Carrot Lassi

Carrot Lassi /Butter milk helps to cool our body and take care during the summer season.
It is a good filling and energy providing drink. Carrot lassi helps to keep us fit during fasting /Maha Shivaratri Upavas and Ekadashi Upavas. It provides energy and good for people who are into diet.

Carrot Lassi is one of the healthy lassi which provides vitamin and minerals to our body.. I have used carrot, banana, honey and a tablespoon of curd. Curd helps to cool the body and adds taste .This Lasso helps the body to be cool and quench our thirst in all the seasons.

Ingredients :

Carrot : Medium size : 1
Banana : ( Small size ) : 1
Honey : 2 to 3 Tablespoons
Milk : 1/2 Cup
Curd : 2 Tablespoons
Ice cubes : ( Optional).

Method :

1. Wash and scrape out the outer layer of carrot. Grate or cut into small pieces.

2. Grind the cut carrot in a mixi jar /Liquidizer with 1 glass of water. Let it churn nicely.

3. Remove the juice in a big bowl. Sieve it to another bowl.

4. Now add banana and 1/2 cup of milk and grind it again nicely. Add curd and honey and churn for 2 to 3 minutes.

5. Shift the Lassi  to serving bowl .

6.  Put Carrot Lassi to serving glasses and serve. Add ice cubes just before serving. ( Optional ).

Note : 

You can grate carrot or use a chopper to cut carrot into very small pieces. Grind it nicely with water. Adding jaggery or sugar is optional. I have added honey. 

Time : 10 Minutes.                   
                                                Watch the video to prepare carrot Lassi 

Serves : 2.

Tava Fried Pumpkin Flower Fritter.

Pumpkin Flower Fritter is an old and traditional dish that goes well with South Indian Meal.

We normally have  Papads, fried pakodas or bajji as one of the side munch while having our lunch or dinner. It is nice to have these crunchy bites. Here I have prepared fritters from Pumpkin flowers.
We have put pumpkin creeper in our garden. The plant is growing very nicely but not much of buds attached to flowers. These flowers dry up soon and fall off. The idea is to use the flowers when it blossoms and have the good nutrition from the flowers.
I have used rava, rasam powder, jeera/cumin seeds and salt. No tamarind or tamarind pulp is used here.
This is one of the easy and quick dish that goes  perfect with your rice and sambar or any curry. This is one of the Udupi dish and normally done with patrode batter.
Let us see the recipe now :

Things Needed :

Pumpkin flowers : 6 to 8
Rava/Semolina /Sooji : Medium sized : 1/2 Cup
Rasam /Sambar Powder : 1 Tablespoon
Salt : As required
Jeera/Cumin Seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon
Turmeric Powder : A pinch
Cooking Oil : 2 Tablespoons.

Method :

1. Wash and clean Pumpkin Flowers.

2. Put 2 to 3 tablespoons of medium or chiroti rava, required salt, rasam powder, turmeric powder and jeera in a big bowl.

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

4. Keep a pan on the fire and heat. Add a tablespoon of oil.
5. Dip flower pieces in rava batter and place them on the tava. Sprinkle some oil on the top and cover.

6. Cook on medium and low flame. Turn the other side and cook for a minute.

7. Pumpkin flower fritter is ready to serve.

Note :

Let the batter be bit thick, like idli batter. Adding more rasam powder/chilli powder/sambar powder is optional. Adding more oil while cooking is optional. I have used red pumpkin flowers. You can use Ash gourd flowers also.
Time : 10 Minutes.
Serves : 2 to 3.
Watch :

Flax Seeds - Radish Chutney

Here is Flax Seeds - Radish Chutney. It is yummy, easy, healthy, simple and quick.

Chutney is one of the side dish for many main dishes. We South Canara people are used to eat Plain rice with any spicy chutney and a spoonful of ghee. That taste heavenly and the one who eats this combination of Hot Rice + Spicy Chutney + Ghee will simply agree and will droll again for the same.

Varieties of chutneys can be prepared using different ingredients.
Here I have tried Flax seeds and Mooli/Radish and coconut chutney.

Let us see some benefits of eating Mooli/Radish in our diet.

