Yugadi/Ugadi Festival Feast.

Happy Yugadi/Ugadi To All ...   "Sarve Jana Sukhino Bhavantu...Samasta Sanmangalani Bhavanthu ". 
Festivals bring us joy and happiness in our life. It is also the best time we spend with our near and dear ones. Exchanging wishes and sweets are the sweet moments in every one's life. Time to have Lunch or Dinner with our family/friends. A sweet and lovely moments spent with our people is always cherished in life.

I have written the importance of Yugadi Festival in my previous post. Celebrating New Year beginning with Pooja and Elders Ashirwada (blessings) is a good beginning too. Houses will be decorated with fresh Mango, Neem leaves and fresh flowers. Rangolis are spread in bigger way, taking oil bath in the morning and wearing new dress. Having festival/feast food with all the family members. Wow these things really freshen up and takes back to our childhood days.
Yugadi is here and it is the first day of our New Year according to Hindu Panchangam. " Happy
New Year - Happy Yugadi/Ugadi/Gudi Padva ". Lets all pray for Every one's good health. Sarve Jana Sukhino Bhavantu , Sarva Sanmangalni Bhavantu".
The feast dishes are normally according to the one's traditions and customs. The family has continued its elders footstep and followed how they have celebrated.
Let us know how do they celebrate Yugadi in Raychoor District. (in Karntaka State).
I usually go for a short walk in the evening. I met a lady called Kusuma (while walking), who hails from Soraba (Near Sagar), We started talking about the Yugadi Celebration and naturally it turned to the dishes that we prepare. Bevu bella and the way it is prepared etc etc. I always listen to people when they talk. She started telling about how do they take Bevu bella. It is something interesting In their house (Husband is from Raichoor district) They call it as Shavige sosodu. (Drain the shavige after cooking). Let me tell the whole procedure. They cook shavige (payasam shavige is used here) with more water. Once the shavige/vermicelli  is cooked the extra water is to be drained out. They add some amount of jaggary to shavige and cook till it turns thick.  Add required water if it requires. Mix it nicely and let it boil for a while. At first they serve cooked shavige jaggery mixture and serve bevu bella mixture separately. Then it is mixed together and eaten. Interesting to note right? One more thing to note is that they use only neem flowers. (No neem leaves are added). That's the way of celebrating Yugadi. It sounded interesting to me.
Each place has its own importance in celebrating and keeping up the traditions and customs.
We pray God and Wish Each one Happy Yugadi/Ugadi. Sarve Jana Sukhino Bhavanthu.
The food we eat should be light and not with much hard work put up while cooking. One gets tired and lose the interest in the rest of the day. My advice is Cook simple and easy dishes and relax and enjoy. You can prepare the sweet dish on previous day, (except payasa)  if you are not keeping it for Neivedyam for God.
Lets see the festival dishes Now.
1. Carrot Capsicum Pachdi or Raitha
2. Sweet Potato-Capsicum Fry
3. Colour Cucumber/Mangalore Cucumber Bolu Huli/Dal
4. Avalakki/Flattened Rice Chitranna
5. Jack Fruit Payasa/Kheer
6. Seven Cups Burfi
7. Brinjal Bajji /Pakoda

1. Carrot Capsicum Pachdi or Raitha:

Things Needed :
Carrots : 2
Capsicum : 1
Green chilly : 1
Curry Leaves : 3 to 4
Coriander Leaves : 1 Tablespoon
Curd : 1 Small cup
Salt : To taste
Mustard Seasoning :
Mustard seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon,
Jeera/1/2 Teaspoon
 ingh: a pinch,
Curry leaves : 3 to 4
Oil : 1/2 Teaspoon
Method : 
Wash and cut capsicum and grate carrots and keep it aside. Keep a pan on the fire and put oil. Put mustard seeds. let it splutter. Add cut green chilly, jeera and c4 urry leaves. Add ingh. Mix it well and add grated carrots and cut capsicum. Mix it nicely and let it cook on low flame till soft.( 3 to 4 minutes. Add salt. Put off the fire. Let it cool. Add required curd and cut coriander leaves. Mix it well just before serving.

