Oats - Baragu/Prosso Millet Laadu/Laddu

Happy Deepavali to Each and Every One. 

Oats - Prosso Millet Laadu is one of the sweet dish that you can prepare and keep it ready for celebrating Deepavali. Deepavali is full of lights and sweets. Loads of sweets are prepared and distributed among friends, neighbours and relatives.

Here are some Laadu/laddu/Unde which are prepared using Oats, Prosso Millet/Baragu, Coconut and jaggery. Nuts are added to make the laddu little rich and taste.
 Prosso Millet is known as Barri in Hindi, Panivaragu in Tamil, Varigulu in Telugu and Baragu in Kannada. 
Let us see the recipe now :

Ingredients : 

Oats : 3 Cups
Prosso Millet/Baragu : 2 Cups
Jaggery : 2 Cups
Ghee : 1/2 Cup and little more ( 2 Tablespoons)
Dry Nuts : Cashews and Raisins : 2 to 3 Tablespoons.

Method :

1. Dry roast Baragu, Oats nicely till the raw smell disappear. (Separately). Let it cool.

2. Grate coconut and dry grind it.

3. Dry grind dry roasted and cooled baragu and oats. (Powder it).

4. Now keep a pan on the fire and put jaggery and 1/4 cup of water. Mix the content nicely.
5. Let it melt completely and turn as liquid. It starts to boil and bubbles up.
6. Stir for another 2 to 3 minutes and check for one string consistency. ( On low flame).
7. Put dry ground oats, coconut and baragu. Mix it well and put off the fire.

8. Keep a small pan on the fire and put 1/2 cup of ghee. Add cashews and fry.
9. Add  raisins and fry till raisins double its size. Put this fried nuts and ghee to baragu mixture.

10. Mix it nicely and prepare laddu.  (Take a handful of the laddu mixture and press it in between your palm and finger. Give a ball shape).
11. If you find it hard to prepare laddu ( If it turns powder again), divide the laddu mixture and add a table spoon of ghee and mix it well. It helps you to form laadu.

12. Arrange them in a tray or plate and serve whenever you want. ( As you wish).

Note : 

If you are using shop bought jaggery use a filtering method and clean the jaggery and then use it. I have used organic jaggery bought from Sagar/Shivamogga. Use of more or less ghee is optional. Les ghee turns the laadu very hard. Use of more jaggery is optional. Use of more dry nuts optional. Use of coconut is also optional. (You can prepare laadu without coconut also).
Time : 30 Minutes.
Serves : 25 to 30 Laadu can be prepared. (According to shape and size).

Little Millet & Walnut Laddu

Happy Deepavali to One and All. These Little Millet Laddus are specially prepared for Jayashree Trao's Deepavali special post.
Thanks to Jayashree Trao. She has asked us to join her, for posting recipes for Deepavali. It is a good gesture and nature. Thanks Jayashree and I feel very happy to be part of it.

Deepavali is here and the celebration starts. The sweets and savoury dishes pour and you need to start preparing them ahead of the festival. Exchanging/distributing/serving all turns you into world of "JOY".
Once you start preparing sweet the festive moods already starts and the sweet wave brings you happiness around you.
Preparing sweets is fun. Let us keep in mind and prepare some healthy dishes too. Here is such one and I love to prepare these sweet round balls/laddu/Laadu/Unde as it is easy, healthy and quick. These Little Millet Laddu is filled with Healthy nutritions and you can enjoy them at any time of the day.
I have used little millet, jaggery, walnuts, coconut and cardamom. Added some raisins and cashews.
Little millet is one of the millet which is gluten free and loaded with minerals and healthy properties.
It is known as " Same " in Kannada and is a spoken language of Karnataka /India.
Let us see the recipe Now:

Ingredients :

Same/Little millet : 2 Cups
Walnuts : 1 Cup
Jaggery : 1 Cup (Powdered)
Cardamom : 6 to 8 pods
Dry coconut /Copra : 1
Cashews and Raisins : 3 to 4 Tablespoons
Ghee : 1/2 Cup

Method :

