Sunday - Cook at home!

Cook your Sunday to your full pleasure

Sundays are important family days. It is more well spent at home with lively pleasures of quick and healthy cooking.

This Sunday we advice you to start with the all healthy Plan Ravi Idli with Horse gram Chutney, this will keep you going for a good 4 hours, as Rava is quite filling. Horse gram is full of proteins and will help you stay light.

A good lunch could comprise of Dil Leaves and coconut rice along with Cabbage, Capsicum and Carrot Palya. And for dessert, if you do have 15 minutes to spare and a few naughty kids, it's probably a good idea to make this all healthy slowly digesting Wheat Badami Burfi

Woow, that already feels relishing. The lightness of eating at home and being with family is much more satisfying than a sumptuous, oily, and overloading eat-as-much-as-you-can buffet.

We Indians are very excited about our tea time as much as the British are. However, our tea times are very well celebrated with Pakodas or Chaats rather than cakes and muffins.

I would suggest you go for the Raw Banana Palya Samosa today. Its more exciting as we can leave the age old Aloo (potato) behind for a very own coastal Raw Banana. A mug of hot masala chai invigorated with some Ginger, Cardamon, and cloves make the evening ever so refreshing.

Go out for a walk to either Lalbagh or Cubbon park to embrace the chill breeze that the beautiful city of Bangalore brings to you. As a word of caution, make sure you cover your ears and neck well! 

Hmm, Sundays fly away so quickly that you never realise that they have even arrived. Well, in other words its dinner time already. Dinners, I would advice to be the lightest amongst all the other meals in the day. A quick light dinner by around 7.30pm to 8pm would be ideal and what I would suggest to you today is go for the Akki Rotti. The light fluffy rotti, is a great recipe for a light and ever so tasty meal. This tastes awesome with Corriander chutney which I've mentioned in the Akki Rotti's recipe.

I'm sure your entire family would concur with your thought that this was a Sunday well spent. To end your Sunday on a great note, go for either a hot or cold Badam Milk!!

Eat healthy and Stay healthy my dear friends!

Bread Pakoda & Dahi Pakoda

Bread Pakoda is one of the easiest fried item you can prepare. It is one of the easiest and quick eatable which we can enjoy even for the morning breakfast once in a while, or as snack in the evening time.
As I said If you have bread at home if you want to munch something or suddenly you get a visitor, this will be the perfect snack goes very well with Cup of Coffee or Tea.
I have used Gram (channa gram), little rice flour to give crispness, salt and jeera. No need to use cooking soda since it is going to be served or eaten when it is just prepared. So I have not used any cooking soda or fruit salt in it.
This can be eaten as chat also. Grate some carrots, prepare some sweet and hot chutney and serve Pakoda with these things. Adding some curd on the top and sprinkling some jeera and chilly powder or chat masala also can be done. ( Though we had Dahi Pakoda I did not sprinkle any jeera or chilly powder. I like to have a limited quantity of spice and Sweet & hot chutney already have these things)  I just spread the Sweet & Hot chutney on the top of Bread Pakoda, added grated carrot and on the top put a spoon of thick curd. It is really nice to have it as I said.
Lets come to the recipe.

Things Needed : For Bread Pakoda

Bread : 4 to 6 Slices
Chilly Powder : 1 Tea spoon
Channa Flour : 1 Cup
Jeera : 1/2 Tea spoon
Salt : required
Oil : 1 Cup

Method : 

1. Cut bread into triangle (4 pieces) and keep it aside. ( No need to cut the edges)

2. Put channa flour, rice flour, salt, jeera, chilly powder  in a big bowl and mix it well.

3. Add required water and prepare dough. ( Idli dough consistency).

4. Now keep a frying pan on the fire. Add oil and heat.
5. Dip cut bread pieces in channa flour dough and fry in hot oil and fry them on both sides

 
6. Remove from the oil and put it on a kitchen tissue and then serve with  Sweet and Hot Chutney and grated carrots and curd.

Note :

 Do not use lot of water while mixing. It may absorb more oil. No need to add any cooking soda. Fry them on medium flame. Serve hot. You can also use more chilly powder if like it more spicy. You can also add garam masala to the dough while mixing. 

Sweet and Hot Spicy Chutney :

Grind,  6 to 8 dates, 2 green chilly, a small  (1/2 of one marble size) Tamarind , handful of washed coriander leaves, 1/2 tea spoon of jeera or Sonf (Aniseeds) required salt with very little water. Grind it nicely till paste and remove from the jar to a serving bowl. You can add garlic pods if you like to have garlic in the chutney.

