Spicy Stuffed Brinjal

Brinjal/Egg plant/Badanekai/Kattarikai is one of the most wonderful vegetable. We can prepare the spicy dishes using this vegetable. I Have tried Stuffed Brinjal and added two to three potatoes with fresh roasted spices.

 It is one of the favourite vegetable for many and many don't like it too. They must have this Spicy Stuffed Brinjal and they will never say No Brinjal  again in their life. ☺☺. Try and Enjoy " Spicy Stuffed Brinjal" and it is one of the side dish goes well with all most all the dishes.

Let us see some benefits of eating " Brinjal" in our diet.

Brinjal/Egg plant has many health benefits. It has the ability to help strong bones and reduce the symptoms of anemia. It protect the digestive system and helps to lose weight. It also helps to manage diabetes and reduce the stress. Brinjal is rich source of vitamin C, Vitamin K, vitamin B6 and minerals like magnesium, phosphorous, copper, dietary fiber, folic acid, potassium and manganese. It has very low amount of cholesterol and no saturated fat.
Remember that some might get allergy to brinjal and it start itching even while cutting brinjal. 

I have used onions, freshly roasted spices and coconut. 

Let us see the recipe now : I have used round green brinjals. This is one of the classic dish.
The procedure might look long but the taste is yummy and excellent. Give a try and Enjoy....

Things Needed : 

To cook 

Small Brinjals : 5 to 6
Potatoes : 2 to 3 ( Small size)

Onion : 1 (Big size )

Spices to Roast/fry :

Methi seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon

Channa dal : 1 Teaspoon

Urid dal : 1 Teaspoon

Coriander Seeds : 1 Tablespoon

Jeera : 1/2 Teaspoon

Red chilly (Byadagi) : 5 to 6 or little more

Cloves /Lavang : 4 to 5

Cinnamon : Small pieces 2 to 3 

Ingh/Asafoetida : A little 

Sesame seeds : 1 Tablespoon

Pepper Pods : 2 to 3

To grate : 

Grated Mango : 2 to 3 Tablespoons

Grated Coconut /Copra : 2 Tablespoons
To add :
Ground masala 

Salt : As required
Coriander leaves.

To Season : 

Cooking Oil : 2 Tablespoons
Mustard seeds : 1 Teaspoon
Urid dal : 1/2 Teaspoon
Curry Leaves : 5 to 6
Ingh / Asafoetida : A little

Method : 

1. Wash and cut brinjal . (Avoid making complete pieces). Soak in water. Grate mango and keep it aside.
Wash and remove the outer layer of potatoes and wash it again. Just poke in between and make scars on the potatoes.

2. Remove the outer layer of onion and cut into pieces. (According to your wish. Small/big).

3. Keep a pan on the fire add 1/2 Teaspoon of oil. Fry methi seeds till they turn slightly brown.

4. Add cloves, cinnamon, channa dal and urid dal. Roast them till they turn golden brown.
5. Add sesame seeds and fry till they pop up.

6.. Add coriander seeds and red chilly. Fry for a minute. Add jeera and fry.

7. Add curry leaves and ingh. Put off the fire. 

8. Grate coconut and add it to the fried ingredients. Mix it well.
9. Grind coconut and fried ingredients with required water, (First dry grind the ingredients, then add water and grind).

10. Remove from the mixi jar and keep it aside.
11. Add little salt to ground mixture.
12. Mix ground mixture with grated mango nicely.

13. Now remove the brinjals from water.
14 Fill in each brinjal with the ground mixture and keep them on a plate/tray.

15. Keep a pan and add 2 tablespoon of oil. Add mustard seeds and little urid dal.
16. Let mustard seeds splutter. Add curry leaves and ingh.  Add onions and fry for a minute.

17. Arrange stuffed brinjals one by one in the pan. Put the potatoes.

18. Add the remaining ground mixture. Add required salt, turmeric powder.
19. Add 1/2 Cup of water and cover the pan. (I used pressure cooker). (2 to 3 whistles).
20. Just see that brinjal cooks till soft. Turn the other side slowly after few minutes and cook them till soft. ( I have used a small pressure cooker). If you are using cooker just 2 to 3 whistles will be ok.

