Raw Tomato - Fresh Cow Peas Curry

Tomatoes are good to have in our cooking. It is good to see our home garden is giving out so much tomatoes. This time it is green tomato curry done with these Green Tomatoes. Fresh cow peas is also available plenty in market.

I have used green raw tomatoes and cow peas for this curry. Fresh aromatic spice is prepared and used for this Curry.

Let us see the recipe now :

Things Needed :

Raw Tomatoes : 10 to 12
Fresh cow peas : 1 Bowl.
Coconut : fresh and grated : 2 to 3 Tablespoons.
Fresh spice powder : 2 Tablespoons
Salt : As required
Coriander leaves  : 2 Tablespoons
For Seasoning :
Oil : 1 Tablespoon
Mustard seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon
Jeera : Cumin Seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon
Ingh : Asafoetida : A little
Curry Leaves : 5 to 6
Green Chilly : 1 or 2

Method :

1. Wash and cut tomatoes into small pieces. Wash and pressure cook cow peas for 3 to 4 minutes.
2. Wash and cut curry leaves, coriander leaves and slit green chilly.

3. Grate coconut and keep it aside.
4. Keep a pan on the fire and heat. Add oil and mustard seeds  and jeera.
5. Let mustard seeds splutter.
6. Add curry leaves, ingh and slit green chilly.

7. Stir once and put cut tomatoes. Fry them on low flame. Add cooked cow peas and stir slowly/
8. Add turmeric powder, a teaspoon of jaggery.

9. Let it cook soft. Add salt and mix it well.
10. Add spice powder and mix all the ingredients nicely.
11. Let all the moisture disappear. Add Fresh grated coconut.

12. Shift the curry to a serving dish and mix it with coriander leaves. Raw Tomato - Fresh Cow Peas curry is ready to serve.

Note : 

Do not add while cooking tomatoes. It will be cooked soft with its moisture. Adding any spice powder is optional. Adding little garam masala adds to the taste. No onion or garlic is used here.
Adding more / less oil is optional. Use of coconut is optional.
Time : 15 Minutes.
Serves : 3 to 4
Special Spice powder :

Ingredients:

2 Tablespoons of coriander seeds, 1/2 teaspoon of cumin seeds, 1 teaspoon of channa dal, 1 teaspoon of urid dal, ingh, 2 cloves,  a very small piece of cinnamon, handful of curry leaves and a pinch of ingh.
Dry roast all the above ingredients on low flame one by one and powder it once it is cooled. 

Mattina Gulla - Avarekai Curry

Udupi Special Brinjal known as " Mattina Gulla " has its own special flavour and whatever you prepare turns out to be superb taste. This is a special variety of brinjal/ eggplant as said earlier.

There is a story behind the special nature of this Mattina Gulla and will surely write it.

I have prepared Gulla Huli/ bolu Huli or a type of curry using some special spices, which always stay in kitchen cupboard.

I have used Famous Avarekai/field beans and Mattina gulla combined together with some special spice powder which is very fresh, home prepared spice powder. 

Let us  know the story of Mattina Gulla.  
Mattina Gulla got patent these days.

Mattu/Matti is a place near Udupi/ Katpadi, in South Canara. It is about 6 to 8 Km from Udupi. The people over there, were very poor and struggling to lead a peaceful life. Once Shree Vadhiraja Swami of Sode Mutt came to visit this place, he saw the peoples' struggle and gave a handful of this Gulla /Brinjal /Eggplant seeds. He said from this seeds peoples' struggle will be reduced. As they grow the brinjal plant and it yield special variety of brinjals. So brinjals turned as famous and peoples' struggle reduced. It is all Swami Shree Krishna's daye/kindness and through the guru he could take care of His devotees and help them to lead peaceful life. Even now the first yield is given it to Lord Shree Krisha Mutt in Udupi. 

One has to eat and relish the taste of this special Mattu Gulla and then he will be able to know that what we say is 100 % true about the taste of this kind of brinjal.

No Onion or Garlic is used in this recipe. Try and enjoy this curry. It suits to all type of dishes.

Let us see the recipe Now :

Ingredients :

To Cook :

Mattu Gulla : 2 

Avarekai : 1 Cup. 250 to 300 grams. 

Methi seeds /Fenugrik seeds : 1/4 Teaspoon

To Add :

Spice Powder : 2 Tablespoons

Tamarind Pulp : 1 Tablespoons

Jaggery : 1 teaspoon

Salt : As required 

Coriander leaves : 2 to 3 Tablespoons

Coconut : 2  to 3 Tablespoons

Ginger : An inch 

Seasoning :

Cooking Oil : 1 Tablespoon

Mustard seeds : 1 Teaspoon

Jeera/Cumin Seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon

Ingh /Asafoetida : A pinch

Curry Leaves : 6 to 8 Leaves.

Method :

1. Remove the avarekai / Field beans and  wash it.  Pressure cook for 6 to 8 minutes and leave it for cooling.

2. Cut brinjals and put the pieces in a bowl of water for 5 Minutes.

3. Grate coconut, wash and cut curry leaves and coriander leaves. Soak tamarind in hot water for 5 minutes and squeeze out the pulp. Keep the pulp aside.