2. Sweet Potato -Capsicum Fry

Things Needed :
Sweet Potatoes : 2 to 3
Capsicum : 1
Turmeric powder : a pinch
Dry ginger powder : 1/2 Teaspoon
Chilly Powder/Rasam Powder : 2 Teaspoons
Jeera Powder : 1 Teaspoon
Salt : To taste
Seasoning :
Oil : 1 Tablespoon
Mustard seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon
Methi seeds : 1/4 Teaspoon
Curry Leaves : 5 to 6
Coriander Leaves : 2 Tablespoons
Ingh/Asafoetida : a pinch
Method :
Wash and remove the outer layer (optional) and cut sweet potatoes and capsicum in to thin pieces. Keep a pan on the fire and add oil. Let it be hot. Add mustard seeds, methi seeds. Let mustard seeds splutter. Add ingh, jeera and curry leaves and leave it for 30 seconds. Add cut capsicum and fry nicely for a minute. Add cut sweet potatoes and mix it nicely. Let it cook on low flame. It takes about 4 to 5 minutes to soften. Sprinkle water on the top. It helps to cook sweet potatoes fast. Add salt, chilly powder, jeera powder and turmeric powder. Mix it slowly and nicely. Let it cook on low flame for 1 minute. Mix nicely and remove it from the pan to a serving dish. Add cut coriander leaves and mix it nicely just before serving.

3. Mangalore Curcumber/Colour Cucumber Bolu Huli (No coconut or no powdered masala.

Things Needed :
Cucumber :1/2
Toor /Moong dal : 1/2 Cup
Green chilly : 2 to 3
Coriander Leaves : 1 handful
Tamarind Pulp ; 2 to 3 Tablespoons
Jaggery : 2 Tablespoons
Salt : Required salt
Mustard seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon
Coconut Oil (optional) : 1Teaspoon
Ingh/Asafoetida : a Pinch
Curry Leaves : 6 to 8
Method : 
Wash and remove the outer skin of cucumber and cut  into small pieces. Cook with little water till they turn soft. Wash and pressure cook toor/moong dal and leave it for cooling.
Soak tamarind in hot water and squeeze out the pulp.
Keep a pan on the fire and heat. Put coconut oil and heat. Add mustard seeds, let it splutter. Add ingh and curry leaves. Add cut green chilly. Fry for 10 seconds and add cooked dal, cucumber pieces and tamarind pulp. Add a pinch of turmeric, required salt and jaggery. Mix it well and boil for 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in between so that it does not get burnt. Shift the curry to a serving bowl and add coriander leaves.

4. Avalakki/Flattened Chitranna (instead of rice you can prepare Avalakki Chitranna)

Things needed :
Avalakki : 2 Cups (Thick variety)
Mango gratings : 2 Tablespoons. (I have used Totapuri Mango)
Green chilly : 2
Jaggery : 1 Tablespoon
Salt : As required
Coconut : 1/2 Cup
Oil/Ghee : 2 Tablespoons
Mustard Seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon
Urid Dal : 1 Teaspoon
Curry Leaves : 8 to 10 Leaves
Method :
Wash and soak avalakki for 5 Minutes. (Or remove all the water and keep it). Grate mango and coconut. Wash and cut green chilly. Keep a pan on the fire and heat. Add 2 tablespoons of oil. Add mustard seeds and urid dal. Let mustard seeds splutter. Add cut green chilly and curry leaves. Fry for a second. Add grated mango and fry for 10 seconds. Add Avalakki, jaggery, salt and turmeric. Mix it nicely and slowly. Let all the moisture disappear. Mix it well and put off the fire. Add a spoon of ghee and grated coconut. Avalakki Chitranna is ready to serve.

5. Jack fruit Payasa /Kheer. (Jack fruits are available in the market. It is nice to make Jack fruit Payasa).

Things Needed :
Jackfruits : 8 to 10
Jaggery : 1/2 Cup
Cardamom Powder : 1/2 Teaspoon
Fresh Coconut : 1 Cup
Cashew Nuts : 5 to 6
Method : 
Cut Jack fruits into small and cook with little water and jaggery. Powder cardamom. Grate coconut and grind it nicely till paste. Add ground coconut to cooked jack fruit jaggery conten. Boil for 2 to 3 minutes. Put off the fire and add ghee fried cashews and cardamom powder. Mix it well and serve.
Adjust jaggery according to your taste. You can also use coconut milk instead of ground coconut.

