Brinjal Gojju

Brinjal Gojju / bartha is a side dish done with Brinjal/Egg plant. The big brinjal really adds taste to this curry.

It is a quick, easy, yummy and simple dish that you can prepare when you are in a hurry.
Brinjal Gojju goes well with almost all the main dishes.
Let us see the recipe now :
No Onion OR No Garlic is used in Brinjal Gojju.

Ingredients :

To cook :

Brinjal  : 1
Green chilly : 2
Tomatoes: 2 ( Small )
Capsicum : 1
Carrot : 1
Ginger : An inch
To Season :
Coconut Oil : 2 Tablespoons
Mustard Seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon
Jeera / Cumin Seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon
Ingh /Asafoetida : A pinch
Curry Leaves : 6 to 8 leaves
To Add :
Turmeric powder : A pinch
Sambar /Rasam Powder : 1 Tablespoon
Salt : As required
Jaggery : 1 Teaspoon
Coriander leaves : 1 Tablespoon

Method :

1. Wash and cut brinjal and soak the pieces in a big bowl at least for 10 minues.
2. Wash and cut tomatoes, carrot and slit green chilly.
3. Wash and cut capsicum and keep it aside.

4. Wash ginger, peel of the skin and wash it again. Grate it and keep it aside.
5. Keep a pan on the fire and put oil. Add mustard seeds, jeera and let mustard splutter.
6. Add ingh, curry leaves and fry for a second.

7. Add cut carrot pieces, capsicum, and tomatoes. Add grated ginger and green chilly.

8. Fry nicely for s minute. Remove brinjal from water and wash it again. Add these brinjal pieces with carrots.
9. Fry for a minute and add salt, turmeric powder, rasam powder and salt.
10. Mix all the vegetables nicely and put 1/2 cup of water and cook for 4 to 5 minutes. ( I used pressure cooker to cook ). Allow it to cool.
11. Keep the cooked gojju on the fire. Add jaggery and mix it well. Add coriander leaves.

12. Shift the ready Brinjal Gojju to a serving dish and serve with the main dish you have prepared. We had it with plain red rice.

Note :

Soaking brinjal pieces in water helps to remove the bitterness in brinjal. Use of any brand of
 rasam /sambar powder is optional. I have used MTR. rasam powder.
Use of any cooking oil is optional. You can use tamarind pulp instead of tomatoes.
Discarding tomato seeds is optional. Use of pressure cooker is optional. You can cook in a pan instead of pressure cooker. Use of onions and garlic is optional.
Time : 20 Minutes.
Serves : 3 to 5.
Brinjal Bajji/Fried fritter with Brinjal Gojju.
 Mix channa flour with little water, jeera, chilly powder and salt. Let the batter be idly consistency.
Wash and cut brinjal in to circle shape and wash it again. Squeeze out the water and dip brinjal pieces in channa batter. Keep a cup of oil on the fire and heat. Fry channa flour dipped brinjal one by one in hot oil. Remove from the oil and put it on the kitchen tissue.
Serve as one of the side dish.

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 

Teachers' Day Cake

This is Wheat - Chiroti Rava  - Carrot Cake and prepared for Our Indian Teachers' day special.

Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan was our First Vice President and second President of India.
His Birthday is celebrated as Teachers' Day in India.
He Believed that " Teachers should be the best mind in the country".
He was awarded several high awards during his life, The Barat Ratna the highest civilian award in India.

We wanted to celebrate the day with our kids and I thought of preparing this Cake.

I have used wheat flour, chiroti rava/thin rava, sugar, curd, milk, oil and very little amount of carrot gratings.

