Cucumber - Green chilly Sasive

Cucumber - Green chilly Sasive/mustard curd curry is one of the side dish we relish in the beginning of the lunch. It is served /eaten first and then other side dishes arrive /served one by one.

In Kannada /Karnatka State Language, Sasive means Mustard seeds. Use of mustard seeds label the curry as Sasive. 
Curd gives coolness to our body and at the same time mustard used in the curd curry helps in taking care and protect us from catching cold.
I have used small cucumber, green chilly, fresh grated coconut, pepper pods, mustard and very little jeera/cumin seeds.
We Udupians do not add jeera or pepper to this Sasive. Its only cucumber, red or green chilly, coconut and little ingh. But the taste of Bangaloreans change a little. They do add little jeera and pepper. It might be because of the weather here. Jeera and peeper not only adds to the taste they do have medicinal value of their own. They try to avoid getting cold and helps in digestion.
Eating pepper in our daily life helps to avoid gas in the food and protect us from getting alzemere disease.
Cucumber Sasive is prepared even in some festivals and feast.

No onion or No Garlic is used here in this recipe.

Let us see the recipe Now :

Ingredients :

Small variety Cucumber : 2
Coconut : 1/2 Cup / 2 to 3 Tbs
Green chilly : 1
Pepper Pods :  5 to 6
Mustard seeds : 1/2 Tsp
Jeera : 1/4 Tsp
Ingh : A little
Salt : As required
Curd : 1 Cup
For Seasoning :
Coconut Oil /Any cooking oil : 1 Tsp
Mustard seeds : 1/2 Tsp
Ingh /Asafoetida : A little
Curry Leaves : 5 to 6 leaves

Method :

1. Wash nicely and cut cucumber into small pieces.
2. Grate fresh coconut and keep it aside.
3. Wash green chilly and curry leaves and keep it aside.
4. Now grind grated coconut, cut cucumber, green chilly, pepper pods, mustard seeds, jeera and little ingh with required water. Shift the ground mixture to a bowl.

5. Add salt and curd to the mixture and mix it well.

6. Add mustard seasoning with coconut oil, ingh and curry leaves.

7. Cucumber - Green chilly Sasive is ready to serve. Serve as one of the side dish for lunch. It goes well with plain rice. Eating this cucumber sasive helps to digest your food easily.

8. Serve as a dip to fried dishes. Serve as one of the side dish to chapati, poori palav and other masala rice dishes.

Note :

Do not make Sasive very watery. It does not taste well. Use minimum water while grinding. Cucumber provides water to grind. Adding any cooking oil to season is optional. Do not add much spice. It should be mild.
Time : 10 Minutes.
Serves : 2 to 3. 

Southekai /Cucumber Curd Curry

Cucumber Curd Curry / Southekai Sasive is one of the traditional dish of South Canara and Malenadu region. Cucumber Curd Curry is very easy to prepare and cucumber helps to cool our body.

Cucumber is available most of the days in a year.
When you are in a hurry or tired you can prepare this curry and enjoy your meal. It is easy, quick and simple. All you need is cucumber, mustard and curd. It fits to all age group and helps to take care of your whole body.
I have used Small thin cucumber, mustard seeds and curd. To add spice I used 2 green chillies.
Some feel eating cucumber might cause cold to their body, so the mustard seeds act as avoiding cold. it helps to subside the cold and take care.
Let us see some benefits of eating Cucumber in our diet.
Cucumber is rich water content vegetable. They do have nutrients like vitamin A, vitamin C and folic acid. They are rich in magnesium, iron, sodium,  potassium B -Vitamins and Vitamin B 6. Cucumber is rich in fiber and helps in easy digestion. It is very good source for people who suffer with constipation. They are good for skin health. They do helps to control and lower the blood sugar in our body. They helps to control Blood pressure in our body. It is rich in antioxidants.
As I said it is easy, simple, yummy and quick.
Let us see the recipe :

Things Needed :

Small, thin Cucumbers : 2
Coconut : Fresh : 3 Tablespoons
Green chilly : 2
Mustard seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon
Ingh /Asafoetida : A pinch
Salt : As required
Curd : 1/2 Cup
For Seasoning :
Coconut Oil : 1 Teaspoon
Mustard seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon
Ingh : A pinch
Curry leaves : 4 to 5

