Carrot - Capsicum Chutney

Carrot Capsicum Chutney /dip is a simple side dish and it goes well with dosa, idli, upma , plain rice and all types of rotis and naan. It can be used as dip for bajji /fried fritter or can use it for bread sandwich.

It is an easy dish and good for all age group.
Eating fresh coconut is good for health. It helps to keep our skin soft and smooth.
Let us see the recipe now :

Things Needed :

Capsicum : 1 (Medium size)
Carrot : 1 ( Big )
Green chilly : 2 to 3
Fresh grated coconut : 1 Bowl
Tamarind : 1 Small Marble size
Ginger : An inch.
Methi seeds/Fenugrik seeds : 1/4 Teaspoon
Pepper Pods : 3 to 4
Salt : As required
For seasoning :
Coconut Oil : 1 Teaspoon
Mustard seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon
Ingh/Asafoetida : A little
Curry Leaves : 5 to 6

Method :

1. Wash and remove the seeds from capsicum and cut into small pieces.
2. Wash and scrape out the outer layer of carrots and cut into small.
3. Wash and slit green chilly and keep it aside. Wash and remove the outer layer of ginger and wash it again.
4. Wash curry leaves and keep it aside. Grate coconut and keep it aside.

5. Keep a pan on the fire and heat. Add coconut oil, pepper pods and methi seeds. Fry till they turn golden brown.

6. Add cut carrots, capsicum, ginger and chilly.. Fry for 1 to 2 minutes.
7. Put off the fire and add grated coconut and tamarind.

8. Grind it with required water and salt. ( Add water little by little).
9. Grind it til it turn as required consistency and remove from the mixi jar.

10. Add coconut oil, mustard seeds, ingh and curry leaves seasoning and serve.

Note :

Slightly frying the vegetables adds taste. Grinding chutney either coarse or into fine paste is optional.
Use of more / less coconut is optional. Use of more /less chilly is optional.
Time : 10 Minutes.
Serves : 2 to 3 

Crunchy Chakkuli ( Rice flour - Besan - Roasted Chenna).

Chakkuli/Chakli /muruku what ever you call it, it is one of the most favourite snack for most of us. It is said God Krishna, Lord Ganesha loved to have chakkuli on their festival. Varieties of chaklis available and prepared. some traditional, some twisted.

Here is Crunchy Chakkuli which comes out perfect and not to mess up your whole time.
Ganesha Chaturthy /Ganesha festival is here tomorrow. You can prepare this chakkuli for prasadam /neivedya and then enjoy eating this Crunchy Chakkuli later with festival feast.
Let us see the recipe now :
All You need is Fine rice flour, besan/channa dal flour and roasted chenna/Huri kadale/pottu kadale, some simple spices and oil to fry. 

Things needed :

Rice flour : 3 Cups
Roasted Chenna /Hurikadale :1/2 Cup
Besan/ Channa dal powder : 1/2 Cup
Butter : 2 Tablespoons
Salt : As required
Chilly Powder : 2 Teaspoons
Till/Sesame seeds /Elllu : 1 Tablespoon
Jeera/Cumin Seeds : 1 Teaspoon
Oil : To Fry : 2 to 3 Cups

 Method :

1. Dry grind roasted chenna and keep it aside.
2. Take a big bowl and add rice flour, roasted chenna flour, salt, besan.channa dal flour, red chilly powder and butter. Add jeera/cumin seeds and til/Yellu/Sesame seeds.

 
3. Mix all the ingredients nicely and then slowly add water and prepare chakkuli dough.
4.Kneed the dough nicely and divide it as small portions.

5. Wash and clean the chakkuli mould and insert the chakkuli plate inside.
6. Put a portion of chakkuli dough into the mould. Close the lid and keep aside.
 7. Keep a pan on the fire and heat. Add two cups of oil and let it get hot. ( Medium flame).

8. Now press chakkuli mould straight to the pan. Let chakkuli fall slowly in hot oil and it starts to fry and turn golden brown. Turn chakkuli to the other side and fry.

10. Now remove the done chakkuli to a bowl and put them on kitchen tissue.

11. Repeat the same and prepare remaining chakkuli.
12. Store in air tight box once the chakkulis are cooled.
13.Serve Hot Chakkuli with a cup of coffee, tea, juice or any other drinks.

