Channa Dal Payasa / Kheer

Shravana the month of festival is here. It is a festival of nature. Naagapanchami , Nagara chowthi, Raksha bhandhan, Shri Krishna Janmastami, so and so many festivals in this month. It looks like almost all the days in this month people are busy with poojas, naivedya and pooja functions.

So every day you need to prepare some or the other sweet dishes for Neivedya to God/Goddess.
Here is one such sweet dish which is prepared for festivals, feast and other happy functions.
Channa dal/kadale bele payasa is one of the easiest dish which we can prepare and serve as neivedya.
I have used channa dal, avalakki/flattened rice, jaggery, cardamom and coconut
This Channa Dal Payasa is done during poojas, festivals and feast. It is cooked and then mixed with jaggery, coconut milk, cardamom, and avalakki./flattened rice. Some use cooked rice instead of avalakki.
This Channa Dal Payasa is one of the Traditional Dish from South Canara /Karnataka and we can prepare them for festivals, feast and parties.

Let us see the recipe now :

Ingredients :

Channa Dal : 1 Cup
Avalakki /Aval/Poha : 1 small cup./2 handful.
Jaggery : 3/4 Cup
Cardamom : 5 to 6 Pods
Coconut : 1 Cup
Salt : A pinch.

Method :

1. Wash channa dal and pressure cook for 8 to 10 minutes. Let it cool.

2. Grate coconut and grind it with cardamom pods. Grind it nicely. Remove coconut mixture  in a bowl. Wash avalakki/flattened rice and keep it aside.

3. Keep a pan on the fire and put jaggery. Add a cup of water and mix it. Let jaggery melt and it turns as liquid. Sieve it with a siever and keep it aside.
. Let it get cool. Strain it keep cleaned jaggery aside.

4.Keep cooked dal on the fire and put cleaned jaggery water to it. Add washed avalakki and boil.
Let it boil nicely. Add a pinch of salt.

5. Now add ground coconut mixture and mix it well. Let it boil for at least 5 minutes.

6. Shift Channa Dal Payasa /Kheer to a serving bowl.
7. Keep a small pan on the fire and heat. Put a tablespoon of ghee and fry cashews and raisins till raisins get fluffy.

8. Add this ghee fried nuts to Payasa/kheer.
9. Serve ready payasa after a lunch/dinner as desert.

Note :
Channa Dal should be cooked softly to get the best payasa. Adding coconut milk instead of ground coconut is optional.
Use of fresh coconut milk is a must to get good taste. Use of more/less ghee is optional.
Using coconut milk adds to the taste. You can use cooked rice instead of avalakki. (Optional). You can also use little raw rice grains while grinding coconut. It adds to the thickness of payasa.
Adding boiled and cooled fresh milk to Payasa , just before serving is optional. It adds to the taste. Do not add hot milk. Payasa might get curdled.
Time : 30 Minutes 
Serves : 4 to 5 
Purely : South Canara Sweet Dish.

Huri Hittu - Jaggery Unde /Laadu / Laddu

Huri Hittu is a preparation of Ragi/ Roasted finger millet's powder.
These Huri Hittu laddus are yummy, healthy and it is easy to prepare.

I have used Ragi Huri Hittu which was given by my son Ravi, he buys the organic flours and other day today groceries straight from farmers. This Huri hittu pack was bought from one of the organic former's shop.
I have not cooked or roasted anything on fire. It is just a mixture of all the ingredients, like finger millet ragi flour, jaggery, cardamom and almonds. I have used Joni Bella/ Organic jaggery. This Joni bella/ jaggery is is bit watery, it is done in that way. We normally use this jaggery, while drinking water. ( In hot summer, you put some little quantity of jaggery in mouth and drinking water. As the jaggey is already in your mouth, the water tastes sweet.
My memory goes down the lane for this Huri Hittu. ( Huri/ Roasted and Hittu flour). In our school days we used to see the kids eating this Huri hittu in the evenings as snack. It was simple and heavenly food. I too have tasted and it was hundred percent Yummy. They used to ( some of our friends mothers' used to wash and dry the ragi/finger millet in shade. ( In side the home). Then slowly they dry roast the ragi and it used to turn as slightly fluffy. Then when it is cooled they powdered in the mill. Store this flour in airtight boxes or tins or good container. Whenever they wanted to prepare the huri hittu, they remove the flour from the box, grated coconut, powder jaggery and mix all the ingredients nicely after adding ghee. Turn them as small lemon size balls or give the ragi coconut-jaggery ghee mixture as it is. Some has to pour milk and give. It was superb snack for the kids in the evenings during those days.
Here is a Huri Hittu laddu which is not at all needed to cook. This Ragi Huri hittu pack is available in the super market / organic shops and some people do prepare at home and sell the flour. But make sure you get the good quality of flour and enjoy eating this laddu.
I have used Alemane Bella/ fresh organic jaggery that is called Jone bella / fresh jaggery/ liquid jaggery which is available in Jaggery preparing place/Organic shops and markets.
Huri Hittu Unde/laddu can be packed for kids snack time. You can take them when you are travelling. It is one of the best snack in the evening.  It fits into all age group category.
Let us see the recipe now;

Ingredients :

Huri Hittu : 2 Cups
Almonds : 1 Cup
Jaggery/Joni bella : 2 to 3 Tablespoons
Cardamom : 5 to 6
Coconut : Dry copra/ Kobbari : 2 to 3 Tablespoons
Ghee : 1 Tablespoon
Raisins : 2 Tablespoons.

Method :

1. Dry grind almonds into powder form./Rava consistency. Keep it aside.
2. Grate  cocomut/kobbari and dry grind it. Let it be powder form.

