Coconut Guli Appa / Pan Dosa

Kaayi dosa/Banalu dosa /Pan dosa is one of the traditional dosa done in South Canara / Malenadu/ Udupi . This is fluffy, soft and yummy dosa. I have tried Guli Appa with the same batter.

South Canara people use lots of coconut in their cooking. It is may be because coconut is grown plenty in this region.
Let us see some benefits of eating Coconut.
Coconut is one of the healthy nut/fruit. It is loaded with lots of medicinal value also. Coconut is full of fiber. Coconut oil is the best oil to use for our cooking. Coconut oil is good for our hair and skin. Coconut provides energy and it helps in controlling our cholesterol level. It has good anti aging qualities. It is a good antibiotic properties. It is rich in anti inflammation properties. Coconut is rich in copper, iron, manganese, magnesium and calcium.
Let us see the recipe Now :
I have used raw rice, a little urid dal and moong dal, flattened rice and methi seeds. Some coonut is used and it adds to the aroma of the dosa.
Kayi Dosa is one of the special dish of Udupi /South Canara. We use coconut and it is called coconut dosa.

Things Needed :

Raw Rice : 2 Cups
Urid dal : 2 Tablespoons
Moong Dal : 1 Tablespoon
Fresh grated coconut : 1 Cup / 4 to 5 tablespoons
Avalakki /Aval /Poha /Flattened Rice : 3 Tablespoons
Methi Seeds /Fenugrik seeds : 1 Teaspoon
Salt : As required
Oil /Ghee : 3 to 4 Tablespoons
Guli Appa Pan

Method :

1. Wash and soak raw rice, moong dal, urid dal and methi seeds for 2 to 3 hours. Soak avalakki/flattened rice separately.

2. Grate coconut and keep it aside.

3. Drain water from soaked rice, methi seeds,  dals and grind it with coconut and flattened rrice/avalakki.

4. Add required water. ( Little by little ). Grind it nicely till paste. Remove the batter from mixi jar and put it in a big bowl. Add required salt and mix it well.  Keep it aside. Let it rest for overnight.
5. Let it ferment over night or 6 to 8 hours.

6. In the morning Mix the batter nicely and  get ready to prepare guli appa and pan prepared dosa.
7. Keep Guli appa pan on the fire. Let it get hot. Add little oil to each guli /deep.

8. Now take a small ladle and put the batter to each guli/ deeper part. Cook on medium and low flame.

9. Cook on both sides and remove it from the pan. Repeat the same and prepare remaining guli appa.

Note :

No need to add more avalakki/poha.  Do not add much water while grinding. It should be like idli batter. Adding coconut adds to the taste and softness of guli appa. You can prepare Banagalu/pan dosas./ Set dosas with the same batter. Use of ghee instead of oil is optional.
Time : Soaking time 3 Hours + Fermentation 5 to 6 hours and Guli appa preparation 30 Minutes.
Serves : As you Desired.
Pan dosa :
Use the same batter and prepare Pan dosas..These are known as Kayi/Coconut Dosa in South Canara/Udupi /My doddamma's house.

Baked Cucumber Sweet Kadubu /Rice Cake

Baked Cucumber Sweet Kadubu is one of the traditional dish. Normally we prepare steamed sweet kadubu. This time I tried baking the same ingredients. It is like a cake and we can have it with cup of coffee/tea/juice. The choice is yours.

Some time back I have seen this Rice Cake/ Baked Kadubu /Baked Rice Cake in Foodie Group page.
My friend and foodie group admini Shri Kripa has prepared this baked cucumber sweet kadubu and I really wanted to try. I told her that it looks yummy and I am going try the dish. It is one of the North Canara dish. They call this dish as Kendathadya and it is normally done in fire wood oven.
   To tell about Shri Kripa, she is an excellent cook and very active person too. She is a good gardener and good adviser and she will definitely put her effort to provide clarification and guide people with her knowledge. She is a kind hearted friend.
       Coming back to my story, I got too busy with my routine, visiting places, going to dramas, music concerts, my tuition classes, attending marriages and the list goes on. We were too busy with deepavali festival etc,etc,etc. I did not get the time to try this Baked Cucumber Sweet Kadubu.
     
Yesterday we had the plan of visiting our elder son Ravi and his wife Vidya. Normally I do prepare some thing and take it to them. Mother's love you see  ☺  I had some cucumber n the fridge. So thought of giving a try. I had an idea and  I have watched a cookery show some time back. She had baked rava idli with dil leaves. Just the same way. I was pretty sure what to do. Believe me the " Rice cake " was an excellent out come and every one at home liked it. That is more important that what ever you do should fit into every one's liking.
I soaked the raw rice, then grind with jaggery and coconut, and then baked it.
This is exactly the way we do Our Southekai Kadubu. Instead of steaming I tried with baking the kadubu/Rice Cake.
Let us see the recipe Now :

Things Needed :

Raw Rice /Dosa Rice : 2 Cups
Grated Coconut : 1 Cup
Jaggery : 1 Cup
Cardamom : 5 to 6
Cucumber : 1 Medium
Ghee : 2 Teaspoons
Salt : A pinch
Eno Salt : 1 Teaspoon

Method :

1. Wash and soak the rice for 2 to 3 hours.
2. Grate coconut.
3. Wash and peel off the outer layer of cucumber. Cut into thin pieces.