1. Clean and dry roast little millet nicely till the raw smell disappear. Let it cool.
2. Cut or grate coconut in to small pieces and dry grind into powder consistency.
3. Remove the cardamom pods and powder the pods.
4. Now dry grind walnuts nicely and keep it aside.
5. Dry grind roasted little millet and cardamom pods and keep it aside.
6. Keep a pan on the fire and put jaggery. Put 1/4 cup of water and let jaggery melt completely.
7. Sieve melted jaggery with a strainer and remove all the dust particles.
8. Put cleaned jaggery mixture in a big pan and let it boil and it starts to bubble up.
9. Stir in between and check for one thread consistency. ( just 2 to 3 minutes after bubbles).
10. Add powdered little millet and stir nicely and let it mix it well. Add powdered walnuts mixture.
11. Mix it well and add coconut mixture and put off the fire.
12. Shift the ready mixture to a big bowl.
11. Keep a small pan on the fire and heat. Put 2 tablespoons of ghee, cashews and raisins.
12. Fry till raisins turn golden brown. Put these ghee fried nuts to little millet mixture.
13. Add remaining ghee and mix it well. Take a small portion of the mixture and prepare laddu.
14. Repeat the same and prepare remaining laddus
15. Arrange them in a tray and let it completely cool.

16. Shift the laddus to an airtight bottle box. Serve as you wish.

Note :

Be careful while preparing jaggery syrup consistency. Do not over boil. Laddu turns very hard and is difficult to make into small portions while eating. Prepare it on low and medium flame. Add more ghee if you find hard to prepare laddu. You can also use warm milk instead of ghee but the shelf stay of laddu is short when you use milk. So ghee is a  good option. Adding more jaggery is optional. Adding normal coconut instead of dry coconut is optional. Adding ghee helps the laddu to be soft and tasty.
Time : 30 Minutes
Serves : 20 to 25 Laddus/Laadu/Unde.


Sending this above recipe to : for Deepavali sweets

www.evergreendishes.com 

Same (Little Millet) Payasa/ Pudding

Little Millet is known as " Same, ಸಾಮೆ " in Kannada/Karnataka's official language. Little Millet is one of the healthy millet. I have tried "Little Millet Payasa/Kheer"  and it is a healthy dish I can say.

Payasa  /Kheer is prepared on special days like festivals, feast or get together parties.

I have used Little Millet, jaggery and coconut. 

Let us see some benefits of having " Raisins in our diet".

Raisins are packed with nutrients and full of minerals and vitamins. They are rich in B vitamins, iron and potassium. Raisins are good source of carbohydrates. They are full of fiber and benefits the people who suffer from constipation. They are good for people who are weak and suffering from anemia, fever and good for weight gaining. Raisins are good for eye health, dental care and bone health. They are good for reducing the hypertension and control diabetes.

Same (little millet) Payasa is nice to have as a desert, or even for breakfast. Little millet is one of the best millet to make use and be fit.

Let us see the recipe.

Things needed :

Same /Little Millet : 3/4 Cup
Jaggery : 1/2 Cup
Coconut : 1 Cup ( half of one coconut)
Cardamom : 4 to 5 Pods
Cashews.  Almonds. Raisins : 2 Tablespoons
Ghee : 1 Teaspoon

Method :

1. Wash and  pressure cook same /little millet for 8 to 10 minutes.

2. Grate coconut and grind it with little water and squeeze out the thick milk and keep the milk aside.

3. Grind the coconut with little more water and squeeze out the thin milk. Keep it aside.
4. Keep a big pan and put cooked same /little millet. Add little water. Let it boil once.
5. Add jaggery and boil nicely for 2 to 3 minutes. Add the thin coconut milk. ( Second time's ).

6. Let it boil for 1 to 2 minutes. Add the thick coconut milk and let it start to boil. Mix it once.

7. When it starts to boil ( After mixing nicely) put off the fire. Put little Millet Payasa to a serving dish.

8. Keep a pan on the fire and heat. Add ghee and raisins and cashews. Let it turn golden brown.
9. Add it to the ready "Same Payasa/Little Millet Payasa" .

10. Add a cup of boiled milk just before serving and then serve.

Note :

Let same cook nicely. It helps same to mix with coconut milk nicely. I have used organic jaggery. If you are using market bought jaggery, melt jaggery completely and then sieve it with strainer and then add then use clean jaggery. Adding more or less jaggery is optional. You can grind coconut with little water and a spoon of soaked raw rice till paste and then you can add it to boiling payasa mixture. ( Instead of coconut milk). Remember to use fresh and moisture coconut for payasa. Adding nuts according to your taste.
Time : 30 Minutes.

Serves : 5 to 6 ( According to quantity of serving).

Happy Gowri Festival Celebration Dishes

Happy Gowri Festival to You All. Try and Enjoy these special festival dishes.