4. Wash and clean ginger and remove its outer layer. Wash it again and grate it.

5. Keep cooked averekai pan on the fie. Add cut brinjal and let it cook for 3 to 4 minutes./Till it gets soft. ( Do not over cook ). Add grated ginger.

6. Add little turmeric powder, tamarind pulp and required salt. Mix it well and cook for 2 minutes.

7. Add spice powder and mix it well and cook for another 2 minutes.

8. Keep a pan on the fire and heat. Add a tablespoon of oil, mustard seeds and jeera. Let it fry nicely.

9.  Add a pinch of asafoetida and curry leaves. Add this seasoning to the curry. 

10. Add a teaspoon of jaggery.

11. Mix it well and cook for another 2 minutes.

12. Put off the fire and Shift the curry to a serving dish.

13. Add cut coriander leaves and grated fresh coconut. (One Tablespoon).

14. Mix it well and Shift the ready curry to a serving dish. Top up with coriander gratings. ( Optional)

15. Serve with the main dish of your choice. Yummy curry taste best on almost all the dishes.

Note :

Do not over cook brinjals. Adding capsicum taste better. Adding garlic or onion is optional. Adding coconut grating is optional. Adding more jaggery is optional. Use of coconut oil is optional. 

Time : 30 Minutes.

Serves : 3 to 4.

How to make : Home Made Spice Powder :

Dry roast 1/4 teaspoon of methi, 1/2 teaspoon of urid dal, 2 tablespoons of coriander seeds, 4 to 5 byadagi chilly, 1/2 teaspoon of jeera/cumin seeds, 5 to 6 curry leaves and a pinch of ingh. Add a small piece of cinnamon to it. (1/2 inch). Do not fry cinnamon and 1Tbs  coconut, just add it after you shift the dry roast spices to a bowl. Let it get cool. Dry grind and turn it as powder. 

Note : Dry roast the spices one by one on low flame. 

Jeera - Pepper Huggi /Khara Pongal

Jeera - Pepper Huggi/Khara Pongal is one of the quick, healthy and easy Rice dish. It is one of the favourite dish of many South Indians.

I have used jeera/cumin seeds, green chilly, ingh/asafoetida as spices and moong dal and raw rice.

Let us see some benefits of eating Pepper Pods/Black Pepper in our diet.

Black Pepper is called as Kaali Mirch in hindi, nalla miriyalu - Telugu, Karumilaku - Tamil and Kari menasu in Kannada language. It is known as Kurumuluk in Malayalam.
Black pepper is known as king of spices. Black pepper is traded widely to other parts of the world,  even in ancient times.
Black pepper is used as spices and medicine.It is loaded with antibacterial and anti - inflammatory properties.Pepper helps in improving digestion, relieve cold and cough. It helps to boost metabolism. It helps in treating skin problems and weight loss. It is good for treating asthama, sinus, nasal congestion. Pepper pods helps to reduce memory impairment and cognitive malfunction. It is helps in treating Alzheimer patients and those who suffer from dementia. Very good for other age related problems. Black pepper benefits in easing gastric problems and peptic ulcers, since they are loaded with antioxidant and anti -inflammatory properties. It contain good amount of dietary fiber.
Black pepper is rich in minerals like manganese, copper, magnesium, calcium, phosphorus, iron, potassium and small amount of protein. It has good amount of  vitamins like Vitamin K, Vitamin B6.

No Onion or Garlic is used in this Jeera - Pepper Huggi/Khara Pongal. It is very easy to cook, it is simple, delicious and protein rich food.
Let us see the recipe.

Ingredients :

To Cook :
Raw rice : 1 Cup
Moong Dal : 1/2 Cup
 To Season :
Jeera/cumin seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon
Pepper Pods : 2 to 3
Ingh/ Asafoetida : A pinch
Green chilly : 2
Curry leaves : 6 to 8
Ghee : 1 Tablespoon
To dry roast :
Jeera /cumin seeds : 1/ 2 Teaspoon
Pepper pods : 5 to 6
To Add :
Pepper and jeera powder : 1/2 Teaspoon
Grated Coconut : 2 to 3 Tablespoons
Grated Ginger : 1 Teaspoon
Salt : As required
Water : 3 Cups of water.
Ghee : 1 Tablespoon
Cashew Nuts : 1 Tablespoon

Method :

1. Wash and cook raw rice and moong dal in a pressure cooker.

2. Grate coconut and keep it aside. Wash curry leaves and green chilly. Slit green chilly and keep it aside. Wash and remove the outer layer of ginger. ( An inch of ginger). Wash it again and grate it.
3. Keep a pan on the fire and dry roast pepper pods and jeera ( 2 minutes). Dry grind it and keep it aside.

4. Keep a big pan on the fire and heat. Add a tablespoon of ghee and put jeera, pepper pods and fry.
5. Add 3 to 4 pepper pods and 1/2 teaspoon of jeera. Fry them nicely for a few seconds and add green chilly.
6. Fry green chilly for a few seconds and add curry leaves. Add ingh.