4. Keep a pan on the fire and put jaggery. Add 1/4 cup of water and let the jaggery melt completely.
5. Sieve jaggery mixture with a siever and keep cleaned jaggery mixture aside.
6. Remove the pods from cardamom and keep it aside.

7. Remove the water from soaked rice and grind it with coconut,cardamom, cucumber pieces.
8. Use very little water to grind. Let the batter consistency be like rava/semolina.
9. Now add cleaned jaggery and grind it for a minute.

10. Remove the batter from mixi jar and put it to a bowl.

11. Greece the tray with little ghee.

12. Heat the oven for 5 minutes before you keep the Rice cake batter.
13. Add 3/4 teaspoon of Eno salt and 1 teaspoon of ghee to the batter and mix it well.
14. Pour the batter to the tray and keep it in the oven and bake for 40 minutes @ 180 degree C.

15. Insert a knife edge and check. If it does not stick to the knife edge its done.
16. Remove the tray from the oven and keep it above the oven for 10 minutes.

17. Cut the rice cake when it is completely cooled.

18. Baked Cucumber Sweet Kadubu/Rice Cake is ready to serve.

 Note :

Do not add more water while grinding the batter. You can use jaggery mixture instead of water to grind the ingredients. Grinding smaller quantity is always better. Use of more / less jaggery is optional. No need to use more ghee. Cut the Rice Cake once it is completely cool.
If the batter turns bit watery  add 2 to 3 tablespoons of medium size rava/semolina. Thae batter turns bit thick.
Time : 
Preparation time : 10 Minutes.
Rice soaking time : 3 hours
Grinding time : 5 Minutes.
Baking time : 40 Minutes.
Cooling time : 10 Minutes.

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.

Idli (Rice steamed Cake)

Idli  is normally a breakfast dish. It is one of the healthy steamed dish. You can have them as snack or for dinner. It one of the traditional dish of Karnataka people I can say. Idli is very famous in Karnataka . Varieties of idlis you get but remember that eating plain idlis are always healthy.

Idli is prepared using dal and rice. Now a days there are varieties of idli available in the hotels and at the food points.
Lets see the recipe now

Ingredients :

1 Cup Urid dal
2 Cups of Raw rice
3.Salt : Required

Different vessels are used to steam the same idli batter. A big glass, deep bowl type plate, Idli tatte/plate etc.

Method :

1. Wash and soak rice and urid dal separately for 2 to 3 hours.
2. Grind them separately. Grind rice into rava consistency and urid into paste consistency. Add only  required water while grinding the rice.

3. Remove it from the grinder and put it in a big bowl. Add salt and leave it for ferment. (over night or 6 to 7 hours).

4. Morning when you are ready to prepare idli, wash idly plates and apply ghee or oil.
5. Keep the pressure cooker or idly cooker on the fire. Add some water at the bottom and place a plate or bowl.
6. Put a ladle of idli dough to the idly plate and place it in the cooker and cover the lid. Do not put weight if using the pressure cooker.

7. Cook for at least 8 to 10 minutes. Put off the gas and open the lid. You can prepare different shapes of idli. The second one is cooked with t

8. Remove the idli with the help of a spoon or a knife edge.

9. Serve with a spoon of ghee and the side dish you prepared.

10. Idlis are eaten with sambar and chutney normally. You can also eat them with pickle, chutney powder, sugar, jaggery and rasam.

Note :

Grind urid dal first and then grind rice. You can use rice rava instead of grinding rice. Do not use more water while grinding urid or rice.
Dosa rice can be used to get good idly. (any kind of raw rice can be used.
24 Idlies can be prepared.
Time : Soaking time 3 hours + grinding + 30 minute (Grinder) + ferment - 8 hours + Cooking time = 10 minutes. 
Sambar
Cook dal, any vegetables and mix it together. Add a tablespoon of tamarind and salt. Let it boil nicely. Add rasam/sambar powder, turmeric powder and mix it well. Add little jaggery. Mix it nicely and let it boil nicely. Add mustard splutter with curry leaves and ingh. Add washed coriander leaves at the end and serve Ready Sambar with Idli. I have used brinjal for sambar.
Time : 20 Minutes
Serves : 4 to 5
The same Idli Dough can be poured into these type of cups and steam to get the soft idli

Jack fruit leaf is stitched as glasses and idli dough is poured inside to steam. These are healthy idlis loaded with health benefits.