Banana Stem Chutney

Banana stem is one of the healthy stem that can be used in our dishes. In olden days people make sure, that they prepare some dish using banana stem at least once in a month. It is one of the traditional dish and signature dish of Udupi food.

South Canara and Malanadu area bananas are grown even at homes. At least one or two banana plants do grow and the leaves are used for eating food and when banana is grown and it is cut after ripe/unripe the stem is used in cooking. The flowers also will be used as dry curry /majjige huli./chutney and even leha. ( The Home prepared medicine cum energetic dish done to give for lady after the child is born.
This banana stem is given by our neighbour and I did prepared some dal , chutney, kosumbari etc.
I have used banana stem, little roasted urid dal, red chilly and coconut.
Let us see some benefits of eating Banana Stem.
It is said that every part of banana is packed with nutrition and health benefits. Banana stem helps to detoxify our body. It helps to flushing out toxins from our body. It cleanses our body system and helps in digestion. It is full of fiber and good for healthy bowel movement. It also helps in removing the kidney stones. Drinking banana stem juice helps to prevent the formation of kidney stones. It regulates the cholesterol and blood pressure in our body. Banana stem is rich in Vitamin B6, good amount of iron and helps to improve the haemoglobin count. It has good source of potassium. It helps in regulating acidity levels in our body. Drinking banana stem juice ( add lemon also), provides relief from heartburn and discomfort in our tummy.

No Onion or No Garlic is used in this " Banana Stem Chutney".
It is an easy, simple and healthy chutney goes well with almost all main dishes.
Let us see the reciep now :

Things Needed :

To fry :
Coconut/any brand cooking oil : 1/2 Teaspoon
Urid dal : 1 Tablespoon
Pepper pods : 4 to 5
Methi seeds : 1/4 Tsp
Red chilly (Byadagi chilly) : 5 to 6
Curry leaves : 1 Handful
Ingh : A little
To grind : 
Coconut : 1 Cup
Tamarind : 1/2 of one marble size
Cut banana stem pieces : 1 Bowl
Salt : As required
Fried Ingredients.
To Season :
Mustard seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon
Urid dal : 1/2 Teaspoon
Curry Leaves : 5 to 6
Ingh : A little.

Method :

1. Wash and remove the inner part of the stem.
2. Cut it as circle and remove the thread form of fiber. ( Roll on the thread around the finger).

3. Cut the circle pieces of banana stem into small pieces after that.
4. Put it in a big bowl of water and let it be there till you grind.

5. Grate coconut and keep it aside
6. Keep a pan on the fire and heat. Add oil and urid dal, methi seeds and pepper pods. Fry till they turn golden brown.
7. Add red chilly and fry for a minute. ( On low flame).

8. Add curry leaves and ingh and put off the fire.
9. Put it in a big bowl or tray, so that the fried ingredients cool down.

10. Take a mixi jar and put cooled fried urid dal mixture,
11. Add grated coconut, cut banana stem pieces and add little salt , tamarind and grind it with very little water.

12. Grind till all the ingredients mixes well and your desired consistency. ( Some like it smooth and others bit coarse)

12. Shift the chutney to a serving dish.

 13.  Add mustard seeds, ingh, curry leaves seasoning and mix it well.
14.  Banana Stem Chutney is ready to serve.

13. Serve with a main dish you have prepared.
14. We normally have this Banana Stem Chutney with Plain Rice and little ghee /coconut oil.

Note :

No need to cook the pieces. Just grind it along with coconut. You can soak banana stem pieces in butter milk also. (Optional). Adding more/less chilly is optional. It taste better if it is bit spicy. Take care of urid dal while frying/roasting. It should not get burnt or raw. Use of onions or garlic optional. Taste may differ.
Time : 10 Minutes.
Serves : 3 to 4.

Ragi & Rice Flour Spicy Rotti

Ragi/Finger millet is one of the healthy millet and is used more and more these days. I have prepared Ragi -Rice flour rotti and rotti is loved by many. Ragi Rice flour rotti tastes so Yummy.

Here I have tried Ragi/Finger millet flour and very little amount of rice flour which adds to the taste to rotti. Adding rice flour gives a crisp and yummy taste and it holds the rotti dough in good form.

I have also used botte gourd coconut, ondelag aleaves carrots, ginger and green chilly.

