Banana stem Curry

Banana stem curry is one of  the side dish. Banana stem is full of fiber and it should be eaten at least once a month or two.

Banana Stem has loads of benefits and people say that it takes away the dirt from intestine in a fine manner. It helps to flush out the stone from kidney. It eases the problem of indigestion.
I have used Banana Stem, little jeera and pepper. Added some grated coconut. Little jaggery is used to give a sweet taste.
The stem was given by our neighbour and they do have lots of place to grown banana plants. They do give us some banana and the stem most of the times. So it is easy for me to try many dishes out of banana stem.
Some time I do cut and put the raw pieces in curd and make  raw pachadi. (With out cooking). some time dal, some time curry so this time its dry curry with simple spices.
Let us see some benefits of eating banana stem in our diet.
Banana stem is good for taking out the kidney stone.
It is good for detoxifying our body. It is good for digestion.It helps to control the blood pressure and cholesterol. Healing acidity and gastric problems.
Banana Stem Curry simple, easy and healthy.
Lets see the recipe Now :

No Onion or Garlic is used in this Dish : Banana Stem Dry Curry.

Ingredients :

Banana stem : Small Piece
Butter milk : 1/2 Cup
To Add :
Dry ginger powder : 1/2 Tsp
Jaggery : 1 Tbs
Turmeric Powder : A little
Salt : As required
Coconut : 2 to 3 Tbs
Seasoning :
Coconut Oil : 1 Tbs
Green chilly : 2 to 3
Mustard Seeds : 1/2 Tsp
Jeera : 1/2 Tsp
Curry Leaves : 6 to 8 leaves.

Method : 

1. Add a cup of water to butter milk and soak banana stem pieces in it.
2. Wash and cut banana stem into small pieces.

3. Wash banana stem and drain out all the water from it.

4. Pressure cook banana stem for 6 to 8 minutes adding little water. Let it cool.

5, Prepare seasoning with coconut oil, mustard seeds, jeera, add green chilly and curry leaves.
6. Add cooked banana stem and let it boil.Add turmeric powder, jaagery and ginger powder.

7. Add salt and cook till all the water disappear.
8. Add grated coconut and mix it well. Shift it to a serving bowl.

9. Banana stem curry is ready to serve.

Note :

You can use 2 tbs of curd instead of butter milk. Add a cup of water and mix it well and dip the banana stem cut pieces in it.
Adding any other masala taste differ.  Adding red chilly powder instead of green chilly is optional.
Adding jaggery is optional. Use of any cooking oil instead of coconut oil is optional.
Time : 30 Minutes.

Serves : 4 to 5.

Moong Dal Chakli 2

Moong dal chakli is crispy, crunchy and it is always nice to have these home made crunchy food.

HOME MADE is always a best thing and we are really lucky to have it. You are sure of what you eat.

I have used moong dal, rice flour, chilly powder, jeera, ingh, sesame seeds and rice flour.

This type of Moong dal chakli is nice to munch, though I have already tried moong dal chakli in different type, this looks yummy, more crunchy and it is always good to try.

Chakli is always good to have with a cup of coffee or tea. 

I am a chakli lover. Yes. My doddamma used to scold me for that, not to eat so much oily food. During Gokulastami she used to prepare a big tin of Chakkuli those days. The preparation of chakkuli is not at all easy during those days.

She used to wash the rice and dry it on the flour and then dry roast urid dal. These are to be ground with the stone grinder by using their hands to turn the stone on the top. The flour then to be collected and then sieve it, again grind it in the same way. It used to lots of labour behind the chakli process.

The Chakkuli she used to make is to be fantastic and now it is only a remember. 

