Pigeon Pea ragda Aloo Patties

Pigeon Pea or Togari Kalu will be available plenty during the winter. People make use of this pea and prepare varieties of dishes. Pigeon Pea is called Togari Kalu in Kannada.Pigeon Pea Ragda Aloo Patties. Ragda means mixed curry  and paties are prepared using potato and spices.

Pigeon peas have many good qualities like, it provides excellent source of fiber, protein and sodium. They are low in fat content and its ideal food for heart healthy diets.
Here is a recipe of Ragada Patties prepared using Pigeon Peas or Togari Kalu as we kannadigas say. Ragada means Sambar or gravy and patties which are prepared using Potatoes, or Green Bananas or even Sweet Potatoes too. This dish can be eaten for break-fast or as evening snack.
I am sure since its yemmy every one and all age group will love to eat this Ragda Patties.
One more dish is Usli using the same peas and prepared this dish and it has less oil and can be eaten at any time of the day. You can even use your creativity and prepare chat..with this Peas.

1.Ragda Patties.

For the Curry : 
Things Needed:
Pigeon Peas : 2 Cups
Onions : 3
Tomatoes : 2 to 3
Garam Masala : 1 Tea spoon
Jeera : 1/2 Tea spoon
Coriander seeds: 1 Tea spoon
Green Chilly : 1
Coriander leaves : 1 bundle
Ginger : an inch
Turmeric powder : a pinch
Salt : to taste
Lemon : 1/2 Rind
Oil :  1 Table spoons

For the Patties:
Potatoes : 4 to 5
Bread slices : 6 to 8
Curry leaves : 3  to 4 Table spoon
Salt : to taste
Jeera (Cumin Seeds) : 1 Tea spoon
Red chilly : 1 Tea spoon
Oil : 1/2 Cup

Method : to Prepare Curry 

1. Wash and cook Pigeon Peas in a pressure cooker with required water and leave it for cooling.
2. Wash tomatoes, coriander leaves green chilly and cut into small pieces.
3. Remove the outer skin of onions (2 onions ), wash and cut into small pieces.
4. Now Grind tomatoes, garam masala, coriander leaves, coriander seeds, jeera, ginger, green chilly  and  2 table spoons of cooked peas into paste and remove from the jar and keep it aside.
5. Keep a pan on the fire. Heat the pan and put 1 table spoon of oil.
6. Add jeera and fry for 10 seconds. Add cut onion pieces and fry till they are brown.
7. Add ground mixture and mix it well. Add salt, turmeric and grated ginger to the mixture.
8. Add cooked peas and stir well. Let the curry boil nicely. Add water if required.
9. Stir inbetween and boil for 3 to 4 minutes.
10. Now shift the curry to the serving bowl.

2. Aloo Patties : 

1. Wash and boil potatoes in a pressure cooker for 6 to 8 minutes and remove the outer skin of the potatoes when it is cooled.

2. Wash and cut coriander leaves.
3. Now take a big bowl. Put potatoes, coriander leaves and the bread slices, salt, jeera and red chilly powder.
4. Smash the potatoes nicely and mix all the ingredients nicely. Knead it well and divide the smashed mixture in to small portions.

5. Keep a pan on the fire. Put oil .
6. Take a small portion of the mixture and give a shape according to your wish and shallow fry or just cook with little oil on both sides.  (At time 4 to 6 patties can be cooked).

7. Repeat the same procedure and prepare the patties from the remaining dough.
Now Put a big spoon of Peas curry in a deep plate. Keep 2 to 3 Aloo Patties and put some cut onions on the top and serve.

Note : See that the curry is piping hot. You can add or lesson the spices (chilly) according to your taste. See that the curry is little liquidy. (not watery). You can also use more onions if you wish. You can also mix onions along with boiled potatoes.  It taste differ. Must use little oil on both sides while cooking. Using more oil is optional. Here I have used less oil. You can also put grated carrots along with cut onions on the top of the patties while serving.

Serves : 4
Time :40 mins

Snake Gourd Kheer

Ready to serve Padavalakai/Snake Gourd Kheer/Payasa 

    

 

Snake Gourd is a vegetable and it is known as padavala kai in Kannada, Chinchinda or Padaval in Hindi, Padavalanga in Malayalam, Pudalnkai in Tamil. Snake gourd is used here in this recipe for Kheer.(Payasam). This Kheer contain Padavala kai, jaggery, coconut, milk and cardamom. This kheer helps you to cool down the body.  Since the jaggery is used all age group can enjoy this kheer.
Snake gourd is very high in water content and has a cooling effect on the  body. It is low in calories and fat free. Snake gourd contain lots of fiber which is helpful for the digestive system. The fiber is also helpful for those with diabetes. It is a good resource of minerals.

