Kesu / Colocasia Spicy Palya.

Kesu /Colocasia Spicy Palya is one of the traditional dish that goes well with plain rice and coconut oil.

 In South Canara, the use of kesu is often tried with varieties of dishes. This is one of the dish that every one likes and when you are looking for some thing spicy, traditional, quick dish that helps as one of the side dish.
Colocasia or Kesu leaves are good for keeping our body warm. They are filled with fibers. Leaves are good to have since they are loaded with nutritious value.

Kesu /Colocasia Spicy Palya is one of the traditional dish from Udupi / South Canara.

No Onion or No Garlic is used in this Kesu / Colocasia Spicy Palya.

Ingredients :

Kesu Leaves : 10 to 15 : Small and medium sized
Raw Rice : 1/2 Cup
Methi /Fenugrik Seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon
Coriander Seeds : 2 to 3 Tablespoons
Jeera /Cumin Seeds : 1 Teaspoon
Red chilly : 6 to 8
Tamarind : 1/2 Lemon size
Salt : As required
Turmeric powder : A pinch
Ingh / Asafoetida : A pinch

Method :

1. Wash and soak raw rice and methi seeds for 10 to 15 minutes.

2. Grate coconut, grind it with coriander seeds, jeera, red chilly and tamarind.

3. Add soaked rice and grind it like rava consistency.

4. Add salt and churn for a few seconds.
5. Remove it from the mixi jar and keep it aside.
6. Now wash and clean Kesu /Colocasia leaves. Remove the stem part if it is hard.
7. Cut it into very small pieces.

8. Keep a pan on the fire and heat. Add 2 to 3 tablespoons of oil.
9. Add mustard seeds and urid dal. Let mustard seeds splutter.  Add ingh and a few curry leaves.

10. Put cut Kesu leaves and stir slowly.

11. Spread them evenly. Add ground rice - spice mixture like dosa batter on the top of the leaves.
12. Sprinkle some water on the top and cover. Cook on low flame for 5 to 8 minutes.

13.Now remove the cover and mix it slowly. Let cooked leaves and the batter mix well.

14. Cook on low flame till it is done. Add little oil on the top. ( 1 Tablespoon ).

15. Shift the Kesu /Colocasia Spicy Palya to a serving dish and serve.

Note :

Use a thick bottom pan to prepare this dish. Let the flame be low and medium while cooking this dish. Do not use so much water while grinding. Let the batter be like rotti consistency. Sprinkle some water on the top while it is cooking. You can repeat the process of sprinkling water on the top at least 4 to 5 times. So that it does not get burnt. Low flame helps the dish to cook well. Do not add any jaggery. It should be only khara/spicy and slightly savoury.
Time : 30 Minutes
Serves : 2 to 3.

Kempu Harive Gasi / Amaranth Leaves Curry

Kempu Harive soppu /Amaranth Leaves are packed with vitamins and minerals. I have tried Amaranth leaves Gasi/ curry and it is one of the traditional dish of Udupi.

Gasi means thick curry which has vegetables and fresh fried or roasted minimum spices. Leaves are always loaded with minerals and vitamins. It is good to have leaves in our diet and must eat at least twice in a week. They are full of fiber and helps digest our food easily and helps to ease constipation problems.
I Have used Amaranth leaves, very little toor da, coconut, red chilly and urid dal.
Let us see the recipe Now :
No Onion or No garlic is used in this Kempu Harive Gasi/Amaranth leaves Curry 

Things Needed :

To Cook :
Amaranth Leaves/ Kempu Harive soppu : 1 Bundle
Toor Dal : 2 Tablespoons
To fry :
Coconut Oil : 1 Teaspoon
Urid dal : 1 teaspoon
Coriander Seeds : 1 Tablespoon
Red chilly : 4 to 5
Ingh /Asafoetida : A little
To Grind :
Coconut grated : 1/2 Cup
Fried urid dal mixture
Tamarind : A small marble size
To Add : 
Turmeric powder : A pinch
Ground coconut mixture
Salt : As required
Coconut oil Seasoning.

