Pigeon Peas Cutlet

Pigeon Pea/togari kalu/whole green toor is available plenty in the market. Normally it is the season of pigeon peas during the winter. You do get good tender peas and we can prepare many dishes using pigeon peas.

I have prepared pigeon peas and cluster beans dry curry for the afternoon lunch and little curry was left and as usual just used this remaining dry curry with some potatoes and prepared Cutlets for the evening and it was just beautiful to have it as snack.

No Onion Or No garlic in this " Pigeon Peas Cutlet".

Let us see the recipe now :

Things needed :

Pigeon Peas Dry Curry : 1 Bowl
Potatoes : 2 to 3
Coriander leaves : One handful
Ginger : An inch
Bread slices : 3 to 4
Jeera/cumin seeds : 1 Teaspoon
Garam Masala : 1/2 Teaspoon
Red chilly Powder : 1/2 Teaspoon
Rava /Semolina : Chiroti rava /Thin variety of rava : 1/2 Cup
Salt : As required
Oil : To Fry (1 Cup)

Method :
1. Wash and boil potatoes and remove its skin and smash it nicely.

2. Wash and cut coriander leaves into thin pieces. Wash ginger, remove the outer layer and wash it again. Grate it and keep it aside.
3. Powder bread crumbs and put it in a bowl.
4. Now put all the ingredients in a big bowl and mix it nicely. (Smashed potatoes, cut coriander leaves, grated ginger, powdered bread crumbs, salt, garam masala, chilly powder and jeera).

5. Divide the dough into small ball size.

6. Keep a pan on the fire and heat. Add oil let it heat.
7. Take a small portion of the cutlet mixture and give a shape of your desire.

8. Dip them in raw rava/semolina  and fry in medium hot oil.
9. Fry the cutlet nicely on both sides.

     Remove it from oil and put it on a kitchen tissue.

10. Serve Hot Cutlets with ketchup/any type of chutney

11. Repeat the same with remaining dough.

12.You can also shallow fry these Pigeon Peas Cutlets. (Healthy Option).

Note :

I have deep fried these cutlets. You can shallow fry them on tava. (Optional).

Do not overcook potatoes. You can use flattened rice/Avalakki instead of bread. I have used brown bread. You can powder the bread slices with a mixi dry grinder. You can also add onions and garlic to cutlet dough. I have not added.
Time : 30 Minutes.
Serves : 3 to 4.
 Indian Food .
Pigeon Peas -Cluster beans Dry Curry 

Ridge gourd- Sesame Chutney

Chutney is a side dish and we can prepare many types of chutneys. Chutney is normally one of the side dish and goes well with Plain rice, any mixed masala rice, with roti, chapati, dosa idli etc.
We especially South Canara side people do prepare chutneys from peel/ the outer layer of many vegetables. Here is such one of the chutney and it can be prepared easily and it is 100% yemmy and healthy chutney.  I have used Ridge gourd peel, Kesu leaves stem (Colocasia leaves) (optional), Sesame seeds and  Coconut.

Let us see some benefits of Sesame seeds:
Sesame seeds are one of the oldest condiments known to man. They are excellent source of copper and very good source of manganese, calcium, magnesium, iron, phosphorus, vitamin B1,zinc, and dietary fiber.It also contain the beneficial fiber called Lignans.Sesame seeds are rich in quality vitamins and minerals. They are very good sources of B complex vitamins. Sesame seeds are full of high quality protein. Sesame seeds contain magnesium and other nutrients. and also improve plasma glucose in hypersensitive diabetics. They help to reduce blood pressure. They help to lower Cholesterol and good for digestion since the high content of fiber in sesame seeds help to digest the food. They are very good for healthy skin. The high content of zinc in sesame helps repair the damaged body tissue. Having so many good qualities of sesame seeds needs to be added in our daily diet.

Here is a spicy " Ridge gourd- Sesame Chutney"  which can be prepared easily and as I said this dish can be served as side dish with main dish. It will be surely loved by the whole family and fits the taste of all age group. 

Things Needed :

Ridge gourd skin. ( Outer layer) :  2 Cups
Sesame Seeds : 2 Table spoons.
Red chilly : 5 to 6
Coriander seeds : 1/2 Tea spoon
Green Chilly
Turmeric powder : a pinch
Coconut : 1 Cup
Tamarind : Small marble size
Salt : required
Oil : 1 Tea spoon
Mustard seeds : 1/2 Tea spoon
Ingh : a pinch
Curry leaves : 1 Handful

Method :

1. Wash and remove the edges or scratch out the edges and wash the ridge gourd again. Remove the outer skin and cut it into small. Cook them in a pressure cooker with little water, salt, tamarind, turmeric powder, green chilly and coriander seeds. Let it cool.

2. Roast or fry sesame seeds till they are brown (pop up) with red chilly, curry leaves and ingh.

3. Grate coconut.
4. Grind cooked and cooled ridge gourd skin, roasted or fried sesame seeds, coconut with little water.

5. Add salt if required. Remove Chutney from the liquidizer. (Mixi) to  a serving bowl.

6. Add mustard seeds- curry leaves ingh spurt to the chutney and serve with the main dish you have prepared.

Note :

I have also added Colocasia leaves stems while cooking ridge gourd skins. we can also use only colocasia stems and prepare this chutney. It is purely optional. It adds to the flavour and fully fiber.
Adding more or less chilly is also optional. You can add thin cut onions just before serving chutney. (optional).

