Onion Sasive

Sasive is mustard seeds. We have varieties of dishes which are used and prepared with mustard seeds. Here is a simple and quick recipe that goes well with almost all main dishes and You will love to eat as one of the side dish.

When you are just tired and do not want to go out for buying vegetables or want to have simple meal you can try this and enjoy your food.
I have used onions, mustard seeds, fresh coconut and tamarind.
Let us see the recipe now :

Things Needed :

Fresh coconut : 1Cup
Onions : 1 (Medium sized).
Tamarind : 1/2 Marble size
Mustard seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon
Ingh : A pinch
Salt : As required
For Seasoning :
Coconut Oil : 1 Teaspoon
Mustard seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon
Ingh : A pinch
Curry Leaves : 5 to 6 leaves

Method :

1. Remove the outer layer of onions and cut into big pieces. Keep it aside.
2. Grate coconut and grind it with  4 to 5 byadagi chilly, 1/2 teaspoon of mustard seeds, tamarind, required salt and cut onions.

3. Add required water to grind. Grind it nicely and remove it from the mixi jar to a serving dish.

4. Add coconut oil seasoning with mustard seeds, ingh and curry leaves.
5. " Onion Sasive " is ready to serve.

Note :

Use of byadagi chilly is optional. It not only adds to the taste, it adds good colour to chutney.
You can also cut onions into very thin pieces and add it sasive mixture. It taste differ.
Use of coconut oil is optional. Do not add more or big onion to grind. It does not taste good.
Time : 10 Minutes
Serves : 2 to 3 .

Pumpkin Spicy Curry

Pumpkin spicy curry is a side dish and easy to prepare. You can have this side dish with almost all the main dishes.

I have used pumpkin, coconut and home prepared spice powder.
Let us see some benefits of eating pumpkin in our diet.
Pumpkin is filled with vitamins and minerals. It has potassium and anti oxidant properties. It has Vitamin A  Vitamin C and Vitamin E. Pumpkin is very low in calorie and it keeps you full for a longer time. It is good for weight loss. It is full of fiber. It ia good for our eye health. Eating pumpkin is good for our immunity health. It helps in fighting against bacterial infections and fungal infections. Beta carotene in pumpkin helps to protect our skin. It also helps in reducing the glucose level and increasing the amount of insulin in our body. It is good for diabetes.

No onion or No garlic is used in this Pumpkin Spicy Curry. 

I have not used any dal in this curry. Udupi style Pumpkin Spicy Curry. It is easy, simple and quick. 

Things Needed :

To Cook :
Pumpkin Pieces : 1 Big bowl

To Add :
Salt : As required
Turmeric powder : A pinch
Tamarind pulp : 1 Teaspoon
Methi/Fenugrik seeds : 1/4 Teaspoon

To Grind :
Sambar Powder/Rasam powder : 2 Teaspoons
Coconut : 3 to 4 Tablespoons

To Season :
Coconut oil : 1Tablespoon
Mustard seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon
Jeera : 1/2 Teaspoon
Ingh/Asafoetida : A pinch
Curry Leaves : 6 to 8
Green chilly :1

Method :

1. Wash and remove the outer layer (Peel off the skin) and cut into small pieces. Wash the pieces and keep it aside.

2. Grate coconut and grind it with sambar/rasam powder using little water.

3. Keep a pan on the fire and heat. Add coconut oil, mustard seeds, jeera and let it fry.
4. Let mustard seeds splutter. Add ingh, green chilly and curry leaves.
5. Add pumpkin pieces and stir once. Add 1/2 cup of water, a pinch of turmeric and cook on medium flame till they turn slightly soft.

6. Soak tamarind in hot water for 5 minutes and squeeze out the pulp. Add it to cooked pumpkin pieces. Add methi seeds. (Raw methi seeds).
7. Add required salt and mix it well. Add ground coconut mixture and mix it slowly. Add 1/2 cup of water if required. Let Pumpkin Spicy Curry boil for 2 to 3 minutes.

8. Shift the curry to a serving bowl and serve with hot rice.

Note :

Do not over cook the pumpkin pieces. It cooks faster and turns as paste. Use of any sambar/rasam powder is optional. I have used home prepared sambar powder. It taste better. Use of any dal is optional. Do not add much tamarind. It should be mild. Adding methi/Fenugrik seeds helps to lower the cholesterol level in the curry. It helps to digest the food easily. Do not add more water to the curry. It should be bit thick. (Taste better).
Time : 20 Minutes.
Serves : 3 to 4 
Style : South Canara /Udupi/Karntaka/India.

