SWEET PUMPKIN KADABU. ( RED PUMPKIN).

Sweet Pumpkin Kadabu is one of the traditional dish of South Canara and other parts of Karnataka. 

We can prepare spicy and sweet idli from the same ingredients. Adding some greeen chilly and coriander leaves will be added to the same batter to prepare spicy idli.
Jaggey is added to turn the batter sweet. So that sweet aroma and crave for sweets can be satisfied with this dish.
We from South Canara are bit sweet tooth people. Most of the snacks and breakfast dishes are added with sweet mostly jaggery. We do use many vegetables in idli/kadabu/kadubu.
Here is one such traditional dish that is Sweet Pumpkin Kadabu/Kadubu/Idli.
I have used idli plates to prepare the dish and you can cook them in a round /any shape bowl/plate.
I have used idli rava, coconut, pumpkin and jaggery.

Sweet Pumpkin kadabu is good for breakfast, snack, kids snackbox or even for dinner. As I said it is very easy to prepare and healthy to eat.
Let us see the recipe now :

Things needed:

Idli Rava/Raw rice rava : 2 Cups
Coconut : 1/2 Cup
Grated Pumpkin : 1 Bow; (1/4 of the medium sized pumpkin).
Salt : A little
Jaggery : 1 /2 Cup ( Powdered ).
Black Pepper : 4 to 6 pods.
Jeera/Cumin seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon
Dry Ginger Powder : 1/2 Teaspoon

Method:

1. Wash and remove the thick part ( outer layer ) of pumpkin. Scrape out the inner pulp and seeds.
2. Grate pumpkin and coconut. Keep them aside.

3. Wash idli rava and put it in  a bog bowl. Add salt, curmin seeds,dry ginger powder and crushed black pepper.

4. Add powdered jaggery, grated pumpkin and grated coconut. Mix it well with pumpkin gratings.

5. Add salt and mix all the ingredients well. Add water if required.
6. Leave the batter for 10 minutes.

7. Apply little oil /ghee to all the idli plates.
8. Pour a ladle (small) of sweet idli batter to each plate. ( Each idli mould).
9. Keep a cooker /idli steamer on the fire and put some water in it. Let the water get heated.
10.Keep idli batter filled idli plates in the cooker and cover.
11. Cook for 8 to 10 minutes or little more. (Another 5 minutes).

12. Remove the cooker cover and slowly take out the idli from the idli plate.

13. Sweet Pumpkin Kadubu/idli is ready to serve
14. Serve with any side dish you have prepared and some ghee on the top of hot sweet idlis.

15. You can enjoy eating these idli with fresh ghee and pickle. (My favourite).

Note :

We can use banana leaf, jack fruit tree leaf /turmeric leaf to cook these idli/Kadubu. I used idli plates to prepare. You can also use pressure cooker container to cook these idlis. Adding more grated pumpkin is optional. Use of more/less jaggery is optional. Use of dry ginger is optional. I have used pepper corns, dry ginger powder and jeera because Pumpkin is said to be contains lots of gas./Vaayu.
So using these above ingredients helps to take care.
Time :
Preparation time : 10 Minutes + Allow the batter to rest  10 Minutes + cooking time 10 minutes. 
Total Time : 30 Minutes. 
Serves : 5 to 6  ( Maximum 20 idli can be done).

Puffed Rice flakes. chat.( Puri in kannada )

Puffed Rice/Mandakki / kadle puri is one of the dish that we can munch at any time of the day. 

You can see the vendor selling in the parks or any rest areas in India. Preparing Mandakki is different place has its own originality and they are specialized in doing it. Here is a simple Puri that you can munch without hesitating at any time of the day. It is prepared with less oil and mild spicy.
Try and enjoy

Things Needed :

Puffed Rice: 1 Big Bowl.      
Ground Nuts : 3 to 4 Tablespoons
Cooking Oil : 3 Tablespoons
Chilly powder : 1/2 Teaspoon
Roasted chenna : 1 Tablespoon
Salt As required 
Mustard seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon
Turmeric powder : A pinch .
Red chilly : 1 
Curry Leaves : 6 yo 8 

Method :

1. Clean Puri/ Mandakki and keep it aside.
2. Keep a pan and heat. Add oil to it. \

3. Put mustard seeds and red chilly. (Cut chilly in to two parts).
4. Let mustard seeds splutter.

5. Add curry leaves and fry. Add ground nuts and fry till they turn golden brown.

6. Add  turmeric powder and mix it.  Add roasted chenna 

7. Add cleaned Puri. Add chilly powder on the top.

8. Add 1 teaspoon of oil on the top and mix it slowly. Put off the gas.
9. Sprinkle very little salt on the top and mix it again

10 Add dry coconut pieces and serve crispy mandakki .

Note : 

It is always better to use fresh Puffed rice/Mandakki/puri.  If the puri turns soft, you need to bring back the crispness in it. Put plain puffed rice and keep it on low flame.  Stir once in a while. Let it be there on sim flame for at least 5 minutes. Then put off the fire and leave the puri in that hot pan.
Then you can add it to the ready ingredients and mix it. 
Adding any spicy is optional. You can just eat them as they are. It is nice and home made. You can also add onions and grated carrots. But it turns soft within few seconds.
It is nice to carry it for long journeys and outings .
Time : 10 Minutes
Serves : According to servings.

