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.

Little Millet / Saame & Moong Dal Sweet Pongal

                          Little Millete/Saame & Moong Dal Sweet Pongal

Ready to serve Little Millete/Saame & Moong Dal Sweet Pongal

Little Millet/Saame is one of the healthy millet and millets are on the healthy wave these days. Though it is said even in those days may be thousands of years ago in India people used to only millets as their daily food not rice. Millets  are grown easily and they do not need much water either.
I have prepared Little millet Huggi and of course it is one of the easy dish that you can cook when you are expecting some guest. No one can say no to this yummy dish I know.
I have used Moong dal, little millet, jaggery, ghee, cardamom and some dry fruits. The fresh coconut adds to the taste.
Little millet is full of fiber and gluten free. It is easy to digest and keeps you full for a long time. It is good for diabetic patient and helps to maintain the blood sugar level.
Let us see the recipe now :

Things Needed :

Little millet : 1 Cup
Moong dal : 1/2 Cup
Jaggery : 1/2 Cup
Fresh grated coconut : 1/2 Cup
Cardamom : 3 to 4 pods
Salt : A pinch
Ghee : 2 to 3 Tablespoons
Milk : 1/2 cup

Method :

1. Wash and cook little millet and moong dal. Add 1/2 cup of milk while cooking.
( 1 Cup little millet : 2 cups of water + 1/2 cup of moong dal : 1/2 cup water and 1/2 cup milk. All together 3 cups ).

2. Now keep jaggery in a pan and put some water. Let it melt completely. Sieve this jaggery water and keep the clean jaggery water aside.

3. Keep  a big bowl on the fire and put cleaned jaggery and cooked little millet with moong dal. Add a tablespoon of ghee, so that it does not get burnt at the bottom.
4. Mix all the ingredients nicely. Add salt. Let it turn bit thick. (Let it be on low flame).
5. Mix it well and let it cook for 2 to 3 minutes. Powder cardamom and add it.

6. Grate coconut and add it.

7. Keep a small pan on the fire and put remaining ghee. Fry dry nuts in it. ( Raisins, cashews).

8. Shift the ready Little Millet/Saame & Moong dal Sweet pongal to a serving dish.
9. Put fried nuts and serve hot Little Millet/Saame & Moong dal Sweet Pongal.

Note :

Adding milk while cooking adds to the taste. Add milk along with water. It is better to cook in pressure cooker because it turns soft and nice. Or you might feel the millet grain bit hard. Adding less or more jaggery is optional. Adding more/less ghee is optional. You can add one or two cloves along with cardamoms. It gives nice aroma and good for digestion.
Time : 30 Minutes.
Serves : 4 to 5 .

Bottle gourd - Carrots Mango fruit Curry

Mango fruits season is here and we do eat and enjoy these fruits. Mango is known as King of fruits and is loved by most of the people. Mango fruits are also used in our curries and drinks, chutney/gojju and even in ice creams.
Here is one of the Traditional curry using Mango fruits in it. Curries are cooked by adding fruit
mangoes and it is one of the traditional curry done during Mango Fruit season.

I have used bottle gourd, carrots and mango fruits.
Let us see the recipe now "

Things Needed :

To cook:
Bottle Gourd Pieces : 1 Bowl (1 Small bottle gourd)
Carrots : 2 : ( 1 small bowl)
To Fry :
Coconut Oil : 1 Teaspoon
Methi/Fenugrik seeds : 1/4 Teaspoon
Urid dal : 1 Teaspoon
Red chilly : Byadagi chilli : 4 to 5
Ingh : A pinch
Curry leaves : 6 to 8 or little more
To Grind :
Fried spices
Coconut : 3 to 4 Tablespoons
To Add : 
Salt : As required
Mango Fruits : 2 ( Medium sized and well ripen)
Coconut oil seasoning : 1 Teaspoon
To Season :
Coconut Oil : 1 Teaspoon
Mustard seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon
Methi seeds : 2 to 3 seeds
Ingh : A pinch
Curry Leaves : 5 to 6

Method 

1. Wash and peel of the outer layer of bottle gourd and carrots. Cut them in to pieces.
2. Pressure cook for 2 to 3 minutes and let it cool.

3. Keep a small pan on the fire and put oil. Add methi seeds and fry till they turn golden brown.
4. Add urid dal and red chilly and fry till urid dal gets golden brown. Put off the fire.
5. Add ingh and curry leaves mix it well and let it cool.
6. Grate coconut and grind with fried spices with required water.

7. Now keep a big pan and put cooked bottle gourd + carrots, add salt.
8. Wash and peel off mango fruits skin. Squeeze out the pulp from it.

9. Now add the whole mango and its pulp. ( Squeeze out the pulp slightly from inner side). ( Do not add the peel).
10. Let it boil for 2 minutes. Add ground coconut mixture and mix it well.

11. Let it boil for 2 to 3 minutes. Shift the Bottle gourd - Carrots -Mango fruit Curry to a serving dish.
12. Add coconut oil seasoning and serve with the main dish you have prepared.

Note :

Do not cook the vegetable very soft. You can cook with little water in a big pan with out using pressure cooker. Adding chilly more/less is optional. Use of coconut oil is optional. Use of more mango fruits is optional. No need to use tamarind or lemon. Squeeze the mango fruits slightly so that the pulp mixes well with other vegetables. Adding a tablespoon of ghee adds to the taste.
Time : 30 Minutes
Serves : 3 to 4
Style : Udupi Traditional.