 It is always better to eat home cooked food. Use of spices also should be considered while cooking. Too many spices should not be eaten regularly.

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

Ginger is one of the ancient spices. It is known for its health benefits. Ginger helps to boost bone health, strengthen our immune system. It helps to increase our appetite and prevent cancer. It helps to improve respiratory conditions and good for digestion. It is good for reducing excess gas and helps to relieve pains during menstrual periods in women. Good for nausea and flu. Ginger is known as oldest herbal medicine and used in traditional treatments. It is also good for curing inflammation and diarrhea.

No Onion  OR No Garlic is used in this " Ragi & Rice flour Spicy Rotti". 

Let us see the recipe now :

Things Needed :

Ragi /Finger Millet  Flour : 2 Cups

Rice Flour : 1/2 Cup

Bottle Gourd : 1/2 of one medium sized Bottle gourd

Carrots : 2 

Green chilly : 1 

Ginger : An inch

Salt : As required 

Cooking Oil : 1/2 Cup

Coriander leaves : 2 to 3 Tablespoons

Curry Leaves : One handful.

Ondelaga /Gotukola Leaves : 1 Handful.

Method :

1. Wash and cut curry leaves, ondelaga leaves and coriander leaves.

2. Wash and remove the outer layer of ginger and wash it again. Dry grind it with washed green chilly and ondelaga leaves.

3. Remove it from the mixi jar. Grate coconut and keep it aside.

4. Wash and remove the outer layer of carrots, bottle gourd and grate it . Keep them aside.

5. Take a big bowl. Add Ragi and rice flour. Add ground ginger,green chilly and ondelaga leaves mixture.

6. Add grated coconut, carrots, cucumber and cut coriander leaves and curry leaves.

7. Add salt and mix it well. Add required water and mix it well. Let the dough be little thicker than idli dough. It is easy to spread it on the tava/pan.

8. Leave it for 5 minutes. 

9. Keep a tava/pan on the fire and heat. Sprinkle oil and clean it with a kitchen tissue.

10. Now take a handful of the dough and spread it on the tava in circle shape. 

11. Let it be equal spread. Sprinkle little oil on the top and cover the lid.

12. Let it cook for 1 to 2 minutes. Sprinkle oil and cook the other side for 1 to 2 minutes. Let the flame to low and medium. (Or rotti turns as hard and chewy).

13. Remove the rotti from the pan and serve hot rotti with ghee/butter on the top and side dish of your choice;

14. Repeat the same and prepare rotti with remaining dough. 

Note : 

1. It is always better to eat this " Ragi & Rice flour rotti when it is hot. Adding ghee /butter adds to the taste. Use of oil more/less is optional. Use of onions or garlic is optional. Adding 1/2 cup of curd helps the rotti to be soft. Use of more green chilly is optional. You can use red chilly powder. You should cover the rotti while cooking. It helps the rotti to be very soft and cooks quickly. 

Time : 30 Minutes + 10 Minutes for preparations.

Serves : 3 to 4 .

Jaggery -Wheat Coco Cake

Cakes are special and it is loved by all age group people. Here is a try of Jaggery -Wheat Cake which I have seen in one of the television show.

I was very happy to note this cake is prepared using jaggery and wheat instead of maida/all purpose flour and sugar. Use of wheat and jaggery is a healthy option and we can enjoy this cake at any time of the day.
Lets see the recipe now :

Things needed :

Wheat flour : 1 Cup
Jaggery : 1/2 Cup or little less
Milk : 1 Cup
Coco Powder : 2 to 3 Tablespoons
Ghee /Oil : 2 Tablespoons
Lemon : 1 Teaspoon
Vanilla Essence : 2 to 3 Drops.
Baking Soda : 1/4 Teaspoon
Salt : A pinch

Method :

1. Sieve wheat flour, coco powder, salt and baking soda together. (Sieve twice, so that all the dry ingredients mixes well).

2. Take a big bowl and put jaggery, milk and oil.
3. Mix it well and add lemon extract. Mix it nicely.
4. Add dry ingredients and mix it slowly in one direction.

5. Let all the ingredients mix it well. Add vanilla essence and mix it slowly. Add lemon extract. (Lemon Juice). Mix it nicely.

6. Apply ghee to the baking tray. Sprinkle little dry wheat flour.
7. Pour the ready cake mixture and tap it so that the cake mixture settles well equally.