6. Seven Cups Burfi : (This burfi can be prepared previous day to save your time and energy).

Things Needed :
Channa flour/Besan/Kadale Hittu : 1 Cup
Oil : 1 Cup
Ghee : 1/2 Cup
Sugar : 2 1/2 Cups
Coconut : 1 Cup
Milk : 1 Cup
Cardamom Powder : 1 Teaspoon
Method :
Keep a big pan on the fire. Add 2 tablespoons of ghee. Heat and let it melt. Add channa flour and fry nicely till the raw smell disappear. Put off the fire. Add milk, sugar, oil and grated coconut. Mix it well. See that it is clear and well mixed. Put on the fire and stir continuously til it starts leaving the pan. Add little by little ghee in between. Once the content starts leaving the pan remove the mixture and shift it to ghee applied tray or plate. Let it cool a bit. Cut it according to your wish. It stays for more than a week.
Note : Do it on low flame and it is easy to prepare. Using ghee/oil is optional. Adding more ghee adds taste to the burfi. Adding coconut is also optional. I have used dry coconut/Copra.

20 to 25 Burfi pieces can be made. (depend on the size).

7. Brinjal Pakoda/Bajji (If you like fried dish in your festival lunch you can give a try)

Things Needed :
Brinjal : 1
Besan /Channa flour : 1/2 Cup
Salt : As required
Red chilly powder : 1 Teaspoon
Jeera/Cumin Seeds : 1 Teaspoonl
Ingh/ Asafoetida : a pinch
Oil : 1 Cup
Method :
Mix besan, chilly powder, jeera, salt, ingh in a big bowl. Add required water and prepare dough. (idli dough consistency). Wash and cut brinjal/egg plant in circle shape. (Better to use round brinjal). Wash it again. Keep a frying pan on the fire. Add oil and heat. Dip cut brinjal in besan dough and fry them one by one. Fry both sides on medium flame. Repeat the same with remaining dough.
Note : The dough should not be too thick or thin. If it is thin it absorbs more oil. It the dough is too thick bajji/fritter might turn hard. So take care of the dough while using water. You can add little rice flour to get the crispness. Cooking soda/Baking powder is not required.

All the dishes can be served for 4 to 5 people.

Sweet Potato Kachoris

Kachoris are fried, stomach filling dish. It is famous Gujarathi snack. I still remember eating Raj Kachori from one of Gurjarathi restaurant in Dubai. It was too heavy and I could finish the whole think. Rajkachori was filled with whole moong and some grated carrots, curd etc etc etc.
Kachoris are very famous these days. It is yummy too.

Kachoris are many types these days. I have just tried these "Sweet Potato Kachori" using wheat flour, sweet potatoes (said to be better than potatoes (on healthy side also) and some simple spices.
Lets see some benefits of having Oma Kalu (Bishop Weed).
Oma is called in different names and some of them are , Oma/Omada Kalu/Bishop Weed/Ajvan(Hindi)/Omam (Malayalam)/Amam (Tamil)/Vamu (Telugu)/Ajamo (Gujarati)/Jabian (Panjabi) and Yavanika in Sanskrit.
Oma/Ajwan is good for digestion. It improves the taste and improve the digestive strength. It is good for abdominal colic pain. It also helps in removing the toxic content from our body, any infections in the body and even used for removing the poison content from the body. It is used for removal of worms in the stomach.
"Sweet Potato Kachori" do not contain any Onions or Garlic.  

Ingredients :

For dough:
Wheat flour : 2 Cups
jeera/Cumin seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon
Salt : a little
For stuffing :
Sweet Potatoes : 2 to 3 (Medium Size)
Coriander Leaves : One Handful
Jeera Powder : 1/2 Teaspoon
Oma/Ajwan : 1/2 Teaspoon
Garam Masala Powder : 1/2 Teaspoon
Red Chilly Powder : 1/2 Teaspoon
Salt : As required
Ghee : 1 Tablespoon
For frying :
Oil : 1 Cup (To fry)

Method :

1. Wash and cook sweet potatoes and remove the skin once it is cooled. Keep it aside.
2. Dry roast wheat flour nicely for 2 to 3 minutes on low flame. Let it cool.

3. Take a big bowl and smash cooked sweet potatoes. Add all the spices and salt. (Garam Masala, red chilly powder, oma , jeera powder/cumin, cut coriander leaves ).
4. Mix the ingredients nicely and let the sweet potatoes completely smash and mix it with spices.
5. Now take a big bowl. Put dry roasted wheat flour, a tablespoon of ghee and little salt. Add little jeera to the flour. Mix it nicely. Add required water (little by little) and prepare thick chapati dough.

