Banana stem Dal

Banana Stem dal is one of the healthy dish and it is said that at least once in a year you must eat banana stem. It helps to cleanse your intestine. It also helps to remove or reduce the stone in gal bladder.

Banana plant is one of the God's gift to mankind. Each part of this plant is used by man.  Banana fruit to eat, banana leaf to have food, banana stem is used  medicine.  It has very good medicinal value and used in home remedy medicines.
Eating banana stem helps to cleanse our body and take care of our kidney. It helps to reduce or remove the stone formed in the kidney. It is said if have gulped the hair by chance it can bring out the hair from your body. But remember this stem should be used rarely. (Once in a while). Often used  It heats up the body and you might get ulcer in your mouth, the eyes might turn red because of excess body heat.

I have used banana stem, moong dal, tamarind tokku (tender tamarind green chutney) and some green chilly.

Let us see the recipe now :

Things Needed : 

Banana Stem : 1 Bowl

Moong Dal : 1/2 cup

Green chilly : 2 to 3 

Tamarind Tokku : 1 Teaspoon full

Salt : As required
Ginger : An Inch 

Seasoning : 

Coconut Oil :1 Teaspoon

Mustard seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon

Jeera/Cumin seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon

Method :

1. Wash and cut banana stem and remove the thread you get while cutting.
2. Cut it into very small pieces. Wash and soak them in plain water.

3. Wash and put moong dal in a pressure cooker and add cut banana stem.
4. Add little water and cook for 3 to 4 minutes.( Or little more).

5. Wash and cut coriander leaves, curry leaves and slit green chilly.
6. Wash and remove the outer layer of ginger and wash it again. Grate the clean piece and keep it aside.
7. Keep a pan on the fire and add oil. Let it get hot. Add mustard seeds and let it splutter.
8. Add jeera and cut chilly. Fry for 10 seconds. Add ingh and curry leaves.
9. Add cooked banana stem and moong dal. Mix it well. Add little water, grated ginger and required salt.
10. Mix it nicely. Add turmeric powder. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes.
11. Add tamarind tokku if you have or add tamarind pulp. ( 1 Tablespoon).

12. Mix it well and cook for another 2 minutes. Shift Banana stem Dal to a serving dish.

13. Add cut coriander leaves and serve.
14. Adding a tablespoon of ghee helps to enhance the taste.

Note :

You should soak banana stem pieces quickly in plain water. It helps to retain white colour as it is.
Adding any spice of your choice is optional. Adding tamarind pulp instead of tamarind tokku is optional. Adding more chilly and use of any cooking oil is optional. Adding water to get the thickness of the dal is optional. It taste better if it is bit thick. Do not get worried if the pieces are not soft and do not think they are not cooked well. They are bit hard even if cook them for long time even. So let the pieces be very small.
Time : 30 Minutes
Serves :  4 to 5. 

Little Millet / Saame & Moong Dal Sweet Pongal

                          Little Millete/Saame & Moong Dal Sweet Pongal

Ready to serve Little Millete/Saame & Moong Dal Sweet Pongal

Little Millet/Saame is one of the healthy millet and millets are on the healthy wave these days. Though it is said even in those days may be thousands of years ago in India people used to only millets as their daily food not rice. Millets  are grown easily and they do not need much water either.
I have prepared Little millet Huggi and of course it is one of the easy dish that you can cook when you are expecting some guest. No one can say no to this yummy dish I know.
I have used Moong dal, little millet, jaggery, ghee, cardamom and some dry fruits. The fresh coconut adds to the taste.
Little millet is full of fiber and gluten free. It is easy to digest and keeps you full for a long time. It is good for diabetic patient and helps to maintain the blood sugar level.
Let us see the recipe now :

Things Needed :

Little millet : 1 Cup
Moong dal : 1/2 Cup
Jaggery : 1/2 Cup
Fresh grated coconut : 1/2 Cup
Cardamom : 3 to 4 pods
Salt : A pinch
Ghee : 2 to 3 Tablespoons
Milk : 1/2 cup

Method :

1. Wash and cook little millet and moong dal. Add 1/2 cup of milk while cooking.
( 1 Cup little millet : 2 cups of water + 1/2 cup of moong dal : 1/2 cup water and 1/2 cup milk. All together 3 cups ).

2. Now keep jaggery in a pan and put some water. Let it melt completely. Sieve this jaggery water and keep the clean jaggery water aside.

3. Keep  a big bowl on the fire and put cleaned jaggery and cooked little millet with moong dal. Add a tablespoon of ghee, so that it does not get burnt at the bottom.
4. Mix all the ingredients nicely. Add salt. Let it turn bit thick. (Let it be on low flame).
5. Mix it well and let it cook for 2 to 3 minutes. Powder cardamom and add it.

6. Grate coconut and add it.

7. Keep a small pan on the fire and put remaining ghee. Fry dry nuts in it. ( Raisins, cashews).

8. Shift the ready Little Millet/Saame & Moong dal Sweet pongal to a serving dish.
9. Put fried nuts and serve hot Little Millet/Saame & Moong dal Sweet Pongal.

