Charanji is a kumaoni dish prepared on festive and special occasions. It is mild, sweet, rich and aromatic without an overload of spices. The gravy is thick and flavoursome with a slight tang from the curd that is cooked in masala. It is served with ghee smeared chapatis, jeera rice, raita and dhania pudina chutney. All the ingredients of charanji and accompaniments like ghee, curd, bay leaf, rice, herbs are home made and home grown. This gives charanji a pure taste. This is my grandmother’s recipe with her own improvisations.