Onion Sasive

Sasive is mustard seeds. We have varieties of dishes which are used and prepared with mustard seeds. Here is a simple and quick recipe that goes well with almost all main dishes and You will love to eat as one of the side dish.

When you are just tired and do not want to go out for buying vegetables or want to have simple meal you can try this and enjoy your food.
I have used onions, mustard seeds, fresh coconut and tamarind.
Let us see the recipe now :

Things Needed :

Fresh coconut : 1Cup
Onions : 1 (Medium sized).
Tamarind : 1/2 Marble size
Mustard seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon
Ingh : A pinch
Salt : As required
For Seasoning :
Coconut Oil : 1 Teaspoon
Mustard seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon
Ingh : A pinch
Curry Leaves : 5 to 6 leaves

Method :

1. Remove the outer layer of onions and cut into big pieces. Keep it aside.
2. Grate coconut and grind it with  4 to 5 byadagi chilly, 1/2 teaspoon of mustard seeds, tamarind, required salt and cut onions.

3. Add required water to grind. Grind it nicely and remove it from the mixi jar to a serving dish.

4. Add coconut oil seasoning with mustard seeds, ingh and curry leaves.
5. " Onion Sasive " is ready to serve.

Note :

Use of byadagi chilly is optional. It not only adds to the taste, it adds good colour to chutney.
You can also cut onions into very thin pieces and add it sasive mixture. It taste differ.
Use of coconut oil is optional. Do not add more or big onion to grind. It does not taste good.
Time : 10 Minutes
Serves : 2 to 3 .

Shanka Pushpa - Lemon Juice.

Shanka Pusha is a flower. I have used this flower and prepared lemon juice. This flower adds natural colour to water when it is slightly boiled.

Shanka Pushpa is known as clitora tematee, commonly known as Asian Pigeonwings. It is also known as bluebell vine or blue pea, butterfly pea, condofan pea and Darwin pea. This plant species belongs to the fabaceae family. The latin name of this genus is " Clitoria ", from clitoris.
Since this flower gives out the natural colour and it is used in many dishes mainly in Asian Countries.
I first tasted the juice that prepared by my sister in Udyavar. She added lemon and was too good.
Then I saw Shri Kripa one of the FOODIE group admini putting up the pic of the juice.
I brought this plant seeds from Udyavar and planted it in a pot. It did not come up. One day I suddenly noticed a flower that grew by the side of the compound wall on the terrace. Saw the plant in a mud bag and removed the plant and replanted it in a pot. For my bad luck the plant died. I brought some more seeds in my next visit to sister's house and planted it in a pot. It has come out nicely and Here we go  :)  me a happy person to see the plant growing and flowering.

Let us see some benefits of Flower Shanka Pushpa.
Shanka Pushpa plant is known for years for their healthy properties in them. They are used in Ayurvedic medicines from ages. They are good for hypertension. They contain the properties that are good for control the production of body's stress hormones and helps in reducing anxiety and stress.
They are the good remedy for improving memory power. The plant has anti -ulcer properties and is very good for fighting against any type of ulcer which is formed in the body. It also helps to improve the nerve tissue. Shanka Pushpa herb helps and controls cholesterol level in our blood. They help in flushing out the fatty acids which are harmful to our body.

Note : One who is suffering from hypertension and low blood pressure must consult the doctor and get his advise. Since it has a quality of decreasing the blood pressure level it might cause problems.
I have used this flower for preparing the juice and added jaggery which turned its colour slightly golden and the other time I used salt and very little sugar. It was ok with  less sugar and good too
Let us see the recipe now :

Ingredients :

Shanka Pushpa flowers : 5 to 6
Water : 2 Glasses
Jaggery /Sugar  : As your requirement.
Salt : A pinch

Method :

1. Wash Shanka Pushpa flowers nicely and separate the petals.

2. Keep water for boiling. Add Shanka Pushpa flower petals.
3. Let the water boil. The flowers start leaving their colours and the water turns colourful.

4. Put off the gas and sieve boiled water. Throw away the remained flower pieces.
5. Let the water turn cool.

6. Wash and squeeze out the lemon extract to the bowl. ( 1 to 1 1/2 lemon extract).

7. Add a pinch of salt and required sugar. Mix it well.

  8. The healthy drink is ready to serve. Serve the juices that you have prepared.

Note :

Let the water boil nicely. Clean the flower nicely so that no harmful worms go off.
Adding sugar /jaggery / or honey is your choice. I have used Kama Kastorri seeds which I collected from our home garden. Using these seeds helps to cool the body and mind safe and cool.
I have added some kamakasturi seeds/sabja seeds. Remove the husk nicely and clean it. Soak the seeds in little water. Add this water to the juice. Using Sabja seeds helps to cool the body.

Time : 10 Minutes.
Serves : 2 to 3  (According to the requirement).
Shanka Pushpa Juice with Jaggery
Followed the same above mentioned method. The change is, used jaggery instead of sugar.

Easy Avalakki

Avalakki/Poha/Aval is a handy ingredients and you can do varieties of dishes. I have tried this easy avalakki and it is nice to have it at any time of the day.

I have used very simple ingredients like Avalakki (organic and brown/not removed the husk completely or unpolished). Ground nuts, green chilly and little coconut.
It is an easy dish and goes well with a cup of coffee/tea/juice or it can be eaten with curd.
It is good to take for travel too.
Let us see the recipe now :

Things Needed :

Avalakki/Poha/Aval : Thin variety : 2 Cups
Green chilly : 1
Roasted chenna/Hurikadale : 1 Tablespoon
Ground Nuts : 2 to 3 Tablespoons
Coconut Oil : 1 Tablespoon
Mustard seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon
Urid dal : 1/2 Teaspoon
Salt : As required
Coconut /Dry coconut/Copra : 2 to 3 Tablespoons

Method : 

1. Clean avalakki and keep it aside.
2. Grate coconut and keep it aside.
3. Wash curry leaves and green chilly , cut into small and keep it aside.
4. Now keep a pan on the fire and heat. Add oil, mustard seeds and urid dal.
5. Let mustard seeds splutter. Add curry leaves and cut green chilly. Fry for a while.
6. Add ground nuts and fry till they turn golden brown. Add roasted chenna and stir once, add avalakki fry for 1 minute.

7. Put off the gas, add required salt and let the fried avalakki stay in pan till it turns cool.

8. Add grated fresh coconut once avalakki is cool and serve with a cup of coffee/tea.

Note : 

You can add little sugar or jaggery while frying avalakki. You can also add a pinch of turmeric powder to the mixture. Adding any other spice like chat masala, garam masala powder or mango powder is optional. You can also add cut onions while serving. (Optional). You can add cut dry coconut if you using this avalakki for travelling.
Time 10 Minutes
Serves : 2 to 3
Tip :Drying avalakki in sun for 1 to 2 days will help the avalakki to stay without any worms or insects.

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.