Mangalore Southekai Pepper - Jeera Curry.

Mangalore Southekai is a type of cucumber and it is also called as bannada southekai (coloured cucumber). It is well grown in Dakshina Kannada in Karnataka. May be because of this it might have got the name Mangalore Southekai.  This vegetable is available  most of the places in India and well famous now a days. This cucumber is known as Velarekai in Tamil, Vellarikaikka -Malayalam, Kheera or Kakdi in Hindi and Shosha in Bengali.
Mangalore Southekai Pepper Jeera Curry is prepared using Pepper and Jeera as main ingredients as the recipe named. In Udupi Mutt and some Mutt and the Dharmik People ( who are following strict samskruthi and sampradaya) follow  Chaaturmaasa.  Duration of four months are called as "Chaturmaasa" in a year. In this particular months the food is prepared using Pepper instead of green chilly or red chilly. May be it is good to follow this system since pepper and jeera help us to keep a good health. Having these spices in limited portion makes our body strong and keep us from any disease.

Lets see the benefits of having Pepper and Jeera (cumin seeds) in our diet.
Black pepper improves the digestion. It contain antioxidant properties. The outer layer of peppercorn helps to breakdown the fat cells and using pepper pods are a good way to shed the over weight naturally. In Ayurvedic practices pepper is used to tonic for cold and cough. It provides relief from sinusitis and nasal congestion. Pepper has the quality that helps to break up mucus and it clears the respiratory tract.
Jeera (Cumin Seeds) are beneficial for our body. They are rich source of iron and good for lactating mothers and pregnant women since they need more iron during that period. It helps the digestion of food and prevent indigestion. It also helps in time of nausea and morning sickness. Jeera seeds have antiseptic properties and good for curing common cold. They also boost the power of the liver and flush out toxins from the body.
Lets see the recipe of   "Mangalore Southekai Pepper - Jeera Curry" which goes well with plain or masala rice, rotis, chapatis, poris, any type of dosas and idli.
This dish do not contain any onion or garlic. It can be prepared during festivals or on special days.

Ingredients :

Southekai : 2 bowls ( 1/2 of 1 medium size Mangalore southekai).
Coconut : 1 Cup
Pepper Pods : 6 to 8
Jeera 1 Tea spoon
Green Chilly :1
Almonds : 10 to 12
Salt : required
Coconut Oil : 1 Tea spoon
Curd Chilly  : Majjige Menasu or Moru Molagai ) : 2
Mustard seeds : 1/2 Tea spoon
Ingh : a pinch
Curry Leaves : 6 to 8 

Method : 

1. Wash Southekai and remove the outer skin and the inner pulp with seeds. Cut them in to small

2.Grate coconut and grind with 1/2 tea spoon of jeera, pepper and almonds.

3. Cook southe kai pieces till they are soft.(5 to 6 minutes).

4. Add ground coconut to cooked Southekai. Mix it well.
5. Wash and slit green chilly and  add it to the boiling mixture.
6. Add required salt and mix it well. Let it boil for 2 minutes. Put off the fire and shift the curry to a serving bowl.

7. Keep a small pan on the fire and add a spoon of coconut oil. Add mustard seeds to the hot oil. Let it splutter.
8. Add curry leaves and ingh. Add Curd chilly and fry nicely till the chilly turn black. Add this mixture to the ready curry.
9. Serve " Mangalore Sothekai Pepper-Jeera Curry" with plain rice or chapati or any main dish you prepared.

Note :

Do not over cook the vegetable. Tasty may differ. You can use any cooking oil instead of coconut oil. Adding onions or garlic is an option. You can add roasted chenna ( hurikadale or pottu kadale)or a spoon of soaked raw rice while grinding, instead of almonds.  This gives the thickness to the curry. Taste may differ. You can add a cup of curd. Adding curd is optional. Add curd just before you serve the curry.  Do not re heat the curry after mixing with curd. It may curdle. I have not added.
Time : 20 Minutes 
Serves : 3 to 4

Tondekao - Southe Kai Majjege Huli.