Almond and Cashew balls..

Almond and Cashew balls are sweet and healthy  snacks and you can have them with breakfast too...and eat any time of the day.
Things needed:
Almonds : 1 cup
Cashew Nuts : 1 cup
Raisins : 1 Cup
Jaggery  : 1/2 cup
Coconut : 1 cup ( Fresh or dry coconut: copra ).
Cardamom : 5 to 6
Ghee : 2 Table spoon.


Method :  Roast Cashew nuts and Almonds separately .  Dry grind Almonds in to small pieces.( Do not powder). Cut cashew nuts in to small pieces and powder cardamom and keep it aside.
Now keep a bowl on the fire . Add jaggery and add 1 table spoon of water and let jaggery dissolve and become liquid. Put off the fire when it starts bubbling.  Add powdered Almonds , roasted cashews and raisins.  Mix thoroughly .Add fresh coconut and powdered cardamom and mix again . Take a handful of the dough and prepare balls using your palm.  Serve them when it is cold.

Note : Adding coconut is an option. You can also try  using grated copra( kobbari in Kannada). If it does not hold can use little ghee or sprinkle little hot milk and prepare  Almond balls.  Remember if you use milk it will not stay for long. So better to use ghee . You can also add 1 table spoon  of roasted  edible gum and roasted wheat powder.  so that balls can be prepared easily by adding wheat powder.  Adding edible gum will help you to reduce your backache. 

15 Almond Balls can be made .

Capsicum Mini Dosas

Capsicum is one of the vegetable which is available plenty in the marker around the year. It has its own aroma and people like me love to add them in our food. Here I have done Capsicum Mini dosas using Patrode dough (One of the famous dish of South Canara) and little besan/Channa dal flour.

This Capsicum Mini Dosas can be eaten for breakfast, as a side dish with lunch or as snack.
I have used Patrode dough, and little besan flour and prepared the dough.
This is an easy dish and you can enjoy having them with a cup of coffee/tea/juice.
Things Needed:
Capsicum :  1 to 2 (Medium size)
Patrode dough : 1 Cup
Gram flour/besan/channa dal flour : 2 to 3 Tablespoons
Chilly Powder : 1 teaspoon
Jeera /Cumin seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon
Salt ; to taste
Coconut Oil. 4 to 5 Tablespoons.
Water : If required : (/4 Cup)

Method :
1. Wash capsicum and remove the seeds. Cut into circle shape.

2. Take a big bowl and add besan, Patrode dough, chilly powder, salt and jeera.

3. Mix it well and prepare dough. (Dosa consistency).

4. Keep a tava on the fire and heat. Sprinkle oil around the tava.
5. Now dip the circle shape capsicum and place on hot tava. (Let it be on medium flame).

6. Cook for a minute. Sprinkle some oil on the top and turn the other side and cook.

7. Capsicum mini dosa is ready to serve. Add butter on the top and serve hot Capsicum Mini Dosa
8. Repeat the same with remaining dough and capsicum.
Note :
Add water little by little while preparing the dough. Use of any spice powder is optional. (Garam Masala, chat masala , jeera powder  or daniya powder). Use of any cooking oil is optional. Use of more/less spice is optional.
Time : 15 Minutes.
Serves : 2 to 3 .
Preparing Patrode dough :
Soak 2 cups of raw rice, 1/2 teaspoon of methi seeds and 1 tablespoon of urid dal for 2 to3 hours.
Grind it with coriander seeds (1 handful or 3 to 4 tablespoons), 6 to 8 red chilly (byadagi), marble size of tamarind, 1/2 cup of fresh grated coconut, 1 teaspoon of jeera and 2 tablespoons of jaggery.
First grind all the spices with coconut and then add soaked raw rice. (Wash it before soaking or before grinding). Add required water (little by little) while grinding. Add a pinch of turmeric powder and ingh while grinding. Add salt at the end and give a churn. Shift the ground paste to a clean bowl.
You can prepare capsicum, brinjal, potato, bitter gourd, raw banana, sweet potato and grated carrot and cut onions. Use one vegetable at a time to get the best taste.