Watermelon Rind - Cow Pea Curry

Watermelon Rind - Cow Pea Curry is simple and healthy curry which goes well with all the main dishes.

In this hot summer we do buy and eat watermelon. We can use the rind and prepare many dishes, curries, dosa and dry curries. Watermelon rind is full of fiber, rich with vitamins and minerals.
I have used watermelon rind, cow peas, some simple spices and coconut.
Let us see the recipe now :

Things Needed :

Watermelon Rind : 2 Cups
Cow Peas : 1 Cup
Basale stems : 1 Handful (Optional)
Jeera /Cumin seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon
Sambar Powder : 1 Tablespoon
Methi /Fenugrik seeds : 1/4 Teaspoon
Mango pieces : 1 Tbs
Salt : As required
Turmeric powder : A pinch
Seasoning :
Coconut Oil : 1 Tablespoon
Mustard seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon
Ingh / Asafoetida : A pinch.

Method :

1. Wash and soak cow peas over night and keep it aside.
2. Peel off the outer layer of watermelon and cut the rind into small pieces.
3. Now cook watermelon rind and cow peas with handful of basale stem. Pressure cook for 5 to 6 minutes.

4. Grate coconut and grind it with half tsp of jeera, 1 tbs of sambar powder. Use required water to grind.

5. Keep a big pan on the fire and add cooked ingredients. Add cut mango pieces.

6. Add required water, salt, fenugrik seeds and pinch of turmeric powder. Mix it well and boil for a minute.

7. Add ground coconut mixture and mix it nicely and slowly. Let it boil for 2 to 3 minutes. stir in between and cook.

8.Shift the ready curry to a serving dish and add coconut oil seasoned mustard seeds, ingh, curry leaves.

9. Serve with any main dish of your choice.

Note :

Watermelon should be cooked till soft.  Using pressure cooker is a good idea to cook watermelon rind. Pressure cook watermelon rind for 5 to 6 minutes.
It is always better to use pressure cooker to cook peas and other pulses, except moong dal. Use of tamarind instead of raw mango pieces is optional.
I used basale /Malabar leaves stems since I had it. It is purely optional to use any edible leaves.
Use of any brand sambar powder is optional. I used home prepared Sambar Powder.
Use of garlic and onion is optional.
Time : 30 Minutes.
Serves : 3 to 4.

Home made Sambar Powder :

Dry roast/fry with a tsp of oil, 1/4 tsp of methi seeds, 2 tbs of coriander seeds, 5 to 6 byadagi chilly, 1/2 tsp of urid dal and 1/2 tsp of jeera/cumin seeds on low flame. Add a pinch of ingh/asafoetida and curry leaves. Dry grind when it is cooled or grind it with 2 to 3 tbs of fresh coconut gratings.
We normally fry the spices when we prepare the curry. It is fresh, aromatic and healthy.
The above said sambar powder is enough for 1 time only.

Kokum Juice

Kokum / Kokam /Punar Puli/ ಮುರುಗಿನ ಓಡು is one of the savoury fruit. Kokam /Kokum /Carcinia India is a fruit bearing plant and we use this fruit in our culinary as medicine. I have used this Kokam /Punarpuli in Juice and it is very healthy to consume during hot summer and all day round the year.

I have used dried Kokum fruit, jaggery, pepper pods, and little salt. 

Kokum is known as below in different languages in India.

In Kannada it is known as : ಮುರುಗನ ಓಡು , ಮುರುಗಲ, ಪುನರ್ಪುಳಿ, 

Konkani : Birinda , Hindi  and Gujarati : Kokam, Malayalm : Punarpuli , Tulu : Punarpuli , Marati : Bhernda, Biranda, Amlaveta, Amosole  Telugu : Chinta, Bengali : Mahada, Oriya Tintali

Let us see some benefits of having Kokam /Kokum /Punarpuli in our diet.

Kokaum helps and has cooling effect properties. It helps in reducing the pitta/bile in our body.

Kokum is good for digestion. It has anti inflammation properties. It is good prevention for gastric ulcers. It also helps to ease anxiety and depression. Good for diabetes and takes care of the skin and fight against obesity. It helps to control cholesterol level in our body. It is good for weight loss. It is used to reduce the rheumatoid pain. It is rich in fiber and good for people who suffer from bowel problems. It is also good for sores and women delay menstrual problems.
Let us see the recipe Now :

Things Needed : 

Dry Kokam / Kokum /Punar Puli : 2 to 3 Dried Fruits.
Jaggery : 2 Tablespoons
Pepper Pods : 3 to 4
Salt : A pinch

Method :

1. Wash and soak dried Kokum fruits in 1/2 cup of hot water for 10 Minutes.

2. Grind those soaked Kokum with jaggery and pepper pods.

3. Sieve the content with a siever to a bowl.

4. Add a pinch of salt and mix it well.

5. Pour ready to serve kokum juice to glasses. (Adding ice cubes while serving juice is optional).

6. Serve Kokum juice.

Note :

Soaking kokum fruits helps the fruits to be soft. It is better to grind since you get the good extract.
Adding sugar or honey to juice is optional. Adding ice cubes while serving is optional. I have not done.
Time : 15 Minutes.

Serves : 3 Glasses. 

Almonds - Corn flakes Laddu

Laddu/ Laadu / Unde is one of the healthy sweet done and stored for munching at any time of the day.