7. Put cooked moong dal and rice mixture. Add required salt and ground jeera and pepper powder.
8. Add grated ginger. Mix all the ingredients slowly on very low flame. Let i t be on fire for 2 minutes.
9. Put off the gas. Add grated coconut.

10. Keep a small pan and put ghee. ( 1 tablespoon). Add cashews and fry nicely.
11. Add this fried cashews to ready Khara Pongal.
12. Serve with a cup of curd or coconut chutney with hot Jeera - Pepper Huggi/Khara Pongal.

Note :

Do not over cook rice. Adding more green chilly is optional. Adding more ghee is optional. It adds to the taste. Do not stir more . It might turn very soft.
Time : 30 Minutes
Serves : 4 to 5
Purely Karnataka Dish.

Rava Pakoda /Crispy Semolina Pakoda

Rava Pakodas are fried fritters done using rava/semolina. 

It is nice to have with a cup of coffee/tea/juice or even it goes with lunch or any other rice dishes.
I had prepared some Onedelaga/Timire/ Gotukola leaves tambuli. /Buttermilk curry.
It was teatime and we wanted to have some munching/snack while having tea. I had this tambuli prepared for lunch. The idea of flashed in the mind and so the Rava Pakodas are prepared immediately.
These Rava Pakodas are done in the same way of Goli baje which is very famous in South Canara.
Instead of maida I have used medium size rava and instead of curd I have used Ondelaga Tambuli which is prepared using curd. And all other things are same like ginger, green chilly, coconut pieces and a pinch of cooking soda.
I have used Gotukola tambuli, medium size rava/semolina, ginger and a green chilly and some coconut pieces. I have also used cooking soda and the pakodas turned crispy out side and soft inside the pakoda.
Let us see the recipe now :

Things Needed : 

Rava /Semolina : 1
Ondelaga Tambuli/ Curd Curry : 1 Small cup
Green chilly : 1
Ginger : Grated 1/2 Teaspoon
Coconut pieces : 1 Tablespoon
Salt : As required
Cooking Soda : A pinch
Curry Leaves : 5 to 10
Cooking Oil : 1 Cup.

Method :

1. Wash and cut green chilly and curry leaves. Put it in a bowl.
2. Add Rava and required salt. Mix it well.
3. Add Ondelaga Tambuli to it. Mix it nicely and make slightly thick batter.

4. Add cooking soda and mix it well and keep it aside. Add some coconut pieces.

5. Keep a pan on the fire and add oil. Let it get heated.
6.Mix the rava batter well and take a small portion of the batter and leave it in oil as pakodas. ( Small ball shape).

7. Let it fry nicely. Turn the other side and fry for till it turns slightly golden brown.
8. Remove it from the oil and put it on a kitchen tissue. It absorbs the extra oil.

9. Serve hot Rava Pakodas with a cup of coffee/tea/juice.

10. You can have them with tomato ketchup or any type of chutney.

Note :

Let the batter be bit thick. Not watery. Add little more rava if the consistency of the batter is very loose. Use of green chilly is optional. Tambuli will be having some spicy taste. Adjust your requirement and prepare the batter. No need to allow the batter to rest. Adding coconut pieces is optional.
Time : 20 Minutes.
Serves :  3 to 4  .

Nendra bale Dosa ( Nendra Banana Dosa ).

Nendra  Baale /Nendra banana is a type of banana which is full of nutrients, minerals and vitamins.  This Nendra banana is largely used in South Canara and Kerala.
Nendra bale Dosa is good to have for breakfast and  snack.

 I have used wheat flour, jaggery, rasam powder and salt.
We normally use Patrode batter to prepare this dosa. But I have used wheat flour and no need of grinding any thing. Minimum ingredients are used which is easily available in the kitchen shelves.
Let us see the recipe now :

Ingredients :

Wheat flour : 2 Cups
Nendra Bale/Nendra Banana : 2
Rasam Powder : 2 Teaspoons full
Jaggery : 3 to 4 Tablespoons
Salt : As required
Oil/ghee /butter : 2 to 3 Tablespoons.

 Method :

1. Wash and remove the skin of Nendra Banana. Cut them as thin circle shape.

2. Put wheat flour, powdered jaggery, rasam powder and salt. Mix it with required water and prepare the batter. (Dosa batter Consistency).

3. Keep a pan on the fire and heat. Sprinkle oil on hot tava. ( Keep the flame low now)
4. Dip banana slice in wheat batter and arrange it in circle form.

5. Put some oil on the top, cover and cook. (Low and medium flame).

6.  Turn the other side and cook till it turns golden brown.

7. Now Nendra Bale dideer dosa is read y to serve.
8.Serve hot Nendra Bale dosa with little ghee/butter on the top.

9. Repeat the same with remaining dosa batter and banana slices.

Note : 

The batter should be dosa batter consistency. The banana slices should be thin. Use of any brand rasam powder is optional. Do not use any onion or garlic in the batter. Jaggery quantity more/less is optional.
Time : 30 Minutes.
Serves : 2 to 3.