6. Now kneed the dough nicely and divide them into small portion. Turn them as ball shape.
7. Roll these small size dough into small circle.

8. Place a Tablespoon or little more sweet potato mixture.
9. Bring all the sides of the chapti in the middle.
10. Just turn once and flatten them as small poori (You can use your palm or roller).

11. Now keep a pan on the fire. Heat and put oil. Let it become hot.
12. Put already prepared kachoris and fry on low and medium heat on both sides.

13. Remove them from oil and put it on a kitchen tissue. Let the extra oil absorb by kitchen tissue.

14. Serve hot kachoris with sweet and hot spicy chutney.

15. Repeat the same with remaining dough and the stuffing.

Note : 

Let the chapati dough be thick. Roll them in to thin, fry them on low flame first and then medium flame.
Adding spice is optional. Adding ghee or hot oil while preparing dough is optional.
Mix the flour only when it is completely cool or Kachori turns soft and saggy. Use of Maida instead of wheat flour is optional. (Wheat flour is a healthy option).  Use of more oil to fry Kachori is also optional.
Time : Total : 30 to 40 minutes
Serves : 10 to 15 Kachoris can be prepared. (According to the size).

Sweet Potato - Avalakki (Flattened Rice) Cutlet.

Sweet potato and Avalakki (Flattened/Beatened Rice) Cutlet is a snack dish and you can enjoy them in the evening. Cutlets are very famous spicy dish.
I have used boiled sweet potatoes, thick Poha/Poa/Aval/Avalakki or Beaten/Flattened rice. Some spices to give them yummy spicy taste. I just put the cutlets on the tava and roasted with oil. (very little oil). They were Yummy and came out very well. You can try adding your own spice and giving a twist and enjoy.

Cutlets can be eaten as snack and some time as dinner too (if it is healthy version). It can be roasted with very little oil. Cutlets are nice to have with any chutney, ketchup or sweet and spicy chutney. There are various ways to prepare cutlets. This is my own creation and I have not used any bread or bread crumbs. The dough is just a mixture of sweet potatoes, Avalakki and spice mixture.
Garam Masala is a mixture of spices like clove, cinnamon, cardamom, jeera, nut mug and other spices.
Lets see some benefits of having cloves in our diet.
Clove is an herb and all the parts of clove plant is used. The dried bud, stems and leaves are used to make medicine. Clove oil is loaded with medicinal properties.
Cloves are loaded with many health benefits. It is very good aid for indigestion. It has antimicrobial properties. They protect the liver, boost the immune system, control diabetes and helps the bone to be strong. Cloves also helps as medicine for headaches, bad breathe and toothache. Cloves contain dietary fiber and minerals like vitamin C, folate, vitamin B6, vitamin A, vitamin E, vitamin D and Vitamin K.
Lets see the recipe now:

Things Needed : 

Sweet Potatoes : 4 to 5 (medium size)
Flattened Rice/Avalakki/Poha (Thick Variety) : 1 Cup
Green Chilly : 2 to 3
Coriander Leaves : 2 to 3 Tablespoons
Oats : (optional) : 2 Tablespoons
Ginger : an inch
Garam Masala : 1 Teaspoon
Jeera /Cumin Seeds : 1 Teaspoon
Chilly Powder : 1/2 Teaspoon
Salt : As required
Oil : 3 to 4 Tablespoons
Cashew nuts : 10 numbers (split ones)

Method :

1. Wash cook sweet potatoes in a pressure cooker for 6 to 8 minutes. Remove the outer skin of sweet potatoes when it turns cool.
2. Wash thick variety of avalakki and soak avalakki with little water.

3. Wash and cut green chilly, coriander leaves into small.

4. Wash and remove the outer layer of ginger and wash it again. Grate it and keep it aside.
5.Take a big bowl. Put sweet potatoes, soaked avalakki, cut green chilly, coriander and salt.
6. Add oats (no need to fry or roast), garam masala, red chilly powder and jeera.

7. Mix all the ingredients nicely and prepare thick dough.
8. Now divide the dough into small portions. Flatten them according to your wish.
9. Keep tava on the fire and heat. Sprinkle oil on the tava.

10. Arrange the cutlets on the tava and roast them on low and medium flame.
11. It turns golden brown. Turn the other side and cook til they turn slightly golden brown.

12. Serve hot Sweet Potato Cutlets with ketch up/Hot spicy chutney and sweet chutney or coconut chutney..
13. Repeat the same with remaining dough.
14. You can also serve Sweet Potato Cutlet with a cup of curd.

