Toor Dal - Ondelaga Chutney

Toor dal - Ondelaga Chutney is a side dish that goes well with most of the main dishes. We had this Toor Dal - Ondelaga chutney for lunch.

Ondelaga/Gotukola is used as culinary vegetable and it is a medicinal herb plant. 

I have used Toor dal, red byadagi chilly, ingh/Asafoetida, curry leaves, tamarind pulp and fresh coconut gratings.

Let us see some benefits of eating Ondelaga/Gotukola leaves in our diet.

The plant yield only one leaf in its stem so that it is called as Ondelaga. (One leaf). 

It is used as a culinary vegetable and as a medicinal herb. It is known a Mandukaparni In Sanskrit. It is in the shape of frog so that it got its name as Mandukaparni.
People call it as Brahmi also because it is loaded with medicinal values.
Its known as Ondelaga in Kannada/Karnataka.
Saraswathi Aku in Telugu/Andra pradesh.
Vallari Keerai in Tamil/Tamilnaadu
Karivan or Karivana in Marati /Maharasthtra
Kandha Brahmi in Gujrati /Gujarat
Thulkudi in Bengali /Bengal
Bengsag and Brahmi in Hindi

It helps in good relief for pains. It boost cognitive function.
 Ondelaga helps in reducing anxiety and stress. It helps in controlling the blood sugar level.
It also helps in reducing the swelling and improve the circulation of blood.
Gotukola is rich in anti inflammatory properties and helps to reduce the joint pains and arthritis.
It is good for memory power. It is good for our skin health and hair health.
Gotukola helps to detoxify our body and keeps us in good health
It is good for blood pressure since it helps in controlling the blood pressure level by decreasing the tension and anxiety in our body.
It is good for digestive disorders, helps in strengthening nervous function and memory power in us.
Let us see the recipe Now :
Do Not Fry the leaves when you cook. It looses its healthy benefits when it is cooked. It should be added at the end of the process of cooking.

Ingredients :
Ondelaga Leaves : 1 Handful
Toor Dal : 1 Tbs
Oil : 1/2  Tsps
Tamarind : Small marble size
Byadagi chilly : 4 to 5
Ingh /Asafoetida : A little
Salt : As required
Coconut : 1 Cup
To Season :
Oil : 1 Tsp
Mustard seeds : 1/2 Tsp
Ingh : A little
Curry Leaves : 5 to 6

Method : 

1. Keep a small frying pan on the fire and heat. Add half tsp of oil, 1 tablespoon of toor dal.
2. Add 4 to 5 byadagi chilly and fry nicely till toor daal turns as golden red.
3. Add little ingh and put off the fire.

4. Add a handful of ONDELAGA leaves and mix it well. Keep it aside.

5. Soak little tamarind in warm water for 5 minutes and squeeze out the pulp. Keep the pulp aside.

6. Grate coconut and grind it with fried mixture, tamarind pulp, salt. Add water if required while grinding.
7. Take it out from the mixi jar and put it to a serving dish.

8. Add mustard seeds seasoning with little ingh and curry leaves.

9. Toor dal - Ondelaga Chutney is ready to serve.

10. Enjoy Toor Dal - Ondelaga Chutney with your food.

Note :

Fry dal till it turns golden brown. You should be careful while adding water if required.
Adding more chilly is optional.
Use or more coconut is optional.
Time : 15 to 20 Minutes.
Serves : 3 to 4 .

Quick Paneer Bites

Paneer is a milk solid and is filled with proteins. I have prepared quick bites using Nandini
Paneer. It is an easy, quick, simple and healthy bite.

I have used Nandini Paneer, chilly powder, jeera powder, garam masala and chat masala. Added a teaspoon of curd and mixed the spices and rolled the paneer pieces in spice mixture. Left that for rest for 10 minutes.

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

Cottage cheese /Paneer is rich in protein. It helps to strengthen our bones and teeth. It is good for improving our digestion. It also maintains the blood sugar levels in our body. It is a rich source of proteins, magnesium and folate.
Let us see the recipe Now :

Ingredients :

Paneer : 250 Gr.
Curd /Yogurt : 1 Tablespoon
Chilly Powder : 1/2 Tsp
Pepper : Crushed : 2 to 3 pods
Garam Masala powder : 1/4 Tsp
Jeera /Cumin Seeds : 1/2 Tsp
Chat Masala powder : 1/4 Tsp
Salt : As required
Cooking Oil : 2 Tbs

Method :

1. Cut Paneer into desired shape and size.

2. Take a big bowl and Put curd, salt, garam masala, chilly powder, Crushed pepper and jeera.
3. Mix all the ingredients nicely and add paneer. Slowly stir and leave it for 5 to 10 minutes.

