Green Tomato - Ridge Gourd Gojju/Curry

 Ridge gourd and green tomato curry is one of the yummy curry that goes well with all the main dishes. We had some green tomatoes in our terrace garden. So thought of preparing this curry.

I have used raw tomatoes, ridge gourd, green chilly, home made sambar powder. / Curry powder.

Its simple, its easy, quick, healthy and fits all age group. 

I like to prepare simple and easy food and is good for people who are busy and wants to complete their cooking business in quick, healthy and simple way. 

Things Needed : 

To Cook :

Ridge gourd : 1

Raw tomatoes : 4 to 5 

To Add :

Sambar powder/Spice powder : 1 Table spoon. (I used home prepared Sambar Powder).

Salt : As required

Green chilly : 2

Turmeric Powder : A pinch

Jaggery : 1 Tablespoon

Lemon extract : 1 Tablespoon

To Season : 

Mustard seeds : 1/2 Tsp

Jeera/ Cumin Seeds : 1/2 Tsp

Methi seeds : 2 to 3

Oil : 1 Tbs

Curry leaves : 5 to 6

Method :

1. Wash and cut tomatoes and remove the outer layer of Ridge gourd and cut into small pieces.

2. Keep a pan on the fire and add a tablespoon of oil. Add mustard seeds, jeera/cumin seeds, methi/fenugrik seeds. Add asafoetida and curry leaves once mustard seeds splutter. 

3. Add cut tomatoes and fry nicely.

4. Add Ridge gourd pieces and stir for a while. 

5. Add 2 cups of water and turmeric powder. Cook this for 4 to 5 minutes. (Till soft). Add 2 slit green chilly. (Wash it before adding).

6. Add Sambar powder, salt and jaggery.  Cook for 2 to 3 minutes. 

7. Add lemon extract, mix it and shift it to a serving dish. Green tomatoes - Ridge gourd gojju is ready to serve.

Note : 

Fry tomatoes nicely and then add ridge gourd pieces. Adding any brand sambar powder is optional. I have used Home made sambar powder. No onion or no garlic is used in this curry. Adding onion or garlic is optional. Adding more chilly is optional. Adding little ghee just before adding makes the gojju more tasty. 

Time : 20 Minutes.

Serves : 3 to 4.

Home made Sambar Powder:

Dry fry 4 to 5 methi seeds, 4 tablespoons of coriander seeds, 1/4 tsp jeera in a low flame and add a pinch of asafoetida at the end. Put off the fire and let the roasted spices cool. Dry grind and take it out to use.

Ridge Gourd - Carrots - Sesame Chutney

Ridge gourd is full of fiber and it is an Indian Vegetable filled with fibers and healthy properties. 

Ridge Gourd - Carrots - Sesame Seeds Chutney Ready to Serve

Here is a Chutney /Dip prepared using Ridge gourd - Carrot - Sesame Seeds and fresh coconut.
Its yummy to have with  hot plain rice and a spoon of ghee. It goes well with almost all the main dishes.
Sesame seeds do contain healthy oil and is good to use in our food. Ridge gourd and carrots are full of fiber and vitamins. It is a habit of South Canara people to make use of the outer layer of vegetables like ridge gourd, bottle gourd, chayote squash /Seeme badane, carrots with its outer layer, beetroot. white pumpkin, red pumpkin etc.
No Onion OR No garlic recipe.
It is one of the traditional and Udupi style recipe. My aunt used to prepare lots of chutney and I have learnt most of these traditional dishes.
To Cook :
Ridge gourd Peel : 1 Ridge gourd peel
Carrot : 1
Tamarind pulp : 1 Tablespoon
Coriander Seeds : 1 Teaspoon
Salt : As required
turmeric powder : A pinch
To Fry :
Coconut Oil : 1 Teaspoon
Sesame Seeds : 1 Tablespoon
Byadagi red chilly : 5 to 6
Ingh / Asafoetida : A pinch
Curry Leaves : 8 to 10 leaves.
To Grind :
Cooked Ridge gourd peel carrot mixture
Fried Sesame seeds and byadagi chilly
Fresh grated coconut : 1 Cup/ 5 to 6 Tbs
To Season 
Coconut Oil : 1 Teaspoon
Mustard seeds : 1/2 Tsp
Ingh / Asafotida : A little
Curry Leaves : 4 to 6

Method :

1. Wash and scrape out the edges of ridge gourd. Wash it again. Peel off the outer layer and keep it aside;
2. Wash and cut carrot and keep it aside.
3. Soak a little ( 1 small ball size of tamarind ) and squeeze out the pulp.
4. Now put ridge gourd peel, cut carrot pieces , tamarind pulp, a pinch of turmeric powder and 1 tsp of coriander seeds in a bowl.
5. Add little water, required salt and pressure cook for 5 to 6 minutes.