Method :

1 Wash cucumber nicely and cut into pieces.
2. Grate coconut.
3. Wash green chilly and curry leaves . Cut green chilly into 2 to 3 pieces.
4. Now Grind coconut, cut cucumber, mustard seeds and green chilly together.
5. Add curd, salt and churn for 2 minutes. Remove it from the mixi jar to a serving dish.
6. Prepare coconut oil seasoning with mustard seeds, ingh and curry leaves.
7. Add this seasoning to Cucumber Sasive and serve.

Note : 

Shop bought cucumber should be washed nicely before you use it.
Do not peel off its skin. The peels are  more nutrients.
Do not use onions or garlic. The original taste vanishes.
You can use less chilly if you do not eat spicy curry.
Time : 10 Minutes.
Serves : 3 to 4.

Pomegranate Leaves Tambuli

Pomegranate Leaves Tumbuli 

Pomegranate fruits are filled with nutritional values. That every one knows about this fact. But did you know that even the leaf, peel is also used for treating so many diseases. Here is a dish,  I have used Pomegranate Leaves and prepared Tambuli/Curd Curry. It is not at all new. This is one of the traditional dish of our South Canara./Dakshina Kannada, Malenadu regions. Tender Pomegranate leaves are used to prepare this tumbuli and it is very beneficial to all age group.
My  doddamma used to dry even the peel of pomegranate and use it whenever needed. We used to have this Tumbuli now and then and stay healthy.

Most of us remember when we have loose motion we do drink kashaya  of pomegranate peel. This is a tip too.
I remember my doddamma used dry pomegranate peel and store it for any time of the year. And it is used for tumbuli or kashaya, whenever needed. In those days we never used to get pomegranate around the year like now. We used to get pomegranate only during its season and more often we used to get this fruit very rarely. But I am not sure how many of us use the peel.
Tumbuli is a curd curry prepared using jeera, pepper pods, very little ghee and curd. This curry eases our digestion and help us to be very comfortable after food. Tamubuli is one of the traditional dish of South Canara. It is normally done with butter milk which is very light and healthy. Varieties of healthy turmbulis serve the purpose of a dish and take care of our health.
The tender leaves of Pomegranate are used for tumbuli, that is one of the traditional dish served in the beginning of the lunch.
Let us see some benefits of having Pomegranate leaves in our diet.

These pomegranate leaves are from our garden. 

The leaves are good for digestion. It helps in easy digestion and is used for trating abdominal pain.
They are used for treating insomnia. Leaves are good for curing cough and treating jaundice. The Kashaya or tea prepared from pomegranate juice is very good for treating dysentery. The dry powder of pomegranate leaves is good for treating boils on our body. It is also good for mouth ulcer. You can also use it for wrinkle free skin.
Let us see the recipe now :

Things needed :

Tender leaves of pomegranate : 1 handful/
Jeera : 1/2 Teaspoon
Pepper pods : 4 to 5
Ingh / Asafoetida : A little
Green chilly /Red chilly : 1
Salt : As required
Curd or Butter Milk : 1 Cup
Ghee : 1/2 Teaspoon

For Seasoning :
Ghee : 1/2 Teaspoon
Jeera /Cumin Seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon
Curry Leaves : 4 to 5
Ingh /Asafoetida : A pinch

Method :

1. Clean and remove the leaves from the stem. (Thin stick). Use only the tender leaves.

2. Wash some curry leaves and green chilly. Keep it aside.
3. Keep a small pan on the fire and put l/2 tsp of ghee. Add 1/2 tsp of jeera/cumin seeds and 4 to 5 pepper pods.
4. Add slit green chilly and fry till jeera turns golden brown. Add ingh.

5. Add washed pomegranate leaves and fry for 2 to 3 minutes. Till it turns slightly crisp.

6. Put fried ingredients to a plate and let it cool.
7. Grate coconut and add the fried ingredients.
8. Grind it with little water till it turns paste consistency.

