Palak - Paumkin Fry

Palak - Pumpkin Fry is a quick and yummy side dish. Palak - Pumpkin fry is a mild spicy dish that fits to all age group.

I have used home grown palak which I got from my pot and used a carrot and a cup of pumpkin gratings. I also used coconut to make the fry more tasty.
Let us see some benefits of eating Palak /Spinach leaves in our diet.
Palak /Spinach is loaded with vitamins, minerals, nutrients and antioxidants. Palak is rich in insoluble fiber and good for people who suffer from constipation. Palak leaves contain potassium, magnesium and vitamin B6, B9 and Vitamin E. It is rich in Vitamin C, Vitamin K, floic acid, iron and calcium. Palak is good for good skin health and our immune system.
 Palak - Pumpkin Fry is mild spicy curry and it has No garlic or No onion.
Let us see the recipe now :
Ingredients :
To Fry :
Palak/Spinach : 1 Bundle
Carrot grating : 1 Carrot
Pumpkin Gratings : 1 Cup (1/4 of 1 small pumpkin)
To Add :
Salt : As required
Turmeric powder : A pinch
Chilly powder : 1/2 Teaspoon
Coconut Grating : 2 to 3 Tablespoons
To Season :
Cooking Oil : 1 Tablespoon
Mustard seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon
Jeera /Cumin Seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon
Curry Leaves and green chilly : 1

Method :

1. Wash and cut palak leaves and keep it aside.

2. Wash and scrape out the outer layer and grate carrot and keep it aside.
3. Peel off the pumpkin hard layer and grate the vegetable and keep it aside.

4. Grate coconut and Wash and slit green chilly and cut curry leaves.
5. Keep a pan on the fire and put oil. Let it get hot. Add mustard seeds and jeera.
6. Let mustard seeds splutter. Add 1 slit green chilly. Add a pinch of turmeric powder.
7. Add curry leaves and cut palak leaves. Stir slowly and let it get soft. ( Fry on low flame).

8. Add grated carrot and stir slowly.

9. Add pumpkin gratings and stir for 5 to 6 minutes. ( On low flame).

10. Add salt and red chilly powder and mix it nicely.
11. Add coconut gratings and put off the fire.

12. Shift the Palak - Pumpkin Fry to a serving dish and enjoy as one of the side dish.

Note. 

You can add more carrots. (Optional). You can add more chilly. Do not add any water. Fry on low flame. Adding coconut is optional.
You can have this fry with chapati as chapati roll. You can also keep this fry in the middle of the bun and place some cucumber and have it. Adding any other spices is optional. I always like to have mild khara so that I use very little chilly in my cooking.
Time : 10 Minutes
Serves : 2 To 3.

Cow Pea & Bottle Gourd Curry

Cow pea / ಅಲಸಂದೆ and bottle gourd Curry is a side dish that goes well with all the main dishes like lunch, chapatis, rotis, idli, dosa, poori or chapati.

Cow pea season is here and lots of fresh cow peas available in market in most of the places.
It is always better to use seasonal pods to get good nutrients from the pods.
I have used cow peas, bottle gourd and carrot. Used some fresh fried spices which is always there in the kitchen store.

Let us see some benefits of eating Cow Peas in our diet.

Cow peas are low in cholesterol, saturated fat and sodium. They are good source of protein. They are rich in Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin B6, Calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium, copper and manganese. Cow Peas is rich in fiber.
Cow peas is rich in magnesium and it is good for controlling our sugar level. It also take care of metabolism of our body. It helps our digestive system to be healthy. It helps to control our blood pressure and take care of it. Cow peas helps in loosing the extra weight and good for people who suffer from anemia. Eating cow peas is good for our skin health. It is good for our bones.
Let us see the recipe now :
No Onion or No Garlic Curry.
Try and enjoy the taste of Cow Pea & Bottle Gourd Curry.

Things needed : 

To Cook :
Cow Peas : 1 Bowl (250 Gr)
Bottle Gourd : 1/2 (1/2 From medium sized bottle gourd)
Carrot : 1
To Fry :
Urid dal : 1 Tablespoon.
Red Byadagi chilly : 5 to 6
Ingh /Asafoetida : A little
Pepper Pods : 5 to 6
Curry Leaves : 6 to 8
Coconut : 1 Small cup
Coconut Oil : 1 Tsp
To Grind :
Tamarind : Small marble size
Fried and cooled mixture.
To add :
Coriander leaves
Salt : As required
Seasoning : Mustard seeds 1/2 teaspoon, ingh : a pinch, Curry leaves : 5 to 6 with coconut oil.