Let us see the recipe now :

Ingredients :

Moong dal :  1/2 Cup

Rice flour : 2 Cups

Chilly Powder : 1 Teaspoon

Sesame seeds : 1 Tbs

Butter : 2 Tbs

Salt : As required 

Oil : To Fry : 2 Cups

Method :

1. Wash and cook moong dal. (Pressure cook).

2. Grind it to paste consistency once it is cooled.

3. Take out to a big bowl and mix it nicely.

4. Add chilly powder, sesame seeds, salt and jeera.

5. Add rice flour and 2 tbs of butter and mix it well.

6. Add water little by little and prepare the dough.

7. Kneed the dough well and put a small portion of dough in chakkli mould. 

8. Keep a pan on the fire and put oil. Heat the oil.

9. Press chakkuli dough into hot oil and fry.

10. Fry on both sides till it turns slightly golden brown and take it out from the oil.

11. Put it in the big bowl. 

12. Prepare the chakkuli with remaining dough. 

13. Chakkuli is ready to serve.

14. Crsipy and crunchy chakkuli is ready to munch.

Note :

Use of hot oil instead of butter is optional. I have used butter. Fry chakkuli in medium and hot oil.

Kneed the dough well.

Time : 30 Minutes.

Rava - Oats Idli

Today's  Food is breakfast food. It is Rava - Oats Idli.

This idly is healthy and yummy, easy to prepare and good breakfast and keeps us energetic for the whole day.

I have used medium rava/semolina, a cup of curd and a small cup of Oats.
The idli turns very soft and spongy and yum to have it.
Let us see the recipe Now :
Rava/Semolina : 3 Cups
Oats : 1 Small Cup
Curd : 1 Cup ( Better to Use savoury curd)
Salt : As required
Water : As required
Eno Salt : 1 Teaspoon
For Seasoning : 1 Tsp Oil
Mustard seeds : 1 Teaspoon
Curry Leaves : 8 to 10

Add caption

Method :

1. Take a big bowl. Add Rava, curd, salt and mix it well.

2. Add oats and required water and mix the batter nicely to Idli batter consistency.
3. Add seasoning done with mustard seeds, curry leaves and cashews. (optional).

4. Let the batter settle for 5 minutes.
5. Wash idli plates and apply ghee for each plate.

6. Add 1 teaspoon of Eno salt and mix the batter nicely.

7. Put the batter to idli plate and steam for 10 minutes. ( Pressure cooker or idli steamer).

8. Remove the done idlis and sprinkle some water on idli and take it out to a bowl.

9. Serve hot idli with ghee, sambar and coconut chutney.

Note :

Use of savoury curd results good idlis. Use of cooking soda instead of Eno is optional.

Roasting Rava in seasoning is optional. Use of medium size rava is best.
Time : 20 Minutes.
Serves : 3 to 4 .

Toor Dal - Ondelaga Chutney

Toor dal - Ondelaga Chutney is a side dish that goes well with most of the main dishes. We had this Toor Dal - Ondelaga chutney for lunch.

Ondelaga/Gotukola is used as culinary vegetable and it is a medicinal herb plant. 

I have used Toor dal, red byadagi chilly, ingh/Asafoetida, curry leaves, tamarind pulp and fresh coconut gratings.

Let us see some benefits of eating Ondelaga/Gotukola leaves in our diet.

The plant yield only one leaf in its stem so that it is called as Ondelaga. (One leaf). 

It is used as a culinary vegetable and as a medicinal herb. It is known a Mandukaparni In Sanskrit. It is in the shape of frog so that it got its name as Mandukaparni.
People call it as Brahmi also because it is loaded with medicinal values.
Its known as Ondelaga in Kannada/Karnataka.
Saraswathi Aku in Telugu/Andra pradesh.
Vallari Keerai in Tamil/Tamilnaadu
Karivan or Karivana in Marati /Maharasthtra
Kandha Brahmi in Gujrati /Gujarat
Thulkudi in Bengali /Bengal
Bengsag and Brahmi in Hindi

It helps in good relief for pains. It boost cognitive function.
 Ondelaga helps in reducing anxiety and stress. It helps in controlling the blood sugar level.
It also helps in reducing the swelling and improve the circulation of blood.
Gotukola is rich in anti inflammatory properties and helps to reduce the joint pains and arthritis.
It is good for memory power. It is good for our skin health and hair health.
Gotukola helps to detoxify our body and keeps us in good health
It is good for blood pressure since it helps in controlling the blood pressure level by decreasing the tension and anxiety in our body.
It is good for digestive disorders, helps in strengthening nervous function and memory power in us.
Let us see the recipe Now :
Do Not Fry the leaves when you cook. It looses its healthy benefits when it is cooked. It should be added at the end of the process of cooking.