 Dahi Pakoda 

Grated Carrots : 1/2 Cup
Sweet & Hot Chutney : 2 Table spoon
Bread Pakodas : As many as you want
Method :
1. Take a piece of already fried Pakodas
2. Spread a spoon of Sweet and Spice Chutney

3. Spread a table spoon of grated Carrots

4. Spread a table spoon of thick Curd
Dahi Pakodas are ready to serve.

Note:

You can sprinkle chat masala on the top of dahi . You can also put some Fried Sev on the top of  Dahi Pakoda.
Remember put all these above said things just before you serve or the taste may differ and it may become too soft . You can also add cut onions on the top of pakoda just before you put Curd.
Time : 30 Minutes
Serves : 4 to 5

Spring Onion - Shavige

Shavige Uppitu is one of the well known breakfast or snack item and we can prepare in different ways. Shavige can be enjoyed in any form either sweet or spicy.
Here I have tried Shavige with Spring Onions and Capsicum. The combination of spring onions go well with capsicum and it taste really nice with capsicum aroma. Instead of onions I have tried spring onions. You get fresh Spring onions in the market. It also serves the purpose of eating leaves. Leaves are one of the best vegetable one should intake.

Let us some benefits of having Spring Onions in our diet.

Spring onions lowers the blood sugar level.
It is often used as a medicine for common cold.
It is used as an appetizer as it helps digestion.
It speeds up the level of blood circulation in the body.
Spring Onions are rich in Vitamins like Vitamin C, Vitamin B2 , Vitamin A and Vitamin K. They are also good sources of copper, phosphorous, magnesium, potassium, manganese and Fiber.
They are good for regulating metabolism. They help to fight against eye disease and eye problem and protects the skin from wrinkling.
They help to reduce the cholesterol level.
Here is a recipe of Spring Onion - Shavige recipe, which is very easy to prepare and we can have them for breakfast, as evening snack or even for dinner. Good for kitty parties also.

Things needed:

Spring Onion : 2 Bundles
Shavige : 1/2 Kg
Water : 3 1/2 to 4 Cups
Coconut : 1 Cup
Capsicum : 2
Green chilly :2 to 3
Salt : Required Salt.
Curry leaves : 6 to  8
Coriander leaves : 2 Table spoons
Mustard seeds : 1 Tea spoon
Urid Dal : 1 Tea spoon
Oil :  3 to 4 Table spoons
Ghee : 2 Table spoons
Ginger : a small piece

Method : 

1. Wash and cut spring onions, capsicum, green chilly and coriander leaves.

2. Grate coconut and ginger and keep it aside. Squeeze out the lemon juice and keep the juice aside.

3. Keep water for boiling.
4. Keep a big pan on the fire and put 1 table spoon of oil. Heat and fry shavige on low flame till they turn golden brown.

5. Keep another pan and put  remaining oil and put mustard seeds, urid dal. Let the mustard seeds splutter.
6. Add curry leaves, green chilly and fry for 10 seconds.
7. Add cut capsicum,grated ginger and spring onions and fry nicely till they turn soft.

8. Add this fried spring onions and capsicum to fried shavige and mix it well. Add salt and boiling water.  Mix it slowly, cover the lid and cook for 2 minutes on low flame.

  9. Add grated coconut and lemon juice when all the water disappear. Put off the gas. Add ghee and mix it nicely.

 10. Shift the ready Spring Onion Shavige to a serving bowl and serve with cup of curd or banana.

Note :    

You can add more oil if you wish. Adding red chilly or green chilly is an optional.
You can also add other vegetables like carrtos, beans and peas.
Do it on low flame to get the good result.
I have used Anil Wheat Shavige. You can use MTR or any other brand shavige also.
You can also use Garam Masala but it gives a different taste.
Serves : 6
Time : 30 Minutes.

Radish (with it leaves) Curry

Radish is one of the healthiest vegetable one should intake regularly. You can prepare many dishes with its leaves also. This recipe contain Radish and its leaves also.I have eaten Radish Curry in one of our friend's house in Dehra Doon. That was with different spices.
Here I have tried this curry with simple spices which are at home and we South Canara people normally use. It can be prepared like sambar also. No Dalls are used here. Using of coconut gives fresh and good aroma . It adds thickness and using red chilly ( badagi) gives a good colour to the curry.

Lets see some benefits of eating Radish and its leaves.

 Radish is one of the nutritious root vegetables which can be used in salads as well as in main recipes.
Radish is used for jaundice treatment as it is good detoxifier for the liver and stomach.
It helps in purifying the blood and eliminating body toxins and waste through urine.
It is considered as having more roughage and fibers and helps to digest the food easily and good for people who are suffering from constipation. Radish also used to treat piles.
It prevents the kidney and urinary system from infection and other disorders.
It has anti inflammatory property which reduces the inflammation during any infection.
It is high in Vitamin C and packed with antioxidants.
It is also a good source of potassium and helps in maintaining the blood pressure under control. It also reduces the blood pressure.

Here is a recipe of Radish (with Leaves) Curry which can be prepared easily and quickly. We can have this curry with chapatis, plain rice, roti, poori or even with some masala rice.

Things Needed :

Muli (Radish with its leaves) : 5 to 6
Coconut : 1 cup
Red chilly : 4 to 5
Jeera ( cumin seeds) : 1/2 Tea spoon
Coriander seeds : 1 Tea spoon
Tamarind : 1 marble size
Pepper Pods : 5 to 6
Ginger : 1 small piece
Curry leaves : 5 to 6
Mustard seeds : 1/2 Tea spoon
Methi seeds : 4 to 5
Jeera : 1/2 Tea spoon
Coriander leaves : 2 to 3 Table spoons
Salt : To taste
Oil : 1 Tea spoon.

