AT MAGSONS TALEIGAO: Lots of fascinating new goodies in the one of the best frozen and cooked and semi-cooked foods section….for example, check out the bao buns, very veggie patties and a host of desirable chutney powders for a quick fix meal, health-conscious too!

I HAVE more or less slowed down on shopping in the deluxe megamarts of Panaji but once in a while…my favourite Magsons and now Delphinos beckons just to find out what’s new! At the Magsons Taleigao which has an excellent cooked and semi-cooked cold storage section, I was amazed to see how many attractions there are – recently I spied Chinese white bao buns and very veggie burger patties. The oriental bao buns are also called “baozi” and they’re seen as sacred offerings in Chinese temples, sometimes with a pink lotus symbol atop them…there are the plain white sweetish fluffy bao buns considered as Chinese bread, but some bao buns may come with sweet fillings of pinto beans and/or chestnut/or peanut; the savoury buns may have pork meat. Both varieties of these steamed bao buns are much loved across the oriental cuisines. With the pre-made ones from cold storage you just have to remove and steam cook them although I haven’t done it yet…steam and serve with sauce or whatever gravy you wish.
Then at Delphinos I couldn’t for the life of me resist a rather oversized jar of Sarwar Za’atar Powder – the Middle Eastern aromatic herbal mixture which is such a treat to use in sandwich spreads, atop soups and salads. Most housewives in the Mediterranean world keep Za’atar and use it generously in their version of raita or simply some Za’atar mixed in olive oil and lemon juice spread atop a variety of baked round breads.
Za’atar is mostly as per the ingredients listed on my newly purchased bottle (alas, of plastic) are sesame seeds, thyme, oregano and certain somethings I cannot make out yet…maybe the sourish sumac powder (of dry berries). Za’atar is the greatest flavour giver in a yogurt dip and I would add in grated garlic for so much extra zing.
That’s it, go get some Za’atar as a valuable stand-by at home in the fridge, as with these dry mixes take care that it does not collect moisture and fungus! Or you’ll be eating fungus too and I’m not sure what the nutritional value of eating fungus is. It’s hard to find fresh Za’atar in the superstores in Panaji but if you have friends in the Middle East get them to send you a jar, and of course you may make your own Za’atar mixture at home. A freshly made Za’atar mix is worth living for more than dying for and I’m totally fida about it now that I have found it!