6. Keep a small pan on the fire and put 1/2 Teaspoon of oil. Let it get hot.
7. Add sesame seeds and red byadagi chilli. Fry on low flame till sesame seeds get crisp
8. Add asafoetida and curry leaves. Put off the fire. Let the fried ingredients get cool down.

9. Grate coconut and grind it with cooked ridge gourd mixture + fried sesame seeds and red chilly mixture. Add salt if it requires.
10. Add required water to grind till it turns slightly paste. ( As your wish ).

11. Remove it from the mixi jar to a serving bowl.
12. Add mustard seeds, ingh and curry leaves seasoning and Serve with the main dish of your choice.

Note :

You can add some green chilly while cooking. It adds to the taste. Adding more chilly is optional.
Do not burn sesame seeds while frying. It taste bitter if you over fry. You can also dry roast sesame seeds. Frying adds to the taste. Adding more coconut is optional. Use of black or white sesame seeds is optional.
Time : 30 Minutes.
Serves : 3 to 4 .

Channa Dal - Ridge Gourd Tovve/ Dal

Tovve /Dal is one of the must dish served in the beginning of the food. tovee is full of dals and is normally with very little spices.

Tovve is eaten with ghee and it provides minerals and vitamins.
I have prepared Heerekai/Ridge Gourd with channa dal/Kadale bele and it goes well with almost all the main dishes.
Tovve is filled with proteins, because we do use lots of dal while preparing it. Adding vegetables helps to digest the food we eat.
Different types of dals can be used for preparing Tovve. Moong dal, Toor dal, Masoor dal and even pulses like pea pods, cow pea, black eyed bean and whole moong  are used preparing tovee.
Let us see some benefits of eating channa dal in our diet.
Channa dal/split bengal gram is one of the nutritious dal . We indians use this channa dal for many dishes.It is filled with nutrition and minerals.
Channa dal is low in fat and it helps to lower the cholesterol. It is good for diabetes. It has minerals like zinc, folate and proteins. It helps to boost our energy and immunity. It is good good for weight loss. It is good for people who suffer from high blood pressure. It protects from digestive problems.
No Onion or No Garlic is used in this Channa Dal - Ridge Gourd Tovve/Dal.

Things Needed :

To Cook :
Channa Dal : 1/2 Cup
Ridge Gourd : 2 ( Medium sized )
Methi Seeds : 1/4 Teaspoon
To Add : 
Green chilly : 2
Curry leaves : 6 to 8
Coriander leaves : 2 to 3 Tablespoons
Lemon Extract : 1 Tablespoon
Ginger : An Inch
Salt : As required
Fresh grated coconut : 2 Tablespoons
To Season : 
Mustard Seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon
Jeera /Cumin Seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon
Ingh /Asafoetida : A little
Curry Leaves : 6 To 8
Oil/Ghee : 1 Teaspoon

Method :

1. Wash and cook channa dal with required water.

2. Wash and remove the edges and the outer layer of Ridge Gourd and cut it in to small pieces.
( Use the outer layer to prepare chutney) .

3. Cook ridge gourd pieces till they turn soft.
4. Wash and slit green chilly, cut coriander and curry leaves.. Extract lemon juice from lemon. (1 lemon).
6. Wash and remove the outer layer of ginger and wash it again. Grate it and keep it aside.
7. Keep a pan on the fire and heat. Add ghee/oil and put mustard seeds and jeera.
8. Let mustard seeds splutter. Add cut green chilly and curry leaves. Add ingh.
9. Add cooked dal and  ridghe gourd pieces. Add little turmeric powder. Add grated ginger.

