Monday, September 30, 2019

Channa Dal -Carrot Vada/Vade

Channa Dal Vada /Ambode / Masala Vade is well known fried fritter, that most of us like to have with a cup of coffee /tea/juice or with lunch. It is  a good snack for the evening with a cup of Chai /Tea or Coffee.


Channa dal vada is prepared using Channa dal as main and the other ingredients like onions, coriander, curry leaves, ginger and some time add some leaves like methi, dil etc.
Here I have tried this Masla Vada with carrots and no onions are used here.
These Masala Vada can be prepared during festivals, feast since they have no onion or garlic added.
Yummy Vadas are crispy outside and soft inside, with mild spicy you can enjoy them thoroughly.
Let us see the recipe now :

Ingredients needed :

Chana dal : 1 1/2 Cup
Carrots : 1 Big One
Jeera /Cumin seeds : 1/2 Tsp
Green chilly : 2 to 3
Ginger : An inch
Coriander leaves : 1 Handful
Curry leaves : 8 to 10
Salt : As required
Coconut : 2 to 3 Tablespoons
Cooking Oil : 1 Cup


Method :

1. Soak Channa dal for an hour and remove the water completely Grind it coarsely. Use of water should be very little while grinding.


2. Wash and dry grind curry leaves, green chilly, grated ginger and coriander leaves with coconut pieces.

3. Take a bowl, add ground channa dal, ground chilly mixture and salt
Grate carrot and add it to ground mixture. Mix all the ingredients nicely.


4. Keep a pan on the fire and add oil. Let it get hot.
5. Take a small portion of the ground mixture pat slightly and put it in the hot oil and fry.


6. Let it turn golden brown. Turn the other side and cook the same way.


7. Take out the fried Masala Vada from oil and then put it on the tissue.


8. Repeat the same with remaining Mixture and prepare Masala Vada.
9. Hot Masala Vada is ready to eat or serve.


10.We had it with our lunch.

Note : 

Do not grind into paste consistency. It should be coarse consistency. Do not add so much water while grinding. Vadas might turn soft like bondas and taste might differ. Cook on medium hot oil.
Time : 30 to 40 minutes.
Serves : 20 Vadas can be prepared.

Thursday, September 26, 2019

Walnuts-Ragi - dates - Almonds Laddu

Laddus / Unde /Laadu is one of the best sweet and these Walnuts -Ragi-Dates - Almonds are the yummy laddu which is loaded with nutritious and health properties. These laddus can be eaten with breakfast and is full of vitamins and minerals.


I have used little almonds, 3 to 4 figs, a fistful of raisins, 1 bowl of walnuts (200 gr), a pack of dates.

Dates are smashed with fistful of raisins and mixed with powdered other ingredients.
No cooking on fire here. Just dry grind it and mix it well. See that dates are well ripen and it can be smashed easily.
These laddu can be eaten with breakfast, send it to kids snack box, picnics, ladies kitty party, one dish party, travelling, tours etc.
Let us see the recipe now :

Ingredients :

Dry roast :
Ragi/Finger Milelt : 1 Cup
Poppy Seeds : 2 Tbs

To Dry grind :
Badam /Almonds : 10 to 15
Walnuts : 200 grams
Figs : 4 to 5
Cardamom : 5 to 6

To Add :
Dates : 500 Gr
Raisins : 1 Small cup /1 fistful

Method :

1. Dry roast ragi/finger millet and poppy seeds. Let it cool.


2. Dry grind walnuts, almonds, cardamoms and figs.



3. Remove the seeds from dates.
4. Take a big bowl and add dates and raisins.


5. Smash it nicely and add powdered almonds mixture, walnuts powder and mix it well.


6. Add dry roasted ragi/finger millet and poppy seeds.
7. Mix all the ingredients nicely and take a small portion of the mixture.


8. Prepare laddu by pressing the mixture in your palm.


9. Laddu is ready to serve.




Note :

Do not add any water while preparing Laddu. You can add little ghee. (I have not added).
Walnuts helps to hold the powder tightly. Dates provide the moisture content.
Time : 35 to 40 Minutes
Shelf life : 1 Week or little more days.
Serves : 35 to 40 Laddus. (The size should be small).

Thursday, September 19, 2019

Mangalore Southekai Majjige Huli/Curd Curry

Mangalore Southekai/Mangalore cucumber/Sambar Southekai is one of the healthy cucumber that we can use it in our curries, dosas, idli and chutney etc. Here I have prepared Majjige Huli/ Curd Curry.

This particular southe Kai is from our pot garden, which has grown so nicely and I am happy to write about the dish from Southekai that I have prepared traditionally. Majjige huli/Moru kolambu/Curd Curry.
Majjige Huli is one of the famous dish from South Canara. Majjige means butter milk and Huli is curry. This dish used to be prepared from my doddamma in ooru Udyavara. Udyavara means a loving place to me. I have so many childhood memories in my Doddamma house.
I stayed with doddamma /Amma's elder sister, when I was 1 1/2 years old. She used to take me where ever she goes. Holding her hands I learnt to walk properly. She was the guide, mentor, mother and a god mother. Southe Kai / Cucumber always makes me to turn back and just think the time I spent there and memories starts to unfold and peeps into the mind. My doddamma and doddappa used to grow lots of vegetables in their land. There were enough Southekai stored for the rainy days. There were no vegetables available during the rainy days. The rains used to pour continuously and no chance of growing any thing except the grass. That too not in two to three months like May, june july even in August it was very very difficult to go out. So the home grown Southekai, Pumpkins, Ash gourd were used in the rainy days. Those were the days, bundle of joy, just beautiful yesterdays.
Now coming back to Majjige huli which is done with Mangalore Southekai is a traditional curd curry.
It is mild, yummy and healthy.
No Onion or No Garlic is used in this Southekai.
I am very happy to note that this Southekai is from Our home garden.