Home made Sambar Powder :

Dry roast 1/4 Teaspoon of methi seeds, 1/2 teaspoon of channa seeds/Kadale bele, 2 tablespoons of coriander seeds and 1/2 Teaspoon of jeera/cumin seeds with 5 to 6 byadagi chilly.
Dry grind it once it is cools.

( 1 time use).

Methi - Palak & Capsicum Dry Curry

Methi Palak Capsicum dry curry is one of the side dish that goes well with almost all the main dishes.   I have prepared Udupi special dry curry using Palak and methi /fenugrik leaves.

Adding leaves in our diet is one of the healthiest choice. You can prepare lots of dishes using varieties of leaves which is available around the year.
I have used methi leaves, palak/spinach leaves, coconut and some spices.
Let us see some benefits of having mustard seeds in our diet. 
Mustard seeds are loaded with medicinal values. They are good remedy for detoxification of the body. It helps to get relief from pains. They are good for maintaining healthy skin and hair. It also good for women during menopause. Mustard seeds are rich source of minerals and vitamins. They are rich in minerals like calcium, magnesium, potassium and phosphorous. They are good source of dietary fiber.They do contain vitamin A and vitamin K and vitamin C. They help in managing diabetes and cholesterol level in our body. They are good source of anti bacterial properties and helps in treating ringworm. (skin disease).
Let us see the recipe Now :
It is an Udupi Special - Traditional Recipe. No Onion or Garlic is used in this recipe. 

Things Needed : 

To Cook :
Methi /Fenugrik leaves : 1 Bundle
Palak/spinach leaves : 1 Bundle
To Season :
Mustard seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon
Urid dal : 1/2 Teaspoon
Curry Leaves : 6 to 8
Coconut Oil : 1 Tablespoon
Ingh /Asafoetida : A pinch
To Dry grind :
Mustard seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon
Red chilly powder/Red chilly :1 Teaspoon/ 3 to 4
Coconut : 2 to 3 Tablespoons
To Add :
Coriander leaves : 1 Teaspoon
Lemon extract/Tamarind pulp : 1 Teaspoon
Jaggery : 1 Teaspoon

 Method :

1. Wash and cut palak and methi leaves into very small. Keep it aside. Wash and cut capsicum into small pieces.

2. Grate coconut and dry grind it with red chilly powder and mustard seeds. Keep it aside.

3. Wash and cut coriander leaves and soak very little tamarind in hot water and squeeze out the pulp.
4. Now keep a pan on the fire and heat. Add coconut oil and mustard seeds, urid dal.
5. Let it splutter. Add washed curry leaves and ingh. Add cut leaves and capsicum. Fry it on low flame for 2 minutes.

6. Add a pinch of turmeric powder and mix it well. Add 1/4 cup of water and cool on low flame.

7. Let all the moisture disappear. Add salt, jaggery and tamarind pulp. Let it cook for 2 minutes.
8. Add dry ground coconut - mustard mixture and stir slowly. So that it mixes well.

9. Let it cook on low flame for a minute. Shift the ready curry to a serving bowl.

10. Add cut coriander leaves to Ready Methi - Palak & Capsicum Dry Curry and serve.

Note :

Adding more chilly powder is optional. I have used tamarind pulp and lemon extract/juice can be used instead of tamarind pulp. Adding jaggery is optional. Do not cook dry curry for a long time after adding coconut. Adding onions or garlic is optional.
Time 15 Minutes
Serves : 2 to 3. 

Southekai Dose (Mangalore Cucumber dosa)

Southekai /Mangalore Cucumber Dosa is one more Udupi Special dish.  We have it with Jaggery. (Joni bella).

Uduipi is in the southern part of Karnataka and its quite hot since its on the edge of Arabian sea. (Coastal side). People have the habit of keeping themselves cool. The food too is depending upon the climate. It is always a mild and yummy food. I have a recipe here which is prepared using Mangalore

Southekai/Cucumber.

I have used raw rice, mangalore cucumber, liitle jeera/cumin seeds, pepper and little coconut. No need to ferment and you can have them with any type of chutney, sambar/curry or even plain jaggery.

Let us see the recipe now :

Things needed :

Raw Rice : 2 Cups

Mangalore Cucumber/Southekai : 1/2 ( Medium sized 1/2 mangalore cucumber).

Coconut : 1 small bowl.

