Drumstick - Potato Curry / Sambar

Drumstick is one of the favourite vegetable of many people. The aroma of drumstick loved by them. And the juicy drumstick is very nice to chew and it contain full of nutritious value.

I have used Potatoes, drumsticks, sambar powder, toor dal and little coconut. The curry is really delicious and all the main dishes can be enjoyed with this Drumstick - Potato Curry.

Let us see what do they call drumstick in some of our Indian States.
Drumstick's Scientific name is Moringa Oleifera.
Drumsticks /Nuggekai in Kannada language - Karnataka, Murungakkai in Tamil. Muringakkaya or Muringakka in Malayalam. Munnakaya Mulaku Kada and in Hindi it is Sajjam Ki Phalli, Saigan, shinga segva. In Bengali Sajane Dauta and in Gujarathi Saragvani Shing and in Konkani Moska Saang/ Massingasaang, Marati - shevaga/Sheng and in Panjabi - Savonjna and in Tulu Nurge.

 Let us see some benefits of Eating Drumsticks in our diet.
Drumstick is filled with nutritious value.
They do contain calcium, vitamins, zinc and iron. They are rich in B -Complex vitamins, Vitamin B6, Vitamin B 1, B-2, B-3. Vitamin A, Vitamin C and magnesium.
Drumstick and its leaves helps to control blood sugar level in our body. They help to improve digestive help. It helps in building the strong bones in our body. It helps to purify the blood. It helps to relieves respiratory disorders. It helps to boost immunity in our body. It contain antioxidant properties.
Caution :Pregnant women should not consume drumsticks or its leaves. Eating Drumstick curry or any other form might cause abortion.
Let us see the recipe Now :

Things Needed :

To Cook :
Drumstick : 4 to 5
Toor dal : 1/2 Cup. ( 3 to 4 Tablespoons )
Potatoes : 2 to 3

To Grind :
Sambar powder : 2 Tablespoons
Jeera /Cumin Seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon
Coconut : 1 Small Cup /3 to 4 Tablespoons
Tamarind Pulp : 1 Tablespoon

To Add :

Seasoning : Mustard, curry leaves and ingh and Oil
Salt : As required
Coriander leaves : 2 Tablespoons ( Optional )
Turmeric powder : A pinch

Method :

1. Wash and cut drumsticks into small pieces. Peel of the outer layer of drumstick.
2. Wash and cut potatoes into pieces.

3. Wash toor dal and pressure cook drumstick pieces, potato pieces and toor dal with required water.

4. Soak a small marble size of tamarind in hot water and squeeze out the pulp.
5. Grate coconut and grind it with, 1/2 Teaspoon jeera,  tamarind pulp and sambar powder. Add required water to grind.

6. Remove the ground coconut mixture and keep it aside.
7. Keep a pan on the fire and put cooked drumstick, potatoes and toor dal. Add required salt.

8. Add a pinch of turmeric powder. Mix all the ingredients slowly. Let it boil for 2 to 3 minutes.
9. Add ground coconut - spice mixture and mix it slowly. Let it boil for 2 to 3 minutes.
10. Shift the ready Drumstic Potato Curry to a serving dish.

11. Prepare seasoning with mustard seeds, curry leaves and ingh and add it to ready to serve sambar.
12. Add cut coriander leaves and serve Drumstick - Potato Sambar with the main dish you have prepared.

Note :

Do not over cook potatoes and drumsticks. You cook it separately. Adding any brand of sambar powder is optional. Adding jeera while grinding helps the curry to be free from gas formation in the stomach. I did not peel off potatoes. Adding garlic and onions to curry is optional. Stir the curry slowly.
Time : 30 Minutes.
Serves : 4 to 5.

Chutney Rava Rotti

Chutney Rava Rotti is prepared using Chutney and Rava/Semolina.

I prepared this chutney for afternoon lunch and used the left over chutney to prepare crispy, yummy rava rotti
Rava rotti turned yummy. It is easy, yummy, quick and simple. You can prepare this rotti very easily and quick. You can add the vegetables of your choice. All the ingredients are already mixed in the chutney and it adds taste to rotti.
I have used coconut, green chilly, ondelaga /Gotu kola leaves and little tamarind for chutney.
Let us see the recipe now :

Ingredients :

Rava /Semolina Medium sized : 2 Cups
Chutney /Any chutney : 1 Small cup
Carrots : 2
Salt : As required
Curd : 2 Tablespoons
Oil : 3 to 4 Tablespoons

Method :

1. Take a big bowl and add curd, required salt, rava and mix it well.

2. Add chutney and required water.

3. Wash and scrape out the outer layer of carrots and grate it.
4. Put grated carrots to rava and mix it well. Add water if required.

5. Keep a pan on the fire and heat. Put a teaspoon of oil on the top.
6. Spread the oil around the pan with the help of spatula.

7. Now take a handful of rava rotti mixture and spread it with your finger. ( As thin as you like ).
8. Add little oil on the top of rotti and let it cook on medium and low flame.

