer something
sprouted like matki, moong or a combination, like they serve at Vinay on
Thakurdwar Road in Girgaum in Mumbai. In fact, though Misalis the
signature dish of Pune, I don’t think anyone in Pune serves a better
misal than Vinay of Girgaum. ( If there is, do let me know).
I had my first taste of Misal way back in the sixties in a place called
Santosh Bhavan near NMV School on the way to Appa Balwant Chowk from
Laxmi Road in Pune, but looks like the place has disappeared.
Both Misal and Vada pav are Indian Fast-Foods, but Misal is certainly
not a ‘junk’ food. If made with all the proper ingredients, it's zesty,
healthy, nourishing snack.
Dear fellow Foodies, do let me know where I can get a good fiery misal
in Pune, where I have recently relocated after a long hiatus. Till then
I’ll miss my Sunday morning lip-smacking misal at Vinay’s, which I
religiously relished for the past six years in Mumbai, and have to make
do with the fare at Ramnath.
August 13,
2006
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Ramblings
The Week of August 13, 2006
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Sri Lanka : Back to the Future by Col. Rahul
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Friendship and Culture for World Unity by
TA Ramesh
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Bheel Mahabharata: The Rape of Draupadi by
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Oneness in Hinduism by Dr. Madan Lal Goel
What is an Avatar? by C.R. Gopalakrishna
Asomiya: Handpicked Fictions a
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India: The Narrow Minded by Kusum Choppra
The Real Bihar by Naghma Masroor
Cleopatra A Story by Dibyendu Ghosal
Introduction to HTTP Cookies by Ruchi Gupta
London: The Most Expensive City in Europe by
Rajesh Talwar
Freedom at Dawn by Prakash Pathre
Heritage Cuisine - Misal by Vikram Karve
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