Recipe: Rishi Panchamichi Bhaaji

In Bhadrapada — the sixth month as per the  hindu (calendar) — the next day after Ganesh Chaturthi is Rushi Panchami. It’s a day where people express their respect and gratitude towards the saints who devoted their lives for the betterment of people and society at large. Many families mark the occasion by preparing a special vegetable called Rishi Panchamichi Bhaaji.  Like all food prepared during the Ganesh Utsav, this too is made without using any garlic or onion.  Here’s a recipe you can use.

Ingredients

6 Colocasia leaves (aluchi pane)
10 Okra (lady fingers)
1 cup Elephant yam
1 cup Snake gourd slices
1 cup Ridge gourd slices
2-3 Gongura leaves (ambadi)
Swiss chard (lal math) 
Corn as per your choice
1/2 cup Peanuts
2-3 Green chillies
Tamarind
Jaggery
Oil to temper
Cumin seeds
Fresh coconut, grated
Salt as per taste

Method

Wash all vegetables, soak tamarind and jaggery in little water and keep aside. Soak peanuts for half-an hour. Cut the stem of Colocasia, peel it and cut into small pieces. Cut Swiss Chard into three inches and peel them. Cut corns into two to three inch pieces. Peel gongura leaves. Heat a pan, add oil, cumin seeds and let it pop, add chopped patra leaves and let it cook for few minutes. Now add all chopped and peeled vegetables, green chillies, soaked peanuts and salt. If required add water. Add tamarind and jaggery juice. Cover it with a lid, and let it cook for another 15 minutes. Once done, add grated fresh coconut and saute it. Remove from flame and serve it.
If you are using gongura, use less tamarind. 

Inputs by Kirti Sandesh Ingawale Patil