Let us see the recipe now:
Simple and healthy Cake without Eggs.:

Things Needed :

Wheat flour : 1 1/2 Cup
Chiroti Rava : 1/2 Cup
Baking Powder : 1 Teaspoon full
Baking soda : 1/4 Teaspoon
Salt : A pinch
Sugar : 1 Cup
Cinnamon : A small piece
Milk : 1/2 Cup
Curd : 1/2 Cup
Oil : 1/2 Cup
Carrots : Grated : 1/2 Cup
Banana : Yalakki : 2

Method :

1. Sieve wheat, rava, baking powder, baking soda and salt. ( twice to thrice ).

2. Put sugar, cinnamon, milk and curd to a mixi jar.
3. Remove banana skin and cut banana into small pieces and put it to mixi jar.
4. Add cooking oil and  grind all the ingredients together for 5 to 6 minutes.
5. Remove it from the mixi jar and put it to a big bowl. Grate 1/2 carrot and keep it aside.
6. Add sieved flour mixture to a big bowl and put the wet mixture /ground mixture to the bowl.
7. Mix it well and, turn the ingredients on one direction and mix it well. Add milk if the mixture has thick texture.
8. Now add grated carrot to the cake mixture and mix it slowly. Put the ready cake mixture to a cooking tray. Grease the tray with ghee/oil before pouring the cake mix.
9. Switch on the oven and let it get hot. 5 minutes.
10 Keep the cake mixture in the oven and bake for 25 to 30 minutes. 180 C.

11. Check the cake by inserting a knife edge or small stick. Remove the fully baked cake and keep it up on the oven for 5 minutes.
12. Now the cake is ready to serve. Serve as you wish.
13 We shared this particular cake with our tuition children on behalf of Teachers' day special.
14. Have this healthy cake and enjoy whenever you want.

Note :

The cake batter should be like pouring consistency. Add little milk and adjust the consistency, if it is too thick. Do not add so much of milk, it might turn watery and cake may not be good after baking.
Adding ghee/butter instead of oil is optional. Adding jaggery instead of sugar is optional. Use of maida instead of wheat - rava is optional.
Time 30 /25 minu to bake + 10 minutes for preparation.

Clicks with Our Students : 

Alasande/southekai Kootu /Jeera Curry

Alasande /Cow Peas and Southekai /Mangalore Cucumber Kootu /Curry is one of the Udupi style dish and it goes well with all most all the main dishes. 

I have used fresh Alasande/ cow peas, carrots, Southekai/Mangalore cucumber and coconut.
No Onion or No garlic is used in this Kootu Curry. This type of curry is done during festivals, feast and some grand functions.
Let us see the recipe now :

Things Needed : 

To Cook :
Alasane /Cow Peas : 1 Cup
Southekai /Mangalore Cucumber : 1
Carrots :  2 ( Small Ones).
To Grind : 
Coconut : 1 Cup
Jeera/Cumin Seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon
Coriander seeds : 1 Teaspoon
Green chilly : 2 to 3
Tamarind : Tamarind seed size. (Very small)
To Add :
Ground coconut mixture
Salt : As required
Seasoning :
Oil : 1 Teaspoon
Urid dal : 1/2 Teaspoon
Mustard seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon
Ingh /Asafoetida : A pinch
Curry Leaves : 5 to 6

Method :

1. Wash and  pressure cook  cow peas and vegetables for 2 to 3 minutes. Let it cool.

2. Grate coconut and grind it with coriander seeds, jeera, green chilly and tamarind.

3. Keep a big pan on the fire and put cooked vegetables in it. Add salt, turmeric. Let it boil.

4. Add ground coconut mixture and mix it well. Let it cook for 2 to 3 minutes.

5. Shift the curry to a serving dish. Add seasoning and serve with your choice of main dish.

Note :

Do not over cook the vegetables. You can cook them separately. Adding more /less green chilly is optional. Use of coconut oil for seasoning is optional. No need to roast /fry any spice. Do not add much tamarind to this curry. Use of curd instead of tamarind is optional.
Time : 20 Minutes.
Serves : 3 to 4 . 
Purely South Indian Dish. 

Simple Carrots Bread Roll

Simple bread roll needs no preparation. What ever the dry curry you have or just grate some vegetables or panner /Indian cottage cheese, place it inside the bread slice and roll it and then you can shallow fry, dry roast, add little oil and then roast or deep fry it in oil.