Note :

Adding milk while cooking adds to the taste. Add milk along with water. It is better to cook in pressure cooker because it turns soft and nice. Or you might feel the millet grain bit hard. Adding less or more jaggery is optional. Adding more/less ghee is optional. You can add one or two cloves along with cardamoms. It gives nice aroma and good for digestion.
Time : 30 Minutes.
Serves : 4 to 5 .

Bean Seed and Chayote Squash Curry

Beans curry is prepared using bean seeds which were just ripe and soft. We get these beans in the market most of the time. When the beans turns ripe, you get these soft pods. The seeds are full of proteins and the Bean seed curry is just yum yum.

I have used Bean seeds, moong dal and home made curry powder and coconut along with tamarind.
Just saw a pile of Dry beans in the vegetable shop and got some thinking of preparing curry. Legumes/Beans are filled with proteins and good to have them regularly.
Let us see some benefits of eating Bean Seeds in our diet.
Dried beans are rich in minerals and vitamins. They are good protein provide food for vegetarian diet. They are filled with potassium, magnesium, iron and zinc. They rich in soluble fiber. They are rich in carbohydrates and provide energy to our body.
No Onion or No Garlic is used in this curry. It is easy and yummy and goes with almost all the main dishes.
Let us see the recipe now :

Things Needed :

To Cook :
Chayote Squash : 2
Bean Seeds : 1 Bowl. (1/2 Kg)
Moong dal : 2 to 3 Tablespoons
Methi Seeds/Fenugrik seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon

To Grind :
Spice Powder/Sambar Powder/Rasam Powder : 1 Tablespoonful
Coconut grated : 2 to 3 Tablespoons
Tamarind : Small marble size
Pepper Pods : 2 to 3

To Add :
Green chilly : 2
Jaggery : 1 Teaspoon (Powdered)
Salt : As required

Seasoning : 
Coconut Oil : 1 Teaspoon
Mustard seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon
Ingh/Asafoetida : A pinch
Curry leaves : 6 to 8

Method : 

1. Remove the bean pods from beans. Wash and keep it aside. Wash green chilly and slit and keep it aside.
2. Wash and remove the outer layer of chayote squash and cut them into small pieces.

3. Wash moong dal and pressure cook with bean pods, methi seeds and chayote squash. (3 to 4 Whistles).

4. Grate coconut and grind it with home made spice powder and tamarind. (Use required water to grind).

5. Keep cooked bean pod, chayote squash and moong dal mixture on the fire.
6. Add turmeric powder. slit green chilly and required salt.  Add little water and mix it well and let it boil for 2 to 3 minutes.

7. Add ground coconut mixture and mix it well. Add jaggery and let it cook for 3 to 4 minutes.
8. Shift " Bean Seed and Chayote Squash Curry " to a serving bowl.

9. Add mustard seasoning to the curry and serve with the main dish you have prepared.
10. Add little ghee just before serving. (Optional).

Note :

Cooking vegetables and bean pod in pressure cooker is optional. You can use any brand of masala powder/rasam powder/sambar powder. I have used home made spice powder. Use of jaggery is optional. (Adding jaggery helps to reduce to gas in the curry). Adding more /less spice is optional.
Use of toor dal instead of moong dal is optional. (Or you can cook with out using the dal too).
Time : 30 Minutes
Serves : 4 to 5.

Preparation of Spice powder :

Dry roast 1/4 Teaspoon of methi seeds, a very small piece of cinnamon, 1/4 Teaspoon of urid dal, 2 tablespoon of coriander seeds, 5 to 6 byadagi chilly, 2 to 3 pods of pepper pods5 to 6 curry leaves, a pinch of ingh/asfoetida and 1/2 Teaspoon of jeera/cumin seeds. Dry roast or fry with a teaspoon of coconut oil, one by one and dry grind it when it turns cool. The fresh spice powder is ready to use.
 1 Time Use .

Cabbage - Tomato Dal

Cabbage - Tomato Dal is a gravy dish. Dal is nice to have with almost all the main dishes. This is an easy and simple dish and all age group of people can njoy having this cabbage - tomato dal.

I have used tomatoes, cabbage and Moong dal.
Let us see some benefits of having " Garam Masala in our diet ".
Garam Masala is mixed spice powder. Coriander seeds, cumin seeds, cardamom, clove, fenugreek seeds, cinnamon, pepper pods, nutmeg and other spices are roasted slowly and then ground together to prepare home made garam masala powder.
Garam Masala helps to fight disease and build immunity. It helps to relieve pain and inflammation.
It slow down the aging process. It helps to lose weight. Garam Masala helps the food to digest easily and keep our body warm. It helps to lower the blood sugar level and detoxify the body. They also hep the bad breath away.
Let us see the recipe Now :
No Onion or No Garlic is used in this "Cabbage - Tomato Dal".

