Snake Gourd - Moong Dal Curry

Snake Gourd is filled with fiberm minerals and vitamins.
Here is a yummy curry using Snake Gourd /Padavala Kai (in Kannada language).

I have used Snake gourd, moong dal, green chilly, ginger and milk.
It simple, quick, easy, delicious and very mild.
Snake gourd is known as Padwal/Chichinda in Hindi, Padavala Kai in Kannada/ Karnataka, Pudavalana in Malayalam/Kerala, Pudalankaai in Tamil/Tamil Nadu and Potlakkaya in Telugu/Andra Pradesh.

Let us see some benefits of Having Snake Gourd in our diet.

Snake Gourd is known for its medicinal values and health benefits in Ayurveda from Ancient periods.
Snake gourd supplies plenty of nutrition to our body. It is filled with water content and helps to cool our body. It is good for heart health and loaded with vitamins and minerals.
Snake gourd has very low calories and zero cholesterol. It is good for people who diet for weight loss. It is full of dietary fiber and digested easily. It is good for diabetes. Snake gourd is helps to remove the toxins from our body. Snake gourd is full of fiber and helps to prevent constipation and regulate the bowel movements. Snake gourd is rich in antioxidants. It helps to strengthen respiratory process in our body. It is good for hair, skin and hair growth.
 There is no Onion or No Garlic in this Snake Gourd Moong Dal Curry.
This simple curry is good for all age group.It is yummy, easy, quick and delicious.

 Let us see the recipe :

Ingredients :

To Cook :
Moong dal : 1/2 Cup
Snake gourd : 1 Small size
Green chilly : 2 to 3
Ginger : An inch
Methi seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon
To Add :
Salt : As required
Turmeric powder : A pinch
Coriander leaves : 1 Tablespoon
Boiled Milk : 1/2 Cup
Besan /Channa flour : 1/2 Tsp
Lemon : 1 Tsp. (1/2 lemon).
To Season :
Mustard Seeds : 1 Tsp
Jeera /Cumin Seeds : 1/2 Tsp
Curry Leaves : 5 to 6
Ghee : 1 Tbs
Ingh/Asafoetida : A little

Method :

1. Wash and cut Snake gourd. Remove the pulp and seeds. Cut into small pieces. Keep it aside.

2. Wash moong dal.
3. Wash and peel off the outer layer of ginger, wash again and grate it.
4. Wash curry leaves, coriander leaves cut into small pieces. Wash and slit green chilly.

5. Put snake gourd pieces, moog dal, slit green chilly, grated ginger, 1/2 tsp of methi seeds and 1/2 cup of water in a pressure cooker and cook for 5 to 6 minutes.

6. Let it cool. Take out the cooker lid, add little turmeric powder and required salt. Mix it well.

7. Add little water and let it cook for 2 to 3 minutes.
8. Add boiled milk and 1/2 tsp of besan/channa flour and mix it nicely. Cook for 2 minutes.

9. Put off the gas and add 1/2 lemon extract, Ghee seasoned mustard seeds, jeera, ingh and curry leaves and mix it well.

10. Shift Snake Gourd - Moong Dal Curry to a serving dish and serve as one of the side dish.

Note :

Adding more chilly is optional. Adding methi seeds is optional. Use of besan is optional.
Ghee adds to the taste. Adding any spice is optional.
Time : 30 Minutes.
Serves : 3 to 4 .

Cabbage - Moong dal Kachori

Moong dal -  dry curry was prepared for the lunch as one of the side dish. As usual some curry was left and I was just thinking of turning the dry curry into some yummy snack.
Suddenly the Kachori came into mind. So it was tried and thats how  we got to have Yummy Kachoris for our evening snack.