I do not like to deep fry bread because it absorbs lots of oil and definitely is not good for health. (Purely my opionion)
Anyways here is one such roasted bread roll on tava and I have used carrots dry curry which was done for lunch as one of the side dish,
You can use any type of bread and I have used wheat bread for this Carrot Bread Roll. As I said it is very easy and quick and you can give it to children when they are back from school. Elders love it because it is crispy but not oily. Easy to digest because carrots are stuffed inside. Tasty because carrots have some simple spices.
Try with your own desired filling and Enjoy.
Let us see the recipe now :

Things Needed :

Carrots Dry Curry : 1 Cup
Bread Slices : 6 to 8
Oil / Ghee /Butter : 3 to 4 Tablespoons

Method :

1. Roll the bread slice with the help of chapati roller. ( Let it be completely flat).
2. Place 1 to 2 tablespoons of carrots dry curry and roll the bread covering the curry.

3. Keep a dosa pan on the fire and let it heat. Add a teaspoon of oil and place the bread roll.
4. Sprinkle a teaspoon of oil around and let it roast on low flame till golden brown.

5. Turn the other side and roast that side.
6. Simple and quick Bread Roll is ready to serve.

7. Spread some ketch up on the top or serve with your desired side dish. (Chutney, any other dip of your choice).

Note :

I have used carrots dry curry which was prepared for lunch. Not much of oil in it and it is mild spicy.
Filling any other ingredients is optional. (You can fill potatoes, beans and peas, paneer or honey or jam.
Use of more oil/butter/ghee is optional.
Use of more / less chilly is optional.
Time : 20 Minutes
Serves : 2 to 3.

Bottle gourd - Carrots Mango fruit Curry

Mango fruits season is here and we do eat and enjoy these fruits. Mango is known as King of fruits and is loved by most of the people. Mango fruits are also used in our curries and drinks, chutney/gojju and even in ice creams.
Here is one of the Traditional curry using Mango fruits in it. Curries are cooked by adding fruit
mangoes and it is one of the traditional curry done during Mango Fruit season.

I have used bottle gourd, carrots and mango fruits.
Let us see the recipe now "

Things Needed :

To cook:
Bottle Gourd Pieces : 1 Bowl (1 Small bottle gourd)
Carrots : 2 : ( 1 small bowl)
To Fry :
Coconut Oil : 1 Teaspoon
Methi/Fenugrik seeds : 1/4 Teaspoon
Urid dal : 1 Teaspoon
Red chilly : Byadagi chilli : 4 to 5
Ingh : A pinch
Curry leaves : 6 to 8 or little more
To Grind :
Fried spices
Coconut : 3 to 4 Tablespoons
To Add : 
Salt : As required
Mango Fruits : 2 ( Medium sized and well ripen)
Coconut oil seasoning : 1 Teaspoon
To Season :
Coconut Oil : 1 Teaspoon
Mustard seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon
Methi seeds : 2 to 3 seeds
Ingh : A pinch
Curry Leaves : 5 to 6

Method 

1. Wash and peel of the outer layer of bottle gourd and carrots. Cut them in to pieces.
2. Pressure cook for 2 to 3 minutes and let it cool.

3. Keep a small pan on the fire and put oil. Add methi seeds and fry till they turn golden brown.
4. Add urid dal and red chilly and fry till urid dal gets golden brown. Put off the fire.
5. Add ingh and curry leaves mix it well and let it cool.
6. Grate coconut and grind with fried spices with required water.

7. Now keep a big pan and put cooked bottle gourd + carrots, add salt.
8. Wash and peel off mango fruits skin. Squeeze out the pulp from it.

9. Now add the whole mango and its pulp. ( Squeeze out the pulp slightly from inner side). ( Do not add the peel).
10. Let it boil for 2 minutes. Add ground coconut mixture and mix it well.

11. Let it boil for 2 to 3 minutes. Shift the Bottle gourd - Carrots -Mango fruit Curry to a serving dish.
12. Add coconut oil seasoning and serve with the main dish you have prepared.

Note :

Do not cook the vegetable very soft. You can cook with little water in a big pan with out using pressure cooker. Adding chilly more/less is optional. Use of coconut oil is optional. Use of more mango fruits is optional. No need to use tamarind or lemon. Squeeze the mango fruits slightly so that the pulp mixes well with other vegetables. Adding a tablespoon of ghee adds to the taste.
Time : 30 Minutes
Serves : 3 to 4
Style : Udupi Traditional.