Method :

1. Wash and cut Amaranth leaves / Kempu Harive soppu in to small pieces.

2. Cook Amaranth leaves and washed toor dal together. ( Pressure cook for 5 to 6 minutes).

3. Keep a small pan on the fire and put a teaspoon of coconut oil.
4. Add urid dal and fry till they turn golden brown. Add coriander seeds and fry for a minute.
5. Add 4 to 5 red chilly and fry. Let urid dal turn golden brown. Switch off the gas and let it cool.

6. Grate coconut and grind it with fried urid dal mixture and small marble size of tamarind.
7. Add required water while grinding. Let it be paste consistency. Remove it from the mixi jar.

8. Keep a big pan and put cooked amaranth leaves. Add required water and salt. Mix it well.
9. Add a pinch of turmeric powder. Let it boil for 2 minutes.
10. Add ground urid dal - coconut mixture. Mix it well and let it boil for 2 to 3 mintues.

11. Shift the curry to a serving dish and add mustard seeds, curry leaves seasoning to the curry.

12. Serve with The main dish you have prepared.

Note :

Do not add more water while grinding. Do not add more urid dal while frying. Fry on low flame. So that it does not get burnt. It should be golden brown or the curry gets sticky. Adding more / less chilly is optional. Use of any cooking oil is optional.

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 )

Brinjal Gojju

Brinjal Gojju / bartha is a side dish done with Brinjal/Egg plant. The big brinjal really adds taste to this curry.

It is a quick, easy, yummy and simple dish that you can prepare when you are in a hurry.
Brinjal Gojju goes well with almost all the main dishes.
Let us see the recipe now :
No Onion OR No Garlic is used in Brinjal Gojju.

Ingredients :

To cook :

Brinjal  : 1
Green chilly : 2
Tomatoes: 2 ( Small )
Capsicum : 1
Carrot : 1
Ginger : An inch
To Season :
Coconut Oil : 2 Tablespoons
Mustard Seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon
Jeera / Cumin Seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon
Ingh /Asafoetida : A pinch
Curry Leaves : 6 to 8 leaves
To Add :
Turmeric powder : A pinch
Sambar /Rasam Powder : 1 Tablespoon
Salt : As required
Jaggery : 1 Teaspoon
Coriander leaves : 1 Tablespoon

Method :

1. Wash and cut brinjal and soak the pieces in a big bowl at least for 10 minues.
2. Wash and cut tomatoes, carrot and slit green chilly.
3. Wash and cut capsicum and keep it aside.

4. Wash ginger, peel of the skin and wash it again. Grate it and keep it aside.
5. Keep a pan on the fire and put oil. Add mustard seeds, jeera and let mustard splutter.
6. Add ingh, curry leaves and fry for a second.

7. Add cut carrot pieces, capsicum, and tomatoes. Add grated ginger and green chilly.

8. Fry nicely for s minute. Remove brinjal from water and wash it again. Add these brinjal pieces with carrots.
9. Fry for a minute and add salt, turmeric powder, rasam powder and salt.
10. Mix all the vegetables nicely and put 1/2 cup of water and cook for 4 to 5 minutes. ( I used pressure cooker to cook ). Allow it to cool.
11. Keep the cooked gojju on the fire. Add jaggery and mix it well. Add coriander leaves.

12. Shift the ready Brinjal Gojju to a serving dish and serve with the main dish you have prepared. We had it with plain red rice.

Note :

Soaking brinjal pieces in water helps to remove the bitterness in brinjal. Use of any brand of
 rasam /sambar powder is optional. I have used MTR. rasam powder.
Use of any cooking oil is optional. You can use tamarind pulp instead of tomatoes.
Discarding tomato seeds is optional. Use of pressure cooker is optional. You can cook in a pan instead of pressure cooker. Use of onions and garlic is optional.
Time : 20 Minutes.
Serves : 3 to 5.
Brinjal Bajji/Fried fritter with Brinjal Gojju.
 Mix channa flour with little water, jeera, chilly powder and salt. Let the batter be idly consistency.
Wash and cut brinjal in to circle shape and wash it again. Squeeze out the water and dip brinjal pieces in channa batter. Keep a cup of oil on the fire and heat. Fry channa flour dipped brinjal one by one in hot oil. Remove from the oil and put it on the kitchen tissue.
Serve as one of the side dish.