Radish is fiber rich vegetable and it helps in digestion. It boost immunity and good source of anti oxidant properties. It is one of the good food for people who suffer from piles. It helps to treat urinary infections. Radish is rich in potassium and helps in controlling the blood pressure level in our body.
Radish has a low glycemic index and helps to regulate sugar level in our body. Radish juice helps on the blood sugar level of diabetic patient. Radish is filled with Vitamin C, phosphorus, zinc and Vitamin B complex properties.  They are very good for the skin. The water content in Radish helps to maintain healthy moisture in the skin. Eating radish helps in protecting our kidneys. It is good for treating jaundice. Radish is good for
 liver and stomach. It help in purifying the blood and eliminate toxins and waste. Radish is rich in Vitamin C, potassium, calcium, sodium, folate, magnesium, phosphorus, zinc,  Vitamin B6, Vitamin A and Vitamin K.
Flax seeds - Radish Chutney goes well with idli, dosa, chapati, rotti, plain rice and most of the main dishes. No Onion or Garlic is used in this Flax Seeds - Radish Chutney.
chutney.
Let us see the recipe Now :

Ingredients :

To Fry :
Flax seeds : 1 Tablespoon
Cooking Oil : 1 Teaspoon
Byadagi chilly : Red chilly : 5 to 6
Curry leaves : 8 to 10
Ingh /Asafoetida : A little
To Grind :
Coconut : 1 Cup
Tamarind : 1 Small marble size
Radish : 1
Salt : As required
To Season :
Mustard seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon
Oil : 1 Teaspoon
Curry leaves : 5 to 6
Ingh : A little

Method :

1. Wash and scrape out the outer layer of Radish and cut into circle shape. (Very thin slice).
2. Grate coconut and keep it aside;

3. Keep a small frying pan on the fire and add 1 teaspoon of oil. Add flax seeds and fry till they turn crispy. ( On low flame ).
4. Add red chilly and fry for a minute. Add curry leaves and ingh. Put off the fire. Add cut radish and mix it well. Let the fried ingredients cool.

5.Grind the fried ingredients with a small marble size tamarind. (Add required water while grinding).
Add required salt and churn for a minute.

6. Shift the chutney to a serving dish. Add mustard seeds, curry leaves seasoning with ingh.
7. Serve with the main dish you have prepared.

Note :

Fry flax seeds on low flame. Adding more / less chilly is optional. Adding more coconut is opitional.
No need to fry the mooli / radish much. Add radish pieces at the end and put off the fire.
Serves :2 to 3 
Time : 10 Minutes

Huli Gojju / ಹುಳಿ ಗೊಜ್ಜು :

Huli gojju is a side dish with huggi. Huli gojju is sweet and savoury dish that is a must do dish with Huggi. We, people from Udupi will not cook huggi with lots of jaggery. The sweet taste is normally mild and adding huli gojju adds to the taste and increase your appetite. 

Preparing Huli Gojju is very easy. Soak tamarind in water and squeeze out the pulp. Add required jaggery and a green chilly. Allow it to boil till it gets sticky consistency. Then add a mustard seasoning. Huli gojju is ready to serve or eat. 

Things Needed :

Tamarind : 1 Small Lemon size
Jaggery : 4 to 5 Tablespoons
Salt : As required
Turmeric powder : A little
Green chilly : 1
Ginger : An inch
Pepper Pods : 5 to 6
Coconut Oil : 1 Tablespoon
Mustard seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon
Curry Leaves : 5 to 6
Red chilly : 1 ( Optional )

Method :

1. Wash and soak tamarind in hot water for 10 minutes.
2. Squeeze out the pulp and keep it aside.
3. Keep a pan on the fire and put tamarind pulp, jaggery and salt.
4. Let it boil. Add slit green chilly.

5.Wash and peel off the outer layer of ginger. Wash it again and grate it. Add grated ginger to boiling tamarind pulp. Add crushed pepper.
6. Boil the mixture till it gets sticky consistency.

7. Shift the tamarind - jaggery mixture to a clean bowl.
8. Add seasoned mustard seeds, curry leaves mixture to Huli gojju. /Savoury gojju.

9. Mix it well and add it to huggi when you are serving or eating. Eat huli gojju with sweet huggi.

 Note : 

Do not make the gooju very thick. It should be watery consistency but stick. Adding more jaggery is optional. Use of any cooking oil is optional.
Time 10 Minutes .
Serves : 3 to 4.