9. Turn the other side and cook for a minute.

10. Now Chutney Rava Rotti is ready to serve.

11. Serve with your choice of side dish like chutney powder, chutney or sambar/curry.

12. We had Chutney Rava Rotti with coriander - coconut chutney and chutney powder. Added a teaspoon of fresh home made ghee on the top while serving.

Note :

Do not use stale chutney. You might get sick. Use of any vegetable of your choice is optional.
Use of more /less oil is optional. Adding curd to rotti mixture adds to the taste. ( Optional ).
Adding onions to rotti is optional. Chutney is filled with all the ingredients. Adding extra coriander leaves, curry leaves and coconut is optional.
Time : 20 Minutes.
Serves : 2 to 3.

Ondelaga / Gotu Kola leaves Chutney :

Wash and remove the stem from Ondelaga if they are very hard. Grate coconut. Grind coconut, cleaned and washed Ondelaga /Gotu Kola, tamarind pulp and coriander leaves. Add required salt and grind it with required water. Add mustard seasoning with curry leaves and ingh. Your Ondelaga chutney is ready to serve. I have used this chutney for preparing Rava Rotti.
Time :
Rotti Preparation : 20 Minutes
Coconut chuteny : 10

Soft -Spicy and Yummy Potato Chapatis

Chapatis/Rotis/Indian bread is a staple food for many Indians.. That too it is a must food for some people. I have tried here some soft Chapatis and it is yummy too. You too try and enjoy that is what I want to say.

North India  and Punjabis and Chapatis, that is what it was to be. I mean only the North Indians and Punjabis used to have chapatis regularly. We South Indians rarely used to make chapatis in those days. Making chapatis was a big news and what ever you do it used to turn hard or dry in our home.
Punjab is known as wheat cradle since the growth of wheat is highest.
Making chapatis or eating chapatis are good for diet is a well known version now. These Indian breads of different varieties, have got very famous in these days. Even some doctors suggest the people to have chapatis instead of rice because rice digest easily and you get hungry soon. That might be true. Eating wheat helps to stay full for a long time.
Anyways chapati turns soft and fluffy and we have become experts these days.
Soft Chapatis are good for any age group and it helps to digest the food easily.
I have used wheat flour, little oil, very little coriander leaves and a boiled potato to prepare these soft chapatis. They are healthy and energetic. Remember boiled potatoes are good for every one. Even the diabetic people also can have boiled potato in limit proportion.
Adding boiled potatoes make the chapati really soft and fluffy.
Let us see the recipe now :

Things Needed :

Wheat Flour : 2 Cups
Boiled Potato : 1 ( Medium sized )
Green Chilly :
Jeera :Cumin Seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon
Coriander Leaves : 1 Tablespoon
Salt : As required
Ghee : 1 Tablespoon
Oil : 2 t 3 Tablespoons

Method :

1. Boil 1 potato and remove the outer layer and smash it. Keep it aside.
2. Wash and Green chilly into very small pieces.
3. Wash and cut coriander leaves into very small. (Use only leaves).
4.Take a big bowl and put wheat flour, smashed potato paste, cut green chilly, jeera/cumin seeds, salt and ghee.
5. Mix all the ingredients nicely and then add water and prepare chapati dough. ( Add little water at time).
6. No need to rest the dough. Kneed the dough nicely and divide them into small portion. Turn them as ball shape.
7. Take a small portion of the dough and dip in dry wheat flour. Roll them as chapati.
8. Keep the tava on the fire and heat. Put rolled chapati on tava and put little oil on the top.
9. Turn the chapati and cook on other side. Spread some oil on the top.
10. Soft Potato Spicy Chapati is ready to serve. Serve with the side dishes you have prepared.

11. Repeat the same and prepare all the chapatis.

12. We had this  Soft Potato Spicy Chapati with carrots mosaru bajji, raita, pickles and mango tokku.

Note :

Add only required water while preparing the dough. Adding boiled potato helps the chapati to be very soft. Adding any masala is optional. Use of more /less oil is optional. Use of more chilly is optional.
Time : 30 Minutes.
Serves : 6 to 8 Chapatis can be prepared.

Quick Palak Dry Curry

Palak/Spinach leaves are loaded with healthy benefits. Here I have tried quick and simple Palak /Spinach dry curry which goes well with almost all the main dish.