Kachoris are very famous in Rajastan., Gujrat and  in most parts of North India. It is also one of the street food in many places in India. It is one of the yummy filling snack too. 
Kachori is always done with moong, aloo or even whole moong. The moong is cooked and spices added to it and then used as stuffing and the outer layer will be normally maida.
Here I have used Rava /thin variety of semolina and the kachori turned as crispy and yummy.
Let us see the The recipe Now :

Things Needed :

Cabbage  + Moong dry curry : 1 Bowl
Chiroti rava /Thin variety of Semolina : 11/2  Cup
Ghee : 1 Tablespoon
Salt : As required
Jeera /Cumin seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon
Oil : 1 Cup

Method :

1. Take a big bowl and add chiroti rava, 1 tbs of ghee, salt and jeera.

2. Mix all the ingredients nicely and kneed the dough well. It should be soft.

3.Now divide the dough into small and roll as small poori.

4. Fill in the dry  curry and bring all the edges to middle and press a little.

5. Flatten a bit and keep the ready to fry kachori on a plate.

6. Prepare the stuffed kachoris and arrange them in a plate.
7. Keep a pan on the fire and add oil. Let it get hot.
8. Now fry the done kachoris one by one on medium and low flame.

9. Let it turn golden brown on both sides.

10. Remove it from hot oil and put it on a kitchen tissue.

11. Fry all the kachoris the same way.

12. Serve Kachoris with ketchup or chutney.

Note :

Remember to use the good curry. It should be completely thick.( No moisture content). Use of wheat flour instead of rava is optional. Use of garam masala to dry curry is optional.
Time : 30 Mintues
Serves : 8 to 10 Kachoris can be prepared.

Preparing Cabbage + Moong Dal Curry

Wash and cut cabbage into very small. 1 Small bowl
Wash and dry roast moong dal and cook till they turn soft.
Now keep a pan on the fire add oil, mustard seeds, jeera and fry. Add curry leaves and green chilly.
Add cut cabbage and fry on low flame. Add cooked moong dal, required salt and stir nicely. Let all the moisture dry completely. Add grated coconut and mix it well.

Let this curry cool completely. Use the cool curry and prepare yummy kachoris.

Rice Flour - Moong - Urid chakkuli

Chakkuli ..chakkuli yummy yummy chakkuli. Crispy Chakkuli, Crunchy Chakkuli .

Oh, chakli, chakkuli, muruku, is one of the fried fritters from Karnata since ages. We have read about the pregnant women wants to have chakkuli, the kid wants chakli in her snack box, when the son in law arrive, there will be loads of snack but he likes chakli very much. We want to pack chakkuli while travelling to touring, picnic or even International visit, where son or the daughter waiting to see what all snacks are sneaked and traveled so far.
I am writing all this above because Chakkuli has so much importance in our Indian culture. For Gokulastami /Shree Krishna Janmastami we prepare chakkulis, Ganesha Festivals we do prepare and How can we forget our Deepavali, festival of life has to be have chakkuli. It is easy to prepare and pack, yummy to have and it has a long shelf life.
In Olden days or the days gone, chakkuli used to prepared with using urid dal and rice flower only. Days have gone and so much experiments, different ingredients also used for making chakkuli. Rava chakkuli, Same /little millet chakkuli, palak chakkuli, potato chakkuli, cashews chakkuli, Aval/Poha chakkuli, ragi chakkuli, jolada chakkuli, so the list goes on.
For the festival I have tried here one of the yummy chakkuli recipe and I am sure you too will surely like it, prepare it and enjoy it. It is soft, crispy, crunchy and of course easy.

Just remember you do not use much of roasted chenna, only 2 tablespoons.
I have used rice flour, cooked moong, urid dal, sesame seeds, roasted chenna, little jeera and butter.
The butter also should be minimum or chakkuli might absorb more oil while frying.
No need to roast any thing. Just cook dals separately and then mix it nicely.

