Pumpkin Spicy Mustard Curry

Pumpkin spicy mustard curry is a side dish and it is one of the traditional dish from Udupi.

Udupi Brahmins have their own style of cooking, use of spices are simple and good for health. 

That how they got the popularity and Udupi Brahmin's hotel is very famous world wide.

Here is Pumpkin dry curry which is a simple and yummy dish that every one love to have it.

I have used pumpkin, mustard seeds, red chilly powder and coconut.

Let us see the benefits of eating pumpkin on our diet.

Pumpkin is very nutritious and rich in Vitamin A.

It is rich in Antioxidant and helps to reduce chronic diseases. It helps to boost energy. Vitamin A in pumpkin helps to protect our eye sight. Pumpkin is low in calorie and good for shedding extra weight. They are rich in Vitamin C, potassium and fiber. Pumpkin is good for our skin.

No Onion OR No Garlic is used in this Pumpkin Spicy Mustard Curry.

Let us see the recipe now :

Things needed :

To cook :

Pumpkin : 1 Bowl

To Grind : 

Mustard seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon

Coconut : 1/2 Cup

Red chilly powder : 1 Teaspoon

Tamarind : Very little quantity. (Half of small marble size).

To Add :

Salt : As required 

Jaggery : 1 Tablespoon

Coriander leaves : 1 Tbs

Seasoning :

Coconut Oil : 1 Tablespoon

Mustard seeds : 1/2 Tsp

Urid dal : 1/2 Tsp

Curry leaves : 6 to 8 

Method :

1. Wash and remove the skin of pumpkin and cut into small pieces.

2. Grate coconut and dry grind it with mustard seeds, tamarind and chilly powder.

3. Keep a pan on the fire and put oil. Add mustard seeds,urid daland let mustard seeds splutter.

4. Add curry leaves, pumpkin pieces and stir nicely.

5. Add water and cook till the pieces turn soft.

6. Add jaggery and little turmeric powder.

7. Add salt and stir. Let all the moisture dry. 

8. Add ground mustard - coconut mixture and mix it well.

9. Let it cook on low flame for 2 minutes.

10. Shift the curry to a serving dish , add cut coriander leaves and serve as one of the side dish.

Note 

Do not cook the vegetable very soft or over cooked. It does not taste good. 

Adding jaggery to the curry is optional.

Use of any cooking oil instead of coconut oil is optional.

Adding more chilly is optional.

Time : 30 Minutes.

Serves : 2 to 3.

Pumpkin Acchar /Pickle flavoured Curry

Pumpkin /Sihi kumbala kai is a healthy vegetable which can be kept for a long time. I have prepared this curry with little mustard along with sambar powder. It is called as Pumpkin Achar Curry because the spices gives out slightly pickle taste.

Our home in Brahmavar/Near Udupi used to have at least 3 to 4 pumpkins and that pumpkins were used to store for the rainy days in olden days. I am calling those days as olden days since my father in law used to grow pumpkins, ash gourd and mangalore cucumber in the field and the grown vegetables are to be stored in Padasale/Pooja room. These vegetables are used in rainy seasons because during the rainy days normally you would not get much vegetables. The days are gone and now is all dream that we have seen.
Let us see some benefits of eating pumpkin in our diet.
Pumpkin is low in saturated fat and low in cholesterol. It is also low in sodium. It has a good source of Vitamin E, Vitamin B6, Vitamin A and Vitamin C. It is filled with  Folate, Iron, Magnesium, Potassium, Copper and Phosphorus. It has a good source of dietary fiber. Pumpkin is good for people who suffer from blood pressure. It is rich in anti oxidants which helps in preventing damage to our eyes.
Pumpkin Acchar /Pickle flavoured Curry has no onion or no garlic in it. Do not add more mustard seeds, it might give out bitter and strong spice taste.
Let us see the recipe now :
Things needed :
To Cook :
Red Pumpkin : 1 Bowl. ( 1/4 part of one medium sized pumpkin)
To grind :
Coconut : 1 Cup ( 3 to 4 Tablespoons)
Mustard seeds : 1/4 Teaspoon
Jeera /Cumin seeds : 1/4 Teaspoon
Rasam / Sambar powder : 1 Tablespoon
To add :
Tamarind pulp : 1 Tablespoon
Salt : As required
Turmeric powder : A pinch
Coriander leaves : 1 Tablespoon
Seasoning :
Cooking oil : 1 Teaspoon
Mustard seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon
Ingh : A little
Curry leaves : 5 to 6 leaves

