Ash Gourd - Moong Dal Bolu Huli /Curry

Ash Gourd - Moong dal Curry /Bolu Huli is one of the traditional dish from Udupi / Karnataka. I have added  tomatoes and fried moong dal. It is easy to prepare and easy to digest. One more healthy curry that you surely enjoy with all the main dishes.

Ash Gourd is filled with nutritious, vitamins and medicinal values. We do use each part of this vegetable, like the outer layer is used for preparing chutney. The vegetable is used for curry and other dishes. The inner part/pulp is used for curd curry and the seeds are dried and dry roasted and eaten.
Here I have prepared " Bolu Huli " which means curry that does not have coconut init. So the curries which are prepared with out using the coconut is called " Bolu ". ( ಬೋಳು).
Let us see some benefits of eating Ash Gourd /ಬೂದು ಕುಂಬಳಕಾಯಿ .
Ash gourd is also known as kumbalakayi. booda kumbalakayi in Kannada. The pumpkin is known as sihi kumbala.
Ash gourd is good for diabetic people. It is also good for loosing extra weight. Ash gourd juice helps to treat acidity and peptic ulcer. Ash gourd is good for people who suffer from constipation.
Ash Gourd is rich in fiber and contain Vitamin C and minerals like phosphorus, iron and calcium.
 Let us see the recipe Now :
No Onion or No Garlic is used in this Ash Gourd - Moong Dal Bolu Huli /Curry.

Ingredients :

Ash Gourd : 1 Big bowl. (250 Grams).
Moong Dal : 1 Small cup. /2 to 3 Tablespoons
Green chilly : 3 to 4
Tomatoes : 2 ( Medium sized )
Ginger : An inch
Salt : As required
Turmeric Powder : A pinch
Coriander leaves : 2 to 3 Tablespoons
Lemon : 1/2 lemon juice  /1 Teaspoon
For seasoning :
Oil : 1 Tablespoon
Mustard seeds : 1 Teaspoon
Urid dal : 1/2 Teaspoon
Curry Leaves : 5 to 6
Ingh / Asafoetida : A pinch ( A little )

Method : 

1. Wash Ash gourd nicely and remove its outer hard layer. Remove the pulp and seeds.
2. Cut the vegetable into small pieces. Keep it aside.

3. Wash tomatoes, curry leaves, coriander leaves, green chilly and keep it aside.
4. Wash and remove the outer layer of ginger and wash it again. Grate it and keep it aside.
5. Cut tomatoes, slit green chilly and cut coriander leaves. Wash and cut lemon in to halves. Squeeze out the extract from half lemon.
6. Keep a pan on the fire and heat. Put oil and mustard seeds. Put urid dal.
7. Let mustard seeds splutter. Add slit green chilly, ingh and curry leaves. Add grated gu
8. Wash and remove the water from moong dal and add it to mustard seeds seasoning.

9. Fry nicely for 1 to 2 minutes. Add cut ash gourd pieces, tomatoes and put some water.

10. Pressure cook for 2 to 3 minutes. Let it cool.

11. Put cooked ash gourd - moong mixture. Add salt, turmeric powder and mix it. Add required water and let it boil for 3 to 4 minutes.. Add lemon extract.

12. Shift Ash gourd - moong dal bolu huli /curry to serving bowl. Serve with the main dish you have prepared.

Note : 

Use of pressure cooker is optional. You can cook it separately. Prepare the seasoning and add cooked ingredients and them mix it. Adding any other spices is optional. Adding more chilly is optional. Adding a tablespoon ghee to curry is optional. It adds to the taste.
Time 30 Minutes.
Serves : 3 to 4.

Carrot - Capsicum Chutney

Carrot Capsicum Chutney /dip is a simple side dish and it goes well with dosa, idli, upma , plain rice and all types of rotis and naan. It can be used as dip for bajji /fried fritter or can use it for bread sandwich.

It is an easy dish and good for all age group.
Eating fresh coconut is good for health. It helps to keep our skin soft and smooth.
Let us see the recipe now :

Things Needed :

Capsicum : 1 (Medium size)
Carrot : 1 ( Big )
Green chilly : 2 to 3
Fresh grated coconut : 1 Bowl
Tamarind : 1 Small Marble size
Ginger : An inch.
Methi seeds/Fenugrik seeds : 1/4 Teaspoon
Pepper Pods : 3 to 4
Salt : As required
For seasoning :
Coconut Oil : 1 Teaspoon
Mustard seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon
Ingh/Asafoetida : A little
Curry Leaves : 5 to 6

Method :

1. Wash and remove the seeds from capsicum and cut into small pieces.
2. Wash and scrape out the outer layer of carrots and cut into small.
3. Wash and slit green chilly and keep it aside. Wash and remove the outer layer of ginger and wash it again.
4. Wash curry leaves and keep it aside. Grate coconut and keep it aside.

