varan tope 1/vintage brass dal cooker/maharashtrian/large

This beautifully shaped cooking pot is called varan tope, in marathi, meaning dal cooker/vessel. Its shape has been dictated by the fact that lentils tend to foam and overflow when they reach the boiling stage. So to keep the dal from overflowing, while cooking, the wide base ensures the pot from optimising the heat of the flame, but the narrow neck and small opening prevent the dal from boiling over. This classic, hand beaten, heavy, wide at the base with a narrow neck and a small opening, is a must have in your kitchen.

The inside of the varan tope, has been freshly tinned for immediate use.The outer surface has minute, pea shaped dents,( called matar in marathi) that have been painstakingly marked with a small hammer. This is done to increase the strength and durability of the pot.This is a vintage pot, 0ver 50 years old.

It has been proved in a nutrition experiment that dal cooked in the pressure cooker, loses 98% of its nutrient value, when cooked in a brass or copper vessel it retains 95% of its nutrient value. Its a misconception, that lentils take too long to cook on open fire. If they are soaked for 10 to 15 minutes prior and then cooked, they get cooked to a smooth consistency within 15 minutes, retaining all the nutrients and taste definitely a lot better.