Few days back I was asked, what I can cook in twenty minutes. It was quite an intriguing question. Either you do a lot in twenty minutes or can do almost nothing .I remembered my grandmother whose kitchen was devoid of gas stove, refrigerator and even running water the luxuries we have taken granted for. Whenever any unexpected guest arrived at odd time she used to serve ‘pithale bhat’.By the time the guest bathed and refreshed her food was ready to be served. Pithale bhat was usually served with piquant pickle. The guest content with fresh food, blessed the family.
So pithale bhat was a quick fix meal. Zunka bhakari also is a quick fix meal, but not as common as pithale bhat.With advent of pressure cooker dal rice or khichadi is cooked in minimum time. Sometimes along with dal rice, potatoes also are cooked in pressure cooker. Then a meal of dal rice and potato haji is served. If some chapati dough is lurking in the refrigerator then fresh chapati also is rolled out. Very often simple full meal is ready within an hour.
Apart from this many home chefs have innovated many a quick fix meals. The topmost inventors are mothers fixing lunch boxes for kids.They make innumerable combinations to feed their kids.As these have to be fresh and are to be executed in limited time become quick fix meals.
From grandmother’s pithle bhat to mother’s full meal I am able to manage most of the quick fix meals. But my most favourite is fish curry and rice. If fish is handy then blitzing curry paste in a blender and cooking curry takes no time at all.My sister in law’s quick I meal was sol kadhi ,bhat and panroasted potatoes.Till today this is not only quick fix meal but soul food in my home.