Friday, June 24, 2011

Jewel tones



Last week, Appa went to Bhilai, and brought back a giant basket, full of jamuns. They last for a hearbreakingly short season here; blink and they're gone. So a giant box full of these oblong, so-purple-they're-almost-black fruit was quite a jackpot. We washed them, and when they were still wet dipped them in salt, and ate them till our tongues turned blue. We gave away copious handfuls. Amma got on the phone with Perimma, and took down recipes for mor kuzhambu with jamuns in it. (A yogurt-based stew. Very good. I must learn to make it some time, and show you.) I spent a couple of blissful afternoons out on the lawn, with a book, a bowlful of jamuns, and a screw of salt. I'd offer from time to time to share my fruit with the dog, but he regarded them with suspicion.

After a few days of this, the basket was still half-full and I was beginning to miss the normal pink hue of my tongue. So, I decided to make a frozen yoghurt, with nothing but yoghurt, sugar, and jamuns. I may have been a little too enthusiastic with the jamuns. There was certainly far more jamun flesh than was seemly, but the moment the fruit touched the yoghurt, it created these deep purple rivulets in the pristine white, and I just kept shaking in more and more, to see how dark the colour could get. I churned the mix in my ice cream maker, and in half an hour it was ready.

I won't give you the recipe today, because, well, I didn't follow one. Besides, next time despite how gloriously purple it turns everything, I might add slightly less fruit and maybe even strain the mixture, so there are no distracting bits of jamun skin.
But I'll have to wait till next summer for that.




PS: I wonder if you've noticed, but I've done a little housekeeping around here. There's still lots to do, of course, but I'd love to hear what you think of the new look and name. Ooh, and the larger pictures. I've always wanted to post giant pictures.

11 comments:

Sumedh said...

Jamuns are great. They have an astringent taste that cannot possibly be matched by anytihng else...But yoghurt...i mean it looks great, but doesn't sound right :P

Anwesha said...

The new look is great Nithya! I was just about to comment. It looks very crisp and professional. And I LOVE the larger pictures.
PS: This post really made me crave for jamuns. :)

Nithya said...

Sumedh, after this experiment, I have to agree. :)

@Onnesha, thank you! Come to India, and I'll get you all the jamuns you can eat.

Elissar said...

what a gorgeous color!

Nithya said...

@Elissar, it really is gorgeous, isn't it. It's such a shame the taste didn't match. Ah well, back to the drawing board.
Thanks for visiting!

SinFoodie said...

This looks incredibly gorgeous!!!
Beautiful shots!!

Neeta said...

Brilliant pictures! I love the whole feel of the new layout :)

Nithya said...

@SinFoodie, thank you! I just hopped over to your blog, and seriously, wow! Your photography is so lovely. I left inspired.

@Neeta, thank you! I think I finally have it like I wanted. :)

Aishwarya Ramakrishnan said...

Love the large pics! Just like we discussed in IIT while sifting through those cool cooking blogs! Can't believe you have your own one now! :D

Nithya said...

Aww Aish, thank you!

Shy said...

Hi Nithya,

I have just discovered your blog. Love the Jewel tone post. I've just started my blog. Mainly about cooking and beauty. Do check it out.

Hope to stay in touch

Shaista
http://shaista-passionfruit.blogspot.com/