21. Shift them to a serving dish and add washed and cut coriander leaves.

22. Serve with the main dish you have prepared.

Note :
Do not cut the brinjal fully. Just leave the edge and it is easy to fill the stuffing nicely.
You can dry roast the spices or fry with very little oil. Adding more spices is your choice.
Adding more/less oil is optional. Dry roast the ingredients one by one to get the exact roast.
Adding mango adds to the taste. Adding mango instead of tamarind or lemon is optional.
Adding a little jaggery help the dish to reduce the gas in the dish. I have added some potatoes which turns yummy along with spices.
Adding potatoes is optional. You can try this brinjal stuffed with ready " Vanghibaat powder" or  " Birsibele baat powder", instead of fresh roasted spices.
Use of pressure cooker helps to cook Stuffed brinjals easily. (Optional). You can cook on the big pan too. Adding onions and garlic to the dish is optional. ( I have not added garlic).
Time : 30 Minutes.
Serves : 3 to 4.

Tomato Chitranna (Tomato Baath).

Chitranna is an easy and simple dish and loved by many of us. It is one of the easy dish. I have used tomatoes instead of lemon and prepared chitranna with minimum ingredients. Try and Enjoy Tomato Chitranna at any time of the day.

I have used tomatoes, raw rice, green chilly and little coconut.
Let us see some benefits of eating " Rice " in our diet.
Rice is one of the most used staple food of Indians. It is filled with carbohydrates and provides energy to our body. It is easy to digest because of its fiber content. It improves the bowel movements. It provides an essential source of Vitamin B1 and helps to boost skin health, increases the metabolism and easy digestion. It helps to improve the immune system and provides protection against dysentery. It is rich in vitamins and minerals like Vitamin D, calcium, fiber and iron.

Tomato Rice is good for ladies get together, one dish party, kitty party, kids party and even for travelling. It can be prepared for lunch/dinner or brunch. (Breakfast + lunch).

Let us see the recipe now :

Things Needed :

Cooked Rice : 1 Bowl.
Tomatoes : 2 to 3
Onions : 2 (Medium size)
Green chilly : 2 to 3
Ginger : 1 Teaspoon (grated)
Coriander leaves : 1 Tablespoon
Curry leaves : 6 to 8
Coconut : 2 Tablespoons (Optional)
Oil/Ghee : 2 Tablespoons
Mustard seeds : 1 Teaspoon
Urid dal : 1 Teaspoon
Jeera/Cumin Seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon

Method : 

1. Remove the outer layer of onions, wash it and cut into small pieces.
2. Wash and cut tomatoes into small pieces. (Remove the seeds while cutting).

3. Wash and slit green chilly and curry leaves and coriander leaves. Wash ginger, remove the outer layer, wash it again and grate it.
4. Keep a pan on the fire and add a tablespoon of oil and heat.
5. Add mustard seeds and urid dal. Let mustard seeds splutter.
6. Add jeera and slit green chilly. Fry for 10 seconds. Add curry leaves. Add grated ginger.
7. Add cut onions and fry till they turn golden brown. Add tomatoes and fry till they get thick.

8. Add turmeric powder ( a little), salt and mix it well. Add cooked and cooled rice.
9. Mix it nicely and cook on low flame for a minute.

10. Add fresh grated coconut, a tablespoon of ghee and mix it well. Shift it to the serving dish.

11. Add cut coriander leaves and mix it.

12. Serve with a cup of curd and papad.

Note :

Adding any spice powder to chitranna is optional. ( I have not added). Adding garlic with onions is optional. Adding more oil while frying is optional. Use of ghee is optional). Use of coconut is optional. (Do not use coconut if you are taking tomato rice for travelling. It might get spoil).
Time : 10 Minutes. ( If rice is already cooked  OR cooking rice  another 20 minutes.
Serves : 2 to 3. 

Harve soppu/Amaranth leaves Dry Curry

Harve soppu/Amaranth leaves are fresh during the rainy days. It is tender and taste too good.
Harve soppu Dry curry goes well with hot rice, with chapatis, all type of rotis and poori.

I have prepared this curry with fresh sambar/curry powder. It taste yummy.
Let us see some benefits of eating " Amaranth leaves" in our diet.
Harve soppu (as we call it in Karnataka- India), has the ability to reduce inflammation, boost bone strength and lower the blood pressure. It helps to improve our immune system. It also helps to maintain healthy hair and good for weight loss. It boost energy and helps the metabolic function in our body. They are rich in protein. They have a rich source of antioxidant properties and helps to cure and reduce the inflammation. They are rich in fiber and good for easy digestion. They are good source of minerals.
Let us see the recipe now :
No Onion or No Garlic is used in this Harve soppu Dry Curry.