Things Needed :
Snake gourd : 2 (small size)
Jaggery : 1/2 Cup
Coconut : 1 Cup
Milk : 1 Cup
Beaten Rice (Awalakki) : 3 to 4 Table spoon
Cardamom : 5 to 6 Pods
Ghee : 1 Table spoon
Cashew nuts : 2 Table spoons

 Method :
1. Wash and cut Snake gourd into small pieces and pressure cook for 5 to 6 minutes.

2. Grate coconut and keep it aside.
3. Powder cardamom and keep it aside.
4. Grind coconut with little water and squeeze out the milk. Grind the coconut again with little more water and squeeze out the milk again from the ground coconut mixture and keep them separately.

5. Now keep a pan on the fire and put cooked snake gourd pieces and jaggery. Cook them together for 2 to 3 minutes. Add the thinner (coconut milk which got in the second time).
6. Add beaten rice and mix it nicely and let it cook for 2 minutes.

7. Now add the thicker coconut milk and just boil for 1 minute. Put off the gas and pour the ready kheer to a serving bowl. Add cardamom powder.
8. Now keep a small pan and heat. Add ghee and fry cashew nuts for 10 seconds. Pour cashew ghee mixture to the ready kheer.
9. Add milk when you are ready to serve the kheer and serve hot or cold kheer.

Note :

 You can also grind coconut into paste and add it to the kheer instead of coconut milk. Use 5 to 6 almonds  with coconut if you are grinding the coconut into paste. It will help the coconut to be paste consistency and helps the kheer to thickens. You can also clean the jaggery by boiling jaggery with little water and when it dissolve sieve the jaggery in a siever. It helps to take away the dirt from the jaggery.

Time : 30 Minutes
Serves : 6

Almond + Besan Wheat Holige

Almond  ( Badami in Kannada ) + Besan (Kadale Hittu in Kannada language)  Wheat Holige is a sweet dish and you can enjoy these holiges  (pooran Poli) at any time of the day and all age group will surely like it.
Normally Holige is done with Maida. Here I have used wheat flour.

Eating Almonds yield many benifits like they reduce heart attack risk. They lower the bad cholesterol. They protect artery walls from damage. Almonds help build strong bones and teeth. They provide healthy  fats. They nourish the nervous system. They help provide good brain function. Using almonds have many more benifits.
Besan is naturally higher in protein, Contain good amount of vitamins and minerals and it is gluten free.
Wheat flour contains vitamins, protein and fiber.
Almond Besan Wheat Holige  stuffing is prepared using milk, sugar, almonds,besan and cardamom.
Outer layer dough is prepared with wheat flour instead of maida.
Almond + besan Holige can be had for lunch during festivals and also you can have them for evening snack. You can also pack them for your kid's lunch-box as snack for the school going kids.

Things Needed : 

For the stuffing  
Milk :1 cups
Sugar : 1 1/2 cups
Almonds : 1 Cup
Besan :  2 Table spoons
Coconut : 1/2 cup
Cardamom : 6 to 8 pods

For the outer layer
Things Needed :
Wheat flour : 2 Cups
Water : required
Salt : a pinch
Oil : 1 Cup

Method : 
For stuffing : Sweet mixture: (Hoorana)
1. Powder cardamom and Almonds, dry grind coconut and keep it aside.
2. Boil Milk and add sugar to it.
3. Add Almond powder to the milk and mix it well.
4. Keep stirring. Add dry ground coconut and besan to the mixture.
5. Stir continuously till it stars to leave the pan. Add a spoon of ghee.
6. Now remove the mixture and put it in a bowl. Let it cool.
7. Mix the mixture nicely when it cools and keep it aside.

Chapati dough ( The outer layer ) :
1. Take a bowl and put wheat flour and salt. Put required water and prepare chapati dough.

Now Almond + Besan wheat Holige.
1. Knead the chapati dough and divide them into small portion. (little bigger than lemon size).
2. Keep a small portion of  dry wheat flour in a small bowl.
3. Take a small ball and roll out to small papad size.

4. Keep a tablespoon of sweet mixture and cover the chapati from all side and bring it ball shape.
  ( like aloo stuffing).

5 Now take that sweet mixture ball and roll a little on dry wheat flour and roll like a chapati.

6 Keep a pan on the fire and heat. Sprinkle little oil on the pan.
7 Now put the sweet chapati on the pan and cook on both sides. Use little oil on both sides.

