Tomato -Vegetable Rice

Tomato - Vegetable Rice is a Rice dish and good for breakfast/brunch/lunch/dinner. It is very easy and quick to prepare. It can be packed for kids lunch box for schools and office too. It is good for travels, ladies kitty party(Pot Luck) and all type of parties.

I have used Sona - Masoori Rice and some vegetables with spices. Added little curd to give some aroma and tangy taste.
Let us see some benefits of eating " Clove" in our diet.
Cloves contain many medicinal and healthy properties. They are good for controlling diabetes. They are loaded with antiseptic, anti oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-flatulent properties. They keep the body warm and soothing. (Rubefacient). They do have sweet aromatic pleasant fragrances. They help to improve and provide aid in digestion and constipation problems. They are good for strong bones. They are rich in minerals like potassium, manganese. iron, sodium, zinc, calcium and magnesium. Potassium helps in controlling the heart beat rate and blood pressure. They are rich with Vitamin A and beta carotene levels. (They are known as antioxidant properties. They are rich source of Vitamin K, Vitamin B6, Vitamin B -1, Vitamin E, Vitamin D and Vitamin C. Intake of Vitamin C helps the body to develop resistance against infection and harmful oxygen free radicals.
Please do remember to not to use cloves in large quantity. It can cause gastrointestinal irritation. disorder in central nervous system. People who suffer from stomach ulcer. Avoid eating cloves during pregnancy.
Let us see the recipe Now:

Things Needed : 

Sona Masoori Rice : 2 Cups
 Carrots : 2
Capsicum : 1
Potato : 3 to 4 (Small ones)
Tomatoes : 2
Grated Ginger : 1 Teaspoon
Onion : 1 (Big size)
Green chilly : 1
Cloves : 5 to 6
Cinnamon sticks : 3 to 4 pieces (small pieces).
Cardamom : 2
Curd/Yogurt : 1/2 Cup
Ghee : 1 Tablespoon
Oil : 2 Tablespoons
Salt : To Taste
Rasam Powder : 1 Tablespoon

Method : 

1. Wash and soak rice for 10 minutes

2 Wash and cut all the vegetables . (According to your wish). Big/Small

3. Grate coconut and keep it aside.
4. Keep a pan on the fire. Heat and then put ghee and oil.
5. Add spices, like cinnamon, cloves and cardamom

.6 Add cut onions and fry nicely. Add cut carrots, capsicum and potatoes. Fry for 2 to 3 minutes.

7. Add cut tomatoes and grated ginger. Mix all the vegetables nicely and stir for a while.
8. Add Rasam powder and fry nicely for a minute.

9. Add soaked rice. (Remove all the water before adding to fried vegetables).
10. Stir nicely for a minute. Add turmeric powder. (Half teaspoon)
11. Now put off the fire and add required salt. Mix it well. Add curd and mix it nicely.

12. Put the fried rice and vegetables to a cooker. (Pressure cooker or electrical cooker).
13. Add required water and cut coriander leaves. Let it cook for 20 to 25 minutes. (Pressure cooker)

14. Shift the ready "Tomato - Vegetable Rice " to a serving dish"
15. Add coconut gratings on the top and serve. (Adding coconut is optional).

Note :
Use of different varieties of rice is optional. (Check the ration). Adding more spices is optional.
Adding curd is optional. ( You can cook with out curd too). Adding garlic to the dish is optional.
Adding garam masala /Any other masala is optional. Adding rasam of any brand is optional.
Use of more chilly is optional. Use of pressure cooker /electrical cooker is optional.
Time : 30 Minutes
Serves : 4 to 5.

Field Beans - Pigeon Peas Vegetable Saagu (Curry)

Field Beans/Avarekai (Kannada word) and pigeon peas are still available in the market. So hurry up and prepare as many dishes as you can by using Avarekai. It the best choice to use the seasonal legumes, vegetables and fruits.

I have prepared Vegetable Saagu (curry) with these Pigeon peas. (Togari Kalu) and Avarekai (Field Beans) and some vegetables.
Saagu is one of the best dish to have and it is always loaded with vegetables. Poori Saagu, Rava Idli -Saagu, Capati -Saagu and Set dosa - Saagu are the yummy combinations which go hand in hand.
Let us know some benefits of having "Ginger" in our diet.
Ginger is one of the healthiest spice. It is loaded with medicinal properties and powerful benefits for our body and brain. Ginger helps to decreases the risk of obesity, diabetes, heart diseases. Ginger is good for easy digestion. Ginger is good for common cold, gastrointestinal irritations and in cold season. It helps to keep the body warm. Ginger is good for inflammation and pain reduction during the menstrual time for ladies. It has powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Ginger may lower the bad cholesterol and helps to improve the good cholesterol levels. Ginger is good for treating infections in our respiratory system.
Let us see the recipe Now :
No Onions OR No Garlic is added in this "Field Beans -Pigeon Peas Vegetable Saagu. (Curry)".

