Paya

This dish, paya, is a traditional food of India, that is enjoyed all over the subcontinent and beyond. Paya is a soup with the primary ingredient being trotters, the hoof or foot of various domesticated animals like goats, cows, buffalo, and sheep. Paya is enjoyed at various festivals and is often served to important and special guests. While the basic concept of paya is easy enough to make, you can transform the taste by altering the blend of spices used, so be prepared to make a lot of it.

This Paya recipe tastes great with dosa or idly, and the combination makes a great for breakfast ! Make sure you pack this recipe in insulated lunch box so you can enjoy it warm later.

Health Benefits

Paya is a fun soup to try for its taste, but it’s also healthy to eat. The broth in paya is a type of bone broth and carries its own set of health benefits. The gelatin content of the broth can help treat digestive disorders like constipation, heart burn, and gas. It can also heal the gastrointestinal tract’s mucosal lining which will improve the efficiency of the digestive system. The bone broth also provides your body with calcium, fluoride, sodium, potassium, and magnesium; elements that support bone growth.

Ingredients

sheep's trotters: 4

tbsp rice flour: 1

tbsp lemon juice: 2

cup ghee: 1/4

tsp cumin seeds: 1

cup onions - grated: 1

tsp ginger paste: 1

tsp garlic paste: 1

cup tomatoes – chopped fine: 1

green chilli- chopped: 1

tsp chilli powder: 1

tsp turmeric powder: 1/2

tsp garam masala: 1/2

salt to taste

How To Make Paya

1. Wash trotters and cut them into 2 pieces.
   1. Rub in rice flour and salt then wash again.
2. Place trotters with 2 cups water and salt to taste in a pan.
   1. bring to a boil.
3. Lower the heat and simmer for 1 ½ hours, adding more water as needed.
4. make the masala.
   1. Add cumin and heat ghee till mixture begins to splutter.
   2. add onions, ginger and garlic.
   3. cook till fat separates.
5. Add tomatoes, green chilli, chilli powder, turmeric, garam masala, and salt to taste.
   1. Cook till fat separates.
6. Add the trotters and stir-fry.

Note: Make sure the trotters are well coated with the masala.

7. Add the trotter stock and more water depending on how thin you want the gravy.
8. Simmer for 3-4 minutes and serve.

Trivia

Trotters is a traditional bar snack in America.