Ingredients :
Ondelaga Leaves : 1 Handful
Toor Dal : 1 Tbs
Oil : 1/2  Tsps
Tamarind : Small marble size
Byadagi chilly : 4 to 5
Ingh /Asafoetida : A little
Salt : As required
Coconut : 1 Cup
To Season :
Oil : 1 Tsp
Mustard seeds : 1/2 Tsp
Ingh : A little
Curry Leaves : 5 to 6

Method : 

1. Keep a small frying pan on the fire and heat. Add half tsp of oil, 1 tablespoon of toor dal.
2. Add 4 to 5 byadagi chilly and fry nicely till toor daal turns as golden red.
3. Add little ingh and put off the fire.

4. Add a handful of ONDELAGA leaves and mix it well. Keep it aside.

5. Soak little tamarind in warm water for 5 minutes and squeeze out the pulp. Keep the pulp aside.

6. Grate coconut and grind it with fried mixture, tamarind pulp, salt. Add water if required while grinding.
7. Take it out from the mixi jar and put it to a serving dish.

8. Add mustard seeds seasoning with little ingh and curry leaves.

9. Toor dal - Ondelaga Chutney is ready to serve.

10. Enjoy Toor Dal - Ondelaga Chutney with your food.

Note :

Fry dal till it turns golden brown. You should be careful while adding water if required.
Adding more chilly is optional.
Use or more coconut is optional.
Time : 15 to 20 Minutes.
Serves : 3 to 4 .

Aloo Palya

Aloo/Potato Palya / Potato Dry Curry is an easy and yummy Palya. It is fantastic combination for Curd Rice or any other main dishes. Here is Aloo Palya with South Indian touch, try and enjoy.

I have used Potatoes/Aloo, seasoning with usual mustard seeds and jeera. Added some sambar powder to give South Indian taste. Added some coconut to give South Canara taste. The combination was super good and we enjoyed it as one of the side dish with our lunch.
I also prepared Parata/Parota with the same Aloo Palya. Give a try and enjoy parota also. You will definitely like the taste.
Aloo is full of carbs and it provides energy to our body. It is better to cook rather than frying. Frying potato is not that good.
Its a simple curry and easy to prepare it.
Let us see the recipe Now :

Ingredients :

To Cook :
Potatoes /Aloo : 2 to 3 (Medium sized).
Seasoning : 
Cooking Oil : 2 Tb
Mustard Seeds : 1 Teaspoon
Jeera /Cumin Seeds : 1 Tsp
Curry Leaves : 6 to 8
To Add :
Salt : As Required
Turmeric Powder : A little
Ingh/Asafoetida : A little
Chilly Powder : 1/2 Tsp
Pepper Pods : 4 to 5
Sambar Powder : 1 Tbs
Fresh Grated Coconut :  2 to 3 Tbs
Green chilly : 1

  Method :

1. Wash and peel off the outer layer of potatoes.
2.Cut them as french fry shape. ( Long and thin).  Wash and slit a green chilly.

3. Wash it again and take out all the water and keep the potatoes aside. Grate coconut and keep it aside.
4. Keep a pan on the fire and heat. Add cooking oil, mustard seeds and jeera.
5. Let mustard seeds splutter. Add ingh, slit green chilly, crushed pepper and curry leaves.

6. Add cut potatoes and stir slowly. Let the flame be low and medium.
7. Sprinkle some water and cook. Stir in between. Crush pepper pods and keep it aside.

8. Add little turmeric powder and mix it well.

9. Let it cook till soft. Add required salt.
10. Add chilly powder and sambar powder.

11. Mix it nicely and add grated coconut. Cook on low flame for 2 minutes.

12. Put off the fire and shift Palya to a serving dish.

13 We had Aloo Palya for our lunch.

14. I used the palya to prepare Parota at night.

Note :
Adding more oil is optional. You need to add water little by little till Potato turns soft. (Do not add at once. Adding little by little is advisable).
Adding sambar powder adds to the taste.
No onions or garlic used.
Adding coconut is optional.
Time : 25 to 30 Minutes.
Serves : 3 to 4 .