5. Keep a pan on the fire and heat. Add coconut oil, pepper pods and methi seeds. Fry till they turn golden brown.

6. Add cut carrots, capsicum, ginger and chilly.. Fry for 1 to 2 minutes.
7. Put off the fire and add grated coconut and tamarind.

8. Grind it with required water and salt. ( Add water little by little).
9. Grind it til it turn as required consistency and remove from the mixi jar.

10. Add coconut oil, mustard seeds, ingh and curry leaves seasoning and serve.

Note :

Slightly frying the vegetables adds taste. Grinding chutney either coarse or into fine paste is optional.
Use of more / less coconut is optional. Use of more /less chilly is optional.
Time : 10 Minutes.
Serves : 2 to 3 

Maavina Kayi Hindi / ಹಿಂಡಿ./chutney

This Mango Tokku is very easy to prepare and you can keep them in fridge for a long time. 

 I got some mangoes from my relatives and was lazy to prepare pickle. The nest day I remember and saw it has turned bit yellowish but it was hard and I could try this Mango chutney /tokku which is very easy and you can keep this tokku in the fridge for a long time.

This Mango Chutney is prepared during the end of Mango season. Now we can see raw mangoes in some shops these days. 

This type of tokku is prepared at my aunt's house. No need to be boiled or cooked. Raw mangoes are used to this chutney and it is called as Hindi /ಹಿಂಡಿ. 

Let us see the recipe now :

Things Needed :

Raw Savoury Mangoes : 2 

Red chilly powder : 2 to 3 Tablespoons

Salt : 2 Tablespoons

Mustard seeds : 1 Tablespoon

Methi Seeds : 1 Teaspoon

Ingh/ Asafoetida : A little 

Oil : 2 Tablespoons 

To Season : 

Coconut Oil : 1 Tablespoon

Mustard seeds : 1Teaspoon

Ingh/Asafoetida : A little 

Method :

1. Remove the outer layer of mango and cut into small pieces.

2. Put salt and mix it well.

3. Dry roast methi seeds until it turns golden brown.

4. Dry grind mustard seeds and methi seeds and keep it aside.

5. Now grind cut mangoes with salt, red chilly powder, ingh and powdered mustard and methi seeds.

6. Do not add any water while grinding. You can use dry grinder /chopper.

7. Add a little turmeric powder and grind it. 

8. Let all the ingredients turn soft and completely fine.

9. Remove it from the mixi jar and add seasoned mustard seeds and ingh with coconut oil.

10. Leave it in a bowl till it is cooled and then store it in a glass bottle. ( Clean the bottle nicely before you put Hindi in to it). 

Note : 

Do not add any water while grinding.  Mangoes should be cleaned in dry clothes nicely before using it. Adding more chilly powder is optional. Use of savoury mango is must. Keep this mango chutney in a fridge to save for more days. I have used MTR Chilly Powder. 

You can add mango chutney to prepare Mango Chitranna. 

Time : 30 Minutes

Serves as you use it.

Jack Seeds - Southkai Kootu

Mangalore Southekai /Southekai and Jack Seeds Kootu is good to have with Plain Rice, chapatis, rotis, poori, dosa or idli. It is one of the traditional dish of South Canara and we call it as ಹಸಿ ಹುಳಿ .

Dal / Toor or Moong is not used in this curry and very little spices are used here.

Let us see some benefits of eating Coriander Seeds in our diet. 

Coriander Seeds have pleasant aroma and it is used as condiments in our culinary dishes.
Coriander seeds helps in preventing and treating diabetes. It helps in treating osteoporosis. It helps to cure digestive disorder. Helps in preventing abdominal pains. It is good for ladies who suffer during their menstrual chronic/crams pains. It is a good remedy for skin related problems. Good for anemia, for treating inflammation,controlling and regulating high cholesterol levels. It is good for mouth ulcers, indigestion, eye related problems and lowering the blood sugar level. It has a cooling effect on our body and is used for eye related problems. ( Wash and soak coriander seeds for 30 minutes, strain twice with clean towel or cloth and then use it as drops to eyes. It helps in cooling our eyes, sooth our eyes and your eyes will be refreshed). Be careful and it should be clean coriander water, no dust or any dirt should enter our eyes.
Coriander seeds are filled with vitamins and minerals. It is filled with proteins, carbohydrates, phosphorus, calcium, iron, Vitamin B, C and A.
Let us see the recipe Now :
No Onion or Garlic is used here in this Jack Seeds - Southekai Kootu. 
Mangalore Cucumber is known as Mangalore Southekai/ Bannada Southekai, Haladi Southekai.