 Pepper pods : 4 to 5
Jeera/Cumin seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon

Salt : As required 

Oil : 3 to 4 Tablespoons

Method : 

1. Wash and soak rice for 2 hours.
2. Wash and remove the outer layer of Southekai and remove the seeds and pulp.
3. Cut southekai/cucumber into small pieces. Soak the pieces in water for 5 minutes. Wash it again.
4.Grate coconut and grind it with rice and cucumber pieces. (Add very little water to grind).

5. Add jeera/cumin seeds, pepper pods and grind along with rice and cucumber.

6. Remove it from mixi jar to a bowl. Add salt and mix required water.
7. Dosa dough should be normal dosa consistency.

8. Keep a pan and heat. Sprinkle little oil and clean it with a kitchen tissue.
9. Take a ladle full of dough and spread it around the pan.
10. Sprinkle little oil on the top and let it cook. Turn the other side and cook for a minute.

11. Remove it from the pan. Repeat the same with remaining dough/
12. Serve hot Southekai dosa with side dish you prepared. We had it with jaggery and chutney pudi.

Note :

Do not add much water while grinding. Southekai provides the required water. If the dough turns watery add little rice flour and mix it. Adding coconut adds to the taste. This is one of the Udupi Special dosa and no need of fermentation. Soaking Southekai pieces helps to remove the bitterness if any. Dosa will not be so crispy or thin.
Type : South Canara 
Time : 2 hours + 20 minutes
Serves : 3 to 4.

Quick Charmuri

Quick Charumuri is prepared using puffed rice/murmuri/puri/Mandakki. Mandakki/munaddakki is prepared from Rice. This Quick Charmuri /Masala Mandakki is prepared in Udupi style. Try and enjoy Udupi style of Mandakki. Added Chat Masala and Little garam masala to rasam powder. (twist in the kahani - Khaneka Meharbani).

When we go to Udupi we do visit Ratha beedi/Car street as it is known as, is surrounded by temples and Ashta Matas. Famous Udupi Shree Krishna Temple is here in Ratha Beedi Udupi.
The streets are always filled with people who are visiting temples, the vendors, various shops and even some houses also you can see there.
In Ratha beedi there are some people sell varieties of food. The charmuri sold here is very famous and yummy. Churmuri seller does a lovely charmuri and people will be surrounded and the gathering for his charmuri is always so many. He does use coconut oil, rasam powder, carrots and onions.

Hotel Mantapa in Saligrama Near Brahmavar (Karnataka/Indian) is one of the famous spot for Udupi Style Mandakki.

Let us see some benefits of eating coconut oil. 
Coconut oil is high in natural saturated fats and it helps in increasing the healthy cholesterol in our body. It also helps in converting bad cholesterol into good cholesterol. It helps to promote heart health and lower the risk of heart heart diseases. It helps to increase immunity against infections and diseases. It is useful for weight loss. Coconut oil contain fatty acids and it helps in taking away the excessive weight. It also helps in reducing abdominal obesity in women. Coconut oil is easy to digest and helps in healthy functioning of the thyroid and endocrine system. ( Endocrine system is the collection of glands that produce hormones that regulates metabolism, growth and development tissue function, sexual function, reproduction, sleep and mood among other things). Coconut oil helps to protect the infected body part from fungi, bacteria and viruses. It is good for bruises since it speeds up the healing process of damaged tissues. Coconut oil contain minerals like calcium and magnesium and these minerals are necessary for the development of bones. It is very good for women in their middle age who are prone to osteoporosis. It helps in controlling blood sugar and improves the secretion of insulin. Coconut oil is a good stress buster. It is good for skin and hair care.
This is simple, easy and yummy Churumuri. All You need is Puffed rice groundnuts, some sev or fried cornflakes.
I have mixed Puffed rice, ground nuts, onions, grated carrots, coconut, rasam powder and coconut oil.
" Quick Charmuri " is one of the good snack for the evening.

Things needed :

Puffed Rice : 1 Big Bowl
Corn flakes : 1 Small bowl
Ground Nuts : 2 Tablespoon
Oil : 2 Tablespoons
To Add :
Cut Onions : 1
Grated Carrot : 1
Rasam/Sambar Powder : 1 Teaspoon
Garam Masala : 1/4 Teaspoon
Chat Masala : 1/4 Teaspoon
Grated fresh coconut : 2 to 3 Tablespoons
Salt : A little
Coconut Oil : 2 Tablespoons
Lemon juice : 1 Teaspoon

Method :

1 Heat a pan and put oil and let it heat. Fry groundnuts till they turn slightly golden brown.
2. Remove it from the pan. Add cornflakes and fry on low flame. Add puffed rice and mix it well.
3. Put off the fire and let the puffed rice be in the pan.
4. Wash and remove the outer layer of carrots and grated it.
5. Remove the outer layer of onion and wash it. Cut it into small pieces.