Method :

1. Wash and remove the hard part of pumpkin and cut them into small pieces.
2. Cook with little water till it turns soft. ( Do not over cook )

3. Grate coconut and grind it with rasam /sambar powder, jeera/cumin seeds and mustard seeds.
4. Add required water to grind and remove it from mixi jar.

5. Soak a marble size of tamarind in hot water and squeeze out the pulp from it. Keep the pulp aside.
6. Keep a pan on the fire and put cooked pumpkin pieces. Add salt, tamarind pulp and turmeric powder to it.

7. Let it cook for 2 minutes. Add ground coconut mixture and mix it well. Let it cook for 2 to 3 minutes.
 

8. Shift the curry to a serving dish.

9. Keep small pan on the fire and heat. Add a teaspoon of oil, mustard seeds. Let mustard seeds splutter.
10. Add little ingh/ asafoetida and cut curry leaves. Put this seasoning to prepared pumpkin curry.
11. Mix it well and Add cut coriander leaves.
12. Serve with the main dish you have prepared.

 Note :

Do not over cook the pumpkin pieces. No need to add any garlic or onion to this curry. Do not use more oil to season.  Do not add much mustard seeds to grind because the food might give bitter taste.
Time : 20 Minutes.
Serves : 3 to 4.
Purely South Indian dish.

Pumpkin Spicy Curry

Pumpkin spicy curry is a side dish and easy to prepare. You can have this side dish with almost all the main dishes.

I have used pumpkin, coconut and home prepared spice powder.
Let us see some benefits of eating pumpkin in our diet.
Pumpkin is filled with vitamins and minerals. It has potassium and anti oxidant properties. It has Vitamin A  Vitamin C and Vitamin E. Pumpkin is very low in calorie and it keeps you full for a longer time. It is good for weight loss. It is full of fiber. It ia good for our eye health. Eating pumpkin is good for our immunity health. It helps in fighting against bacterial infections and fungal infections. Beta carotene in pumpkin helps to protect our skin. It also helps in reducing the glucose level and increasing the amount of insulin in our body. It is good for diabetes.

No onion or No garlic is used in this Pumpkin Spicy Curry. 

I have not used any dal in this curry. Udupi style Pumpkin Spicy Curry. It is easy, simple and quick. 

Things Needed :

To Cook :
Pumpkin Pieces : 1 Big bowl

To Add :
Salt : As required
Turmeric powder : A pinch
Tamarind pulp : 1 Teaspoon
Methi/Fenugrik seeds : 1/4 Teaspoon

To Grind :
Sambar Powder/Rasam powder : 2 Teaspoons
Coconut : 3 to 4 Tablespoons

To Season :
Coconut oil : 1Tablespoon
Mustard seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon
Jeera : 1/2 Teaspoon
Ingh/Asafoetida : A pinch
Curry Leaves : 6 to 8
Green chilly :1

Method :

1. Wash and remove the outer layer (Peel off the skin) and cut into small pieces. Wash the pieces and keep it aside.

2. Grate coconut and grind it with sambar/rasam powder using little water.

3. Keep a pan on the fire and heat. Add coconut oil, mustard seeds, jeera and let it fry.
4. Let mustard seeds splutter. Add ingh, green chilly and curry leaves.
5. Add pumpkin pieces and stir once. Add 1/2 cup of water, a pinch of turmeric and cook on medium flame till they turn slightly soft.

6. Soak tamarind in hot water for 5 minutes and squeeze out the pulp. Add it to cooked pumpkin pieces. Add methi seeds. (Raw methi seeds).
7. Add required salt and mix it well. Add ground coconut mixture and mix it slowly. Add 1/2 cup of water if required. Let Pumpkin Spicy Curry boil for 2 to 3 minutes.