Carrot - Capsicum Chutney

Carrot Capsicum Chutney /dip is a simple side dish and it goes well with dosa, idli, upma , plain rice and all types of rotis and naan. It can be used as dip for bajji /fried fritter or can use it for bread sandwich.

It is an easy dish and good for all age group.
Eating fresh coconut is good for health. It helps to keep our skin soft and smooth.
Let us see the recipe now :

Things Needed :

Capsicum : 1 (Medium size)
Carrot : 1 ( Big )
Green chilly : 2 to 3
Fresh grated coconut : 1 Bowl
Tamarind : 1 Small Marble size
Ginger : An inch.
Methi seeds/Fenugrik seeds : 1/4 Teaspoon
Pepper Pods : 3 to 4
Salt : As required
For seasoning :
Coconut Oil : 1 Teaspoon
Mustard seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon
Ingh/Asafoetida : A little
Curry Leaves : 5 to 6

Method :

1. Wash and remove the seeds from capsicum and cut into small pieces.
2. Wash and scrape out the outer layer of carrots and cut into small.
3. Wash and slit green chilly and keep it aside. Wash and remove the outer layer of ginger and wash it again.
4. Wash curry leaves and keep it aside. Grate coconut and keep it aside.

5. Keep a pan on the fire and heat. Add coconut oil, pepper pods and methi seeds. Fry till they turn golden brown.

6. Add cut carrots, capsicum, ginger and chilly.. Fry for 1 to 2 minutes.
7. Put off the fire and add grated coconut and tamarind.

8. Grind it with required water and salt. ( Add water little by little).
9. Grind it til it turn as required consistency and remove from the mixi jar.

10. Add coconut oil, mustard seeds, ingh and curry leaves seasoning and serve.

Note :

Slightly frying the vegetables adds taste. Grinding chutney either coarse or into fine paste is optional.
Use of more / less coconut is optional. Use of more /less chilly is optional.
Time : 10 Minutes.
Serves : 2 to 3 

Channa Dal - Mango Fruit Chutney

Channa dal chutney is one of the traditional side dish. Here I have used mango fruit pulp instead of tamarind.

Channa dal chutney is prepared from ages. When guest arrives without notice or if the side dishes turns shortage in the night or when your tongue wants some yummy spicy chutney this channa dal chutney comes to in hand. It is very easy, tasty and simple chutney.
We can have channa dal chutney with plain hot rice and a spoon of fresh ghee. It goes well  with idli, dosa, chapatis or any type of roti or rotti. This chutney serves the purpose of dips, sides for pakodas, fried fritters and on bread spread.
I have used channa dal, red byadagi chilly, mango pulp and coconut.

No onion or garlic Recipe

Let us see the recipe now :

Ingredients :

Channa Dal : 1 Tablespoon
Red byadagi chilly : 3 to 4
Curry leaves : 6 to 8
Ingh/Asafoetida : A pinch
Coconut : 1 Cup
Mango pulp : 1 wild mango pulp
Salt : As required
For Seasoning :
Coconut Oil : 1 Teaspoon
Mustard seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon
Ingh/Asafoetida : A pinch
Curry leaves : 5 to 6

Method :

1. Wash and squeeze out the mango pulp

2. Grate coconut and keep it aside.
3. Keep a pan on the fire and heat. Add a teaspoon of coconut oil.
4. Add a tablespoon of channa dal and fry on low flame.

5. Add byadagi chilly and fry with channa dal. Let channa dal turn slightly golden brown.
6. Put off the fire and add curry leaves and ingh. Let all the ingredients get cool.
7. Grind it with mango pulp, fresh coconut, salt  and required water. Grind it till it gets paste consistency.

8. Remove it from mixi jar to a bowl.
9. Season with coconut oil, mustard seeds, 1 red chilly, curry leaves and ingh.
10. Channa Dal - Mango Fruit Chutney is ready to serve.

Note :

Do not over fry dal. Chutney turns bitter. Adding more / less chilly is optional. Adding tamarind instead of mango pulp is optional. Use of more coconut adds to the taste.
Time : 10 Minutes
Serves : 2 to 3.