2. Take a big bowl and put huri hittu, jaggery, cardamom powder, powdered almonds, dry coconut
 and Ragi Huri hittu.

3.Mix all the ingredients nicely by adding ghee.

4. Mix it nicely and take a small portion of the mixture and prepare

6.Prepare rest of the laddu in the same way and arrange them in a plate.

7. Serve them whenever you want to. Store them in a airtight bottle or box.  Shelf time One OR two days.

Note :

Huri hittu can be prepared at home with little care. Adding more/less jaggery is optional. Adding ghee should be little or more. You can use fresh coconut instead of dry copra/ kobbari. Dry roast coconut gratings and then dry grind once it is cooled.
Time : 15 Minutes
Serves  15 to 20 Laddu/Laadu/Unde .
Shelf Time : 1 or 2 Days
Purely South Indian Dish.

Nendra bale Dosa ( Nendra Banana Dosa ).

Nendra  Baale /Nendra banana is a type of banana which is full of nutrients, minerals and vitamins.  This Nendra banana is largely used in South Canara and Kerala.
Nendra bale Dosa is good to have for breakfast and  snack.

 I have used wheat flour, jaggery, rasam powder and salt.
We normally use Patrode batter to prepare this dosa. But I have used wheat flour and no need of grinding any thing. Minimum ingredients are used which is easily available in the kitchen shelves.
Let us see the recipe now :

Ingredients :

Wheat flour : 2 Cups
Nendra Bale/Nendra Banana : 2
Rasam Powder : 2 Teaspoons full
Jaggery : 3 to 4 Tablespoons
Salt : As required
Oil/ghee /butter : 2 to 3 Tablespoons.

 Method :

1. Wash and remove the skin of Nendra Banana. Cut them as thin circle shape.

2. Put wheat flour, powdered jaggery, rasam powder and salt. Mix it with required water and prepare the batter. (Dosa batter Consistency).

3. Keep a pan on the fire and heat. Sprinkle oil on hot tava. ( Keep the flame low now)
4. Dip banana slice in wheat batter and arrange it in circle form.

5. Put some oil on the top, cover and cook. (Low and medium flame).

6.  Turn the other side and cook till it turns golden brown.

7. Now Nendra Bale dideer dosa is read y to serve.
8.Serve hot Nendra Bale dosa with little ghee/butter on the top.

9. Repeat the same with remaining dosa batter and banana slices.

Note : 

The batter should be dosa batter consistency. The banana slices should be thin. Use of any brand rasam powder is optional. Do not use any onion or garlic in the batter. Jaggery quantity more/less is optional.
Time : 30 Minutes.
Serves : 2 to 3.

Banana - Wheat - Rava - Gulkand Cake

Banana - Wheat - Rava Gulkand Cake is the special cake prepared for my dear hubby's Birthday. We had planned for family lunch get-together.

The cake has come out very nicely with excellent flavour of home made healthy Gulkand, soft and fluffy. No egg is used here and it is very simple.
It is always a pleasure to prepare some special dish for people who are near to your heart.
I have used wheat flour ( Ashirvaad ), chiroti rava /thin variety of semolina, banana, gulkand which is done using organic jaggery, normally jaggery, curd, milk, cooking soda and baking powder.
Let us see the recipe now :

Things needed :

Wheat flour : 1 1/2 Cup
Chiroti Rava / Thin variety of semolina : 1/2 Cup
Curd : 1/2 Cup
Milk : 1/2 Cup
Jaggery : 1/2 Cup
Well ripe banana : 1 ( Small  Elakki banana).
Baking soda : 1/4 Teaspoon ( Two pinches)
Baking powder : 1 Teaspoon
Butter : 2 Tablespoons
Gulkand : 2 Teaspoons ( Optional)
Salt : A pinch

Method :

1. Sieve wheat flour, chiroti rava, salt,baking powder and cooking soda. ( 2 to 3 times.)

 2. Put curd, milk, butter and jaggery, banana to a mixi jar . Grind it nicely till it starts to get small bubbles. /Use egg beater and mix all the ingredients nicely.
3. Add two tablespoons of gulkand/any essence of your choice. Grind for another 2 minutes.

4. Remove from the mixi jar to a big bowl.

5. Add sieved wheat, rava, baking powder, salt and cooking soda.
6. Mix all the ingredients nicely. Move your hand on one direction while mixing the batter.

7. Heat the oven for 5 minutes.
8. Sprinkle some wheat flour in the baking tray.
9. Put ready cake mixture to the tray and tap the tray. Let the cake batter spread it equally.

10. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes with 180 degree celsius.

11. Take out the cake and keep it on the oven for 5 minutes.

12. Cut and serve or decorate once it is cooled.

Note :

Egg is not used in this Banana - Wheat  - Rava - Gulkand Cake. Use of jaggery and the rest of the ingredients are healthy ingredients.  You can use sugar instead of jaggey. Use of curd has turned the cake very soft and fluffy. Use less cooking soda. I have topped dates and they look like as if they have burnt. No they haven't burnt. Brown and black baked dates taste awesome. I do not like topping the cake with sugar and butter. So I left it as it is. Instead of butter you can use ghee or normal cooking oil. But butter taste the best. Add only very little butter. It gives nice aroma and is healthy too. You can use egg beater or any other modern equipment to mix, instead of grinding. I like it because you will not have that energy. I have added some dates on the top. (Optional).
Time : 40 Minutes. ( All included , sieving, mixing, grinding and baking.
Serves : 8 to 10.
Some pictures of family gathering .  Birthday Boy Mr. Jayarama Somayaji and His family ..