Ingredients :

Harve soppu : 1 Bundle (Medium size)
Coconut : 1/2 Cup
Fresh ground spices/sambar powder : 1 Tablespoon
Jaggery : 1 Teaspoon
Lemon juice or tamarind pulp : 1 Teaspoon
Salt : As required
Coriander leaves : 1 Tablespoon
Seasoning :
Coconut Oil : 1Tablespoon
Mustard Seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon
Urid dal : 1/2 Teaspoon
Curry Leaves : 5 to 6
Green chilly : 1

Method :

1. Wash and cut Harve soppu into small pieces. Grate coconut and keep it aside.
2. Wash and cut curry leaves, coriander leaves, slit green chilly and keep it aside.

3. Keep a pan on the fire and heat. Put oil and mustard seeds and urid dal.
4. Let mustard seeds splutter. Add curry leaves and slit chilly.
5. Fry for a second and add cut Harve soppu and mix it well.
6. Cook on low flame. Add 1/2 cup of water, little turmeric powder and cook on medium flame.

7.Let all the water dry. Add salt, tamarind pulp/lemon juice, little jaggery and mix it nicely.

8. Add fresh sambar powder and mix it well. Add fresh grated coconut and put off the fire.

9. Shift the ready Harve soppu Curry to a serving dish. Add cut coriander leaves.
10. Serve with the main dish that you have prepared.

Note :

Use of any cooking oil instead of coconut oil is optional. Adding more oil is optional. Adding any spice powder is optional. I have added fresh sambar powder. Adding onions or garlic is optional.
Adding jaggery is optional. You can cook Harve soppu on  low flame without using the water. It takes little more time and little more oil. (Stir in between so that it does not get burnt at the bottom).
Time : 15 Minutes.
Serves : 3 to 4.

Fresh Sambar Powder :

A tablespoon of coriander seeds. 1/4 teaspoon of methi, 1/2 teaspoon of jeera , 1/2 teaspoon of urid dal and channa dal,  (each) 4 to 5 byadagi chilly and some curry leaves. Dry roast all these ingredients one by one and dry grind it when it cools. Sambar powder is ready to use.

Mixed flour Spicy Chapati

It is just boring to eat the same food. I think you all agree with me. It should be bit different and should be on healthy side. That is my opinion and I do follow. It turns me in to do bit experiments, twists, changes and it is one of the best hobby for me now.
Mixed flour Spicy Chapati is ready to serve.

Here I have tried spicy chapati using wheat flour, rice flour, besan and chiroti rava. I have used curd and some simple spices.
Let us see the recipe Now :

Things Needed :

Wheat flour  : 2 Cups
Rice flour : 2 Tablespoons
Besan/Channa flour : 1 Tablespoon
Chiroti Rava : 1 Tablespoon
Ghee : 1 Tablespoon
Curd : 1/2 Cup
Jeera /Cumin Seeds powder : 1/2 Teaspoon
Chilly Powder : 1/2 Teaspoon
Garam Masala Powder : 1/2 Teaspoon
Pepper powder : 1/4 Teaspoon
Salt : As required
Oil : 2 to 3 Tablespoons

Method :

1. Take a big bowl and add all the flours,salt and spices. Add curd.
2. Mix it nicely and prepare dough. Kneed the dough nicely.

3. Divide the dough into small portions.
4. Take a small portion of the dough and roll it as chapati. (Dip the ball size dough in dry wheat flour just before rolling).

5. Keep a tava/pan on the fire and heat. Put the rolled spicy chapati and cook on both sides.
6.At first do not add oil. Press it with the spatula on the sides of chapati. It fluffs up. Add little oil now.
7. Turn the other side and cook for 10 to 20 seconds..

8. Sprinkle some oil on the top of the chapati while it is cooking.

9. Mixed flour chapati is ready to serve. Serve it with the side dish you  have prepared.

10 We had it with basale/malabar leaves and kesu/colocasia  huli/sambar and Amaranth leaves dry curry.

Note : 

Mix the flour nicely with ghee and then add curd. Mix it well and if need add water.  Be careful while adding the curd. Adding more/less ghee is optional. Adding oil instead of ghee is optional. Adding more spice is optional. You can use your choice of brand. I have used MTR and Mayya's spice powders. I feel it fits into our taste bud and also its healthy. The dough should be soft.
Time : 30 Minutes
Serves : 8 to 9 Chapatis can be prepared. ( It depends on the size of the chapati).