8 Repeat the same with remaining dough.
9. Serve Hot Amond + Besan Wheat Holige with a teaspoon of ghee on the top.

Note : Do the whole process of sweet mixture on low flame. If you feel the mixture is still liquidy use little more besan and mix it nicely. No need to add more ghee or oil to it. Once the mixture is cooled it thickens. You can reduce or add the amount of the sugar as your wish.
Serves :  3 to 4
Time : 40 min.

Dhokla

Dhokla is a yummy dish from North India, especially Gujarat. Now a days most of the Indian dishes are very popular and available in any corner of the world I can say. Especially children love to have this Dhokla, even the elders do not fall behind to have this dish. This is a steamed snack and it is prepared with Besan  (chenna dal) flour, curd and very little spice. Dokla is a healthy dish and we can have this  food  for breakfast, snack in the evening or for dinner too.

Besan flour is made of Channa dal and it contain proteins vitamins minerals and it is gluten free. Besan has high nutritive value, good for weight loss and helps to control diabetes.
Medium sized Rava (Samolina) is also added with besan to give a good texture to dokla.
Rava is high in potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, calcium and fibre with some iron, zinc, manganese and copper. It is very low insaturated fat, cholesterol and sodium and contains zero trans fatty acids. It is high in vitamin E and contains a fair amount of the B complex vitamins. (Especially folic acid). Samolina has a low glycemic index which is good news for people wishing to control or reduce their weight and blood sugar and diabetics.
This Dhokla recipe is very easy and can be prepared with little spices and definitely loved by all age group people. I have not added any cooking soda while preparing the dough. Eno salt should be added just before cooking. Remember to use sour curd to get good result.

Things Needed :
Besan flour : 2 cups
Rava (medium size) : 2 Table spoons.
Sour curd : 1 Cup
Salt : to taste
Water : Required
Oil 1 Table spoon.
Mustard seeds : 1 Tea spoon
Sugar : 1 Tea spoon
Curry leaves : 8 to 10
Eno Salt: 1 Table spoon
Green chilly : 1

Method :
1. Take a big bowl and put besan, rava, salt and curd. Mix it nicely. Wash and cut green chilly and curry leaves and keep it aside.

2. Add water if required (idli dough consistency) and mix it nicely and keep it aside for 5 to 6 hours to ferment.

3. Now take the ferment dough, mix it thoroughly.
4. Keep ready the pressure cooker or Idli cooker on the fire. Put 2 to 3 cups of water at the bottom of the cooker and keep a bowl upside down. Keep a plate on the top of the bowl.
5. Apply oil to the dokla container and keep it aside. ( any bowl or plate can be used which is fitting inside the cooker. Pressure cooker container also will do).
6. Now keep the idli cooker or pressure cooker on the fire and heat.
7. Add Eno salt to the ready dough and mix it properly and pour this dough to the oil applied container and keep it in the idli cooker and cover the lid.
8. Steam for 15 to 20 minutes and put off the gas.

9. Now remove the ready dhokla from the container and place it on a plate.

10. Keep a small pan on the fire and heat. Put oil, mustard seeds and let it spurt.
11. Add curry leaves and cut green chilly to the spurt and put off the gas. Put a spoon of sugar to the spurt mixture and add 1 table spoon of water. Mx it well.
12. Put the spurt mustard mixture on the top of the Dhokla and spread it nicely . Cut them in to small pieces.

Serve this Dhokla with your choice of chutney .

Note : You must mix the dough nicely ( You can use an egg beater to smoothen the dough).
You can also use coriander leaves to decorate the Dhokla. Do not use lot of water either to prepare the dough or to the spurt mixture. Good texture dough will result in good, soft Dhokla. No need to add any extra bicorbonate Soda or cooking soda.

Cooking Time 20 minutes.
Preparation time :10 minutes.
Time to ferment : 5 to 6 hours.
Serves : 3 to 4