Let us see the recipe now : 

Things Needed :

To Cook :
Southekai /Mangalore Cucumber : 1 (Medium sized)
To Grind :
Fresh Coconut : 1 Cup /6 to 8 Tbs full
Soaked Moong dal : 1/2 Teaspoon
To Add :
Ground coconut mixture
Green chilly : 2
Curd : 1 Cup
Salt : As required
Seasoning :
Coconut Oil : 1 Teaspoon
Methi seeds : 3 to 4
Curry Leaves : 5 to 6
Jeera/Cumin Seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon
Majjige Menasu/Sandige Menasu : 2

Method :

1. Wash and peel off the skin of Southekai/Mangalore Cucumber  and cut into pieces. Soak in plain water for 5 minutes. It removes the bitter taste if any.

2. Cook with required water till it is soft.


3. Soak 1/2 tsp of moong dal for 5 minutes.
4. Grate coconut and grind it with soaked moong dal. Use required water to grind.


5. Remove it from the mixi jar to a bowl and keep it aside.


6. Now keep a pan and add cooked southekai, required salt and little water. Let it boil.
7. Add ground mixture and mix it well. Let it boil nicely. Add 2 slit green chilly to it.


8. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes and shift the curry to another bowl.


9. Let it cool a bit. Add curd and mix it.


10. Season 3 to 4 methi seeds, 2 Sandige Menasu and jeera. Let Sandige menasu fry nicely in oil.
11. Add curry leaves and put this seasoning to curd curry.

12. Serve as one of the side dish for lunch or dinner. It is nice to eat with chapatis, poori, dosa and idli.

Note :

Southekai pieces should be cooked well to relish them. Do not add curd while the curry is piping  hot. Curd gets curdle. Adding Sandige menasu is optional. You can add red byadagi chilly instead of Sandige Menasu. Sandige menasu adds to the taste. Adding soaked moong dal helps the curry to intact. Adding curd while the curry is boiling makes the curry watery. It separates the gravy and the vegetable.
Time : 30 Minutes
Serves : 4 to 5 

Sandige Menasu/ Sun dried green chilly. :

Wash and slit green chilly and fill roasted methi powder and little salt.
Prepare butter milk and add little salt. Soak the slit green chilly over night in this butter milk and sun dry . Repeat soaking the dried chilly again in the same butter milk. (Over night). Morning remove the chilly and dry it in Sun. It should be done repeatedly at least 4 to 5 days. Then dry it continuously for 4 to 5 days. Store it in a airtight box or bottle. You can use it as Sandige/papad type for curd rice or while eating curd and rice. You can also season this for any curd curry, Avials even raw pachidis. prepared during the sunny days.

Tuesday, September 17, 2019

Spring Onion Mixed Flour Chapati

Spring Onion Mixed flour Chapati has turned so well and the taste was good. So give a try and enjoy some yum spring onion chapatis.


I have used wheat flour, ragi /finger millet flour, little garam masala powder, chilly powder and jeera powder.
These Spring Onions are grown in our pot nicely and I am happy for getting home grown spring onions.\
Let us know about the benefits of using Spring Onions in our diet.

Spring Onions are good source of Vitamin C and Calcium. They ar rich in dietary fiber and Vitamins A and B6, iron and minerals like copper, phosphorous, potassium and manganese. They are rich in antioxidant and anti fungal properties. They help in balancing cholesterol level in our body.
Let us see the recipe Now :

Ingredients :

Wheat flour : 2 Cups
Ragi/Finger Milellet flour : 2 Cups
Spring Onions : 1 Bowl (1 small bundle).
Jeera Powder /cumin seeds powder : 1/2 tsp
Garam Masala Powder : 1/2 tsp
Salt : As required
Ghee : 2 Tsps
Oil : 3 to 4 Tablespoons

Method :

1. Wash and cut spring onion leaves and the bulbbs into small.



2. Take a big bowl and add wheat flour, Ragi flour, salt, garam masala powder, jeera powder and  ghee.
3. Add cut spring onion and mix it nicely. Add required water and prepare dough.


4. Kneed the dough well and divide into small portions.


5. Take a small portion of the dough and roll into chapati.


6. Keep a pan on the fire and heat. Put rolled chapati on hot tava and cook.
7. Sprinkle some oil on the top. Turn the other side and cook for a minute.


8. Now Spring onion Chapatis are ready to serve.


9. Repeat the same with remaining chapatis.


10. Serve Mixed flour Chapatis with the side dish of your choice.

Note :

Cut spring onions into small pieces. Adding more ragi flour is optional. 2 cups Rag flour and 1 cup wheat flour.
Adding more ghee is optional. No need to fry the leaves. It adds to the taste and good for health too.
Adding more spice is optional.
Use of ghee while cooking chapatis is optional.
Time : 30 Minutes
Serves : 3 to 4 .


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About

author
My name is Nalini Somayaji. Teaching is my profession. Cooking is my passion. Reading, travelling, visiting new places, having fun with kids are some of the hobbies I can say. My recipes are Healthy, quick, easy and simple. Grown up being a traditional family member I love and respect Indian culture and traditions. Love classical dance and music.
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