10. Add required salt and water. Mix it well and let it cook for 3 to 4 minutes. Add Lemon extract.

11. Shift " Channa dal - Ridge gourd Tovve to a serving dish.
12. Add little  grated coconut and coriander leaves. Serve with the main dish of your choice.

Note :

Channa dal must be cooked well. It is better to cook in pressure cooker. Do not allow it to over cook or it turns fully powdered grains.
Adding green chilly is your choice. You can use red byadagi chilly. Seasoning with ghee is optional. I have done with coconut oil and I top up the tovve with a tablespoon of homemade ghee.
Adding any other spice is your choice.
Time : 20 to 25 minutes.
Serves : 2 to  3 .

Happy Gowri Festival Celebration Dishes

Happy Gowri Festival to You All. Try and Enjoy these special festival dishes.

Gowri /Parvathi /Girije is mother of Lord Ganesha. She is also known as Adhi Shakti.
The beautiful story is like this according to Purana . Gowri created Ganapa, gave him life and asked him to guard the house. She went to bathe. Lord Shiva/Eshwara comes to visit her and Ganapa will not let him go inside. Shiva gets angry and cuts off his head. Gowri comes to know this and cries. Lord Shiva asks his people to search Ganapa's head. They were not able to find Ganapa's head. So Lord Shiva tells his people and orders them to get the head of anyone who laid his head on north direction. They could find only an elephant which laid its head on north direction. They cut the head of elephant and brings it to Lord Shiva. He puts the elephant head on Ganesha and gives life to him. He also gives power to Lord Ganesha. Ganesha is the lord that we should pray first before starting anything. Lord Ganesha is known as Vighna Vinashaka, Prathama Pooja is done for Lord Ganesha.
Gowri, Ganesha festival is on This thursday and friday.
Gowri comes to her parents house first and then son Lord Ganesha comes on next day. It might be like the married girl comes to her parents house. Simple food is done on first day and then Ganesha festival is celebrated in grand manner. On Gowri Pooja the ladies do pooja and give " Arashina kumkum" to the married women. It is called Bhageena. One should be happy and involve in doing pooja and blessed by God. Our traditions and culture is just beautiful and it gives life to dullness and  by doing poojas the positive energy flows in to your mind and body.
On the first day as I said it is a simple dishes with payasam or pooran poli. (Your choice of dishes).

No Onion or No Garlic is used on Festival Celebrations. 

I have prepared

1. Methi Leaves/capsicum dry curry ( Udupi special Palya).

2. Ginger/ Green Tamarind Tokku  Chithranna

3.Mango fruit chutney.

4. Ridge Gourd Huli (Curry).

5. Channa Dal Payasam/Kheer.

Let us see the preparation  One by One and enjoy eating these healthy, delicious dishes.

1. Methi leaves Dry curry

Things Needed :
To Cook
Methi/Fenugrik Leaves : 1 Bundle
Capsicum : 1
Salt : As required
Turmeric Powder : A little
To Grind :
Coconut : 1/2 Cup
Red Chilly : 2 to 3
Tamarind : Very little (Half o f one small marble)
Mustard Seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon
To Season :
Mustard seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon
Urid dal : 1/2 Teaspoon
Ingh : A little
Coconut Oil : 2 Tablespoos

Method :

1  Wash and cut methi leaves into small. Wash and cut capsicum into small pieces.
2. Grate coconut and dry grind it with red chilly (byadagi), mustard seeds and tamarind.
3. Keep a pan on the fire and put 1 tablespoon of oil. Add mustard seeds, urid dal and ingh. Let mustard seeds splutter.
4. Add curry leaves and cut capsicum and methi leaves. Mix it well and let it cook on medium flame and low flame.
5. Add a pinch of turmeric powder and mix it well.
6. Let methi leaves cook on low flame or add half cup of water, cover and cook.
7. Let all the moisture disappear completely. Add salt and stir.
8. Add ground mustard seeds and coconut mixture and mix it nicely. Let it cook on low flame for 2 minutes. Shift the ready Methi leaves dry curry to a serving bowl.