Method :

1. Remove the pods from Cow Peas and wash it nicely.

2. Wash and remove the outer layer of bottle gourd and carrot. Cut them in to small pieces.

3. Pressure cook cow pea, bottle gourd and carrots with required water for 5 to 6 minutes. Put off the fire and let it cool.

4. Keep a pan on the fire and heat. Add a ts of coconut oil.
5. Put urid dal and fry till they turn slightly golden brown. Add byadagi chilly, pepper pods and fry.
6. Add ingh and curry leaves. Mix it well and put off the fire. Add coconut. Let it cool.

7. Grind fried ingredients with tamarind and required water.
8. Grind into fine paste.

9. Keep cooked vegetables on fire. Add salt and little turmeric powder. Mix it and boil for a minute.

10. Add ground coconut mixture to the boiling vegetables and mix it nicely. Add water if required.
11. Let it cook for 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in between so that it does not get burnt.

12. Shift the Cow Pea & Bottle Gourd Curry to a serving dish.

13. Add mustard seasoning done in coconut oil.

14. Serve for lunch or with any main dish of your choice.

Note :

Do not over cook the vegetables. Adding more chilly is optional. Use of coconut oil is optional.
Use of coconut more or less is optional. Do not boil more after you add ground coconut mixture.  2 to 3 minutes is more than enough.
Time : 30 Minutes.
Serves : 3 to 4. 

Quick Channa Palav

Palav is full meals food and it is easy to do it and it can be one pot meal, quick meal or tasty meal. Palav is prepared in many ways. This time it is Channa /Kabooli Channa Palav and is very easy to prepare and serve.

 Good for sunday brunch, or for packing kids lunch box or even for picnics.
I have used cooked channa, (Use of cooked channa helps in softening the hard pods to quick little more and easy to digest), coriander leaves, carrots, handful of cashews, garam masala and chutney powder, little spices like cinnamon pieces, 3 to 4 cloves, a little bit of sonf /fennel seeds or Aniseeds, green chilly, grated ginger and grated coconut.
Channa /Kabooli Channa helps you to keep you fit and provides proteins and energy. It helps to keep your body warm.
Channa helps in keeping your bones strong and fit. Channa is full of fiber and anyone can eat and enjoy.
It is my own creation and love the taste and aroma of this Palav.
No Onion or Nor Garlic is used here. "Quick Channa Palav" is yummy to have, filling and easy to prepare.

Things Needed :

Cooked Kabooli Channa : 1 Bowl.
Raw Rice : 2 Cups. (I used Basumathi Rice)
Carrots : 2 to 3
Cashews : 1 Handful
Saffron : 2 to 3 Rakes
Ginger : 1 Tablespoon (Grated).
Spices :
Cinnamon : An inch
Cloves : 3 to 4
Sonf/Fennel Seeds/Aniseeds : 1/2 Teaspoon
Garam Masala : 1/2 Teaspoon
Chutney Powder : 1 Tablespoon
Green chilly : 2
Fresh grated coconut : 2 Tablespoons
Coriander leaves : 1 Handful
Ghee : 2 To 3 Tablespoons
Cooking Oil : 1Tablespoon
Salt : As required

Method :

1. Wash and cut carrots and keep it aside. Wash and slit green chilly.
2. Wash rice and drain the water completely and keep it aside. ( At least 10 minutes before you prepare Palavu).

3. Wash and grate ginger and keep it aside.
4. Wash and cut coriander leaves and cut into small pieces. Grate coconut and keep it aside.

5. Now keep a pan/pressure cooker on the fire and heat.
6. Add oil and 1 tbs of ghee. Add sonf, cinnamon, cloves and fry for 10 seconds.