9. Remove it from the mixi jar to a bowl. Add required salt.
10. Add curd /butter milk. Mix it well.

11. Add ghee fried jeera - curry leaves seasoning. Shift it to a serving dish.

12. Serve with other side dishes for lunch.

Note :

Use only very tender leaves. Tambuli should be mild spicy. Use of ghee is a must to get the good taste. If you are using curd add 1/2 cup of water and dilute curd into buttermilk
Time : 10 Minutes.
Serves : 2 to 3. 

Quick - Ondelaga - Lady Finger Sasive

Ondelaga - Lady finger or Lady's finger sasive /mustard curry is delicious to eat with plain rice. Sasive mean Mustard seeds ( In Kannada Language ). Mustard seeds are used in the curry so that it is known as Sasive.

Minimum ingredients are used in this curry. It is easy, simple, quick and healthy. We have a practice of eating or serving these types of
I had brought some home grown bendekai/Lady finger from my sister's house. They were very few and thought of preparing simple sasive.
This is called as Ooru bendekai, normally grown in Udupi and South Canara Region. Since it is grown in housed like kitchen garden it got its name as ooru bende./ Lady Finger.

Ondelaga leaves are known as Gotu Kola / centella Asiatic pennywort.
I have used Ondealga Gotu Kola leaves, fresh coconut, mustard seeds and green chilly to grind and fried lady finger and added to sasive. you can try this and enjoy this healthy Sasive. Sasive means mustard seeds and here we use mustard seeds to prepare this curd curry and the curry get the name as Sasive.
Ondelaga leaves should be used as raw and cooking the leaves will lose its medicinal values. Ondelaga leaves are good to control cholesterol level in our body. They also helps to control blood sugar level and blood pressure level. They are filled with nutritious value. They help in good digestion, immunity and they do contain loads of anti oxidant properties.

It is very nice to note we do have lots of Ondelaga leaves in our house. We grow them in pots. They can be used for chutneys while grinding, fresh lime juice or even in butter milk.
Ondealga - Lady Finger Sasive can be eaten with plain rice, chapatis, rotis etc it is curd based curry and goes well with almost all main dishes.
Quick Ondelaga - Lady Finger Sasive is - No Onion or No garlic dish 

Things Needed :

To Fry :
Lady Finger : 8 to 10 ( Small size )

To grind :
Coconut : 2 Tablespoons
Ondelaga Leaves : 1 Handful
Green chilly : 2
Mustard seeds : 1 tsp

For Seasoning :
Oil : 1 Tablespoon
Jeera /Cumin seeds : 1/4 teaspoon
Mustard seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon
Curry Leaves : 5 to 6
Ingh/Asfoetida : A pinch for grinding and seasoning.

To Add :
Salt : As required
Curd /yogurt : 1 Cup
Coriander leaves : 1 Tablespoon

Method :

1. Wash and dry all water from bendikai/Lady's Finger. Cut Bendekai/Lady's finger into very small.
2. Wash curry leaves,coriander leaves and Ondelaga /Gotu Kola leaves and keep it aside. Cut coriander leaves into small pieces.
3. Grate coconut and grind it with, Ondelaga /Gotu Kola leaves, green chilly and 1/2 tsp of mustard seeds. Add required salt and  a pinch of ingh and churn for 1 minute.
4. Remove it from the mixi jar. Keep it aside.
5. Keep a small pan and put 1 tbs of oil. Add  1/2 tsp of mustard seeds, jeera/cumin seeds and a pinch of ingh/Asafoetida.
6. Let mustard seeds splutter. Add curry leaves, ingh /asafoetida  and add bendekai.
7. Fry the pieces till they turn crisp and turn golden brown.
8. Add this fried bendi/lady's finger to already grind sasive mix. Add curd and mix it well.

9. Shift the ready Ondelaga /Gotu Kola to a serving dish add cut coriander leaves  and serve as one of the side dish.

Note :

Use little mustard seeds ( 1/2 tsp for 1 cup of coconut approximately), so that mustard aroma is well mixed with coconut. Adding more chily is optional. Do not use very old curd. It might spoil the whole aroma of Sasive.
Time : 15 Minutes.
Serves : 2 to 3.

Hybreed Ondelaga leaves 

Home grown Ondelaga : Gotu Kola Leaves.