Tonde kai Majjige huli/Curd curry goes well with plain or any masala rice and rotis of different varieties, with dosas and rotti.

Tonde Kai/Ivy Gourd is  also called as tindly  or Thindora, and in Tamil they call as Kovekai . Ivy gourd in English. Normally its said that  this perticular vegetable is good for diabetics and helps to regulates the blood sugar.

Tondekai Southekai Majjege huli is a simple and an easy dish.
No Garlic or No Onion is added in this curry. 

Things Needed : 

Tonde Kai: 2 cups.

Southe kai ( Cucumber ) : 1 Cup.

Green Chillies: 3 to 4.

Coconut : 1/2 cup.

Mustard Seeds : 1/4 Tea spoon.

Jeera: 1/4 Tea spoon.

Salt : to taste.
Turmeric : Pinch.

Curd .( Yogurt) : 1 Cup.

Curry Leaves : 6 to 8.

Coriander Leaves: 2 Table spoons.

Ingh : a pinch.

Ghee or Coconut Oil: 1 Tea spoon.

Method : 

1.  Wash and cut Mangalore southe kai/ Bannada southe and put it in a bowl of water.3. 

2. Wash and cut tonde kai/ivy gourd and boil till they are soft. ( 8 to 10 minutes).  Keep it aside.
3. Grate coconut and grind it with little water.
4. Keep a big pan on the fire . Add cooked vegetables. Add slit green chilly. Add turmeric.
5. Mix it well and let it boil for 2 to 3 minutes. Add ground coconut and mix it well.
6. Let it cook for 2 to 3 minutes. Put off the fire.
7. Add mustard seasoning and shift the curry to a serving dish. Add coriander leaves.

8. Add a bowl of curd and mix it well and serve with the main dish you have prepared.

Note:

The curry should be thick . Do not add much water while grinding or while cooking. Adding curd when the curry is cool is to avoid the curd to be curdled. ( curd becomes some what spoiled milk and won't look good and tasty). Adding curd at the end will keep the curry without turning savoury. 

Serves : 3 to 4 
Time : 20 Minutes. 

Alasande - Sauthe Kaai Gasi.

Alasande and  Mangore Sauthe ( also called Bannnada Sauthe) Gasi is a thick curry and can be eaten with rice, chapatis, pooris , dosa or Idly also .Even for Akki Rotti this curry is a good combination.

Things Needed :

Manalore Sauthe kai - 1 ( Medium size).
Alasande ( Cow pea ):  1 cup.
Coconut : 3 Table- spoons.
Red Chilly - 5 to 6 ( Byadagi).
Jeera - 1/2 Table spoon.
Tamarind : Very little ( 1/2 of  1 marble size).
Oil. - 1 Tea spoon.
Mustard Seeds - 1/2 Tea spoon.
Urd Daal: 1/2 Tea spoon.
Ingh - a pinch.
Curry leaves: 5 to 6.
Salt : to taste.

Method :

1. Wash and soak Alasande /Cowpea, overnight or 5 to 6 hours.
2. Wash and remove the outer layer of Southekai/Mangalore Cucumber and cut into desired size. Soak the pieces in normal water for 5 minutes.
3. Wash and pressure cook Alasande Kalu/Cow peas for 5 to 6 minutes.
4. Cook Mangalore Southekai with required water separately.
5. Great fresh coconut and grind it with red chilly, tamarind  and jeera/cumin seeds with required water.
6. Keep a big pan on the fire. Add cooked Alasande  pods, cooked mangalore southekai.
7. Add Salt, little turmeric and little water if required. Let it cook for 3 minutes.
8. Add ground coconut -jeera mixture and mix it well. Let it cook for another 2 to 3 minutes.
9. Shift the ready curry to a serving dish.
10. Add coconut oil seasoning and serve.

Note : 

It is better to soak Alasande pods over night. Cooking Alasande pods without soaking is optional.
Adding onions or garlic is optional. Adding more red chilly is optional. You can add little jaggery.
serves 4 -5.
Time : Soaking time 5 hours or over night. Cooking time 30 minutes.