Cucumber Peel Chutney

Cucumber sippe / peel /outer layer chutney is one of the traditional dish done. It is said that cucumber peel is rich in fiber. 

We normally do not waste any vegetable or vegetable peel and do make use of it either in chutney or in some other preparations.
This particular cucumber is known as mullu southe in Udupi and Mangalore region. It is very rare and we do make use of this cucumber in chutney, kosumbari and payasa or ganji /porridge.

Let us see some benefits of this Mullu Southekai / Cucumber in our diet.
Cucumber has rich source of nutrients and antioxidants. It contain good amount of water and soluble fiber. It is good for weight loss. It has fiber, zero fat content and low in calories. It has vitamin C and Vitamin K. It contain some amount of protein, manganese, magnesium and potassium. It is good for our skin and eyes. It helps to cool our body.
You need to dip the vegetable in plain water at least 20 minutes. Wash it nicely and then use it.
I have used cucumber peel and some pulp, coconut, tamarind and red chilly.
Let us see the recipe now :
No Onion or Garlic is used in this chutney.

Ingredients :

Cucumber Peel : 1 Bowl
Roasted urid dal : 1 Teaspoon
Red byadagi chilly : 4 to 5
Tamarind pulp : 1 Teaspoon
Salt : As required
Coconut : 1/2 coconut of small size
Seasoning  with coconut oil, mustard seeds, ingh and curry leaves.

Method :

1. Wash and soak 1 cucumber in plain water for 30 minutes.

2. Wash again and peel its outer layer and keep it aside. ( I have used some amount of pulp also).

3. Grate coconut and keep it aside.
4. Keep a pan on the fire and heat. Put a teaspoon of coconut oil and a teaspoon of urid dal.
5. Fry till urid dal turn golden brown. Add red chilly and fry for a minute.

6. Add curry leaves and ingh. Mix it well and put off the gas.
7. Grind fried urid mixture, cucumber peel and pulp, tamarind and required salt. Add very little water to grind.

8. Remove the ground chutney to a serving dish and add mustard seasoning with curry leaves and ingh.

9. Mix it well and serve with the main dish you have prepared.

Note :

No need to cook cucumber peel. It looses its property once you cook. Adding more / less chilly is optional. Adding any cooking oil instead of coconut oil is optional. Do not add much water to grind. Chutney turns watery and it does not taste good. Urid dal helps the chutney to bind. (or it turns watery).
Time : 15 Minutes + 30 Minutes to soaking cucumber in plain water.
Serves : 2 to 3 .

Millet/Jola - Moong - Urid Dal Dosa

Preparing healthy breakfast is one of the task for ladies who have adopted some healthy concepts. Thinking of healthy, protein rich and yummy dish that should accommodate each member of the family. I my self think some healthy options and do prepare healthy breakfast for my family. This is such one dish which is very healthy.

I have used millet flour, moong dal, urid dal and a special chutney which is very easy to prepare and healthy to eat it.

Having  Pepper in your diet helps to keep away Alzheimer disease.

This dosa is filled with proteins and less carbohydrates and easy to prepare, healthy to have them and is one of the diabetic friendly Dosa.
Let us see the recipe now :

Things Needed :

Moong dal : 1/4 Cup
Urid dal : 1/2 Cup
Millet flour : 1/2 Cup
Pepper pods : 2 to 4.
Salt : As required
Curd : 2 Tablespoons
Oil : 2 to 3 Tablespoons

Method :

1. Wash and soak moong and urid dal together for 2 hours and grind it with 2 to 4 pepper pods.

2.Use required water to grind and remove the batter to a big bowl.

3. Put little water and mix millet flour and add this batter to moong - urid batter. Add required salt,          2 tablespoons of curd and mix it well.

4. Add little water to the batter and mix it well and the consistency should be normal dosa batter.

5. Keep a pan on the fire and heat. Clean the pan nicely with a kitchen tissue. ( Let the flame be low ).
6. Take a ladle full of dosa batter and spread it on the pan in circle shape.

7. Sprinkle little oil on the top of dosa and cook on medium and low flame for 1 to 2 minutes.
8. Turn dosa on other side and cook for 20 to 30 seconds.