Things Needed :

To Cook :
Field Beans : 1 Cup
Pigeon Peas : 1 Cup
Chayote  Squash /Chow Chow/ Seeme Badane Kai : 1
Carrots : 2
Spices to Grind :
Fresh Coconut : 2 Tablespoons
Roasted Chenna/Huri Kadale/Pottu Kadale : ! Tablespoon
Jeera/Cumin Seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon
Pepper Pods : 3 to 4
Ginger : 1 Teaspoon . (Grated)
Coriander seeds : 1 Teaspoon
Green Chilly : 3 to 4
Tamarind Pulp : 1 Tablespoon
Coriander leaves : 1 handful (2 to 3 tablespoons).
To Add :
Cumin/jeera seasoning ( 1/2 Teaspoon jeera).
Ground spice mixture
Kasoori Methi (Raw Dried Fenugrik Leaves : 1 Tablespoon
Oil : 1 Teaspoon
Butter : 1 Tablespoon
Salt : As Required
Turmeric Powder : A pinch

Method :

1. Remove the pods from Avarekai and Pigeon Peas and wash the pods.
2. Wash and remove chayote squash, carrots and remove the outer layer and cut it in to small pieces.
3. Cook Avarekai, pigeon peas and the vegetables til they turn soft.
    ( Pressure cook for 3 to 4 minutes).

4. Wash green chilly, coriander leaves and grate coconut. Wash and remove the outer layer of ginger and wash it again. Grate it and keep it aside.
5. Soak a small marble size tamarind in hot water and squeeze out the pulp after 5 minutes.

6. Grind grated coconut, jeera, coriander seeds, green chilly, roasted chenna, pepper pods, grated ginger, tamarind pulp and coriander leaves with little water.

7. Keep a big pan on the fire and put oil and jeera. Let jeera turn slightly brown.
    Add cooked  vegetables, salt and turmeric powder.

8. Mix it well and let it cook for 2 minutes. Add ground coconut - spice mixture.

9. Add water if required and boil for 3 to 4 minutes.
10.Add dried methi/fenugrik leaves. (Kasoori methi).

11. Shift the curry to a serving dish. Add  a tablespoon of butter and mix it well and serve.

12. Serve with chapatis or any other main dish you have prepared. We had " Field Beans - Pigeon Pes Vegetable Saagu " with Chapatis.

Note :

Do not over cook the veggies. Do not add much spices. Adding roasted chenna helps the curry to be thick and adds to the taste. Adding red chilly is optional. Adding onions and garlic to the curry is optional. Adding more/less chilly is optional. You can use fresh Peas/Whole Green Grams or any other legumes instead of Pigeon peas
Time : 30 Minutes
Serves : 4 to 5.

Carrot - Jaggery Halwa

Carrot Halva is a sweet dish that most people love to have it. Carrots are the healthy vegetable that can be used in many dishes. The sweet dishes like, Carrot Kheer, halva, sweet bath,even in cake we can use carrots.

Winter season is here and you get loads and loads of fresh carrots in market and even with vendors. Usually I feel like grabbing all the fresh vegetables and bring it home. But that is not necessary to bring lot of vegetables at once because you get fresh vegetables each day. Anyways these carrots are real fresh and juicy and I tried Carrot Halva with Jaggery ( healthy twist). I have parceled this halva to my Brother in law's house and sister in law's house too. It is my way of sharing things with our people.
I have used carrots, jaggery, little amount of nuts (Walnuts, raisins, almonds and cashews) with fair amount of ghee. One should remember that sweet will be tasty only when you use exact amount of ghee that particular sweet required.
It is an easy and yummy dish and does not take much time.

Let us see the recipe now :

Things Needed : 

Carrots( used Delhi Carrots as its said) :  5 to 6
Jaggery : 3/4 Cup (grated/powdered)
Ghee : 3 to 4 Tablespoons of ghee
Cardamom Powder : 1 Teaspoon (3 to 4 whole )
Nuts : 1/2 Cup ( Cashews, almonds, raisins and walnuts).
Milk Powder : 2 Tablespoons (Optional)

Method : 

1. Wash and scrape out the outer layer of carrots and grate it. Keep it aside.
2. Grate jaggery and keep it aside.
3. Powder cardamom and cut nuts into small pieces.

4. Keep a pan on the fire and heat. Add a tablespoon of ghee and cashews and raisins.
5. Fry them in ghee till they turn slightly golden brown.

6. Add carrots and fry nicely in ghee, let all the moisture disappear.
7. Add jaggery and stir. First it turns as bit watery. Then it starts to absorb the moisture.

8. Add ghee in between ( little by little) and then stir on medium flame.
9. Add milk powder (Optional) and fry nicely, Add almond and walnut pieces and stir.

10. It starts to leave the edges. Put cardamom and remaining ghee and stir for another 3 to 4 minutes.

11. Shift the ready carrot halwa to a serving dish.

12. Serve Hot/cooled Carrot jaggery Halva according to your wish. Carrots Halwa and Ice cream will be one of the good combination Tht surely you can enjoy.

Note :

Fry carrots gratings nicely till they turn soft and let all the moisture disappear before you add jaggery.
Adding sugar instead of jaggery is optional. Adding more nuts is optional. Adding any other flavoured essence is optional. Adding milk powder is optional. You can use fresh boiled and cooled milk instead of milk powder.(1/4 Cup)
Time 20 to 25 Minutes
Serves : 5 to 6 (According to the servings.