8. Shift the curry to a serving bowl and serve with hot rice.

Note :

Do not over cook the pumpkin pieces. It cooks faster and turns as paste. Use of any sambar/rasam powder is optional. I have used home prepared sambar powder. It taste better. Use of any dal is optional. Do not add much tamarind. It should be mild. Adding methi/Fenugrik seeds helps to lower the cholesterol level in the curry. It helps to digest the food easily. Do not add more water to the curry. It should be bit thick. (Taste better).
Time : 20 Minutes.
Serves : 3 to 4 
Style : South Canara /Udupi/Karntaka/India.

Home made Sambar Powder :

Dry roast 1/4 Teaspoon of methi seeds, 1/2 teaspoon of channa seeds/Kadale bele, 2 tablespoons of coriander seeds and 1/2 Teaspoon of jeera/cumin seeds with 5 to 6 byadagi chilly.
Dry grind it once it is cools.

( 1 time use).

SWEET PUMPKIN KADABU. ( RED PUMPKIN).

Sweet Pumpkin Kadabu is one of the traditional dish of South Canara and other parts of Karnataka. 

We can prepare spicy and sweet idli from the same ingredients. Adding some greeen chilly and coriander leaves will be added to the same batter to prepare spicy idli.
Jaggey is added to turn the batter sweet. So that sweet aroma and crave for sweets can be satisfied with this dish.
We from South Canara are bit sweet tooth people. Most of the snacks and breakfast dishes are added with sweet mostly jaggery. We do use many vegetables in idli/kadabu/kadubu.
Here is one such traditional dish that is Sweet Pumpkin Kadabu/Kadubu/Idli.
I have used idli plates to prepare the dish and you can cook them in a round /any shape bowl/plate.
I have used idli rava, coconut, pumpkin and jaggery.

Sweet Pumpkin kadabu is good for breakfast, snack, kids snackbox or even for dinner. As I said it is very easy to prepare and healthy to eat.
Let us see the recipe now :

Things needed:

Idli Rava/Raw rice rava : 2 Cups
Coconut : 1/2 Cup
Grated Pumpkin : 1 Bow; (1/4 of the medium sized pumpkin).
Salt : A little
Jaggery : 1 /2 Cup ( Powdered ).
Black Pepper : 4 to 6 pods.
Jeera/Cumin seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon
Dry Ginger Powder : 1/2 Teaspoon

Method:

1. Wash and remove the thick part ( outer layer ) of pumpkin. Scrape out the inner pulp and seeds.
2. Grate pumpkin and coconut. Keep them aside.

3. Wash idli rava and put it in  a bog bowl. Add salt, curmin seeds,dry ginger powder and crushed black pepper.

4. Add powdered jaggery, grated pumpkin and grated coconut. Mix it well with pumpkin gratings.

5. Add salt and mix all the ingredients well. Add water if required.
6. Leave the batter for 10 minutes.

7. Apply little oil /ghee to all the idli plates.
8. Pour a ladle (small) of sweet idli batter to each plate. ( Each idli mould).
9. Keep a cooker /idli steamer on the fire and put some water in it. Let the water get heated.
10.Keep idli batter filled idli plates in the cooker and cover.
11. Cook for 8 to 10 minutes or little more. (Another 5 minutes).

12. Remove the cooker cover and slowly take out the idli from the idli plate.

13. Sweet Pumpkin Kadubu/idli is ready to serve
14. Serve with any side dish you have prepared and some ghee on the top of hot sweet idlis.

15. You can enjoy eating these idli with fresh ghee and pickle. (My favourite).

Note :

We can use banana leaf, jack fruit tree leaf /turmeric leaf to cook these idli/Kadubu. I used idli plates to prepare. You can also use pressure cooker container to cook these idlis. Adding more grated pumpkin is optional. Use of more/less jaggery is optional. Use of dry ginger is optional. I have used pepper corns, dry ginger powder and jeera because Pumpkin is said to be contains lots of gas./Vaayu.
So using these above ingredients helps to take care.
Time :
Preparation time : 10 Minutes + Allow the batter to rest  10 Minutes + cooking time 10 minutes. 
Total Time : 30 Minutes. 
Serves : 5 to 6  ( Maximum 20 idli can be done).