8. Pre heat the oven for 5 minutes.
9. Keep the cake mixture tray in the oven and let it bake for 25 to 30 minutes ( 180 D .cl).
10.Prick the knife end or spoon to make sure it is done. (The mixture does not stick to the spoon).
11. Take out the tray and place it above the oven for at least 10 minutes.

12. Cut Jaggery - Wheat Coco cake and serve with a cup of tea.

Note :

See that the cake mixture is mixed well. You can use 2 to 3 tablespoons of milk and then mix the mixture. Adding any fruits or dry nuts is optional. There is no sugar or butter in the cake. Adding any dry nuts are optional. It adds to the taste. I have added organic jaggery which is very liquid. If you are using normal jaggery powder it and then melt it with a teaspoon of water, sieve it and then use it.
Time : 30 minutes to bake and 10 minutes to prepare
Serve : As you Like. 

Mixed Leaves Spicy Dal

Mixed Leaves spicy Dal is one of the side dish that goes well with almost all the main dishes. It is prepared using 2 to 3 or more types of leaves and dals, like toor/moong/masoor/chana etc. 

I have used the leaves which we got from our home garden (grown in pots) and toor dal. I have added green tamarind chutney/tokku which I got from Dharwad. ( Our daughter in law Vidya's Home town).

Tamarind chutney/tokku is home prepared, using unripe tamarind, green chilly, roasted methi seeds and salt. Tokku taste so yummy and it goes well with hot rice and ghee, or adding to any dal preparation even I have tried Tamarind Tokku vegetable rice.    

Let us see some benefits of eating  tamarind in our diet.

Tamarind helps to reduce inflammation in our body. It helps to improve eye health, boost respiratory health and helps to heal skin conditions. It is good for digestive system. It relieve pains and strengthen our immune system. It helps to lower the cholesterol and good for kids since it fight against the worms in kids stomach. Tamarind is rich source of dietary fiber. It helps in easing constipation problems. It is rich in Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Vitamin B, Calcium, Iron, Phosphorous, Potassium, Manganese. It is rich in antioxidants and anti inflammatory properties.

As I said I have used our home grown Palk, Dil Leaves and very little basale /Malabar Leaves.

No Onion OR No Garlic is used in this " Mixed Leaves Spicy Dal".

Let us see the recipe Now : 

Ingredients : 

To Cook :

Dil Leaves : 1 Small Bundle

Palak : 1 Small Bundle

Malabar Leaves/Basale Leaves : One Handful 

Toor Dal : 1/Cup 

To Add :

Dry ginger powder : 1/2 Teaspoon

Tamarind Chutney /Tokku : 1 Teaspoon

Crushed pepper pods : 4 to 5 

Salt : As Required 

Coriander leaves : 2 Tablespoons

Butter/Ghee : 1 Teaspoon (Optional).

To Season : 

Cooking Oil : 1 Teaspoon

Mustard Seeds : 1 Teaspoon

Jeera : 1/2 Teaspoon

Green chilly : 2 to 3 

Curry Leaves : 6 to 8 or little more

Ingh/Asafoetida : A little 

Method : 

1. Clean and Wash all the leaves nicely and cut into small pieces.

2. Pressure cook it for 6 to 8 minutes.

3. Wash dal and pressure cook separately.

4. Wash and slit green chilly and cut coriander leaves.

5. Keep a big pan and put cooked leaves and dal together.

6. Add turmeric powder and salt.

7. Add dry ginger powder and pepper pods.

8. Add tamarind chutney/tokku. Stir slowly and mix it well. Let it boil for 2 to 3 minutes.

9. Keep a pan and prepared mustard, jeera seasoning. Add slit green chilly and fry it nicely.

10. Add ingh and curry leaves to seasoning and add this seasoning to Mixed Leaves Spicy Dal.

11. Boil it for another 3 to 4 minutes. Shift it to the serving bowl.

12. Serve with your choice of main dish.

Note :

Cooking leaves in pressure cooker helps them to be soft. It can be cooked without using pressure cooker. (Optional). Use of onions and garlic is optional. ( I have not used). You can use tamarind pulp instead of tamarind chutney/tokku. Taste differs. Adding a teaspoon of butter/ghee to Mixed Spicy Dal taste better. (Optional). Use of more/less chilly is optional. 

Time : 30 Minutes.

Serves : 3 to 4.