Avarekai - Gooseberry Chitranna

Avare Kai/ Gooseberry/Nellikai  Chitranna is a rice dish. Its the season of Avare Kai/Field beans and people enjoy having them in almost all the dishes. Here is Avarekai - Gooseberry Chitranna and its an easy, quick and yummy dish which suits to all occasion.

I have used cooked raw rice, Avarekai/field beans, onions, green chilly and lemon.
Let us see some benefits of having " Lemon " in our diet.
Lemon has many medicinal and healthy properties. It is used in treating throat infections, indigestion, constipation and fever. It is good for obesity, respiratory disorders, cholera and high blood pressure. It is good for skin and hair care. It helps to strengthen immune system and cleanse our stomach. It is known as blood purifier. Lemon juice is useful for treating kidney stones, reducing strokes and lowering body temperature. It is the best refreshing drink and helps to keep us cool. Lemon contain Vitamin C, Vitamin B6, Vitamin A, Vitamin E and minerals like copper, calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium, zinc, phosphorus and protein. It is rich in antioxidants and helps to prevent diabetes, high blood pressure.
Averekai -Gooseberry Chitranna is good have for breakfast/brunch/lunch or dinner. It is so easy and anyone can try and Enjoy.
Let us see the recipe Now.

Things Needed :

AvareKai/Field beans : 1 Cup
Green chilly : 2
Ginger : An inch
Onion : 1 to 2
Gooseberry : 2 to 3
Coconut : 2 to 3 Tablespoons
Cooked rice (Raw rice) : 2 Cups
Salt : As required
Oil : 2 Tablespoons
Ghee : 1 Tablespoon
Mustard seeds : 1 Teaspoon
Urid dal : 1 Teaspoon
Curry Leaves : 6 to 8
Coriander Leaves : 2 to 3 Tablespoons
Lemon : 1/2 Lemon extract

Method :

1. Wash and cook raw rice and avereaki and let it cool. (Cook separately)

2. Wash and cut onions, green chilly (just slit), curry leaves and coriander leaves.
3. Wash and remove the outer layer of ginger, wash and grate it.
4. Grate coconut and keep it aside. Grate gooseberry and keep it aside.

5. Keep a pan on the fire and heat. Add oil, mustard seeds and urid dal.
6. Let mustard seeds splutter. Add curry leaves and cut green chilly.
7. Add cut onions and fry for 1 to 2 minutes.

8. Add cooked avarekai,salt and turmeric powder. Mix it well.
(Remove the extra water and then put only avarekai).
9. Fry nicely for a minute. Add cooked and cooled rice.

10. Mix it well and add ghee, lemon extract and coconut. Put off the fire.

11. Add grated gooseberry grating and coriander leaves. Mix it nicely and shift ready chitranna to a serving bowl.

12. Serve with a cup of curd and some crisps (chips or fried fritters). (Optional).

Note :

Do not over cook rice. Drain all the extra water from cooked avarekai. (You can use it for curries).
Adding ghee is optional. Adding onion to chitranna is optional. It adds to the taste. You can prepare same way of chitranna with out using onions on festival or any other special days.

Adding more/less chilly is optional. Check the hotness in chilly before using. Adding gooseberry is optional.

Time : 20 Minutes + cooking rice and averekai : 20 minutes

Serves : 3 to 4 . 

Avarekalu (Field Beans) Jeera Curry

Avarekalu (Field beans) already in the market. So that means every dish goes with Avarekai here in Karnataka. Until the crop gets over  (till end of February), its the Avare Kai Season. Avarekai rotti, Avarekai Dose, Avarekai Idli, Avarekai Vada, Avarekai bisibel bath, Avarekai Vanghi bath, Avarekai saaru/Sambar/saagu/ Kootu, Avarekai kodubale, fried crispy avarekai etc etc etc. Every thing is Avaremaya means all things are with Avarekai.
I have prepared Avarekai Saagu/Kootu/ Jeera Huli.

