Baji is a flattened rice that is a staple of Newari cuisine in Nepal, used in many types of meals and celebrations. It is prepared by soaking and pounding rice and is eaten raw or mixed with other foods. Baji is a part of most Newari festivals and family celebrations.
Baji is a type of flattened or beaten rice that is a staple of Newari cuisine in the Kathmandu Valley of Nepal. In the Newari language, one of many languages in Nepal, beaten rice is known as baji. The beaten rice itself is called “chiura” in Nepali, the official language of Nepal. Flattened rice flakes are used in many types of meals and celebrations.
Preparing baji involves soaking grains of white rice and pounding the flat grains with a heavy wooden mallet. Usually, it is bought as a dry, already flattened product that is sold in any shop or market. Several varieties of beaten rice, some more expensive than others, come in different thicknesses. Red, which is the thinnest, is considered the best.
Part of a daily urban and rural diet, as well as many elaborate meals and party dishes, baji is eaten raw or mixed with other foods. It is eaten both dry and wet. When mixed with liquids, such as water or milk, flattened rice grains absorb the liquid and become thicker.
Whisked rice dishes come in many forms and preparations. As a popular midday meal, baji is sold in food outlets and snack bars across the city of Kathmandu. It is also eaten as a snack and eaten by workers and farmers in rural areas, often with tea as part of a morning break.
Flattened rice is considered a convenient food for quick dishes. For example, it could be mixed with water or milk to make a kind of porridge. It could be dry roasted and mixed with sugar and yogurt. In some preparations, it could be lightly fried with oil, dried fruit, nuts and spices. When served as poha, it is steamed with mustard seeds, chilli powder, turmeric and chopped onions.
On more formal occasions, baji is often prepared as Samay Baji. This dish is a part of several festivals and is usually included in Newari festivities. It is a blend of many ingredients and can be prepared to taste in a number of ways. Samay usually includes many of the following: smoked fish, roasted water buffalo meat, egg, vegetable curry, yogurt, lentils, spiced potatoes, ginger, garlic, and mustard.
Baji is a part of most Newari festivals, which are based on the Nepal Sambat, the national lunar calendar of Nepal. These festivals occur throughout the year and can last over a week at a time, with beaten rice served at many meals. Additionally, it is served in many family celebrations involving social rituals and rites of passage.
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