Udupi Saaru

Udupi food is very famous. People that too Brahmins from Udupi started hotels in different places and made good food for people and people enjoy the good food all over the world. I am proud that I come from Udupi and do have the interest in preparing healthy food. People can learn and enjoy the foodfollowing my blog. Here is such one recipe that which is very famous "UDUPI SAARU".

We do use fresh spices, fry the spices, powder it and then  use it for  one time.  Thats the secret of Our Udupi style. In some places they call it as rasam. Actually in Rasam there won't be any dall. The water is boiled, added tamarind, salt, pepper and jeera. So Saaru is very much different from Rasam.
Udupi Saaru will have toor dal in it. The fried spices like fenugrik seeds, coriander seeds, red byadagi chilly, ingh and jeera /cumin seeds is a must. Some time we do add ripe tomatoes and some time it is with out tomatoes. In temples it is normally with out tomatoes. The Temple saaru taste heavenly.
Let us see the recipe of Saaru Now :

Ingredients :

To Cook :
Toor Dal : 1 Small Cup
Tomato : 1 (big)
To Add :
Tamarind pulp : 2 Tablespoons
Ghee : 1 Teaspoon
Home Made Rasam Powder : 2 to 3 Teaspoons
Salt : As required
Turmeric powder : A pinch
Ingh /Asafoetida : A little
Coriander leaves : 2 to 3 Tablespoons
For Fresh Spices :
Methi Seeds/Fenugrik Seeds : 1/4 Teaspoon
Coriander Seeds : 3 Tablespoon (1Handful)
Byadagi Chilly : 5 to 6
Ingh /Asafoetida : A little
Curry Leaves : 6 to 8
Seasoning :
Coconut Oil : 1 Tablespoon
Mustard seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon
Ingh /Asafoetida : Very little
Curry leaves : 5 to 6

Method :

1. Wash and cook Toor dal.

2. Soak tamarind in hot water and squeeze out the pulp. Keep the pulp aside.

3. Wash and cut coriander leaves,curry leaves, tomato.
4. Keep a pan on the fire and add l tsp of coconut oil.
5. Add methi seeds and fry. Add coriander seeds and fry till they turn golden brown.

6. Add byadagi red chilly and fry. Put off the fire and add jeera and ingh.

7. Add curry leaves and leave it for cooling. Dry grind it once it is cooled.

8. Add toor dal to a big pan and mix the dal well by using a spatula or hand.
9. Add required water, salt, cut tomatoes, turmeric powder. Mix it well and cook for 2 to 3 minutes.

10. Add 3 teaspoons of dry ground fresh spice /rasam powder and mix it nicely. Boil it for 3 to 4 minutes.

11. Shift the rasam to a serving bowl. Add mustard seasoning and cut coriander leaves.

12. Add a teaspoon of ghee and serve with plain rice.

Note :

Toor dal should be cooked into soft texture. It helps to mix dal with water nicely. (Smash the dal nicely before adding water. 2 to 3 cups of water should be added. Rasam should not be water or thick either. Adding ingh helps to add the aroma and good for digesting. Fresh fried rasam powder adds to the taste.
Time : 30 Minutes. 

Serves : 3 to 4 .

Pumpkin Dal

Pumpkin is filled with loads of healthy properties. It is always better to make use of the natural benefits from vegetables.
Here is  Pumpkin Dal that you can try and enjoy your meal.

Here is a Pumpkin Dal that I have prepared and it is mild, delicious and nice to have with all the main dishes like plain rice, chapatis, rotis, pooris, dosa or idli.
I have used " Pumpkin ", toor dal, green chilly and a little rasam powder. (Freshly done at home).
Let us see some benefits of eating " Pumpkin " in our diet.
Pumpkin is one of the winter squash. They are rich in healthy properties. It is low in calorie and good for weight loss. It is rich in antioxidants and helps to boost our immune system. It helps to protect our eye sight. It is rich in Vitamin A. It protect us from chronic diseases. Pumpkin is rich in Vitamin C, Vitamin E and Potassium. It is good for our skin and rich in fiber.
No Onion or No Garlic is used here in this " Pumpkin Dal ".
It is simple, quick and healthy and suits to all age group.
Let us see the recipe now.

Things Needed :

To Cook :
Toor Dal : 1 Cup
Pumpkin Pieces : 1 Bowl. (Half of 1 small pumpkin).
To Add :
Green chilly : 2
Rasam Powder : 1 Tbs
Grated raw mango : 2 Tbs
Mustard Seasoning : 1 Tbs
Salt : As required
Seasoning :
Cooking Oil : 1 Teaspoon
Mustard Seeds : 1/2 Tsp
Jeera/Cumin seeds
Ingh /Asafoetida : A little
Curry Leaves : 6 to 8

Method :

1. Wash and remove the outer hard part of pumpkin and cut into small.
2. Wash dal and pressure cook for 5 to 6 minutes. Wash curry leaves and green chilly.

3. Add pumpkin and 1/4 tsp of methi seeds and  cook  for 4 to 5 minutes.
4. Wash and grate mango and add it to cooked dal.

5. Add salt and little turmeric and mix it well. Add slit green chilly.
6. Add rasam powder, mix all the ingredients well and cook for 2 to 3 minutes.