Time : 15 Minutes.
Serves : 4 to 5  
  My next recipe will be Raagi - Jolada Rotti using this spicy chutney.  ( Finger Millet + Millet   Flour Rotti ).

Hucchellu - Apple Chutney

Hucchellu is nothing but Niger seeds. Hucchellu is mostly used in North Karnataka. Using Hucchellu in chutney or curry or chutney pudi. Hucchellu is also known as Gurellu.

Hucchellu  or Karellu (Kannada Language) is known as  Kaarale, in Hindi, Khurasni in Marathi and Punjabi, Sorguja or Surgia or Sorguza in Assamese and Bengali, Verrinuvvalu or Valisalu in Telugu and Payellu in Tamil. It is known as Niger seeds in English.

Hucchellu  is rich in protein and nutritional values.
Here is a recipe of Hucchellu and Apple chutney which can be used as side dish for dosa, idli, chapati, roti parathas and plain rice. It goes well with other Masala rice like Pulav, Vegetable rice, curd rice etc. Using apple in chutney is purely my idea and I know it mixes well with chutney and adds taste to chutney. Hucchellu Chutney will be liked by all age group and each and every member of the home I am sure. This chutney do not contain any onion or garlic and can be prepared on Special days like Upavas or Ekadashi.

Ingredients :

Huccheelu (Niger Seeds) : 2 Table Spoons
Fresh Coconut : 1 Cup
Red Chilly (Byadagi Menasu) : 4 to 6
Ingh :  a pinch
Curry Leaves : Handful.
Apple : 1
Salt : To taste
Oil : 1/2 Teaspoon of oil.
Mustard seeds : 1/2 Tea spoon

Method :

1. Clean Hucchellu and roast till they pop up. (on low flame)

2. Add red chilly and ingh and fry along with Hucchellu. Add some curry leaves and leave it for cooling.

3. Grate coconut and keep it aside.

4. Wash and cut or grate apple and grind with fresh coconut and roasted Hucchellu mixture.

 5. Grind nicely with little water. Add required salt and grind for 10 seconds.
6. Shift the chutney to a bowl.

7. Now keep a small pan and add oil. Put mustard seeds and ingh. Let the mustard seeds splutter.
8. Add this mustard splutter to the chutney and mix it well.

9. Serve Hucchellu - Apple chutney with a main dish you prepared.

Note:

Do roast hucchellu since the seeds contain oil.(without oil).  Grind with little water to get tasty chutney. Do not add any tamarind or lemon juice. Apple supplies needed savoury to the chutney. Adding mustard splutter is optional. Adding onions and garlic also will be optional. (They may taste different).
Time : 20 Minutes
Serves : 4

Capsicum and Coconut Chutney

I have prepared Capsicum chutney a long ago and it is the normal chutney with capsicum and coconut. Recently some one has shown how to prepare chutney using capsicum cooked on gas burner and then used it for chutney.

It is just like that we cook gulla/special brinjal or normal brinjal to prepare bajji/curd or savoury curry.
I have used little urid dal, gas cooked capsicum and coconut to prepare this chutney. Try and enjoy this chutney with plain rice (hot) or with any other main dish. You are going to say "WOW", no doubt in it.
Let us see some benefits of eating "Capsicum" in our diet.
Capsicum helps to get a relief from stomach problesm, headaches, peptic ulcers and back pain. It is also good for menopausal problems and diabetes. It has anti-aging, anti-inflammatory properties. It helps to provide relief from pain related arthritis. It also helps to boost immunity. Capsicum is loaded with Vitamin A and Vitamin C. They are filled with anti-aging properties.
Let us see the recipe now :
No Onion OR No Garlic is added in this "Capsicum and Coconut Chutney".

Things Needed. :

Coconut :  1 Bowl. (4 to 5 Tablespoons)

Capsicum - 1

To Fry 

Urid dal : 1 Teaspoon
Red chilly : 4 to 5
Ingh/Asafoetida : A pinch

Curry Leaves - 5 to 6 Leaves
 Tamarind : A small marble size

Salt - To Taste.

For seasoning : 

Oil - 1 Tablespoon

Musard Seeds - 1/4 tea spoon

Curry Leaves : 5 to 6

Method :

1. Wash and wipe capsicum. Apply oil around it.
2. Put on the fire and place the oil greased capsicum on the burner. Let it cook on low flame.

3. Cook on all the sides by changing its position.

4. Remove the black patches on the capsicum and clean it with a tissue.
5. Cut into small pieces and let it cool.

6. Keep a pan on the fire and add 1/2 teaspoon of coconut oil.
7. Add a teaspoon of urid dal and fry till they turn golden brown.
8. Add red chilly and fry nicely. (byadagi chilly).
9. Add curry leaves and ingh. Put off the fire. Add tamarind and let all the ingredients cool.

10. Grate coconut and grind it with fried urid dal mixture, tamarind and cooked capsicum.
11. Add salt and grind it till it turn paste consistency. (or your desired consistency). Add required water to grind.

12. Remove from the mixi jar to a serving dish. Add coconut oil, mustard seeds, curry leaves and ingh seasoning and serve the yummy " Capsicum and Coconut Chutney".

Note :

Cook capsicum on all sides. Clean out the outer layer before making into pieces. Remove all the black dots before cutting. (If any hard part of black on capsicum). Adding more/less chilly is optional. Use of coconut oil is optional. Cooking capsicum on fire is one of the old tradition and it taste better.
Time : 20 Minutes.
Serves : 2 to 3.