14. We had it with a cup of tea.

 Note :

Remember that fine rice flour gives the best result. Adding more/less chilly powder is optional. Adding more butter dissolves chakli while frying. So do not add more butter. Adding only jeera/cumin seeds or sesame seeds is optional. Adding more roasted chenna will turn chakli very soft and it cuts into very small pieces or turns into powder while frying. So be careful while adding roasted chenna.
Time : 40 Minutes.
Serves : According to your serving.  

Boiled Rice Idli ( ಕೊಚ್ಚಕ್ಕಿ ಗಿಡ್ಡೆ )

Boiled rice idli is one of the traditional dish of South Canara.
We call this idli as Kochige Gidde. Boiled rice idlis are good for breakfast and Snack in the evenings. No need of urid dal or fermentation for this type of idli.

I have used only boiled rice (boiled rice from South Canara), fresh grated coconut.
Kochige gidde can be prepared using raw rice and boiled rice also.
It is always better to soak boiled rice in boiling water, so that the rice will be well soaked and grinding becomes very easy. Fresh coconut adds to the taste and gidde taste yummy.
Let us see the recipe now :

Things  Needed

Boiled Rice : 2 Cups
Coconut : 1 Full cup ( 1/2 Coconut )
Salt : To taste

 Method :

1. Wash and soak boiled rice in boiling water for over night or 5 to 6 hours.

2. Grate coconut and keep it aside.
3. Drain all the water from soaked rice and grind it with grated coconut.Let it be like medium size rava consistency. Add required water while grinding.

 4. Remove the batter from the mixi jar and add salt. Mix it well.

5. Wash idli plates and apply oil/ghee to each idli mould.
6. Mix the batter nicely and pour a ladle of idli batter to each idli mould.

7. Keep a pressure cooker/idli cooker on the fire. Put some water. Let it get heated.
8. Arrange the idli plates and keep it in the cooker and cook for 20 to 25 minutes.

9. Remove the idlis from the idli plates and put it in a serving dish.

10.Serve hot boiled rice idli with ghee/coconut oil and jaggery/any side dish of your choice.

 Note :

 The batter need not be fermented. No need to use any urid dal. You can grind the batter at night and keep it in the fridge. Use of more coconut not only adds to the taste, it also helps the idli to be soft. These idlis are not that soft as normal urdi dal idlis.
Time :  5 to 6 Hours to soak the rice + 5 minutes to grind (Mixi jar) + 25 minutes to cook
Serves : 3 to 4 .

Cauliflower Dry Curry

Cauliflower is one of the most loved vegetable by kids. Whatever the way it is cooked surely gobbled by kids. It may be gobi manchooriya, gobi tava fry, gobi pakoda or any curry with gobi, thats cauliflower.

I have tried a dry curry with Cauliflower and it tasted yummy. It goes well with almost all the main dishes like rice, chapatis, rotis, pooris or even dosas.
Simple spice and little Besan/kadale hittu/Chenna flour/Gram flour is added to gobi and tried as mild spicy dry curry.
Our friend Rajashree Vaidya is used to add besan flour to the curry, so that it binds the pieces well roasted nicely gives out a good aroma too.
Let us see some benefits of eating " Cauliflower " in our diet.
Cauliflower is good for hypertension. It is a good source of antioxidant and helps to  strengthen the immune system. It helps to support bone health, and good for brain. It gives a relief to indigestion and good for diabetes and balance the cholesterol levels. Cauliflower is an excellent source of Vitamin C, Vitamin K and Vitamin B -6, Vitamin B1, B 2, B 3 and Vitamin E. It provides vital minerals like calcium, magnesium, phosphorous, potassium, manganese. It is a rich source of protein and very low amount of fats.
Cauliflower Dry Curry has " No Onion " or " No Garlic " in it. It is very easy and simple to prepare.
Let us see the recipe Now :

Things Needed :

Cauliflower : 1  Bowl (Medium Sized)
Oil : 2 to 3 Tablespoons
Jeera/Cumin Seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon
Mustard seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon
Urid dal : 1/2 Teaspoon
Chilly Powder : 1 Teaspoon
Methi Seeds : 4 to 5 Seeds
Ingh/Asafoetida : A pinch
Besan/Gram flour : 2 Teaspoon
Garam Masala Powder : 1/2 Teaspoon
Salt : As required
Curry Leaves : 6 to 8
Coriander Leaves : 2 Tablespoons

Method :

1. Wash cauliflower nicely and soak in warm water. Add 1 teaspoon of salt to the warm water. Leave it for 10 minutes.
2. Wash cauliflower again nicely with normal water. Keep it aside.
3. Wash curry leaves and coriander leaves and cut into small.
4. Keep a pan on the fire. Heat and put oil. Add mustard seeds, urid dal and methi seeds. Let mustard seeds splutter.
5. Add jeera/cumin seeds and ingh. Add curry leaves. Mix it well. Add washed cauliflower.
6. Reduce the flame to low. (Not very low). Stir nicely and add a pinch of turmeric powder.

