Have you watched the series Queen’s Gambit on Netflix? If you haven’t, please watch it. This series packs so much into it, and yet it’s possibly the most grounded show that I have ever watched. There are no real heroes or villains, just flawed human beings, some of whom rise to the occasion while others lose to the baser side of the their soul.
The child chess prodigy, who has so much to live for, has to fight demons inside her head that could take down the most balanced person. The way she connects, develops and grows into relations ships and in the journey, grows as a chess player as well as a person, is mesmerizing. There is no over the top drama, no over the top unsuitable-for-family-watching content, no over the top story digression, and tons of soul in this series. The actress who plays the character of Beth Harmon is stunning – both in looks as well as in acting. She brings Beth Harmon to life. The development of characters beautifully balanced with keeping the exquisite game it’s based on as its core – presents a perfect pitch. It’s on Netflix.
Last weekend, I cooked this delicious Mutton do pyaza, served with some crisply turned out rotis, and served it with a liberal dose of Queen’s Gambit binge watch.
- 2 lbs mutton
- ¼ cup ghee
- 2 tbsp oil
- 6 medium-size onions finely sliced (divided into two parts of 4 and 2)
- 2 tbsp ginger garlic paste
- 1 cup yoghurt whipped
- 6 red chillies (round ones if possible)
- Dry roast and coarsely pound:
- 2 red chillies
- 1 tbsp coriander seeds
- 10-15 black pepper pods
- 1 tsp cumin seeds
- 1/10 bit of nutmeg
- 1 leaf mace (javitri)
- 1" cinnamon stick, 5 cloves, 4 cardamoms
- ¼th Shah jeera.
- Add ¼ tsp turmeric powder, ¼ tsp amchur.
- Heat oil, when warm, add ghee.
- Fry ginger garlic paste. Add mutton. Stir well and fry for about five minutes.
- Add turmeric powder and amchur powder. Stir well.
- Next, put in the four onions sliced.
- Add the coarsely pounded spices. Stir well. Add 2-3 tbsp water if needed to keep it moist.
- Pour the whipped yoghurt. Stir well. Add 2-3 cups of water and cook for 40 minutes. Alternatively, pressure cook for 20 minutes.
- Once the mutton is tender, add the finely sliced onions, 6 red chillies.
- Cover and cook low for 20 minutes.
- Garnish with coriander leaves and julienned ginger.
- Serve hot