I have used Palak leaves, onions, green chilly, little ginger and coconut.
Let us see some benefits of eating Palak /Spinach Leaves in our diet.
Palak /spinach leaves are rich source of minerals and vitamins. Palak/Spinach can be eaten as raw in salads and be cooked in varieties of curries. We Indians normally cook Spinach and eat.
Spinach / palak is good for regulating our blood pressure. It helps to build strong muscles. Palk helps in taking care of skin and eyesight. Spinach is filled with potassium, magnesium, iron, zinc and calcium. It contain vitamins like folate, vitamin A, vitamin B6, vitamin C, vitamin K. Spinach is loaded with beta carotene and good for eyesight. It helps to boost eye healthy and prevents vitamin A deficiencies. It has anti inflammatory properties. Palak leaves do contain different types of antioxidants and provide neurological benefits to people. Folate content in Spinach helps to reduce the risk of Alzheimer disease. Potassium in Spinach helps to take care of brain health. Palak leaves contain high amount of potassium and low amount of sodium. So palak leaves are good for people who suffer from high blood pressure. It also helps to reduce the hypertension and relaxes blood vessels.
Let us see the recipe Now :

Things Needed :

Palak Leaves : 1 Big Bundle
Onions : 2 Medium sized
Green chilly : 2
Ginger : Grated ginger 1 teaspoon.
Pepper Pods : 3 to 4
Coconut : 2 Tablespoons
Salt : As required
Turmeric Powder : A little
For Seasoning :
Cooking Oil : 2 Tablespoons
Mustard seeds : 1 Teaspoon
Jeera /Cumin Seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon
Curry Leaves : 5 to 6

Method :

1. Wash and cut palak leaves into small and keep it aside. Wash and slit green chilly and cut curry leaves.

2. Remove the outer layer of onions and cut in to small and keep it aside. Crush pepper pods.
Wash and remove the outer layer of ginger, wash it again. Grate it and keep it aside.
3. Keep a pan on the fire and heat. Add oil, mustard seeds and let mustard seeds splutter.
4. Add jeera/cumin seeds and fry. Add slit green chilly and curry leaves.
5. Add cut onions, grated ginger and crushed pepper pods. Mix all the ingredients nicely and stir slowly.

6. Fry this mixture for 2 to 3 minutes. Add cut Palak / Spinach leaves and stir slowly.

7. Add a little turmeric powder, required salt and mix it slowly. Now cover the pan and cook the mixture till it turns soft. ( On low flame ).

8. See that it turned soft and well cooked. Let all the moisture disappear from dry Palya.

9. Add fresh grated coconut and mix it well. Shift the ready Palak Dry Curry/Palya to a serving dish.

10. Serve with the main dish you have prepared.

Note :

Do not add any water while cooking this curry. Onion and leaves do contain moisture and helps to cook the leaves soft. Adding any other masala /spice is optional. Adding coconut is optional. Adding more chilly is optional.
Time : 15 Minutes.
Serves : 2 to 3 .

Kesu Palya / Colocasia Dry Curry

ಕೇಸು /Kesu/ Colocasia is one of the healthy leaf which grows well during rainy season and is good for health too. We got colocasia plants and we get fresh leaves once in two to three weeks. I do prepare varieties of dishes using Kesu. This time I tried Kesu Palya /Dry Curry. It has come out very nice and thought of sharing with you all.

I have used Kesu / Colocasia  leaves, home prepared curry powder, jaggery and tamarin. Seasoned with coconut oil which I brought from ooru when I went last time
Kesu leaves helps to keep our body warm and provides lots of minerals and vitamins. It has a good source of fiber and helps in easing the constipation problems
Let us see the recipe now "
No Onion OR No Garlic in this Kesu Palya. It is a dry curry with sweet and spicy taste. It is nice to eat with plain rice.

Things Needed :

Colocasia leaves : 10 to 12 ( Medium sized )
Tanarind  : 1 Marble size
Jaggery : 2 Tablespoons
Curry Powder : 1 Tablespoon
Coconut : 2 Tablespoon
Salt : As required
For Seasoning :
Coconut Oil : 1 Tablespoon
Mustard seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon
Jeera /Cumin Seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon
Curry Leaves : 5 to 6
Byadagi red chilly : 2 to 3
Ingh /Asafoetida : A little

Method :

1. Wash and cut kesu leaves into small pieces. Remove its stems outer layer before cutting its stems.

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

3. Grate coconut and keep it aside.

4. Keep a pan on the fire and heat. Add coconut oil. Add mustard seeds, jeera and ingh. Let mustard seeds splutter.
5. Add curry leaves and kesu leaves. Mix it well. Add tamarind pulp, salt and jaggery.

6. Add a pinch of turmeric powder and mix all the ingredients nicely. Cover and cook on medium flame till all water disappear.

7. Mix in between and add curry powder and mix it again.
8. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes, leaves turns soft and all the moisture disappear.

9. Add fresh grated coconut and mix it nicely. Put off the fire and shift the ready Kesu Dry Palya to a serving dish.

10. Serve with your choice of main dish.

Note :

Do not use much water to cook. Adding more jaggery is optional. Use of curry powder is your choice. I have used home prepared curry powder. Kesu leaves should be tender. Use of tamarind is important.
Time : 20 Minutes.
Serves : 2 to 3 People.

Curry Powder :

 Dry roast channa dal, urid dal, coriander seeds, each 1 tablespoon,  red chilly/byadagi  ( 5 to 6 ), methi seeds 1/2 ts, jeera /cumin seeds 1/2 teaspoon, sesame seeds  1 tablespoon and ingh.
Dry grind once it is cooled down. Use it for a time. ( 1 time )