Radish + Gooseberry Dal

Ready to serve Radish + Goose berry Dal 

 Radish is a root vegetable and it has got immence medicinal values. Radish is very good for the liver and stomach. It acts as a powerful detoxifier. Radish is the best medicine for constipation since it contain very high fibre. It is considered as roughage. It helps to heal the symptoms of the piles very quickly. It also help to cure the urinary disorders. It helps to reduce the blood pressure since it is a very good source of potassium. Radish is also good for diabetes. Radishes contain vitamin - C, phosphorus, zinc and vitamin B Complex which are good for the skin. Radishes have anti - pruritic properties and can be used as effective treatment for insect bites and bee stings. Not only above said benifts of the radish it is good medicine for fever, respiratory disorders, bronchitis and astama, and gallbladder, a good appetizer, regulates metabolism, improves the blood circulation, obesity and gastric problem.
Goose Berry is well known for its endeavoring properties and its nutritional benifits. It is enriched with great vitamin C and contain Iron and vitamin too. Consumption of gooseberry prevents many health diseases and empowers the strength.  It is said that regular intake of amla juice makes the skin glow and hair strong.
Radish + Goose berry Dal recipe is a healthy dish and you can have them with chapatis,pooris, rice, rotis, idli and dosas too. Its tasty and easy to prepare. Its not much of spice and good for all age group people.

Things Needed:

Radish (Mooli) : 3 to 4 (medium sized)
Goose berry : 2 ( medium size)
Toor dal : 1/2 Cup
Jeera : 1 Tea spoon
Green chilly : 2 to 3
Coriander leaves : 2 to 3 Table spoons
Curry leaves : 6 to 8 leaves
Oil: 1 Table spoon
Mustard seeds: 1/2 Tea spoon
Ingh or Asafoetida : a pinch
Salt: as required
Water : required
Lemon : 1/2 rind juice
Turmeric powder: a pinch
Ginger : 1 Tea spoon (grated)

Method:
1. Wash and scrape out the outer layer of Radish and wash again.
2. Wash green chilly, curry leaves and coriander leaves and cut it into small.
3. Cut radish into small pieces or according to your wish.

4. Grate goose berry and keep it aside.
5. Wash and pressure cook Toor dal and keep it aside to cool down.
6. Cook radish separately with little water till its soft.
7. Now keep the pan on the fire and heat. Add mustard seeds and 1/2  tea spoon of jeera.
8. Let the mustard seeds spurt. Add curry leaves, green chilly and ingh to it.

9. Add cooked toor dal, ginger and radish. Add pinch of turmeric and salt to it.

10. Let it boil for 2 to 3 minutes. Mix in between so that it does not get burnt at the bottom.
11. Now add grated gooseberry and coriander leaves.

12. Mix it well and serve with chapati or Hot rice with a spoon of ghee on the top.

Note:  Adding gooseberry may turn the dal little blackish. No need to be worried. The taste does not change. The colour changes since it has a strong amla content. You can also add 1 tea spoon of lemon juice if you like tangy taste. You can also add little jaggery. You can also grind little coconut and jeera and add it to the dal and boil for 3 to 4 minutes. The taste differ. Adding garlic also will be good (optional).
Time : 40 minutes
Servings : 4

Ridge gourd outer layer and Capsicum Pakodas

Pakodas are fried Items. It is said that in winter our body needs little more oil, since the moisture in the weather disappear and our skin turns dry. So we crave to eat fried items naturally. Its nice to have some pakodas with Hot Tea. We can also enjoy pakodsa as an evening snack. Pakodas make a good match with lunch too. So as the kids love to have them with out making any fuss.
Here are some recipes of pakodas. 1.Ridge gourd skin pakodas and capsicum pakodas. I am sure the whole family have a chance to sit together and eat these Pakodas and have some fun too.

1. Ridge Gourd Skin Pakoda:
 Things Needed :
Ridge gourd outer layers :  1 Cup.
Besan or Channa dal powder : 1 Cup
Rice flour  : 1 Table spoon
Millet (Jawar) flour : 1 Table spoon.
Chilly Powder : 1 Tea spoon
Jeera : 1/2 Tea spoon
Salt : to taste
Ingh : a pinch
Oil : to fry : 1 Cup

Method : 

1. Wash and remove the edges of the ridge gourd.
2. Cut the outer layer of the ridge gourd  in to 2 to 3 inches and keep it aside.
3. Take a big bowl and put besan (channa dal flour), rice flour and millet powder. Now add chilly powder, jeera, salt and required water and mix all the ingredients nicely. ( The consistency should be little thicker than the usual dough).

4. Keep a pan on the fire. Put oil and heat.

5. Dip the ridge gourd outer layers in the besan mixture and fry them on medium heat till they are cooked or turn slightly brown. ( At time 4 to 5 bajjis can be prepared).

6. Repeat the same with the remaining dough and the ridge gourd layers.
7. Serve them with ketchup or any kind of chutney or eat along with your lunch or dinner.
Note : Do not add any cooking soda or hot oil to the dough. Cook these bajjis on low and medium flame. ( in the beginning low and after 2 minutes it can be cooked on medium flame). Fry them on the both sides of the bajji. Karnataka these fried items are called as bajji and in north any fried items like potato, onions, bread or capsicum are also called as Pakodas.
Serves : 3 to 4 
Time : 3o minutes.