4. Keep a pan on the fire and heat. Add a teaspoon of oil and place paneer one by on hot tava.
5. Sprinkle some oil on top and by the sides. Cook on both sides on medium flame.

6. Shift it to a serving dish and sprinkle some chat masala on top and serve.

Note :

You can add more spices of your choice. I do prepare dishes with mild spices. You should cook on both sides till golden brown. Cook on medium flame. Cooking the whole process on low flame will turn Paneer hard. Adding more oil is optional.
Time 20 Minutes. : All together.
Serves : 2 to 3.

Elemuri /Elemuni Soppu Tambuli

Elemuni / Elemuri/Elevarige ಎಲೆಮುನಿ ಅಥವಾ ಎಲೆಮುರಿ ಸೊಪ್ಪು are loaded with medicinal values and it is good to have in our diet.

I got these leaves from one of my relative who has the plant.
The botanical name for this plant is known as Senna accidentalis or Casia accidentalis.
I tried Tambuli and Chutney, using these leaves and it is an excellent herb dish. It goes well with plain rice. (Tambuli) and chutney can be served with chapatis, rotis, rotti or any other main dishes.
Tambuli is prepared using curd or butter milk. It is one of the signature dish from Udupi and served in the beginning of the lunch. Tambuli is mixed with rice. It helps to digest the food well and keeps you healthy.
Tambuli is prepared using very simple healthy spices like jeera/cumin seeds, pepper, ingh and fresh coconut.
Let us see the recipe of Tambuli here.

Ingredients :

To Fry :
Ghee : 1/2 Tsp
Jeera / Cumin Seeds : 1/2 Tsp
Pepper Pods : 5 to 6
Green chilly : 1
Coconut : 2 Tbs
Ingh/Asafoetida : A little
Elemuri leaves : 1 Handful
To Add :
Curd :  3 to 4 Tbs
Salt : Required Salt.
To Season :
Ghee : 1/2 Tsp
Jeera/Cumin Seeds : 1/2 Tsp
Asafoetida : A pinch
Curry Leaves : 3 to 4

Method :

1. Pull out the leaves from the stick.

2. Wash it nicely and keep it aside. Wash curry leaves and a green chilly.

3. Grate coconut and keep it aside.
4. Keep a pan on the fire and heat. Add ghee, jeera and pepper pods.
5. Fry for 10 seconds. Add green chilly and curry leaves. Fry a little. Add ingh.

6. Add Elemuri leaves and fry nicely till they turn crisp. ( On low and medium flame, do not burn).

7. Put off the fire and add coconut. Mix all the ingredients well.
8. Grind it with little water once the ingredients are cooled down.

9.Shift it to a serving dish. Add salt.

10. Add 1/2 Cup of curd. ( 4 to 5 tbs). Mix it well.

11. Add jeera and curry leaves seasoned with ingh and ghee.

12. Serve as one of the side dish with lunch.

Note :
One should use tender Elemuri /Elemuni/Elevarige Leaves. Use fresh leaves.
Tamubuli should be mild. Having Fresh coconut is always good for health. It is rich in good cholesterol and contain healthy properties.
Tambuli can be added with water and can be served as healthy drink.
Time : 20 Minutes 
Serves : 3 to 4 .
 Prepared Chapatis using this Elemuni Soppu Tambuli.

Sweet and Spicy Tamarind Gojju

Sweet and Spicy Gojju is prepared with Huggi. This is one of the traditional dish from Udupi, especially my doddamma's house. Udupi people do not make the Huggi very sweet. It is with mild sweet and Sweet and Spicy Tamarind Gojju is used as side dish and it is one of the must dish done with Huggi.

Huggi is prepared normally during the month of Dhanurmasa. Dhanurmasa starts from December 14 or 15 and ends at Makara Sankranthi. Makara Sankranthi is also known as Uttarayana Punyakala, since The Sun moves towards the north a bit.
December is normally winter season and weather is chill. The body has to be kept warm and this gojju, huggi jaggery helps to keep the body warm and energetic. A little pepper pods are crushed and used and a green chilly. (Optional).
Let us see the recipe now :

Things Needed :

Tamarind : A big marble size
Jaggery : 3 to 4 Tablespoons
Pepper Pods : 4 to 5
Salt : As required

Seasoning :

Coconut Oil : 1 Tbs
Mustard Seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon
Ingh /Asafoetida : A little
Curry Leaves : 6 to 8
Green chilly : 1

Method :

1. Soak Tamarind in 1/2 cup of hot water for 5 minutes and squeeze out the pulp.

2. Clean jaggery and keep it aside. / Melt jaggery completely and sieve it to a bowl.

3. Now keep a pan on fire and put coconut oil.
4. Add mustard seeds and let it splutter. Add ingh, curry leaves and slit green chilly.
5. Add tamarind pulp and cleaned jaggery to it. Add required salt. Mix it well.
6. Add crushed pepper and a pinch of turmeric powder.