6. Grate coconut and keep it aside.
7. Now take a big plate or bowl.
8. Add cut onions, grated coconut, carrots and rasam powder, garam masala powder, chat masala powder. Add Lemon juice.
9. Mix all the ingredients nicely.

10 Put these mixed ingredients to puffed rice and mix it well.

11. Add coconut oil and mix it slowly.

12. Serve or eat quickly or it might turn soft.

Note :

You are supposed to mix onion, carrot mixture when you are ready to eat or serve. Or it turns soft and it does not hold crunchy taste. Adding dry roasted groundnuts at the top is optional. We do not add it.
You can add cut tomatoes instead of lemon juice. (I added lemon juice). Adding sev or mixture adds to the taste. (But we do not add). Any brand of rasam powder/sambar powder can be used.( I used MTR  Rasam Powder). It provides Udupi style of rasam flavour. Adding garam masala and chat masala is optional. I have added a very little quantity of garam masala and chat masala powders.
You can prepare Puffed Rice mix and store it. (mixed with cornflakes and groundnuts).
Time : 15 Minutes
Serves : 3 to 4 .
Puffed Rice Preparation : 
  http://nsomayaji.blogspot.in/2011/05/mandakki-chat-puri-chat.html

Seeme Badane - Sweet Potato Jeera Curry

Seeme badane kai /Chayote Squash is one of the healthy vegetable. It grows in plenty during winter and is healthy too. I have tried Sweet potato and Seeme Badane Kai jeera curry and the combination of the vegetable suits so well. The curry came out so well and I would like you also try and enjoy this yummy side dish.

Starting of November as the rains stops slowly these Seeme badanekai plants starts to give out the vegetables. It is a climber plant and the vegetables are curvy shaped vegetables which are rich in minerals and vitamins.

Let us see the benefits of eating " Chayote Squash " in our diet.

Chayote squash/Seeme badanekai has no saturated fat or cholesterol. It is a rich source of dietary fiber. The vegetable has good amount of minerals vitamins and good for weight loss. They do contain B complex Vitamins, folates, potassium and Vitamin C. Chayote Squash helps in dissolving kidney stones and regulating high blood pressure. They are good for people suffering from constipation.
No Onion OR No Garlic is added in this " Seeme Badane - Sweet Potato Jeera Curry".
I have used Chayote Squash/Seeme Badanekai (Kannada language), Sweet potatoes, jeera, green chilly and coconut. This curry goes well with almost all the main dishes.
Let us see the recipe now :

Things Needed :

To Cook :
Chayote Squash/Seeme badanekai : 2
Sweet Potatoes :  1 (Medium sized)
Moong or Toor Dal : 1/4 Cup
Methi seeds/Fenugrik Seeds : 1/4 Teaspoon
To Grind :
Coconut : 3 to 4 Tablespoons
Jeera/Cumin Seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon
Ginger : A small piece
Green chilly : 2 to 3
To Add : 
Salt : As required
Ingh /Asafoetida : A little
Turmeric powder : A pinch
To Season : 
Coconut Oil : 1 Teaspoon
Mustard Seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon
Jeera/Cumin Seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon
Curry Leaves : 6 to 8 leaves

Method :

1. Wash and pressure cook moong dal and methi seeds with required water ( I have used moong dal) and keep it aside.
2. Wash and remove the outer layers of sweet potatoes and chayote squash nicely.

3. Cut them into small pieces and cook with required water.

4. Grate coconut and grind it with jeera, cut ginger and green chilly with required water till paste.
5. Now keep a pan and put cooked dal, cooked veggies. Add turmeric powder and salt.

6. Let it boil for 2 to 3 minutes. Add ground coconut jeera mixture and mix it well.

7. Let it boil for 2 to 3 minutes. Mix in between so that it does not get burnt.
8. Shift curry to a serving bowl. Add mustard, jeera and curry leaves seasonings.
9. Serve with hot rice or any choice of your main dish.

Note :

It is better to cook veggies separately. Keep the veggies in a big pan and put some water and then cook till they turn soft. Use of any cooking oil is optional. Use of more/less chilly is optional.
Use of garlic or onions are optional. You can add carrots, beans to this curry. I have not used any curd or tamaraind since the curry is very mild.
Time : 30 Minutes
Serves : 2 to 3 
Type : South Indian/South Canara /Udupi.