Quick Avocado / Butter Fruit Mosaru Bajji (Curd Curry)

Avocado Mosaru bajji, this particular dish is dedicated to Rajarama - Suprabha Cukkemane and  Sadashiva - Bharathi Cukkemane. 

Ready to serve Avocado Mosaru Bajji/ Curd curry 

Mosaru bajji/Curd curry is an easy side dish and I tried today Avakadu / Butter Fruit / ಬೆಣ್ಣೆ ಹಣ್ಣು.
I got some Avocado fruits from Usha Suresh's sister Bharathi's house.
 Usha and Suresh Cukkemane are our very good friends since long time. We used to have loads of fun together even in Dubai. ( When we were all together). It is nice to be bonded as one family. Even now whenever we get time we try to meet each other and enjoy being together. Going out, eating together so and so.
We love travelling and do visit places at times and enjoy the beauty of the place.
This time we planned to visit Usha - Suresh Cukkemane's sisters' house and thanks to Major   Venkatagiri Saya (Giri Anna) and his wife Vanajakshi Saya. (Vanajakka). We stayed in their beautiful home which is near to Virajpet.( Coorg). We visited some places like , Mrutyunjaya Temple at Shrimangala - Badageri, Irupu falls and Usha's another sister Bharathi's House at Cheyindane. Mruthynjaya temlple at Shrimangala is an old and beautiful temple. Lovely natural greenery surroundings and quiet place where you can really enjoy peaceful moments.
Then from there we went to Irupu falls at Irupu. Irupu is River Lakshmana Thirtha's Ugama Stana
(Birth place). There is a story about this river. When Rama - Seetha and Lakshmana were in this area ( Their's 14 years Vanavasa), they felt thirsty and Lakshmana shot an arrow to a big stone/bandekallu and from there the water started to flow. They quenched their thirst. The water flow formed the river and got its name as Lakshmana Thirtha. Rama dedicated Linga at this place and it is called Ramalingeshwara. The water falls is known as Irupu Falls and is about 50 KM from Virajpet. Lakshmana Thirtha flows down and it joins River Kaveri.
I got these Avocados from Usha's sister Bhartathi - Sadashiva's House. They stay in a place called Cheyindane near Virajpet. We did have some super good times with  Suprabha - Rajarama - Sanketh and Sadashiva - Bharathi Cukkemane. These people are very hard workers and very dedicated to Bhumitaayi. They believe in her and do work sincerely.
Coming back to Avocado mosaru bajji / curd curry /dip is a simple side dish which goes well with almost all main dishes. It is mild and not to add much spices to this curd curry.
I have used Avocado, curd and the seasoning.
Let us see the recipe now :

Things Needed :

Avocado : 2
Curd : 1 Cup
Curry leaves : 5 to 6
Ingh /Asafoetida : A pinch
Coconut Oil : 1 Teaspoon
Mustard seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon
Jeera/ Cumin seeds : 1/4 Teaspoon
Red chilly /Byadagi chilly : 2 To 3
Pepper pods : 2 to 3
Coriander leaves : 1 Tablespoon

Method :

1. Wash and cut Avocado fruits into halves. Remove the big pod keep it aside.

2. Take a teaspoon and scoop out the pulp from the shell. Powder the pepper pods.

3. Put it in a bowl. Add salt, little ingh and a cup of curd.

4. Mix it well and put it in a serving bowl.

5. Keep a pan on the fire and heat. Add a teaspoon of coconut oil, 1/2 teaspoon of mustard seeds and red chilly. (Cut chilly into two to three pieces).
6. Let mustard seeds splutter. Add jeera and fry for 10 seconds. Add ingh, pepper pods and curry leaves.
7. Add this seasoning to the ready Avocado mosaru bajji. Add coriander leaves. Mix it well and serve.

Note :

Do not add much spices to mosaru bajji. Mosaru bajji means the curry made with curd. Mosaru means curd and bajji means smashed vegetable or fruit. Adding green chilly instead of red chilly is optional. Use of ghee to seasoning is optional. Do not add water. It is better to use curd. (Not much savoury).
Time : 10 Minutes
Serves : 2 to 3.