Ingredients :

Moong dal/Toor dal  : 1/2 Cup
Cabbage : 2 Cups
Green chilly : 2 to 3
Tomatoes : 2 to 3
Garam Masala Powder : 1/2 Teaspoon
Rasam Powder : 1 Teaspoon
Salt : As required
Oil : 1 Teaspoon
Ghee : 1 Teaspoon
Mustard seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon
Jeera/Cumin Seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon
Dry ginger powder : 1/4 Teaspoon
Curry Leaves : 6 to 8
Ingh/Asafoetida : A little
Coriander leaves : 1 Tablespoon

Method 

1. Wash and cut cabbage into small pieces. Wash and remove the seeds and cut tomatoes.
2. Wash and cut green chilly.

3. Wash and cook moong/toor dal in a pressure cooker and keep it aside.
4. Keep a pan on the fire and heat. Add oil, mustard seeds and jeera.
5. Let mustard seeds splutter. Add curry leaves and cut green chilly.
6. Add cut cabbage and fry it for a minute. Now add cut tomatoes and mix it well.

7. Add turmeric powder and a glass of water. Let the cabbage and tomato cook nicely till soft.

8. Add cooked moong dal and mix it well. Add salt and let it boil for a minute.

9. Add garam masala and rasam powder and mix it well and water if required.

10. Let it cook for 3 to 4 minutes.

11.Shift the curry to a serving dish. Add ghee and coriander leaves.
12. Serve it with the main dish you have prepared.

Note :

Pressure cooking the dal mixes well with cabbage and tomatoes. Adding any spice of your choice is optional. Adding more/less spice and oil is optional. Adding ghee is optional. Adding onions and garlic to the curry is optional.
Time : 25 Minutes
Serves : 3 to 4.

Lady finger Curry

Lady finger is one of the vegetable that we get in all seasons/around the year. It is also one of the favourite vegetable of many. I too like bendekai/bendi/lady finger/okra what ever we call it.
This is a side dish and goes well with idli, dosa, chapati,roti, plain rice and any type of rotti. (Ragi rotti, akki rotti etc).

I have used little moong dal, lady finger and some home prepared spice powder.
Lets see some benefits of having cinnemon in our diet.
Cinnemon may lower blood sugar in type One or type Two diabetes. It is rich in anti aging property. It helps to reduce blood pressure and it helps in raising the good cholesterol and reduces the bad cholesterol level. Cinnemon is rich in anti oxidants, antifungal, anti bacterial and antiviral properties. It helps in clearing up mucus and eases the breating circulation. It is also rich in anti inflammatory properties.
Lets see the recipe Now:
No Onion or No Garlic is used in Lady Finger curry. It is an easy and quick dish if you have this particular spice powder ready.

Things Needed :

Lady Finger/Bendekai : 8 to 10
Moong Dal : Handful ( 2 Tablespoons)
Spice powder : 2 to 3 Teaspoons
Tamarind : 1 Tablespoon
Jaggery : 1 Tablespoon
Salt : As required
Mustard seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon
Jeera : 1/2 Teaspoon
Curry leaves : 6 to 8
Ingh /Asafoetida : a pinch
Oil : 1 Tablespoon

Method :

1 Wash and remove all the moisture from lady finger. Cut them in to small pieces.
2. Soak tamarind in hot water for 5 minutes and squeeze out the pulp.
3. Keep a pan on the fire and put oil and heat. Add mustard seeds and let it splutter.
4. Add jeera and ingh. Add curry leaves. Add cut lady finger and fry till they turn golden brown.

5. Keep a big pan or bowl. Add a glass of water and washed moong dal. Let it boil and cook till soft.
6. Add tamarind pulp, required salt, a pinch of turmeric powder and jaggery. Let it boil for 2 minutes.
7. Add friend lady finger and mix it well. Let it boil for a minute. Stir once.
8. Add spice powder and mix it well. Let it cook for 2 minutes. Shift the curry to a serving dish.

9. Add cut coriander leaves and serve with the main dish you have prepared.

Note :
Fry lady finger pieces nicely so that it does not get sticky. Adding any spice is optional. Ex: Rasam powder, Sambar powder, Garam Masala etc. I prefer using home made powder. It is always better to use home made spices. Adding more/less jaggery is optional. Adding a spoon of ghee is optional.
Adding toor dal instead of moong dal is optional. Moong is known as healthy dal.
Time 20 Minutes.
Serves : 3 to 4

Recipe for Spice Powder ",

Things needed :
Methi Seeds : 1/4 Teaspoon
Coriander Seeds : 2 Tablespoon.
Jeera : 1/2 Teaspoon
Channa /Kadale bele : 1/2 Teaspoon
Clove : 1
Cinnnemon  : A very small piece. (Just to add some aroma)
Red chilly : 5 to 6
Ingh/Asafoetida
Method :
Dry roast all the ingredients one by one til they get good aroma and turn slightly golden brown.
Keep a pan and dry roast methi till it turns brown (roasted brown), add channa dal and dry roast, add jeera and red chilly Roast it on low flame so that not get burnt. (Should be careful),
Add clove and cinnemon piece and roast it nicely. Remove it from the pan and let it cool.
Dry grind this masala and enjoy. Add only 2 to 3 teaspoons of the powder to the curry at a time. (one time).