Tiffin boxes are very intimately tied to mine, and many people’s childhoods. So when my friend sent me this write up, I had to make it special. Sharing a recipe that my mom made and came in my box every week. In the words of my friend, a writer friend. Enjoy this wonderful piece and share your thoughts, and say hello to my gorgeous and talented friend Lakshmi.
Food is Sacred & A Culture
Here in India, the city of Mumbai is a Life Line of numerous activities. Imagine New York and LA combined. It is the home of Bollywood and India’s stock exchange. Industries, Education, Business, Employment, and lots more. It is the place where millions come to make their dreams come true. The city generates employment to millions. Obviously, the next industry that it would compliment is the food industry. What really works here is the dish, a combination of tradition and consistency seasoned with a twist of modernity.
Amidst the thronging roads of the unsleeping Mumbai, it is impossible not to have sighted the “Dabbawallas”. An organization which started around 1890. The dabbawallas (Dabba – Box, walla – person carrying the Box) are simply the people who ferry lakhs (100k) of food boxes everyday across the length and width of Mumbai. Food is packed into “carriers” or lunch boxes arranged in 2-3 tiers (refer my picture below). They take these meals to offices and students. These dabbas are packed by Mothers from homes or food caterers. They are packed, labeled and transported by push carts, suburban rail service, bicycles fitted with huge wooden trays etc.. The boxes, which are coded sometimes alphanumerically, are delivered accurately to the correct recipient at the right time. The concept is nothing short of a well designed business strategy. This is a job done with total devotion. Well, on the other hand we have the handy food apps, a press of the button away. Food Apps are linked to restaurants located at and around chief localities. These Apps link with the restaurants and they serve up a different menu each day for breakfast/lunch/dinner etc mostly created for office deliveries. They sport some of the most delectable pictures which boast of a different menu each day and what’s more? One could click away anytime. Are you now wondering whether the dabbawala can still work his wonder?
With the humble dabbawalla, it is usually a fixed menu for a fixed number of days, put together with a lot of thought to include a balanced nutritious meal. The apps do give us glorious offers and yummy looking pictures…..but the dabbawalas gave consistency, reliability and care. They provided the heart line to the lifeline. Although the Apps made money for a while, they have shrunken in numbers considerably just like the shine dulls from a newly minted coin! So when the free bees reduce so do the orders….we are after all human! While the dabbawallas forgot to make money as they delivered time bound service, they did create the very ‘wonder’ which Food Apps failed at. (Dabbawallas became topics even the big B schools discussed).
Food here is sacred, has its culture and its tradition….an amalgamation of all this and as mentioned earlier, seasoned with a touch of modernity, is favored. As we see, it’s the heart and mind when it comes to food. Technique is a must…it’s the frame work it’s the very basic, but how the technique works is pure magic from the heart….and voila what blooms into is a sheer Winner!
A dedicated extraordinary work by an ordinary man for Rupees 8000-10000 monthly(around $200 USD).
The above is a vintage Lunch Box with spoons. Each compartment would be filled with special rich dishes. I don’t know the exact period, but it is in great condition with good wear.
Here’s the popular steel tiffin boxes many of know and have used. It is still used in India and many places, so well made. You can find similar ones in this LINK .
This is one from http://www.planetbox.com/products/planetbox-rover from Planet box, beautifully crafted and goes back to basics.
This is a simple recipe that mom made on rushed mornings and it worked perfect for lunch boxes.
Here are some ideas for lunch box post I created few month ago. https://www.foodfashionparty.com/2015/08/5-easy-kids-lunch-ideas.html
Have a wonderful week! Yay, for summer.
Asha
- 1 large red onion
- 3 tomatoes
- 3 large or 4 medium capsicum/green bell pepper
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
- 1 tsp mustard seeds
- 1 tsp cumin seeds
- 1 tsp urad daal or white split moong daal
- 10 curry leaves
- 3 cloves
- 1 tbsp red chili powder plain(accordingly..more or less according to your spice level)
- ⅓ tsp turmeric powder
- 1 tsp salt
- chopped cilantro/coriander for garnish
- 10-12 toasted cashews for garnish
- Cooked white plain rice to mix in with the capsicum masala
- In a large kadahi/pan add oil and heat it up. When you see the oil get hot, add the mustard seeds, cumin, urad daal and curry leaves. it will pop and spit out, so be cautious. When you see the sounds calm down, add the chopped onion.
- Fry the onion for a minute. Add red chilli powder, lower the heat and fry for 30 seconds and add the chopped tomatoes. Add the salt, turmeric powder and saute it. Let it cook down for 2-3 minutes on low-medium flame.
- Then add the chopped capsicum/bell pepper and mix in. Now let it cook uncovered. Cook for about 5 minutes. DO NOT ADD ANY WATER. Keep stirring, so it doesn't scorch the bottom. It will take about 5-7 minutes to cook and the mixture will be dry. If the mixture is not dry yet, increase the flame, and keep stirring. Let the mixture completely dry out.
- Turn off the heat and add some toasted cashews and chopped cilantro.
- Mix it with warm rice and serve with papad.
You can add peas in the mix too.
The masala has to be slightly and tad bit saltier so when you mix it with rice, it is perfect.
This mix stays good in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
You can add some coconut to the capsicum masala, if you do, sending them in a lunch box in a humid climate is not good because the coconut tends to get funky smelling.