Here are some laddu which I prepared for distributing it for our relatives with Kashi Tirtha. We had been to Kashi/Varanashi , Gaya, Ayodhya and Prayag Rajya. It was beautiful trip with our friends and always cherish the memory. 

Visiting Kashi Vishwanatha temple is one such moment and taking dip in Ganga River and other holy rivers really an awesome feeling. Ok it is left to people with believers and non believers any ways. One has to enjoy his or her feelings and cherish the moment that he or she gone through.

Coming back to Laddu, I have prepared this type of laddu using corn flakes and ground nuts, for Our Kashi tour and distributed among us in the bus while travelling to Gaya from Varanashi. 

I have done that laddu on Facebook live too. It is an easy, healthy, quick and simple to prepare and you can enjoy it any time of the day. Here I used almonds instead of groundnuts. 

The ingredients I used are mainly Corn flakes, almonds, jaggery. Thats it.Minimum ingredients and healthy laddu to be munched. It stays for a week or little more days and it and no coconut used here.

Lets see the recipe now :

Ingredients :

Corn flakes  : 500 Grams

Almonds : 250 Grams 

Jaggery : 250 Grams 

Ghee : 3 To 4 Tablespoons

Method :

1. Dry Grind Kelloggs corn flakes. ( No needs to roast )

2. Dry Grind almonds /badami in to rava consistency and shift it to a bowl.

3. Mix both the powdered almonds and corn flakes and keep it aside.

4. Take a big pan and keep it on a fire. Add powdered jaggery and 1/4 Cup of water.

5. Let it dissolve completely. Sieve it and  keep it aside.

6. Now take cleaned jaggery and put it to a pan. Keep it on the fire and let it boil.

7. Stir in between and let it get one string consistency. Let it be on low flame. (Whole procedure).

8. Add powdered almonds - cornflakes mix and mix it well. 

9. Take away the pan from fire and keep it down.

10. Put 3 to 4 tablespoons of ghee and mix it nicely. 

11. Take a small portion from it and prepare laddu. 

12. If you find the laddu mixture dry add 2 tablespoons of hot milk and mix it well. 

13. You can easily prepare laddu. Prepare laddu with remaining mixture.

14. Let it completely cool. Store in air tight box or bottle.

Note :

Check with one string consistency. Do not add more water. It takes long time to get thick.

Do it on low flame. Adding ghee more /less is optional. Adding more ghee taste better. You can add ghee instead of hot milk if the mixture turns dry. Heat the ghee and then use it. It is always better to clean jaggery and then use it.

Time : 30 Minutes

25 to 30 Laddus can be prepared. (The size must be small).
Watch to Know more about making Almonds - Corn flakes Laddu 

Little Millet - Corn Flakes Laddu

I have prepared laddu using Little millet flour and corn flakes. One might ask Why always laddu?
I have the answer here to tell you that Laddu is an easy, healthy and delicious food to prepare.
Here is one more laddu recipe and is with little millet flower and corn flakes this time.

Laddu /laadu/unde is a sweet delicious ball shape ( normally ) sweet dish and it you can gobble it at anytime of the day. It is filled with vitamins, minerals, energetic food and keeps you energetic whole day. You can add this laddu to your breakfast food list. Along with your regular breakfast you can eat this laddu, it helps to full for the long time. It provides minerals to body and take care of your health in proper way.
Let us see the recipe  :
I have used little millet flour, jaggery, coconut, cardamom and corn flakes.

Ingredients :

Little Millet flour /Store bought flour : 2 Cups
Corn flakes : 3 to 4 Cups
Jaggery : 1 Cup /250 gr
Mixed Nuts 1 /2 Cup /Cashew pieces , almond pieces, raisins and dates.
Coconut /Fresh : 1 Cup
Ghee : 1 Cups
Dates : 100 Grams
Cardamom : 6 to 8 Pods

Method :

1. Soak jaggery in a cup of water and melt it completely and sieve it. Keep the clean jaggery aside.
2. Take a tablespoon of ghee and put it to a pan. Keep the pan on the fire and fry nuts including dates.
3. Shift it to a small bowl. Grate coconut and keep it aside.

4. Dry roast or fry little millet flour nicely till the raw smell disappear. ( Low flame ).

5. Remove the seeds from cardamom. Dry grind corn flakes, cardamom seeds and keep it aside.

6. Keep clean jaggery in a big pan. Put the pan on the fire. Let it boil and get one string consistency.
7. Let it boil for another 1 to 2 minutes. Let the flame be low. Add grated coconut and mix it well.
8. Now add roasted little millet flour and mix it well. Add powdered corn flakes and cardamom.

9. Add ghee and fried nuts and mix all the ingredients nicely.

10 Take a handful of laddu mixture and prepare ladddu. Prepare laddu the same way with remaining mixture.

11. Laddu /Laadu Unde is ready to serve.

12. Serve or Eat whenever you feel like ...and store it in a air tight bottle or box. ( Better to use glass or steel box ).

Note:

Dry roast millet on low flame till it turns slightly golden brown ( Do not burn the flour). Adding more ghee makes the laddu tasty. Use of more or less ghee is optional. Use of coconut is optional. Clean the jaggery if you are using shop bought jaggery. Adding more or less dry nuts is optional.
Time : 30 Minutes

Serves : 35 to 40 Laddu can be made.