Method :

1  Wash and cut radish with its leaves into small and cook with sufficient water and keep it aside.

2. Grate coconut and grind with red chilly, 1/2 tea spoon jeera, pepper pods, tamarind and coriander seeds

3. Now keep a pan on the fire and heat. Put oil, mustard seeds and methi seeds. Let mustard seeds splutter.
4. Add jeera and curry leaves. Leave it for 10 seconds.
5. Add cooked Radish and its leaves. Add a pinch of turmeric powder and required salt. Let it boil for 2 minutes.

6. Add ground coconut mixture and mix it nicely and boil for 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in between.

7. Now shift the Radish Curry to a serving dish and serve with the main dish you have prepared.
8. Add coriander leaves and a spoon of ghee on the top, mix it well and then serve.

 Note:

Cook nicely till the vegetable is soft. You can add onions and garlic to this curry. (optional).
You can also add little jaggery if you wish to be bit sweet.
You can add some cooked dal like toor or moong dal to make the curry more thick.
Adding more oil is also optional.You can add lemon juice instead of tamarind.

Time : 20 minutes

Serves : 3 to 4.

Carrot -Curd -Coconut Upma

Ready to Serve Uppittu (Upma)

Upma or Uppittu is easy to prepare and it is one of the quick preparation food item. Many of us like Upma. I have seen many people eating Upma in Hotel. Even I like Upma. It is tasty and spicy.

Upma can be done in different ways and with different ingredients. You can use medium rava or bansi rava (little bigger than medium rava), Rice rawa (akki tari) or even Awalakki -Uppittu, Sabakki (Sabudhan) Uppitu, Shavige Uppittu, Godi tari (wheat rava) Uppittu etc. Adding lots of vegetables or brinjal (vanghi bath) , or capsicum, onions gives and adds to the taste and gives satisfaction to the tongue bud. Preparing Vanghi (brinjal) needs some special spices. It is spicy and taste good.
Let us see some benefits of using Rava in your daily diet.
Rava or Semolina is prepared using Durum (hard variety) wheat and it is good substitute for rice. Rava is good for people who wants to shed their extra weight.  It  is good for diabetics. It is digested slowly. It is low in fat and high in carbohydrate food.It is low in sodium and cholesterol. It is high in fiber. It is considered as a balanced diet. It has very less of saturated fats. It is loaded with Vitamin B complex and high in Vitamin E. It contain good amount of minerals like potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, zinc and calcium.

With all these benefits we can also use Rava in preparing cakes and cookies and Semolina is good for people who are suffering from fever.
You  should also know Some people are allergic to Semolina (Rava).

I have used Medium size rava , carrots, curd and coconut. Adding curd to Upma gives a good texture and adds to the taste.We can have this Upma for breakfast, as evening snack or even for dinner.
Carrot, curd coconut  Upma can be prepared on special fasting days. No onions are used in this Upma.

Things needed :

Medium size Rava (Semolina) : 1  Cups
Carrots : Grated : 1 Cup
Curd :(or Butter milk) : 1/2 Cup
Oil : 2 to 4 Table spoons
Coconut : 2 to 3 Table spoons
Green Chilly : 2 to 3
 Curry Leaves : 8 to 10
Ginger : a small piece
Salt : To taste
Water : 1 3/4 Cup.
Ghee : 1 to 2 Table spoons.
Mustard seeds : 1/2 Tea spoon
Urid dal : 1 Tea spoon
Jaggery : 1 Table spoon.

Method : 

1. Wash and grate carrots and ginger and coconut. Cut green chilly and keep it aside.

2. Keep water for boiling.
3. Keep a big pan and add oil.and heat. Put mustard seeds and Urad dal. Let mustard seeds splutter,

 4. Add green chilly and curry leaves. Fry for 10 seconds.
5. Add Rava and fry nicely till the raw smell disappear. (do it on low flame).

6. Add salt and boiling water and stir slowly and mix it well. Add curd and mix it well.

 

 

7. Add grated carrots, jaggery and ginger and stir on low flame till the consistency get thick and it cooks well. Cover for 2 minutes.

 

8. Put of the gas and add Ghee and coconut. Mix it again nicely and Shift the Ready Carrot, Curd, Coconut Upma to a serving dish.

 

  

9. Serve with a banana and a cup of Coffee..

 

 

 Note :

You must fry rava nicely. Do it on low flame. Adding Jaggery is optional. Adding more chilly or other vegetables are also optional.
You can also use onions. Fry onions in a spoon of oil and then add it before you add hot water.
You  can also add more water (1 rava = 2 cups water) to make it little more moisture. (It will be soft which some people like in that way).  You can also use any cooking oil you prefer. I have used coconut oil. Adding more ghee also optional.

Time : 20 minutes
Serves : 4.