7. Let it cook on low flame till it turn slightly soft. Stir in between.
8. Add salt, garam masala, chilly powder and mix it well. Let it cook for 2 minutes. Stir and mix the vegetable nicely.
9. Add 2 teaspoons of dry besan/gram flour/chenna flour on the top and slowly turn the vegetable pieces. Add cut coriander leaves.

10.. Let it cook nicely till golden brown. Now mix all the ingredients nicely and shift the ready cauliflower dry curry to a serving bowl. Serve with a main dish you have prepared.

Note :

Use of onions or garlic is optional. Adding any spice is optional. Example : chat masala. rasam/samabar powder, jeera -coriander powder, pav bhaji masala etc.Add of more oil is optional.
Time : 15 Minutes.
Serves : 2 to 3.

Baragu /Proso Millet Laddu

Baragu / Proso Millet is one of the healthy grain. Millets are known for their nutritional and  medicinal values. I have tried these Laddus with Baragu/Proso Millet.

I have used Baragu/Proso Millet, dry coconut/copra, jaggery and little ghee.
These laddus are good to munch at any time of the day. You can pack them for kids snack box. Good for ladies kitty parties. Good to take it for travelling. Baragu/Proso millet is stomach filling and good for people who diet. People who are dieting should make use of this millet. (Reduce the ghee amount).
Let us see some benefits of eating " Millet " in our diet. 
Millets are known for their healthy values. They are rich in nutrients, Vitamins and minerals. They are rich with fiber. Millets are slow in digestion and good for people who are on diet food. Millets are rich in fiber and good for people who suffer from constipation problems. They are good for diabetes and obesity. They are rich with soluble and insoluble fibers. They contain minerals like calcium, iron, potassium, zinc, magnesium and healthy fats. 
Baragu/Proso Millet is known as Barri in Hindi, Panivaragu in Taminl, Varagu in Telugu and Baragu in Kannada Language.
Baragu/Proso Laddus are healthy laddus and you can have them any time of the day.
Let us see the recipe Now :

Things Needed :

Baragu/Proso Millet : 2 Cups
Jaggery : 3/4 Cup
Sesame seeds : 2 to 3 Tablespoons
Raisins : 2 Tablespoons
Cashew Pieces : 2 to 3 Tablespoons
Cardamom : 5 to 6 
Ghee : 2 to 3 Tablespoons
Dry coconut/Copra : 1 Small dry coconut.

Method :

1. Clean and dry roast Baragu/Proso millet on low and medium flame till they change the colour.

2. Dry grind coconut and keep it aside. Powder cardamom.

3. Dry roast sesame seeds till it starts to pop up. Powder roasted Baragu and sesame seeds.

4. Keep a pan on the fire and add jaggery. Add little water. (1/4 cup).
5. Let the jaggery melt nicely and starts to boil. Put off the fire and sieve the jaggery water with a strainer.

6. Put the clean jaggery in a pan. Keep it on the fire. Let it boil nicely till one string consistency.
7. Reduce the heat to low flame. Add dry ground Baragu and sesame seeds.
8. Add dry ground coconut and cardamom powder. Put off the fire.

9. Add ghee in a pan and heat. Add raisins and cashews and fry nicely. Put this fried dry fruits to the Baragu /Proso Millet mixture bowl.

10. Mix all the ingredients nicely and take a small portion. Prepare round shape laddu.

11. Baragu/Proso Millet Laddus are ready to serve.

12. Serve Baragu/Proso Millet Laddu at any time of the day.

Note :

Dry roast Baragu/Proso millet till the raw smell disappear. (Roast it on low flame). Adding more jaggery is optional. Adding more dry fruits is optional. Adding more ghee is optional. If the mixture turn dry and if you find difficult to prepare laddu, add little melted ghee and then prepare laddu. You can use hot milk instead of melted ghee is optional. But you can not store them for a long time.
Time : 30 Minutes.
Serves: 25 to 30 Laddu can be prepared. (According to the size).

Baragu /Prosso Millet Laddu Preparing Video...: