Physical Distancing = Dieting


Physical distancing is like dieting. You keep craving the forbidden constantly - to the point where you’re daydreaming about people in your life turning into your favorite foods. And sometimes, you don’t even remember if you actually ever liked it or are yearning for it only because you can’t lay your hands (mouth) on it. ðŸ˜‚ Oh, the dilemma! But you know what else that entails? Cheating! Treating! Haha.
And yes, guilty as charged. We’ve all managed to find loopholes to physical distancing. Drive-by birthdays. Zoom wine nights. Houseparty girl hangouts. And our favorite, 6-8ft apart in backyards/lawns.

So, that brings me to the inspiration behind this dish. This past weekend, we physically distanced at one of our favorite cousins place. A fellow foodie family. A family after our own hearts. Someone who’s as passionate about cooking and trading recipes as I am. An aunt who is my spirit animal. She handed me a jar of spicy, pungent homemade chili oil using gochugaru (Korean chili flakes). Along with a bunch of other goodies. My heart and soul danced in wild abandon - as it usually does at the sight, smell, and taste of scrumptious food. I began tabulating all the recipes I could muster with this chili oil and vinegary garlic stems pickle. And voila! SMASHED SZECHUAN OKRA. With a dollop of chili oil on the side, and steaming jasmine rice - it’s just what the doctors in quarantine needed.
And POTLAKAAY (Snakegourd) KADHI to cool things down.

 **Recipes: SMASHED SZECHUAN OKRA (BHENDI/BENDAKAAY)
                    POTLAKAAY (SNAKEGOURD) KADI
               

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