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What a beautiful post Asha! I love the images and details about the lunch boxes. And this rice…looks so delicious I can almost taste it though your photos. xox
Thanks so much Rebecca. It’s amazing how the system works, so glad we got to share it. Love the lunch boxes.
xoxo
Love that vintage lunch box with spoons…so beautiful. The rice with cashews and peppers looks very tasty, Asha.
What a great write-up on the Mumbai dabbawalas. I have only visited Mumbai once and never knew about them before but I do have fond memories of childhood lunchbox….mine was a 2 tier one! Lovely pictures and that rice is making me drool!
Have a great day Asha!
My daughter gets done with school on June 24th! I am surprised that west coast schools are already closed for summer. You finally get a break from packing lunch boxes:)!
Loved reading the story of dabbawalas. Capsicum Rice is my go-to lunch box recipe Asha 🙂 As usual your pics look fantadtic and I can’t take my eyes off from that vintage dabba..
SUCH a beautiful post. In these modern times it’s easy to forget a seamless system that’s been working for ages! Love your tiffins and this recipe sounds so good.
So beautiful! Always love your story-telling and those tiffins are beautiful. This rice looks like a perfect lunchbox meal!
Love this post especially cause I can relate to it with the Mumbai dabbawallas. Have seen them and it’s such a huge operation and they are extremely efficient!!! Love this article from Lakshmi. And that pulao looks just so satisfying !!! You took me back in time ! Reminiscing rhe days when I would get the tiffin from the dallawalla when in school and get my brother and we would eat together ! Thanks Asha????
It’s so well written! I remember seeing a documentary on the dabbawalla last year and I simply loved it. How Everyday they carry lunch boxes to offices. And your rice is looks awesome Ash.
What a lovely write up. The post made me so nostalgic. I still remember how my Ma used to rush in the morning to make food for our school tiffin boxes. We have strictly grown up on homemade food. nowadays when there are several apps to deliver food at your doorstep, Ma still deeply rooted to homemade food. Whether it’s a sudden guest or her nagging grandchildren she never fails to add the special touch of her cooking.
The pics are so good Asha, after seeing that vintage tiffin box, I’m so tempted to own one. 🙂
Beautiful write up and images, Asha! And, moms pulav sounds so delicious n yummm. Loved that antic box/image. I remembered how my mom n law used to pack lunch box for my brother n law 18 years back. And, I was pleasantly surprised how the whole dubba system works in Mumbai.
On the food Blog and no tribute to the Mumbai Dabbawallas – no way.. I am right Asha?
Thank you for the space. Neela aunty’s capsicum rice has been an all time favourite at our home too, even now after my wedding. We still make this and enjoy it to the last morsel.
Ash I remember how we use to polish the boxes off when you brought this for lunch. Delectable pictures – Food App compatible – LOL!!!
Its a topic of discussion in B-Schools – the intricacy of this job truly worthy of the accolade.
Ash, I’ve missed so many of your posts as I try and get used to a different routine here in Mumbai. I love this post and the dedication to the dabbawalas. They really work so hard and get the most amazing food to millions of people. I had never experienced their food till a few days ago and am blown away. Lovely post dear friend.
Wow well written and fantastic photos as usual.
I’ve read about the tiffin boxes before… but oh my didn’t know about the dedication behind dabbawalas. My goodness, how much healthier we’d be in the US if we had this kind of food system. And the love that goes into each and every lunch box gives me the warm and fuzzies inside! I love this story and this recipe, Ash! I will be making it! My husband loves rice, mostly simple rice, but because of the bold flavors you’ve included, he’ll love this. Thank you for sharing Ash!
What a beautiful post Asha! The mumbai dabbawallas are amazing, we were even taught about them during our MBA!! The bell pepper rice looks delicious!
Such a lovely post and beautiful photos Ash!!! I just saw something on this system on a cooking show but can’t remember where. What an amazing system it is! The lunch boxes are so cool, nothing like my Mickey Mouse lunch box, LOL! xO
The dabbawaalas are a force to reckon with! You are so thoughtful to have shared it here. The steel tiffin boxes were so good…I remember those days and wish my kids could experience them as well. The rice looks fabulous! Please fill up the boxes and send them over here, will you?
Hi, is there a substitute for mango ginger for the beetroot raita recipe?
You can definitely use just chopped up ginger and it works great. Thank you.
Great read — learned so much. Fun recipe, too — so full of flavor, and just perfect for summer. And summer is definitely here — it’s HOT! Anyway, good post — thanks.
There was a restaurant in our town named Dabbawalla and that’s how I first learned about tiffin boxes and this amazing system of food delivery. It is so interesting to learn more about it here. Food is such a big part of a culture and we spend so much time thinking about it, prepping for it, living in it, and thinking back on it. On repeat! : ) Your rice dish is making my mouth water and now all I’m thinking about is that! Hope you are enjoying the early days of summer.
What a beautiful post Asha! Mumbai dabbawallahs are an amazing story..their system works like a well oiled machinery, day in and out. Somehow this post reminded me of this lovely movie “Lunchbox”! Such a yummy recipe..I’m a big rice eater and this looks very tempting! Thank you for sharing!
Asha, lovely lovely post and hats off to those Dabbawallas. Btw that vintage lunch box! SIGH!!! Where did you get it?
Thanks a bunch Kankana. My dad got the box from Rajasthan in an antique store he says. It’s a treasure.
xoxo
It looks great! Hope I can get one of those steel tiffin boxes toooooo!
Oh, they are just amazing. You can find them on amazon. So helpful and so cute.
All above pics looks delicious and capsicum Rice is all time my favourite.