Things Needed : 

To Cook :
Southe kai / Mangalore Cucumber : 1 Bowl . ( 1/2 of One big Southekai )
Jack Seeds : 1 Small bowl (About 10 Seeds).
Methi Seeds : 1/4 Teaspoon
To Grind :
Fresh Grated Coconut : 5 to 6 Tablespoons
Coriander Seeds : 1 Tablespoon
Tamarind : 1 Big Marble size
Jeera / Cumin Seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon
Pepper Pods : 3 to 4
Red chilly : Byadagi : 4 to 5
 To Add :
Salt : As required
Turmeric Powder : A pinch
Coriander leaves : 1 Tablespoon
Mustard Seasoning : 1 Tablespoon : 1/2 Teaspoon mustard seeds, 1 red chilly, pinch of ingh and curry leaves with 1 tablespoon of coconut oil.

Method :

1. Remove the outer shell of jack seeds and cut them into small pieces. Soak in plain water for 10 minutes.
2. Wash and remove the outer layer, pulp and seeds inside the southekai.
3. Cut Southekai into small pieces and soak in plain water for  5 minutes. It helps in take away the bitterness in Southekai.
4. Put cut Southekai pieces and jack seeds pieces in a pressure cooker. Add methi seeds and required water and cook for 4 to 5 minutes.

5.Grate coconut and add coriander seeds, jeera, red chilly, pepper pods and grind it with required water.
6. Keep a pan on the fire and put cooked Southekai and jack seeds to it. Add turmeric powder and required salt. Mix it well and boil for  2 to 3 minutes.

7. Add ground coconut, coriander mixture to boiling mixture and mix it well. Let it cook for 4 to 5 minutes.

8. Put little coriander leaves to the cooked curry and shift it to the serving dish, Add mustard, red chilly, ingh, curry leaves seasoning on the top.

  9. Serve with the main dish you have prepared. You can add a spoon of fresh ghee just before serving.

Note :

Do not over cook the vegetables. Soaking jack seeds helps to cook seeds nicely and soft. Adding less/more coconut is optional. You can add 1/2 teaspoon of soaked raw rice while grinding. ( Soak raw rice for 5 minutes and then add/ optional). It helps the kootu to be thick. Do not add more tamarind. The curry gets savoury. Use of coconut oil is optional. Do not roast coriander seeds and jeera. Adding methi seeds while cooking vegetable helps to reduce the cholesterol in curry.
Time : 30 Minutes.
Serves : 3 to 4 .

Huttari Genasu Curry

Huttari Genasu is a type of root vegetable You get in Coorg. It is like Suvarna Gedde / Elephant foot.

Huttari Genasu has a special quality that it does not itch while cutting where as Suvarna gedde has that itching nature.
Here I have tried simple curry using Huttari Genasu.
Huttari genasu is cooked during Huttari Habba and I think it is available only during that period. I got this vegetable from our very close friend Usha Suresh Cukkemane. They are from Bhaghamandala near Madikeri. Though they live in Mysore they get these special vegetables from their sisters house who live in Coorg.
I have used Huttari Genasu , moong dal, coconut and some simple spices.

No Onion Or Garlic is used in this Huttari Genasu Curry.

Things needed :

To Cook :
Huttari Genasu : 1 Bowl (1/4 piece of small Huttari Genasu).
Moong Dal : 1/2 Cup
To Grind :
Coconut :  4 to 5 Tablespoons
Jeera /cumin seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon

To Add :
Sambar Powder : 1 Tablespoon
Tamarind : Small Marble size
Salt : As required

Seasoning :
Oil : 1 Teaspoon
Mustard seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon
Jeera /Cumin Seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon
Curry Leaves : 5 to 6
Ingh / Asafoetida : A pinch.

Method :

1. Wash and remove the outer layer of Huttari Genasu. Wash it again.
2. Cut it into desired size. Big /Small. Pressure cook for  4 to 5 minutes. (Do not over cook).

3. Wash moong dal and cook it separately.

4. Grate coconut and grind it with 1/2 teaspoon of jeera. Soak tamarind and squeeze out the pulp.

5. Keep a pan and add cooked moong dal and huttari genasu. Add salt and a pinch of turmeric powder. Add tamarind pulp.
6. Let it boil for 2 minutes. Add sambar /curry powder and mix it well.

7. Add ground coconut. Mix it well and let it boil for 3 to 4 minutes.

8. Shift the ready Huttari Genasu Curry to a serving dish.
9. Add mustard seeds, curry leaves and ingh / asafoetida seasoning.

10. Serve with the main dish you have prepared.

Note :

Clean the vegetable nicely so that no mud will get into the curry. Cut the vegetable and then wash it again. Adding coconut to the curry is optional. You can cook this curry without coconut also.
Adding any spice powder is optional. I have used home prepared sambar powder.
Huttari Genasu is one of the vegetable you get during Huttari habba. It has a special quality that it does not itch while cutting or cooked. Adding onions or garlic is optional.
Time : 30 Minutes.
Serves : 3 to 4.