9. Dosa is ready to serve. Serve with your choice of side dish.

10. Repeat the same with remaining dosa batter.

11. You can ferment the batter for 5 to 6 hours and then prepare dosa. It turns crispy and golden colour.

12. We had these Millet /Jola - Moong - Urid Dal Dosa with  chutney pudi chatney and jaggery. .

Note :

Adding curd to batter turns the batter bit soft. You can add little cooking soda. ( Optional, I have not added). Add little water to millet flour and mix it well and then add it to urid - moong dal batter. It helps to mix all the ingredients well. Use of ghee instead of oil is optional. I have used oil.
Sprinkle water on tava each time and clean the tava, it helps to reduce the heat of the pan and you can spread the batter nicely on tava/pan. One should adjust the batter to dosa batter consistency and then make dosa. Do not pour batter on hot tava, it sticks to the ladle and you may not be able to spread the batter into thin dosa. ( Do not put your weight on ladle.
Sprinkle oil on the dosa not on pan. Sprinkle oil on tava will not allow you to spread the dosa easily. It turns thick  and the batter sticks to ladle. Let the flame be low while pouring the dosa batter to tava. And then spread it easily and lightly.
Time : 2 hours + 30 Minutes.
Serves : 2 to 3 

Curd - Chutneypudi Chutney :

Mix 2 to 3 tablespoons of chutney pudi to 2 to 3 tablespoons of curd and mix it well. Season with mustard, curry leaves and ingh. Add this seasoning and little salt to the chutney you prepared and serve.
Time : 5 Minutes.

Ondelaga /Gotu Kola / leaves Chutney

We South Indians like chutneys. Chutney goes well with all the main dishes.

It is one of the healthy habit to eat chutney with lunch /breakfast or snacks. Chutney is prepared using coconut/dals, vegetables etc. Here is a healthy chutney prepared using Ondelaga.

Ondelaga /Gotukola is also known as Brahmi leaves.

Ondelaga is called in different names in different language.

Botanical name for Ondelaga is Centella Asiatica and other names are Indian Pennywort and Asiatic Pennywort. In Kannada these leaves are called as Ondelaga/ Uraga / Brahmi leaves.

In Telugu it is known as Saraswathi Akku, Tamil: Vallari Kirai, in Marati it is called as Karivan / Karivana. In Gujarathi is Khanda Brahmi , In Bengali it is known as Tulkudi adn in Hindi it is known as Bensag Brahmi.
Ondelaga leaves and benefits :
Ondelaga leaf is one of the medicinal herb which is also used in cooking. It is used as a memory enhancer. It contain antioxidants and regulates the blood sugar levels in diabetic people. Ondelaga has cooking property and it helps to keep the mind calm and free from anxiety. It also helps to sleep well. It is normally said that eating Ondelaga helps to improve our memory and good for children. The shape of the leaf is just like our cerebellum and it helps in controlling concentration and memory. Ondelaga leaf helps in rebuilding brain tissues by influencing the brain cells. It helps in building strong immunity in our body.
These Ondelaga Leaves are used in hair oil and is good for strong healthy hair.
Please note  do not consume these leaves in big quantity, it might cause headache, giddiness.
Let us see the recipe now :
Do not fry these leaves much in oil. So that the medicinal value in the leaf will retain its properties in them.
Ondelaga/Gotukola  leaves chutney goes well with all the main dish. Yummy taste with hot rice and a teaspoon of ghee, goes well with dosas and idli also.
It is simple and healthy and anyone can try this chutney. You do get these Ondelaga Leaves in most of the market.
Tip : Handful of Ondelaga leaves are more than enough to use for 1 time. Do not eat regularly.  Once in a week or twice a week will be ok.
These Ondelaga Leaves are from Our home. We have planted them in a small pot. They grow plenty within no time.
Lets see the recipe now :

Things Needed :

Ondelaga /Gotukola Leaves : 1 Handful
Urid dal : 1 Tablespoon
Red chilly : 4 to 5
Curry Leaves : 5 to 6
Ingh /Asafoetida : A little
Tamarind  : Small marble size
Fresh grated coconut : 1 Cup ( 1/2 of one small coconut)
Salt : As required
To Season/temper
Coconut Oil : 1 Teaspoon
Mustard seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon
Ingh /Asafoetida : A little
Curry Leaves : 5 to 6

Method :

1. Wash and keep aside Ondelaga leaves and curry leaves.

2. Grate coconut and keep it aside.
 3. Keep a small pan on the fire and heat. Add oil. Let it get heated.
4. Add urid dal and fry till they turn golden brown. Remove fried urid dal to a plate.
5. Add red chilly and fry nicely. Let it get crunchy. Add ingh and curry leaves. Put off the fire.
6. Add grated coconut, ondelaga leaves and mix it well. Let it cool.