2. Capsicum Pakodas 
Things Needed :
Capsicum cuts : 1 Cup
The above said dough and the same method can be followed to prepare Capsicum Bajjis.
Time : 30  minutes.
Serve : 2 to 3

Pearl Millet Dosa with Brahmi Leaves Chutney

Pearl Millet has some medicinal properties. It is especially effiective for bleeding piles, epilepsy, insomnia, high blood pressure diabetes and tuberculosis. Bajra is gluten free. It is highly effective and recommended for severe constipation and stomach ulcers. It also good for lowering the cholesterol. Sajje is rich in fiber content. It helps to keep the glucouse level normal in diabetics. It is helpful in maintaining cardiovascular health and in acidity problems. It also helps to reduce the weight.
Broken Wheat or bulghur is a good source of fiber, protein, iron and vitamin B-6. It is also a great substiture for rice since it has more fiber and nutrients.
Urd Dal has numerous health benifits. It has protein, fat and carbohydrates which is required for the body. Urd dal is rich in protein and bitamin B. It is good for women since it has iron, folic acid, calcium, magnesium, potassium. It is rich in firbre and easy to digest and it is good for the heart. It helps to reduce cholesterol.
Sajje -Wheat Urd Dosa recipe contain the above said ingredients and it is a healthy dish and we can have these dosas for breakfast, as snack or for dinner too. It is soft and fluffy and all age group will definitely njoy eating Sajje Wheat Dosa.

Things Needed:
Pearl Millet or Sajje flour : 1 Cup
Broken Wheat or bulghur : 1 Cup
Urd dal : 1/2 Cup.
Salt : to taste
Oil : 1/2 Cup
Methi (Fenugreek seeds) : 1/2 Tea spoon

Method :

1.Wash and soak bulghur and fenugreek seeds + urd separetely for 3 to 4 Hours.
2. Now grind them separetely, using required water. (till paste).
3. Mix sajje flour with the ground ingredients in a big bowl and add salt and leave it for ferment. (Over night), or 6 to 8 hours. (It should ferment).

4. Now keep dosa pan on the fire and heat. Just apply oil on the tava and take a spoonful of the batter and spread like dosa and cook for 2 minutes. Add 1/4 tea spoon of oil on the top of the    dosa and turn the dosa other side and cook for 1 minute and serve with the chutny you have prepared.

Note : Grinding the grains should be done till paste. It needs to ferment nicely to get good soft quality of dosas. You can use more oil if you wish. If you want thin variety of dosa, do not sprinkle oil just before you put dough on the pan. First put the dough and then spread it nicely and then sprinkle oil on the top. Covering the lid also an optional.

Time : 30 to 40 minutes (Soaking and ferment time extra).
Serves : 5 to 6

Brahmi Leaves Chutney :
Brahmi (ondelaga) : leaves are used in Ayurveda. Brahmi is used for improving memory, anxiety, attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder, allergic conditionsl.  It is also a general tonic to fight stress. People use brahmi leaves to treat backache and joint pains.
Brahmi leaves chutney can be eaten with idly, dosa, chapati, roti, dokla or even rice. Its easy to prepare and not much of spice required too.
Things Needed :
Brahmi leaves : 1 Handful
Coconut : 1 cup
Green chilly : 1 to 2
Tamarind pulp or lemon juice : 1 Tea spoon
Salt : to taste

Method :
1. Wash brahmi leaves and green chilly.
2. Grate coconut.

3. Grind coconut, brahmi leaves, green chilly, tamarind pulp and salt with little water.
4. Shift the ground chutney to a serving bowl.
5. You can add mustard spurt to this chutney with little curry leaves and ingh.
Serve Brahmi Chutney with Sajje - Bulghur - Urd Dosa.
Note : Do not add lots of water to the chutney while grinding. No need to add any other ingredients. ( Do not add ground nut or huri kadale). Not only it taste differ but losses the aroma. You can add red chillies also. I have added one gooseberry to this chutney.
Serves : 3 to 4
Time to prepare chutney : 10 to 15 minutes.

I am sending this recipe to the cookery blogs below ...

http://priyaeasyntastyrecipes.blogspot.in/p/health-diet-host-lineup.html

http://nandooskitchen.blogspot.in/2013/12/healthy-veg-side-dishes.html