Note :

You can use any brand of oil of your choice. Adding more spice is optional. You can fry this methi leaves on low flame. It taste better. Njoy this palya with hot rice and a spoon of fresh ghee.
Type : South Canara /Udupi Style.
Time : 15 to 20 Minutes.
Serves : 2 to 3  .

2 : Green Tamarind  Tokku Chitranna .

Things needed :
Cooked Rice : 1 Cup

To Add :
Tamarind Tokku : 1 Teaspoon
Dry Ginger Powder : 1/2 Teaspoon
Turmeric Powder : A little
Salt : To taste
Coriander leaves
Grated coconut (fresh) : 1/2 Cup

Seasoning :
Mustard seeds : 1 Teaspoon
Urid dal : 1 Teaspoon
Green chilly : 1
Curry leaves : 6 to 8

Method :

Keep a pan on the fire and heat. Add a tablespoon of Coconut oil.
Add mustard seeds, urid dal and let urid dal splutter.
Add washed and slit green chilly and curry leaves.
Add tamarind tokku and fry it nicely.
Add cooked and cooled rice. Add turmeric powder.
Add ginger powder and required salt.
Mix all the ingredients nicely. Let it be on low flame for 2 to 3 minutes.
Add a tablespoon of ghee and mix it well. Put off the fire.
Add grated coconut, washed and cut coriander leaves. Mix it well once again.
Green tamarind tokku chitranna is ready to serve.
Note :
To get green tamarind tokku, just remove the tender green tamarind outer hard layer.
Grind it with salt and green chilly. This Green tamarind tokku is hot and spicy.
You can use tamarind pulp instead of green tamarind tokku. Soak a small ball size of tamarind in hot water for 5 minutes. Squeeze out the pulp and boil to make it thick content. Add green chilly paste and salt while tamarind pulp is boiling. Tamarind turns as thick paste. Use according to your requirement.
Time : Chitranna preparation : 10 minutes.
Serves : 3 to 4

3. Mango Fruit Chutney:

Things Needed :
Ripe Mango : 1
Red chilly : 2
Ingh : A pinch
Fresh grated coconut : 1 Cup
Salt : As required
Seasoning :
Coconut oil : 1 Teaspoon
Mustard seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon
Ingh : A pinch
Curry leaves : 5 to 6

Method :

Wash and squeeze out the pulp from ripen mango.
Grate coconut and keep it aside.
Fry red chilly in a drop of coconut oil for 1 minute.
Now grind all the above ingredients with a pinch of ingh/asafoetida. Use water if required.
Remove from the mixi jar and put it in a serving dish.
Add mustard seeds, ingh, curry leaves seasoning with a teaspoon of coconut oil.
Time : 10 minutes.
Serves : 2 to 3

4. Ridge Gourd Toor Dal Curry :

Things needed :

To Cook :
Ridge gourd : 1
Toor dal : 2 Handful

To Grind :
Fresh grated coconut : 3 to 4 Tablespoons
Tamarind pulp : 1 Tablespoon
Rasam powder : 2 Tablespoons
Jeera /Cumin seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon

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

To Add :
Green Chilly : 1
Required Salt
Mustard seasoning
Washed and cut coriander leaves.

Method :

Wash and peel off the outer layer (hard skin) of ridge gourd and cut into desired size.
Wash and cook toor dal in a pressure cooker for  8 to 10 minutes and let it cool.
Wash curry leaves, coriander leaves and cut into small.
Keep a pan and put cut ridge gourd and cook with 1 cup of water till it turns soft.
Grind coconut, tamarind, jeera/cumin seeds, rasam powder with little water. Remove it from mixi jar.
Add cooked dal to ridge gourd pieces. Add a pinch of turmeric powder, salt and required water.
Mix it well and let it boil for 2 minutes. Add ground coconut mixture and mix it well.
Let it boil for 2 to 3 minutes. Shift Ridge gourd curry to a serving dish.
Add mustard seasoning and cut coriander leaves. Ridge gourd curry is ready to serve.
Note :
Do not over cook ridge gourd pieces. Adding any brand of rasam powder is optional. I used home prepared rasam powder.  ( Use of MTR, Mayya;s Rasam powder gives good aroma).  Adding any cooking oil is optional. Adding a teaspoon of ghee just before serving is optional.
Time : 30 Minutes
Serves : 3 to 4