7. Add carrots, cooked channa, grated ginger, slit chilly and fry nicely for 1 minute.

8. Add cashews and fry till they turn slightly brown.
9. Add garam masala, chutney powder and stir just once or twice.

10. Add  rice and stir nicely for 2 to 3 minutes.

11. Add 4 cups of water and mix all the ingredients well.
12. Add  grated coconut, saffron and required salt.

13. Add cut coriander leaves close the lid and cook. Put weight after 2 minutes.

14. Cook for 6 to 8 minutes. Put off the fire and let the pressure come down.

15. Open the lid, add remaining ghee and mix it well. Shift the delicious palav to a serving dish.

16. Serve with your choice of Raitha. We had it with carrot raitha

Note : 

Any brand of Basumathi rice is optional. Use of Sona masoori is also useful. Use little more water if you use Sona Masoori Rice. Use of steamed rice gives different taste. Use of green chilly is optional.
Use of curry leaves chutney pudi adds to the taste. (Optional).
40 minutes

Serves : 3 to 4 .

Mango - Carrot Gojju

Mango Carrot Gojju is one of the side dish and can be done with in a few minutes. It is simple and easy. It is delicious and goes well with all the main dishes.

We some time like to have some tangy, some sweet, some spice in our dishes. It taste yummy and the taste linger on your tongue for a long timw.
This is an easy dish and probably you can try during the mango season. But now a days you get mangoes most of the time in the year.
I have used half ripen Totapuri mango and some carrots. Adding some rasam powder and methi powder brings out the excellent aroma and taste to the curry.
I got this mango from a vendor when we went to Chamaraj Pete area in Bangalore. We normally by from a person who keeps vegetables in the cart to sell. He seems to be good and very paapa/kind I feel. When ever we go that side he invites us with his smile and we do buy Alsande, these mangoes and sweet potatoes from him. We do not bargain with him and he does not say more price too.
The vegetables are very fresh and it does not spoil.
As I said it is very Easy and Yummy.

Let us see the recipe Now :

NO ONION  and NO GARLIC CURRY.

Ingredients :

Half Ripe Mango : 1
Carrots : 2 (Big size)
Home Made Curry Powder : 2 Tb
Methi Powder : 1/2 Tsp
Jaggery : 2 to 3 Tb
Salt : As required
Seasoning :
Coconut Oil : 1 Tb
Mustard seeds : 1/2 Tsp
Ingh/Asafoetida : A little

Curry leaves : 6 to 8

Method :

1.Wash mango and wipe out the moisture with a clean towel.

2. Grate mango and keep it aside.
3. Wash and scrape out the carrot outer layer. Grate it and keep it aside.
4. Wash a green chilly and slit it. Wash curry leaves and keep it aside.
5. Now keep a pan on the fire and heat. Add coconut oil, mustard seeds and ingh.
6. Let mustard seeds splutter. Add a green chilly and curry leaves.
7. Add grated mango and fry nicely. Add grated carrots and fry for 2 to 3 minutes.
8. Add jaggery, salt and stir continuously. Add little turmeric powder.
9. Mango and carrots turn soft. Now add curry powder and mix it well.
10. Add 1/2 tsp of methi powder and mix it nicely.
11. Let it cook on low flame for 2 minutes. Mix it nicely and shift the Mango - Carrot Gojju to a serving dish.
12. Serve as one of the side dish with any main dish. It goes well with plain rice, idli, dosa, chapati and rotti. You can use raw mango instead of half ripe mango.

Note :

Use of 1/2 ripe mango gives out the good taste. Adding more jaggery is optional. Use of any cooking oil is optional. Use of any curry powder is optional. Ex : MTR< Mayyas etc It is simple and quick so you can try and enjoy. We like the curry as bit more sweet.
Time : 20 Minutes
Serves : 2 to 3 

Home Made Curry Powder :

Dry roast, channa dal, urid dal, (each 1 tsp)
 coriander seeds, 2 Tbs
Jeera : 1/2 Tsp
Curry leaves : 5 to 6
Ingh /Asafoetida : A little
Clove : 1
Red chilly /Byadagi Chilly : 5 to 6
Dry coconut : 2 Tbs (Grated)
Dry roast all the above one by one and dry grind it once it is cooled.
This amount of powder is enough for 1 Time only for the above said curry.
Note :
Dry roast methi/ fenugreek seeds separately and store it. Use it whenever you prepare  puliyogre, mavina kai chitranna, and gojju dishes. It adds to aroma and good for health.

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.