Gowri /Parvathi /Girije is mother of Lord Ganesha. She is also known as Adhi Shakti.
The beautiful story is like this according to Purana . Gowri created Ganapa, gave him life and asked him to guard the house. She went to bathe. Lord Shiva/Eshwara comes to visit her and Ganapa will not let him go inside. Shiva gets angry and cuts off his head. Gowri comes to know this and cries. Lord Shiva asks his people to search Ganapa's head. They were not able to find Ganapa's head. So Lord Shiva tells his people and orders them to get the head of anyone who laid his head on north direction. They could find only an elephant which laid its head on north direction. They cut the head of elephant and brings it to Lord Shiva. He puts the elephant head on Ganesha and gives life to him. He also gives power to Lord Ganesha. Ganesha is the lord that we should pray first before starting anything. Lord Ganesha is known as Vighna Vinashaka, Prathama Pooja is done for Lord Ganesha.
Gowri, Ganesha festival is on This thursday and friday.
Gowri comes to her parents house first and then son Lord Ganesha comes on next day. It might be like the married girl comes to her parents house. Simple food is done on first day and then Ganesha festival is celebrated in grand manner. On Gowri Pooja the ladies do pooja and give " Arashina kumkum" to the married women. It is called Bhageena. One should be happy and involve in doing pooja and blessed by God. Our traditions and culture is just beautiful and it gives life to dullness and  by doing poojas the positive energy flows in to your mind and body.
On the first day as I said it is a simple dishes with payasam or pooran poli. (Your choice of dishes).

No Onion or No Garlic is used on Festival Celebrations. 

I have prepared

1. Methi Leaves/capsicum dry curry ( Udupi special Palya).

2. Ginger/ Green Tamarind Tokku  Chithranna

3.Mango fruit chutney.

4. Ridge Gourd Huli (Curry).

5. Channa Dal Payasam/Kheer.

Let us see the preparation  One by One and enjoy eating these healthy, delicious dishes.

1. Methi leaves Dry curry

Things Needed :
To Cook
Methi/Fenugrik Leaves : 1 Bundle
Capsicum : 1
Salt : As required
Turmeric Powder : A little
To Grind :
Coconut : 1/2 Cup
Red Chilly : 2 to 3
Tamarind : Very little (Half o f one small marble)
Mustard Seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon
To Season :
Mustard seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon
Urid dal : 1/2 Teaspoon
Ingh : A little
Coconut Oil : 2 Tablespoos

Method :

1  Wash and cut methi leaves into small. Wash and cut capsicum into small pieces.
2. Grate coconut and dry grind it with red chilly (byadagi), mustard seeds and tamarind.
3. Keep a pan on the fire and put 1 tablespoon of oil. Add mustard seeds, urid dal and ingh. Let mustard seeds splutter.
4. Add curry leaves and cut capsicum and methi leaves. Mix it well and let it cook on medium flame and low flame.
5. Add a pinch of turmeric powder and mix it well.
6. Let methi leaves cook on low flame or add half cup of water, cover and cook.
7. Let all the moisture disappear completely. Add salt and stir.
8. Add ground mustard seeds and coconut mixture and mix it nicely. Let it cook on low flame for 2 minutes. Shift the ready Methi leaves dry curry to a serving bowl.

Note :

You can use any brand of oil of your choice. Adding more spice is optional. You can fry this methi leaves on low flame. It taste better. Njoy this palya with hot rice and a spoon of fresh ghee.
Type : South Canara /Udupi Style.
Time : 15 to 20 Minutes.
Serves : 2 to 3  .

2 : Green Tamarind  Tokku Chitranna .

Things needed :
Cooked Rice : 1 Cup

To Add :
Tamarind Tokku : 1 Teaspoon
Dry Ginger Powder : 1/2 Teaspoon
Turmeric Powder : A little
Salt : To taste
Coriander leaves
Grated coconut (fresh) : 1/2 Cup

Seasoning :
Mustard seeds : 1 Teaspoon
Urid dal : 1 Teaspoon
Green chilly : 1
Curry leaves : 6 to 8

Method :

Keep a pan on the fire and heat. Add a tablespoon of Coconut oil.
Add mustard seeds, urid dal and let urid dal splutter.
Add washed and slit green chilly and curry leaves.
Add tamarind tokku and fry it nicely.
Add cooked and cooled rice. Add turmeric powder.
Add ginger powder and required salt.
Mix all the ingredients nicely. Let it be on low flame for 2 to 3 minutes.
Add a tablespoon of ghee and mix it well. Put off the fire.
Add grated coconut, washed and cut coriander leaves. Mix it well once again.
Green tamarind tokku chitranna is ready to serve.
Note :
To get green tamarind tokku, just remove the tender green tamarind outer hard layer.
Grind it with salt and green chilly. This Green tamarind tokku is hot and spicy.
You can use tamarind pulp instead of green tamarind tokku. Soak a small ball size of tamarind in hot water for 5 minutes. Squeeze out the pulp and boil to make it thick content. Add green chilly paste and salt while tamarind pulp is boiling. Tamarind turns as thick paste. Use according to your requirement.
Time : Chitranna preparation : 10 minutes.
Serves : 3 to 4

