Tadka. This is a Hindi word. This means tempering while cooking foods, especially Indian. Since it’s exposure to my mind, I have always taken special care while doing it. Let me explain to those hearing this word for the first time. In a vessel or tempering spoon, cooking oil is heated. As soon as the mustard seeds are added, they start crackling. Some sseds even jump away from the vessel on the gas burner. Then, spices like cumin seeds, turmeric, etc., are added. The crucial step is adding mustard seeds when the oil is hot. Here comes the main subject of this article.
I have always been scared of this step. As I said, mustard seeds crackle when they enter the hot oil. Along with a few of them flying here and there, some oil particles also scatter around the vessel. Chances are they might reach a part of your face, neck, or hand—if you are wearing a sleeveless dress, even your shoulders.
I am not ashamed to admit this.
The fear of the oil particles causing scars on my face, or a flying mustard seed sticking on my skin scares me, to date. I take extreme care of my skin during this process. I have seen my mother, sisters, and friends performing this process without any sign of fear or pain. They put oil into Kadai. As soon as it becomes hot, mustard seeds are added. They crackle and scatter a little bit, and oil particles fly. But their expression is zero. My question is, why?
Why do we choose to tolerate this pain? Even though it is very minor or momentary, why? I have a firm belief that those who have developed this tolerance have done so in other fields of their lives, too. For example, one can easily get used to tolerating the disrespect, dominance, and frustration of others.
My shoutout to all those,
who train others to cook food. Please don’t laugh at someone scared to give tempering to foods. Refrain from convincing them to hide their pain and go on as if nothing happened. If one is afraid of this process, allow them to use a long-handled spoon or maintain a little distance while doing the step. Don’t start mocking them by saying, “You can’t tolerate this much also. Very bad.” Or “It’s a girl’s daily job. Get used to doing it without facial expression or showing even a trace of fear.”
What are you conveying by the above statements? You are giving a straight message, ‘Tolerate. Don’t be surprised when this tolerance goes to a higher level later in life. Such people can become victims of trauma because they choose to keep quiet and not tell someone about the matter. Having courage is a different thing. Tolerating pain is different. Do not present the combination of both to your children on a plate of life lessons.
I had seen a reel of a cook recently.
She maintained distance while tempering the oil, saying, I am not fond of scars on my face or skin. It surprised me to see one in a thousand say this without inhibitions. Once a habit, always a habit. So refrain from developing the wrong ones. Tempering while cooking foods, especially Indian food, is a standard process. Let the learners perform it naturally, without becoming heroes who can tackle anything. Let them know expressing themselves is not wrong. Getting scared is absolutely fine. Tadka will surely add flavour to the food, but take care of your skin first. Normalise expressing pain, not hiding or masking it.
https://blogbyhema.com/deep-thinkers-who-are-awake-even-at-3-am/
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A pure hearted person can only write such an article. Very nice dear sister. Keep up the good work. God bless ..😘👍
Thanks … thanks… thanks for your love and encouragement😘