Lets see some benefits of eating Avarekai/Flat beans in our diet.
Field beans/Avarekai contain Vitamin A, B and C. They are highly nutritious and supply vital nutrients to our body. Field Beans do contain high fiber and regulates cholesterol level in our body. They do help the digestive system function well. They are rich source of iron and it is very important in building good blood cells. (Hemoglobin).
Lets see the recipe now: No Onions OR No Garlic is used in this Avarekai Jeera Curry 

Ingredients : 

To Cook :
Avarekai/Field beans : 2 Cups
Methi/Fenugrik seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon
Moong Dal : 2 Tablespoons
To Grind :
Jeera/ Cumin Seeds : 1 Teaspoon
Coconut : 1/2 Cup
Green chilly : 2
Ginger : Half inch
Tamarind : Small marble size
Add :
Bajji Chilly Pakoda chilly : 2 to 3
Green/Red Tomatoes : 2 to 3 ( Very small ones).
Turmeric Powder : 1/4 Teaspoon
Mustard seasoning :
Ground coconut mixture
Cinnamon : very small piece
Cloves : 1 to 2
Coriander Leaves : 2 Tablespoons (Optional)

Method :

1. Remove the seeds from Fresh Field beans and wash it.

2. Wash green tomatoes, bajji chilly (Pakoda chilly, green chilly and and cut it in to small. Remove the seeds from pakoda chilly before cutting into small.

3.Wash moong dal and keep it aside.
4. Now keep a pan on the fire and heat. Add a teaspoon of oil. Add cinnamon and clove.
5. Add Avarekai/Field beans, moong dal, turmeric powder and methi seeds. Mix it well.
6.. Cook with required water. ( I have used pressure cooker to cook).

7. Grate or cut coconut into small pieces and grind with jeera, green chilly, ginger and tamarind. (Use required water).
8. Remove the ground mixture from the mixi jar and keep it aside.

9. Now keep a pan on the fire and put cooked field beans and vegetables.
10. Add Pakoda/Bajji Chill, cut tomatoes and mix it well.

11. Add salt and ground mixture and mix it well. Let it cook for 3 to 4 minutes.

12. Shift the ready curry to a serving bowl and add mustard seasoning.

Note :

Do not add much cinnamon and clove.
Let the aroma be mild. Removing the seeds from Pakoda chilly reduce the spice (hot) of the chilly. Adding more spice and green chilly is optional.
Adding onions and garlic is optional.
Adding cinnamon and clove is optional. You can use any choice of your choice. Eg : garam masala powder or any other spices.
Time : 30 Minutes
Servings : 4 to 5  

Avare Kai Usli / Palya

Avarekai/Field beans Palya/Usuli/Sundal is an excellent side dish and every one will surely enjoy eating this Usli.

Usuli or Usli is prepared using any legumes/pulses/beans, like whole moong, whole channa (black/Kabooli), or cow pea and even peas.(Dry/fresh). These legumes are cooked and seasoned with coconut. It is also used as prasadam in pooja occasions.
This recipe is inspired by "Renuka Manjunath", who had put up her traditionally cooked Sogadu avare Benne Usli In "Pakashale", Avarekai is cooked traditionally and just beautiful. Pakashale is one of my favourite group page. I do learn a lot by reading posts in it.
Coming back to Avare Kai/field beans, I have modified and cooked the curry in simple and quick method, because every one has their own busy  (bit lazy ? I hope at least some agree) schedule. I have cooked avarekai in quick method using pressure cooker. And one more thing to mention is, the bean I have used might not be so fresh. Sogadu means the aroma contained beans which is so fresh. I have seen that fresh beans and enjoyed eating them in those days. These aromatic field beans one can get them in and around the villages. These Avarekai is seasonal beans, the early crops do have rich aroma (sogadu) in them.
Fresh Avare Kai, onions are used and prepared this Usli, It goes well with almost all the main dishes. Dosa, rotti, roti, chapati, poori and even plain rice are very good combinations.
Lets see the recipe now:

Things Needed : 

Avarekai/Field Beans : 2 Cups
Onions : 2 to 3 or more (Medium sized).
Green Chilly : 2 to 3
Ginger : An inch
Curry leaves : 6 to 8
Jeera : 1 spoon + 1/2 Spoon
Salt : Required
Ghee : 2 Tablespoons
Coconut : 1/2 Cup
Turmeric Powder : a little
Coriander leaves : 2 to 3 Tablespoons

Method :

1. Remove the pods from Avare kai and wash it once. Keep it aside.
2. Remove the outer layer of onions wash it and cut into small.
3. Wash and remove the outer layer of ginger and grate it.
4. Wash green chilly, curry leaves and coriander leaves, cut into small.

5. Grate coconut and keep it aside.
6. Dry roast 1 Teaspoon of jeera and powder it .
7. Now keep a pan/pressure cooker on the fire. Add 1 table spoon of ghee and heat.
8. Add 1/2 teaspoon of geera and fry for 30 seconds. Add curry leaves, green chilly.
9. Add cut onions and fry for 1 to 2 minutes. (No need to be brown, Let it be transparent).