Navane /Foxtail Millet Crispy Dosa

Dosa/Dose is one of the good breakfast dish that most of us love to have it. It is healthy and loaded with urid dal and it is full of protein and energetic pulse. This time I have added  toor dal and channa dal to the batter while grinding. Dosa has tuned crispy and got golden colour.

The other secret is that you should keep the dough in the fridge at least 10 minutes before you prepare dosa. (After fermentation).
Fox tail millet is full of fiber, energetic and it is one of the siri dhanya/Millet. Millets help us to control blood pressure and is good for people who are suffering from diabetic problem.
Let us see the recipe Now :

Ingredients : 

Navane/Foxtail millet : 4 Cups
Urid dal : 1 Cup
Methi : 1 Teaspoon
Channa dal : 1 Tablespoon
Toor dal : 1 Tablespoon
Avalakki /Aval/Flattened rice : 2 to 3 Handful /3/4 Cup
Salt : As required
Oil /Ghee : 3 to 4 Tablespoons

Method :

1. Clean and wash Navane /Fox tail millet, methi seeds, avalakki, toor dal, channa dal and  urid dal.
2. Grind all the ingredients nicely till paste.( I have used the grinder to prepare the batter).
3. Remove it from the grinder and add salt. Mix it well and let it ferment well. (Over night).

4. Next day morning keep this fermented the fridge for 20 minutes.
5. Take the batter out from fridge and mix it well.

6. Keep tava/dosa pan on the fire. Let it get hot.
7. Reduce the flame. Sprinkle little water on the hot tava and clean it well.
8. Mix dosa batter well and take a ladle of batter and put it on the tava.
9. Spread the batter around the pan and put a teaspoon of oil on the dosa. (Sprinkle oil on the top).

10.Cover and cook dosa for a minute. Turn the other side and cook for a minute. (Optional).

11. Dosa is ready to serve. Serve with your choice of side dish. Repeat the same and prepare the rest of the dosas. (Remaining batter).

12. Add a spoon of fresh ghee just before serving hot dosa.

Note : 

Do not try to spread dosa batter on very hot tava. It might stick to the pan and the ladle and it will be messy. Decrease the heat by sprinkling some normal water on tava and reduce the flame to low. Clean the tava completely with a kitchen tissue or clean towel. Adjust the batter consistency and pour the batter and spread it slowly
  Add little water if the batter is so thick. It should be into running consistency. ( Not very watery). Keep the flame very low while pouring the batter to the pan. Do not add oil first. Spread the dosa batter around and then sprinkle oil. This helps the dosa to be crispy.
Adding little channa dal and toor dal helps the dosa to be crispy. Keeping the ferment batter in the fridge helps in turning dosa very crispy and adds the golden colour.
cooking dosa on one side is optional. ( It gets cooked nicely once you cover the lid while cooking).

Time : Soaking Navane and urid dal 3 hours + grinding 20 minutes + fermentation Over night/5 to 6 hours and dosa preparation 30 Minutes.
Serves : 20 to 25 Dosa.

Chiku - Nendra Banana- Dates Milk Shake

The summer is usually hot and we need to take care of our body and mind from screeching hot. One should drink sufficient water to escape from dehydration. We can also have some fruit juice, milkshake, fresh cool drinks like tender coconut, jeera water or butte milk, eat mild food. etc.

Here is a Chiku/Sapota, Nendra Banana and a few soft dates and  fresh milk.

I have used above said ingredients and very little honey to add sweet.

Let us see some benefits of having Chiku/Sapota fruit in our diet.

Chiku / Sapota is rich in Vitamin A and C. Vitamin A is helps to take care of eye health and Vitamin C helps to keep us strong, take care of our skin in good condition and prevents heart disorders etc. Chiku/ Sapota helps as energy booster. It is rich in tannin. A good natural anti-inflammation curer. It is rich in fiber and good for easy digestion and good for people who suffer from irritable bowel syndrom. It helps to ease constipation problems. The fruit is good for pregnant women and good and helps to build strong bones. Sapota is good for our skin and hair also.

Instead of sugar I have added dates and honey.

Things Needed :

Chikku/Sapota : 2 to 3 (Medium sized)
Nendra Banana /Nendra bale : 1
Fresh boiled and cooled milk : 2 cups/Glasses
Cashew nuts : 2 to 3
Dates : 6 to 8
Honey : 1 Tablespoon

Method :

1. Remove pods from dates and cut into small pieces.
2. Remove banana skin and cut the fruit into small pieces.
3. Remove the outer layer of chiku fruits and remove the pods.

4. Now put all the ingredients to a mixi jar. Add a cup of milk and grind it into nice paste consistency.

5. Add another cup of milk and churn for a minute.
6. Put the ready milk shake to a bowl.

7. Add a tablespoon of honey and mix it well.

8. Put to the serving glass and serve.

9. Adding ice cubes just before serving is purely optional. (I have not added).

Note : 

Adding more water /milk to dilute the milk shake is optional. If you do add little more honey. Adding jaggery /sugar instead of honey and dates is optional. Adding more chiku fruits is optional.
Time : 10 Minutes 
Serves : 2 to 3 .