7. Let it boil nicely for 3 to 4 minutes. Let it get bit thick. (Not much).

8. Shift it to a serving dish and serve with Huggi.

Note :

Huggi is mild sweet dish prepared using moong dal, raw rice, little jaggery with fresh coconut.
Huggi and Sweet and Spicy Tamarind Gojju goes well with Huggi. It is not only satisfy your taste, helps in keeping your health in good condition. During the winter eating sweet and spice (Jaggery and pepper) is good to take away the cold from our body. Put some water to jaggery and boil. Let it completely melt. Sieve jaggery  and then use sieved jaggery. (Better to clean the jaggery before using.
Adding more chilly is not necessary.
Time : 20 Minutes
Serves : 2 to 3 .

Easy and Quick Dal

Easy and Quick Dal is one of the easiest way of cooking dal. It is filled with leaves, dal, spices and tomatoes.

I have put every thing together and cooked in pressure cooker.
This recipe has been told by Geetha Bangalore Upendra and It is packed with vitamins, minerals and proteins.
Then smashed everything together and added seasoning with mustard seeds and ingh/asafoetida.
Let us see this recipe now :

Things Needed :

Toor dal : 1/2 Cup
Tomatoes : 2
Palak /Spinach leaves : 1 Bundle (small).
Ginger : An inch
Coriander Seeds : 1/4 Teaspoon
Green chilly : 2
Salt : As required
Seasoning :
Mustard seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon
Coconut Oil : 1 Tbs
Ingh /Asafoetida : A little
Curry leaves : 5 to 6 Leaves

Method :

1. Wash and cut palak or your choice of leaves or mixed leaves.
2. Wash and remove the outer layer of ginger and wash it again. Grate it and keep it aside.
3. Wash and cut tomatoes and keep it aside.
4. Wash toor dal and put it in a pressure cooker. Add cut palak, grated ginger, cut tomatoes.
5. Add coriander seeds and  slit green chilly.
6. Add required water and pressure cook for 5 to 6 minutes. Put off the fire and let it cool.
7. Take out the cooked mixture and  churn once in a mixi jar.
8. Keep a pan on the fire and add coconut oil. Add mustard seeds.
9. Add little ingh. Let mustard seeds splutter. Add curry leaves.
10 . Add churned dal - leaves mixture and cook. Add required salt and mix it well.
11. Yummy dal is ready to serve.

12. Shift it to a serving dish and serve as one of the side dish.

Note :

Adding more chilly is optional. Use of any cooking oil is optional. Let cooked dal - leaves mixture cool completely. Just give a churn to get the full benefits.
Time : 20 Minutes.
Serves : 2 to 3 .

Horse Gram & Cucumber Chutney

Horse Gram & Cucumber Chutney is one of the yummy dish that I tried recently. It is the combination of Horse gram and cucumber goes well and you get yummy chutney.

I have used Horse gram, mangalore cucumber, red byadagi chilly, ingh/asafoetida and coconut.
Let us see the recipe now "

Things needed 

Horse Gram : 1 Tablespoon full
Mangalore Cucumber : 1 Bowl
Coconut : 1 Cup
Red byadagi chilly : 4 to 5
Mango Tokku : 1 Tsp
Salt : As required
Seasoning :
Coconut Oil : 1 Tablespoon
Mustard seeds : 1/2 Tsp
ingh/Asafoetida : A little
Curry Leaves : 6 to 8

Method :

1. Wash and cut cucumber, remove the pulp completely and cut cucumber into small and dip in a bowl full of water.

2. Remove the pieces from water and cut it into small pieces.

3. Keep a pan on the fire and add 1/4 tsp of oil and fry horse grams nicely till it gets crisp.

4. Add chilly and fry for a minute.

5. Add cut cucumber and fry for 2 to 3 minutes and put off the fire.
6. Add some curry leaves and ingh to the fried ingredients and let it cool. Add Mango tokku.

7. Grate coconut, grind it with fried ingredients and mango tokku.

8. Add required water while grinding. (The chutney should be thick).
9. Add salt and grind it for a few seconds.

10. Take out the chutney to a serving dish.

11. Prepare seasoning and add it to Chutney.  Use coconut oil, mustard seeds, 1 red chilly, curry leaves and ingh/asafoetida.

12. Serve as one of the side dish.

Note :

Dry roast or fry horse gram on low flame. Let it fry nicely. You can use the cucumber peel also to fry and grind. I have used the peel.
Soak cut cucumber in plain water to get rid of bitter taste.
Adding more chilly is optional. Use of coconut oil taste good. (Optional).
Time : 20 Minutes
Serves : 3 to 4 .