10. Add Avare kai/field beans and mix it well. Add turmeric powder, salt and mix it again.
11. Add  1/2 cup of water and close the lid. Cook for 5 to 6 minutes. (2 to 3 whistles).

12. Open the lid when the pressure cooker cools down.
13. Keep this again on the fire. Let it be low flame. Mix it well.
14. Add roasted jeera powder and cook on low flame.

15.Let all the water dry out. Now add grated coconut and remaining ghee, mix it again.

16. Shift ready to serve Avare Kai Usli to a serving dish and serve with the main dish.

Note : 

You can use butter instead of ghee. Adding more spice is optional. You can also add pepper pods if you wish. Using pressure cooker helps to cook avare kai faster. (Optional). You can cook Avarekai in an big bowl or pan. Using any brand of ready to use jeera powder is optional. I have used fresh jeera. Check green chilly if it is hot use only 2. ( According to your taste).
Serves : 4 to 5 
Time : 30 minutes.  

Field Beans & Cucumber Curry.

Field Bean/Avaekai and Coloured Curcumber/ Mangalore Southekai curry is a side dish. Avare kai/ field beans is used lavishly here in Bangalore and around. You can get this field beans in any time of the year in Bangalore. Jayanagar 4th T block is very famous in selling this Avarekai/Field beans. You can even get the ready beans to cook. (They remove the outer part and keep the seeds separately to sell. One more thing I have noticed that, they even remove the outer layer from field bean and sell the soft seed. This seed is known as Chitak Avare, means squeezed seeds.These seeds are used for deep frying and rasam. It will be very very tasty.

 Lets see some benefits of eating Toor Dal in our diet.
Toor dal is also called as tur dal, tuvar dal or arhar dal. It is an excellent source of carbohydrates and provide energy to our body. It also contain many of the nutrients, like protein, fat and fiber. It has minerals like iron, calcium, magnesium, potassium and B Vitamins. It has high dietary fiber. low saturated fat and cholesterol free. Toor  dal is an excellent source of folic acid and vitamins and good for pregnant women.
This Field Beans & Cucumber Curry has no onions or no garlic and easy to prepare.
I have used , toor dal, field beans/avarekai, green chilly and some spices.
Lets see the recipe now.

Things Needed :

 To cook
Field Beans/Avarekai : 1 Cup
Toor Dal : 1/2 Cup
Mangalore Cucumber : 1/2 (medium size )
Green Chilly : 2 to 3
Rasam Powder : 1 Tablespoon
 To Add :
Raw Mango Grated : 2 to 3 Tablespoons
Ginger : 1 Tablespoon
Methi seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon
Salt to taste :
Coconut : 2 Tablespoon (Optional).
Coriander leaves
For  Seasoning :
Oil : 1 Teaspoon
Mustard Seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon
Urid dal : 1/2 Teaspoon
Ingh :  a little

Curry Leaves : 1 Handful
Coriander leaves : 1 Tablespoon 

Method :

1. Wash and cook Toor dal and field beans/avarekai together . (Pressure cook)

2.  Wash and cut mangalore southekai/cucumber and coriander leaves into small pieces. Wash and cut green chilly in to big pieces. (1into 2).

3. Grate coconut, raw mango and ginger. (wash and remove the outer skin and wash it again before grating).
4. Now keep a pan on the fire. Put cooked mangalore southekai/cucumber, cooked dal and field beans.

5. Add grated raw mango and ginger.. Add little turmeric powder. Add cut green chilly, methi seeds (raw) and salt. Mix it well.

6. Let it cook nicely for 2 to 3 minutes. Add rasam powder and cook again for 5 minutes.

7. Shift the ready field beans/avarekai and Mangalore Cucumber/southekai curry in to a serving bowl.
8. Add mustard, urid dal splutter with curry leaves and ingh.
9. Add coconut gratings and coriander leaves on the top.

10. Serve with Hot plain rice or chapati.

Note :

Adding methi seeds help to reduce the acidity and cholesterol content in the curry. You can adjust the curry according to your need. (thick or little more liquid by adding little water). Adjust the salt according to your taste. Adding garlic or onion is optional. You can also add 1/2 a teaspoon of garam masala. Adding a tablespoon of fresh ghee adds to the taste. (optional). You can use any other legume (kalu/beans) instead of field beans.Adding more or less chilly is optional.
Time : 30 minutes
Serves : 4 to 5