5. Channa Dal Payasa/Kheer

Things Needed :
Channa Dal 1/2 Cup
Thick Avalakki /Poha/Flattened rice : 1/2 Cup
Jaggery : 3/4 Cup
Cardamom : 4 to 5 Pods
Dry fruits : Cashews and Raisins : 1 Tablespoon or little more
Coconut Milk : 1/2 Coconut (1 Cup)

Method :

Wash and pressure cook channa dal for 18 to 10 minutes and let it cool.
Powder jaggery. Keep a big pan on the fire and put jaggery and little water. Let it melt completely. ( 1 or 3 boils).
Sieve with a strainer and keep the jaggery aside.
Grate coconut (1/2 coconut) and grind it with cardamom pods. Add l/2 cup of water and grind.
Take the ground coconut and sieve and separate coconut milk. (1 st time coconut milk).
Grind coconut again with little water and sieve with a strainer. (2nd time coconut milk).
Keep a big pan on the fire and put jaggery water. Add cooked channa dal,
Wash and add Avalakki/Poha /Flattened rice to boiling jaggery mixture.
Add 2 time's coconut milk. Let it boil nicely. Add the first time's coconut milk.
See that it is just about to boil. Put off the fire and shift the Channa dal kheer to a serving dish.
Keep a small pan on the fire. Add a spoon of ghee. Add cashew nuts and fry.
Add raisins and fry till it fluffs. Add this nuts fry to payasam and serve.

Note :

Adding more coconut milk is optional. Add a cup of boiled fresh milk is optional. (Just before serving). Adding more /less jaggery is optional. Adding Avalakki helps to thicken the payasam.
You can grind coconut with  a teaspoon of rice till paste and adding instead of coconut milk is optional. Adding ghee fried cashew and raisins adds to the taste.
Time : 30 Minutes.
Serves : 4 to 5 .

Ridge Gourd - Bottle Gourd Kootu

Kootu is nothing but a type of curry which is mild spicy. I have tried Ridge gourd and bottle gourd combination.  Kootu has turned very yummy and it goes well with all most all main dishes.

Ridge gourd and the bottle gourd were used as veggies and little coconut, channa dal and red chilly with little ingh and curry leaves. I remembered Mrs. Nagamani Prasad very much because she used to prepare this Kootu very often. I have seen her preparing this kootu curry and eaten as well. She is one of the good cook whom I have come across. I have learnt to cook by seeing her and Mrs. Prema Sundareshan. It is always a pleasure to eat and enjoy whatever they cooked.
Let us see some benefits of eating Channa dal in our diet.
Split bengal dal/channa dal is full of nutritious, high in fiber and easily digested. It helps to lower the cholesterol level in our body. It has very low fat. It has good amount of iron, sodium, selenium and small amount of copper, zinc and manganese. They do have folic acid and fiber. It has antioxidant properties. Channa dal is good for diabetes and helps to control the sugar levels. Channa dal has rich source of iron and good for people who are suffering from anemia.
Let us see the recipe Now:
This is one of the traditional dish of Mysorians (Ayyangaris) and has No Onion or No Garlic in it.

Ingredients :

To Cook :
Bottle Gourd : 1 Bowl (1/2 of medium size bottle gourd).
Ridge Gourd : 1

To Fry/roast  : Spices.
Channa Dal : 1 Tablespoon
Red Chilly : 4 to 5 (Byadagi)
Pepper Pods : 3 to 4
Urid dal : 1/2 Teaspoon
Methi Seeds : 1/4 Teaspoon
Ingh/Asafoetida : A little
Curry Leaves : 6 to 8

To grind :
Coconut : 2 to 3 Tablespoons (Fresh and grated)
Fried or roasted spices.

To Add :
Salt : As required
Coriander Leaves.

Seasoning :
Groundnut Oil : 1 Teaspoon
Mustard Seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon
Urid dal : 1/2 Teaspoon
Channa dal : 1/2 Teaspoon
Ingh/ Asafoetida : A little
Curry Leaves : 2 to 3 Tablespoons

Method :

1. Wash and remove the edges of ridge gourd and wash it again. Remove the outer layer and cut ridge gourd into small pieces. (Outer layer can be used for chutney).
2. Wash and remove the outer layer of bottle gourd and cut into small pieces.
3. Cook both the veggies with required water till soft.