Here is the recipe :

Ingredients :

Fine Rice Flour :  3 1/2 to 4 Cups
Urid dal : 1/2 Cup
Moong dal : Little less than 1/2 cup. 2 to 3 Tablespoons
Roasted Chenna /Huri Kadale /Pottu Kadale : 2 Tablespoons
Butter : 2 Tablespoons
Red chilly Powder : 1 Teaspoon
Jeera : 1 Teaspoon
Sesame Seeds : 1 Tablespoon
Oil : 2 Cups (To Fry)
Salt : As Required
Chakli Mould

Method :

1. Wash and cook urid dal and moong dal separately with required water. (Pressure cook).
Let it cool.

2. Dry grind Roasted Chenna / Huri Kadale / Pottu Kadale and keep it aside.
3. Put cooked dals in a big bowl. Smash it nicely. Add salt, rice flour, jeera, sesame seeds, chilly powder and butter.

4. Add dry ground Roasted Chenna and mix all the ingredients nicely.
5. Now add required water and prepare chakli dough. (Add water little by little).

6. Divide the dough into small portions.
7. Take a handful of dough and insert it inside the chakli mould.

8. Press the chakli on the clean cloth.

9. Keep Oil on the fire and heat.

10. Fry chakli in hot oil on medium flame. Fry on both sides.
11. Remove from the hot oil and put it on a kitchen tissue.

12. Repeat the same with remaining dough and prepare the remaining chakkuli.
13. Keep it in a big bowl and let it cool.

14. Store crispy chakkuli in a airtight box or bottle.

15. Serve with a cup of coffee/tea/juice anything of your choice.

Note :

Remember the chakkuli will be so soft while preparing./pressing. Do it carefully or it might break while leaving in oil.
Moong dal adds to the taste. You can dry roast a little and then use it. I have not done it. Let the moong be lesser than urid dal. Adding roasted chenna is optional. Adding hot oil (2 to 3 tbs), instead of butter is optional. Keeping more oil for frying is optional. Adding  more red chilly is optional.
Time 40 to 60 minutes.
Serves : As per your desire

Shelf life : Nearly 2 Weeks.

Ragi Moong Dal Dosa

Ragi is one of the wonderful millet which is gluten free. I have used ragi flour and moong dal and prepared yummy dosa and it is with out fermentation. No Soda or No Eno and it is one of the healthy dish you need to add it your diet.

Ragi Moong dosa is good for people who wants to diet. it is also diabetic friendly. Ragi provides vitamins and minerals and moongdal boost energy and helps to keep your tummy full for a long tim.
I have used ragi flour, moong dal, very little pepper pods and handful curry leaves.
You can prepare dosas as soon as you grind the dosa batter. No need for the batter to be fermented. Good for all age group and is very digestive to all age group.
Let us see the recipe now :

Ingredients :

Moong dal : 1 Cup full
Ragi flour : 1 Cup full
Pepper Pods : 6 to 8.
Curd or butter milk : 1 Small cup
Curry leaves : Handful.
Salt : As required

Method :

1. Wash and soak moong dal for an hour. Grind it with curry leaves and pepper pods.

2. Add little water to ragi flour and mix it well. Add this mix to mixi jar and churn for 2 to 3 minutes.
3. Take it out from the mixi jar to a big bowl. Add required salt and a cup of curd/butter milk.

4. Mix the batter nicely and keep it aside.
5. Keep a pan on the fire and heat. Clean it with a clean kitchen tissue.

6. Let the pan be on lower flame. Take out a ladle full of moong - ragi dosa batter and spread it on the pan/tava.
7. Sprinkle some oil on the top. Cover and cook on medium and low flame.
8. Turn the other side and cook for a few seconds.

9. Ragi - Moong Dosa is ready to serve.

10. Serve with your choice of side dish.

Note :

Add little water to grind. If the batter turns watery, add little more ragi flour or rava/semolina.
Dosa might turn bit hard. Adding water and mixing the ragi flour just before adding to mixi, helps to grind the batter nicely. Adding pepper pods and curry leaves to dosa batter is optional. They do help to reduce the gas formation of the food. Adding curd to the batter helps to soften dosa.
Time : 1 hour for soaking moong dal + grinding 5 minutes + Dosa preparation 10 minutes.

Serves : 2 to 3.