7.  Shift Pumpkin dal to a serving dish and add mustard seasoning.

8. Pumpkin dal is ready to serve.

9. We had it with plain rice and raw mango tambuli.

Note :

Use of pressure cooker to cook dal helps the dal to cook well. Cook Pumpkin separately. Adding methi seeds reduces the cholesterol in food. Home made rasam powder adds to the taste.
Adding more chilly is optional.
Time : 30 Minutes.

Serves : 2 to 3
Home made Rasam Powder :
Dry fry 1/4 tsp of methi seeds, 2 to 3 tbs of coriander seeds, 5 to 6 byadagi chilly, 1/2 ts of jeera. Add little ingh/Asafotida.
Dry grind once it is cooled.  (Only for 1 time use).

Elemuri /Elemuni Soppu Tambuli

Elemuni / Elemuri/Elevarige ಎಲೆಮುನಿ ಅಥವಾ ಎಲೆಮುರಿ ಸೊಪ್ಪು are loaded with medicinal values and it is good to have in our diet.

I got these leaves from one of my relative who has the plant.
The botanical name for this plant is known as Senna accidentalis or Casia accidentalis.
I tried Tambuli and Chutney, using these leaves and it is an excellent herb dish. It goes well with plain rice. (Tambuli) and chutney can be served with chapatis, rotis, rotti or any other main dishes.
Tambuli is prepared using curd or butter milk. It is one of the signature dish from Udupi and served in the beginning of the lunch. Tambuli is mixed with rice. It helps to digest the food well and keeps you healthy.
Tambuli is prepared using very simple healthy spices like jeera/cumin seeds, pepper, ingh and fresh coconut.
Let us see the recipe of Tambuli here.

Ingredients :

To Fry :
Ghee : 1/2 Tsp
Jeera / Cumin Seeds : 1/2 Tsp
Pepper Pods : 5 to 6
Green chilly : 1
Coconut : 2 Tbs
Ingh/Asafoetida : A little
Elemuri leaves : 1 Handful
To Add :
Curd :  3 to 4 Tbs
Salt : Required Salt.
To Season :
Ghee : 1/2 Tsp
Jeera/Cumin Seeds : 1/2 Tsp
Asafoetida : A pinch
Curry Leaves : 3 to 4

Method :

1. Pull out the leaves from the stick.

2. Wash it nicely and keep it aside. Wash curry leaves and a green chilly.

3. Grate coconut and keep it aside.
4. Keep a pan on the fire and heat. Add ghee, jeera and pepper pods.
5. Fry for 10 seconds. Add green chilly and curry leaves. Fry a little. Add ingh.

6. Add Elemuri leaves and fry nicely till they turn crisp. ( On low and medium flame, do not burn).

7. Put off the fire and add coconut. Mix all the ingredients well.
8. Grind it with little water once the ingredients are cooled down.

9.Shift it to a serving dish. Add salt.

10. Add 1/2 Cup of curd. ( 4 to 5 tbs). Mix it well.

11. Add jeera and curry leaves seasoned with ingh and ghee.

12. Serve as one of the side dish with lunch.

Note :
One should use tender Elemuri /Elemuni/Elevarige Leaves. Use fresh leaves.
Tamubuli should be mild. Having Fresh coconut is always good for health. It is rich in good cholesterol and contain healthy properties.
Tambuli can be added with water and can be served as healthy drink.
Time : 20 Minutes 
Serves : 3 to 4 .
 Prepared Chapatis using this Elemuni Soppu Tambuli.

Channa dal - Tomato Chutney

Channa dal and Tomato chutney is one of the yummy chutney.

We love to have varieties of chutneys with plain rice or any other dishes like idli, vada, dosa, uppittu, chapati and so many to list it.
Chutneys are very nice to eat with dosas, idli, poori, chapati, rotti etc etc. Varieties of chutneys can be prepared.
I have prepared Chutney using channa dal and tomato. Tomato is from our garden and I am very happy to prepare this yummy, spicy chutney.
No Onion or No Garlic is used here in this Channa dal and Tomato Chutney.
It is very easy, simple, quick and yummy.

Things Needed :

Tomato : 1
Channa Dal : 1 Tablespoon Full
Green Chilly : 2 to 3
Curry Leaves : 6 to 8
Coconut : 1 Cup
Tamarind : A small marble size
To season :
Coconut Oil : 1 Teaspoon
Mustard seeds : 1/2 Tsp
Ingh : A little
Curry leaves : 4 to 5

Method :

1. Wash tomato and cut into small.

2. Grate coconut and keep it aside.
3. Keep a pan and heat. Add oil and channa dal, red chilly and fry till they turn slightly brown.

4. Add cut tomatoes and fry till it turns soft.

5.Add little tamarind and fry for a minute. Put off the fire and add grated coconut.
6. Let all the fried ingredients get cool.

7. Add required water, salt and grind till it turn soft texture. Take it out to a serving dish.

8. Add seasoning of mustard seeds, ingh, curry leaves done in coconut oil.
9. Add this seasoning to ground channa dal - tomato chutney.

10. Now the chutney is ready to serve.

Note :

You can dry roast dal and tomatoes till it turn soft. Adding more chilly is optional.
Adding more coconut is optional. If you are using this chutney with dosa or idli let the chutney be mild spicy. If it is for lunch let it be bit spicy. (Optional).
Time : 15 Minutes
Serves : 2 to 3  .