4. Keep a pan on the fire and heat. Add a spoon of oil and fry methi seeds, urid dal till golden brown.
 Add channa dal and red chilly.(Byadagi menasu).
5. Let channa dal turn golden brown. Add pepper pods, Red chilly and mix it well. Put off the fire. Add curry leaves and ingh.
6. Grate coconut and grind it with fried methi seeds, urid dal, channa dal, pepper pods and red chilly mixture.

7. Keep a big pan on the fire. Add cooked vegetables (ridge gourd and bottle gourd).
8. Add salt and little turmeric powder. Mix it well. Let it boil nicely.
9. Add ground coconut mixture and mix it nicely. Let it boil for 3 to 4 minutes.

10. Shift the ready Kootu to a serving dish.

11. Keep a pan and heat. Add oil and mustard seeds, urid dal and channa dal. Let mustard seeds splutter.
12. Add curry leaves and ingh/Asafoetida. Put off the fire and add the seasoning to the ready curry.
13. Add cut coriander leaves and a spoon of ghee.

14. Ridge Gourd -Bottle gourd Kootu is ready to serve.

Note :

Do not over cook the veggies. Let it be soft. Adding tamarind or lemon to Kootu/Curry is optional.
Normally Kootu has mild spice and do not need any tangy/tamarind or lemon. Use of any cooking oil is optional. I have added a teaspoon of ghee just before serving. Adding ingh helps to digest the food easily and reduces the gastric content.
Time : 20 Minutes.
Serves : 3 to 4 .

Ridge Gourd Peel Green Chilly Chutney

Ridge gourd green chilly chutney is spicy chutney. Ridge gourd is used in varieties of curries and the outer layer can be used for chutney/dip. It tasty yummy with plain rice, dosa, idli and any type of rotis.

I have used Ridge gourd pieces and its peel, green chilly and coconut.
This is one of the traditional dish done whenever we use ridge gourd. Ridge gourd peel also has the same healthy properties that the gourd contain.
Please remember to wash Ridge gourd nicely if you are buying from the market. Wash it nicely and then soak in salt water for at least 30 minutes and then wash it again before using it. It helps the
chemicals to wash off, which is used while growing Ridge gourd.
Let us see the recipe Now :
No Onions or No Garlic is used in this " Ridge Gourd Peel Green Chilly Chutney ".

Things Needed :

To Cook :
Ridge gourd pieces and its peel : 1 Bowl
Tamarind : 1 small marble size
Coriander seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon
Green chilly : 2 to 3
Ingh/Asafoetida : a little
Salt : As required
Turmeric Powder : A pinch
To Grind :
Coconut ( Fresh) : 1 Cup
Cooked Ridge gourd mixture
Water : Required
Seasoning :
Mustard Seeds : 1/4 Teaspoon
Oil : 1/2 Teaspoon
Ingh : A pinch
Curry Leaves : 6 to 8

Method :

1. Wash Ridge Gourd nicely and scrape out the edges of it.
2.Wash it again and remove the peel of ridge gourd.
3. Put it in a bowl. Add 1/4 cup of water.
4. Wash and add tamarind. (Remove the seed if any ).
5. Add 1/4 Teaspoon of coriander seeds, salt and turmeric powder.
6. Pressure cook for 3 to 4 minutes. Let it cool.

7. Grate coconut and grind it with cooked ridge gourd mixture. Add water if required.
8. Remove from the mixi jar and put it in a serving dish.

9. Keep a pan and heat. Add oil, mustard seeds and ingh. Let mustard splutter.

10. Add curry leaves and add the seasoning to Ridge Gourd Chutney and njoy...

Note : 

No need to fry the peel. You can directly cook in a big pan instead of pressure cooking.
Adding more chilly is optional. Better check the hotness of the chilly before using.
Adding red chilly to the seasoning is optional. Take care while grinding. Use water if require. Cooked Ridge gourd contain water. Watery chutney do not taste good.  You can use ridge gourd also (I have used some pieces).
Time : 20 Minutes 
Serves : 3 to 4 .