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Samay baji
समय बजि (samay baji): the Newari festival platter of beaten rice, spiced meat, egg, black soybeans and pickles
No Newari feast, puja or family gathering in Kathmandu, Patan or Bhaktapur is complete without samay baji, a ritual platter in which each item stands for something: a mound of crisp beaten rice (baji) surrounded by spiced grilled meat, a fried egg, crunchy roasted black soybeans, slivers of raw ginger, a sharp potato achar and greens. It is offered first to the gods at festivals such as Indra Jatra and then shared with the family, and it is the default snack-meal at any Newa celebration. The meat is traditionally buffalo; here chicken thighs make it easier, and for a vegetarian platter leave out the meat and egg and add a lentil bara. The pitfall to avoid is eating the soybeans underdone: raw soybeans are hard to digest and must be roasted until they crackle. Chef's tip: prepare the achar and soybeans first, since both can wait at room temperature while you grill the meat.
- Total time
- 90 min
- Difficulty
- medium
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
For the meat
- 1 tbsp ginger and garlic paste
- 1 tsp red chilli powder
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1 /2 tsp timur (Sichuan pepper), grounddivided
- 2 tsp saltdivided
- 5 tbsp mustard oildivided
- 1 red onionthinly sliced
For the soybeans and egg
- 2 cloves garlicfinely chopped
- 4 eggshard-boiled and peeled
- 1 /4 tsp ground turmeric
For the potato achar
- 3 waxy potatoesboiled, peeled and cubed
- 3 tbsp white sesame seedstoasted and ground
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- 2 green chillieschopped
- 1 /4 tsp fenugreek seeds
To serve
- 7 oz beaten rice (chiura)
- 5 cm piece fresh gingercut into fine matchsticks
- 7 oz mustard greens or spinach (optional)stir-fried with garlic
- 2 tbsp fresh coriander (optional)chopped
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Method
0/9 doneStep 1: Rub 14 oz boneless chicken thighs (or buffalo steak) with 1 tbsp ginger and garlic paste, 1 tsp red chilli powder, 1 tsp ground cumin, 0.5 /2 tsp timur (Sichuan pepper), ground, ¾ tsp salt and 1 tbsp mustard oil, then cover and marinate in the fridge for 1 hour.
Step 2: Dry-roast 2 ⅞ oz dried black soybeans (bhatmas) in a heavy pan over a medium heat for 8–10 minutes, stirring constantly, until they crackle, split and are crunchy right through when you bite one. Tip into a bowl and toss with 2 cloves garlic, a little of the salt and a few drops of the mustard oil.
10 minStep 3: For the achar, toss 3 waxy potatoes with 3 tbsp white sesame seeds, 2 tbsp lemon juice, 2 green chillies and a pinch of the salt.
Step 4: Heat 1 tbsp mustard oil in a small pan, fry 1 /4 tsp fenugreek seeds until it turns dark brown, about 30 seconds, and pour it over the potatoes; mix well.
2 minStep 5: Rub 4 eggs with 1 /4 tsp ground turmeric and a pinch of salt, then fry them in 1 tbsp mustard oil over a medium heat for 4–6 minutes, rolling, until blistered and golden. Halve them.
6 minStep 6: Grill the chicken over charcoal, under a hot grill or on a griddle pan for 5–6 minutes on each side until charred at the edges and 165°F in the thickest part. Rest for 3 minutes, then cut into bite-size pieces.
12 minStep 7: Toss the hot chicken with 1 red onion, the remaining 0.5 /2 tsp timur (Sichuan pepper), ground, the remaining 1 ¼ tsp salt and the remaining 2 tbsp mustard oil.
Step 8: Toast 7 oz beaten rice (chiura) in a dry pan over a low heat for 2–3 minutes until crisp.
3 minStep 9: Arrange the beaten rice in the centre of each plate with the meat, egg, soybeans, achar, 5 cm piece fresh ginger and 7 oz mustard greens or spinach around it, scatter with 2 tbsp fresh coriander and serve.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 690 kcal
- Protein
- 40 g
- Carbs
- 62 g
- Fat
- 31 g
- Fibre
- 9 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does samay baji take?
- About 90 minutes in total: 40 minutes to prepare and 50 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- What can I use instead of boneless chicken thighs (or buffalo steak)?
- Chicken breast, same weight (cook a few minutes less so it stays juicy).
- What can I use instead of ginger and garlic paste?
- 1 crushed garlic clove per ½ tsp.
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