7. Now grind all the ingredients required salt, tamarind and required water til it turns your desired consistency.
8. Remove from the mixi jar and put it in a serving bowl. Add tempered mustard and curry leaves.

9. Serve with the main dish of your choice.

10.We had Ondelaga /Gotukola Leaves chutney with Hot plain rice with ghee. NO need to say it was Yummmmmmmy..

Note:

There are two varieties of Ondelaga Leaves.
Type 1 : The leaf is small and thin. You can use the stem also in this type of leaf.

Type : 2 : The leaf is thick, darker than the local variety. It is hybrid leaf. Remove the stem and then use it. The stem is bit hard and it does not grind into paste. I have used these Ondelaga leaves from our garden

Ondelaga leaves are also known as brahmi leaves. It is always better not to cook this leaves. You can also use these leaves like coriander leaves, putting it on the top. Cut into very thin pieces. I have seen in Cambodia ppl use this leaves even on the top of Pizza. ( As they are one or two whole leaves kept on the top of Pizza while serving). Use of more chilly is optional. Use of byadagi chilli is optional.You can use guntoor chilly also. ( The one who likes it very spicy). .
Time : 15 Minutes 

Serves : 2 to 3. 

Urid dal & Saame /Little Millet Guli Appa

Preparing food for the family is really a big task. I think most of us do agree with it. In such time I just think some thing which is going to be healthy, quick, easy and delicious. Here is such one dish that you can prepare it easily without much hassle and healthy of course. Just try this Urid & Same Guli Appa/ Paddu/Gunthponglu or mini bondas.( It taste similar to Bondas.

I have used Urid dal as main and little Saame/Little Millet, pepper pods, jeera, green chilly and handful of coriander leaves. 

Let us see some benefits of using " Black Pepper Pods " in our diet. 

Black pepper is widely traded in the world since ancient times. It is known as pepper corn and it contain antibacterial properties. It is used for preserving food and it does contain anti-inflammatory agent. Black pepper is known as king of spices and it has loads of health benefits. It adds flavour to the dish we prepare. It helps to reduce weight, improve digestion and relieve cold and cough, boost energy and metabolism. It is used for treating skin problems. Black pepper is rich source of minerals like manganese, copper, magnesium, calcium, phosphorus, iron, potassium and vitamins like Vitamin C, Vitamin K, and Vitamin B 6. It has high content of dietary fiber and good amount of protein and carbohydrates.
Let us see the recipe Now :

Ingredients :

Urid dal : 1 Cup
Little Millet/Same Millet : 1/4 Cup
Green Chilly : 1
Black Pepper Pods : 6 to 8
Cumin Seeds / Jeera : 1/2 Teaspoon
Coriander leaves :  1/2 Bundle /5 to 6 Tablespoons
Ginger : 1 Inch/ 1 Tablespoon (Grated)
Salt : As required
Ingh/Asafoetida : A little
Gulp Appa Pan and oil or ghee to cook Guli Appa.

Method :

1. Wash and soak urid dal for 1 to 2 hours. Wash and soak little millet separately for 2 hours.
2. Wash green chilly, coriander leaves and handful of curry leaves.
3. Now grind urid dal with jeera and black pepper pods with required water. Add curry leaves, green chilly, grated ginger and coriander leaves. Grind it for a few minutes. Remove the fine batter to a big bowl.

4. Add little millet/Saame and grind it. It should be rava/ semolina consistency.
5. Remove from the mixi jar and add it to urid dal batter. Add sal and ingh. Mix it well.

6. Keep guli appa pan on the fire . Add little oil to each mould and let it get heated.
7. Put the ready batter to each guli/deeper place in a pan.
8. Sprinkle some oil to each guli. Cover and cook for 2 minutes on low and medium flame.
9. Turn the other side and cook for a minute.

10. Guli appa is ready to serve. Add little ghee on guli appa just before serving.
11. Repeat the same with remaining batter.

12. We had this Urid dal and Saame Guli Appa with sambar and jaggery.

Note :

No need to soak for a longer time. No need of fermentation of the batter. Do not grind  the dough very watery. It might spoil the taste and it will not be removed easily from the pan. Adding ghee or butter while cooking Guli Appa is optional. I did added the coriander leaves while grinding and it turned as fine paste along with urid dal batter.Use of oil/ghee is optional while cooking Guli
Appa. Do not add more saame/little millet. Guli appa will be very hard.
Time : Urid dal soaking 2 Hours + Grinding 5 to 10 minutes + preparing Guli Appa 10 Minutes.
Serves : 3 to 4.