Note :

Do not over cook sweet potatoes. It will be very soft and you will not be able to prepare proper cutlets. Adding more avalakki is optional. You can fry these cutlets in oil. ( I prefer roasting cutlet on tava). No onions or garlic is used. (optional). Adding more masala is optional. I did not add any bread or corn flour to the dough. (optional). Adding cashew nuts is optional. Just slightly insert one cashew piece on each cutlet. If you feel the dough consistency is bit soft add some bread/rava (sooji) and it binds the dough nicely.
Time : 30 to 40 minutes
Serves : 4 to 5

Sweet Potato Curry

Sweet potatoes are plenty in the market during winter, Sweet potatoes are one of the healthy vegetable also. Preparing some or the other dishes using this vegetable is really good Idea. I have noted that Swathi Iyer has used Sweet Potatoes in her baking. That's a great idea to use Sweet Potatoes. We South Canara  (Southern part of Karnataka) people do make use of sweet potatoes in our cooking. So many dishes can be prepared with sweet potatoes. Curry, paratha, upma, payasa, papad jamoon etc etc the list goes on.

READY TO EAT SWEET POTATO CURRY WITH HOT POORIS

Here is a simple recipe that every one can try and enjoy having it as one of the side dish. It is easy and healthy. Not much of spices either.
I have used sweet potatoes, onions and some chilly. We had it with Poori. It goes well with rotis, chapati, dosa or idli even one of the side dish while serving with rice.
Let us see some benefits of " Sweet Potatoes " in our diet.
Sweet Potatoes are packed with nutritional values. They are filled with Vitamin A, loads of fiber and potassium. They also contain less calories. Sweet potatoes are said to be decrease the risk of obesity, diabetes and heart disease. they help to increase the energy and lower the weight. They help to reduce the risk of low blood sugar and insulin resistance in diabetic people. They are packed with many essential vitamins and minerals. They contain minerals like iron, calcium, magnesium, manganese and potassium. They are full of fiber and good for people who suffer from constipation and it helps in easy digestion. Sweet potatoes are high in Vitamin C and beta carotene and it helps o boost immunity power in the body. Sweet Potatoes have anti inflammatory properties. Sweet Potatoes are good for Eye health. ( It contain Vitamin A which is good for Vision).

Lets see the recipe Now :

Ingredients :

Sweet Potatoes : 2 to 3 (Medium Sized)
Onions : 2 (Medium Sized)
Green Chilly : 2
Curry leaves : 5 to 6
Ginger : 1 Teaspoon (Grated).
Salt : To taste
Basan/Channa flour : 1 Tablespoon
Mustard Seeds : 1 Teaspoon
Jeera : 1/2 Teaspoon
Oil : 2 Tablespoons (Any cooking oil).

Method : 

1. Wash and remove the outer layer of sweet potatoe. Cut them into small and cook with little water. (Till soft).

2. Remove the outer layer of onions and wash. Cut it into thin stripes. Keep it aside.
3. Wash and cut green chilly and curry leaves and coriander leaves. \
4. Wash and remove the outer layer of ginger. Wash it again and grate it. Keep it aside.
5. Now keep a pan on the fire and heat. Add oil. Add mustard seeds. Let it splutter.
6. Add jeera/cumin seeds, green chilly and curry leaves.

7. Add cut onions and fry nicely. Add water and let it cook till soft. (1/2 a cup of water).
8. Now add little turmeric powder and mix it well. Add required salt. Add grated ginger.

9. Add cooked sweet potato once the onions turn soft and mix it well. Let it cook for 1 minute.
10. Put channa flour/besan/Kadlae hittu in a glass. Add 1/2 cup of water and mix it well.

11. Pour this besan mix to the cooking sweet potato. Let it cook for 2 minutes. Mix in between so that it does not get burnt.
12. Shift the sweet potato curry to a serving dish. Add cut coriander leaves, mix it well and serve it with the main dish you have prepared.

Note :

You can add little garam masla to the curry (Add it when the curry is cooking). Adding garlic is optional. Adding more chilly is also optional. Adding gram flour/channa flour /besan helps to thicken the curry. Add a teaspoon of lemon extract. (It taste good). You can cook sweet potato (as whole ...just wash it and then cook) in pressure cooker is optional. But some time it will over cooked and smashed. The taste varies.
Time : 30 Minutes.
Serves : 3 to 4