Fine Nine!

A hearty bowl of Kwaanti or Fine Nine, as we like to call it, is just what you need after a long, hard day. An exotic Nepalese cuisine, Kwaanti is not only delicious but also truly wholesome and super nutritious!

INGREDIENTS:

Sprouted mixed beans – 2 cups
Onion – cut into long, thin slices, 1 cup
Tomato – chopped, 1 cup
Ginger-garlic paste – 2 tsp
Cumin seeds – ½ tsp
Asafoetida (hing) – a pinch
Dry red chilli – 2
Carom seeds (ajwain) – 1 tsp
Cumin powder – ½ tsp
Coriander powder – ½ tsp
Crushed red pepper or red chilli powder – ½ tsp
Bay leaf (tejpatta) – 1 big
Powered Garam masala – 1 tsp (crush 2 cardamom, 2 cloves, 1 inch cinnamon and 4 black pepper)
Oil or ghee – 1 tbsp
Turmeric powder – ½ tsp
Coriander leaves – for garnish
Salt – to taste
Water – 3 – 4 cups

For tempering (optional)

Ajwain seeds – 1 tsp
Crushed red pepper – ½ tsp
Oil or ghee – 1 tsp

METHOD:

Take a store-bought pack of sprouted “nine-bean” mix (preferably) or any bean mix that is available. Open, wash, drain and keep aside. You can also sprout different kinds of beans at home and proceed ahead.
Pour oil in a pot or kadai and heat it. Dab a pinch of hing, and let it sizzle for a second. Put cumin seeds, red dry chillies and bay leaf, and wait for them to change color.
Put the onion slices and sauté. After the pieces acquire a brownish color, put ginger-garlic paste and sauté further. Add turmeric powder, cumin powder, coriander power, powdered garam masala and crushed red pepper.
Throw in your carom seeds and diced tomatoes. Sprinkle salt and let it cook on low heat for 2 minutes.
Drop your beans and keep stirring and mixing all the ingredients together. Add water (3 cups for less soup, 4 for more). Cover and cook, on low heat, for around an hour or till your beans are completely soft and tender but not mushy.
Temper, if you want to more spice it up more. Take a small pan, pour ghee, heat, add ajwain and crushed red pepper and let sizzle. Pour in your bean mix. Without tempering, the bean soup is medium spicy with a mild ajwain flavor.
Garnish with coriander leaves before serving.
This bowl of Fine Nine will appease you, like never before!