3. Mango Fruit Chutney:

Things Needed :
Ripe Mango : 1
Red chilly : 2
Ingh : A pinch
Fresh grated coconut : 1 Cup
Salt : As required
Seasoning :
Coconut oil : 1 Teaspoon
Mustard seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon
Ingh : A pinch
Curry leaves : 5 to 6

Method :

Wash and squeeze out the pulp from ripen mango.
Grate coconut and keep it aside.
Fry red chilly in a drop of coconut oil for 1 minute.
Now grind all the above ingredients with a pinch of ingh/asafoetida. Use water if required.
Remove from the mixi jar and put it in a serving dish.
Add mustard seeds, ingh, curry leaves seasoning with a teaspoon of coconut oil.
Time : 10 minutes.
Serves : 2 to 3

4. Ridge Gourd Toor Dal Curry :

Things needed :

To Cook :
Ridge gourd : 1
Toor dal : 2 Handful

To Grind :
Fresh grated coconut : 3 to 4 Tablespoons
Tamarind pulp : 1 Tablespoon
Rasam powder : 2 Tablespoons
Jeera /Cumin seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon

Seasoning :
Mustard seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon
Ingh /Asafoetida : A pinch
Curry leaves : 6 to 8
Coconut oil : 1 Teaspoon

To Add :
Green Chilly : 1
Required Salt
Mustard seasoning
Washed and cut coriander leaves.

Method :

Wash and peel off the outer layer (hard skin) of ridge gourd and cut into desired size.
Wash and cook toor dal in a pressure cooker for  8 to 10 minutes and let it cool.
Wash curry leaves, coriander leaves and cut into small.
Keep a pan and put cut ridge gourd and cook with 1 cup of water till it turns soft.
Grind coconut, tamarind, jeera/cumin seeds, rasam powder with little water. Remove it from mixi jar.
Add cooked dal to ridge gourd pieces. Add a pinch of turmeric powder, salt and required water.
Mix it well and let it boil for 2 minutes. Add ground coconut mixture and mix it well.
Let it boil for 2 to 3 minutes. Shift Ridge gourd curry to a serving dish.
Add mustard seasoning and cut coriander leaves. Ridge gourd curry is ready to serve.
Note :
Do not over cook ridge gourd pieces. Adding any brand of rasam powder is optional. I used home prepared rasam powder.  ( Use of MTR, Mayya;s Rasam powder gives good aroma).  Adding any cooking oil is optional. Adding a teaspoon of ghee just before serving is optional.
Time : 30 Minutes
Serves : 3 to 4

5. Channa Dal Payasa/Kheer

Things Needed :
Channa Dal 1/2 Cup
Thick Avalakki /Poha/Flattened rice : 1/2 Cup
Jaggery : 3/4 Cup
Cardamom : 4 to 5 Pods
Dry fruits : Cashews and Raisins : 1 Tablespoon or little more
Coconut Milk : 1/2 Coconut (1 Cup)

Method :

Wash and pressure cook channa dal for 18 to 10 minutes and let it cool.
Powder jaggery. Keep a big pan on the fire and put jaggery and little water. Let it melt completely. ( 1 or 3 boils).
Sieve with a strainer and keep the jaggery aside.
Grate coconut (1/2 coconut) and grind it with cardamom pods. Add l/2 cup of water and grind.
Take the ground coconut and sieve and separate coconut milk. (1 st time coconut milk).
Grind coconut again with little water and sieve with a strainer. (2nd time coconut milk).
Keep a big pan on the fire and put jaggery water. Add cooked channa dal,
Wash and add Avalakki/Poha /Flattened rice to boiling jaggery mixture.
Add 2 time's coconut milk. Let it boil nicely. Add the first time's coconut milk.
See that it is just about to boil. Put off the fire and shift the Channa dal kheer to a serving dish.
Keep a small pan on the fire. Add a spoon of ghee. Add cashew nuts and fry.
Add raisins and fry till it fluffs. Add this nuts fry to payasam and serve.

Note :

Adding more coconut milk is optional. Add a cup of boiled fresh milk is optional. (Just before serving). Adding more /less jaggery is optional. Adding Avalakki helps to thicken the payasam.
You can grind coconut with  a teaspoon of rice till paste and adding instead of coconut milk is optional. Adding ghee fried cashew and raisins adds to the taste.
Time : 30 Minutes.
Serves : 4 to 5 .