Millet Mirchi Bajji /Fried Fritters

Mirchi bajji is famous fried fritters these days. Mirchi bajji goes well with a cup of coffee/chai or any other fruit juice.

I have tried this Mirchi bajji using millet flour, besan /channa dal flour, curry leaves chutney powder and other spices. Just wanted to try this fritter with millet flour and it has turned nicely with crispy and soft texture. It has a good taste and of course it is a good choice for having with lunch as a bite by the side.
Let us see the reciepe Now :

Things needed :

Mirchi /Bajji Chilli : 3 to 4
Millet flour : 2 to 3 Tablespoons
Besan / Channa Dal Flour : 2 to 3 Tablespoons
Curry Leaves Chutney Powder : 1 Tablespoon
Chilly powder : 1/2 Teaspoon
Jeera / Cumin Seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon
Salt : As required
Oil : to Fry : 1 Cup

Method :

1. Wash and remove the seeds in Chilly. Slit them in the middle. / You can cut them into two in the middle.
2. Take a big bowl and add millet flour, besan / channa flour, curry leaves chutney powder, salt, chilly powder and jeera/cumin seeds. Mix it well.
3. Add water and prepare the batter. ( Let it be medium thick).

4. Keep a pan on the fire and heat. Add a cup of oil. Let it get hot.
5. Dip each chilly in the batter you have prepared and fry them on medium flame.

6. Turn the other side and fry till they turn golden brown.

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

8. Millet Mirchi Bajji /Fried fritter is ready to serve.

9.Repeat the same and prepare the remaining bajji.
10 Serve as you wish, with a cup of coffee / tea or a cup of juice or for lunch as a bite like papad.

Note :

Careful while you prepare the batter. Let the batter be medium thick. Adding any spice is optional. Curry leaves chutney powder adds to the taste. Adding more chilly powder is optional.
Fry on medium flame so that it cooks well and chilly turns crunchy.
I have the big chilly into two. So that it is easy to fry. No cooking soda is used here.
Time : 20 Minutes.
Serves : 2 to 3.

Cucumber Peel Chutney

Cucumber sippe / peel /outer layer chutney is one of the traditional dish done. It is said that cucumber peel is rich in fiber. 

We normally do not waste any vegetable or vegetable peel and do make use of it either in chutney or in some other preparations.
This particular cucumber is known as mullu southe in Udupi and Mangalore region. It is very rare and we do make use of this cucumber in chutney, kosumbari and payasa or ganji /porridge.

Let us see some benefits of this Mullu Southekai / Cucumber in our diet.
Cucumber has rich source of nutrients and antioxidants. It contain good amount of water and soluble fiber. It is good for weight loss. It has fiber, zero fat content and low in calories. It has vitamin C and Vitamin K. It contain some amount of protein, manganese, magnesium and potassium. It is good for our skin and eyes. It helps to cool our body.
You need to dip the vegetable in plain water at least 20 minutes. Wash it nicely and then use it.
I have used cucumber peel and some pulp, coconut, tamarind and red chilly.
Let us see the recipe now :
No Onion or Garlic is used in this chutney.

Ingredients :

Cucumber Peel : 1 Bowl
Roasted urid dal : 1 Teaspoon
Red byadagi chilly : 4 to 5
Tamarind pulp : 1 Teaspoon
Salt : As required
Coconut : 1/2 coconut of small size
Seasoning  with coconut oil, mustard seeds, ingh and curry leaves.

Method :

1. Wash and soak 1 cucumber in plain water for 30 minutes.

2. Wash again and peel its outer layer and keep it aside. ( I have used some amount of pulp also).

3. Grate coconut and keep it aside.
4. Keep a pan on the fire and heat. Put a teaspoon of coconut oil and a teaspoon of urid dal.
5. Fry till urid dal turn golden brown. Add red chilly and fry for a minute.

6. Add curry leaves and ingh. Mix it well and put off the gas.
7. Grind fried urid mixture, cucumber peel and pulp, tamarind and required salt. Add very little water to grind.

8. Remove the ground chutney to a serving dish and add mustard seasoning with curry leaves and ingh.

9. Mix it well and serve with the main dish you have prepared.

Note :

No need to cook cucumber peel. It looses its property once you cook. Adding more / less chilly is optional. Adding any cooking oil instead of coconut oil is optional. Do not add much water to grind. Chutney turns watery and it does not taste good. Urid dal helps the chutney to bind. (or it turns watery).
Time : 15 Minutes + 30 Minutes to soaking cucumber in plain water.
Serves : 2 to 3 .

Channa Dal - Mango Fruit Chutney

Channa dal chutney is one of the traditional side dish. Here I have used mango fruit pulp instead of tamarind.

Channa dal chutney is prepared from ages. When guest arrives without notice or if the side dishes turns shortage in the night or when your tongue wants some yummy spicy chutney this channa dal chutney comes to in hand. It is very easy, tasty and simple chutney.
We can have channa dal chutney with plain hot rice and a spoon of fresh ghee. It goes well  with idli, dosa, chapatis or any type of roti or rotti. This chutney serves the purpose of dips, sides for pakodas, fried fritters and on bread spread.
I have used channa dal, red byadagi chilly, mango pulp and coconut.

No onion or garlic Recipe

Let us see the recipe now :

Ingredients :

Channa Dal : 1 Tablespoon
Red byadagi chilly : 3 to 4
Curry leaves : 6 to 8
Ingh/Asafoetida : A pinch
Coconut : 1 Cup
Mango pulp : 1 wild mango pulp
Salt : As required
For Seasoning :
Coconut Oil : 1 Teaspoon
Mustard seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon
Ingh/Asafoetida : A pinch
Curry leaves : 5 to 6

Method :

1. Wash and squeeze out the mango pulp

2. Grate coconut and keep it aside.
3. Keep a pan on the fire and heat. Add a teaspoon of coconut oil.
4. Add a tablespoon of channa dal and fry on low flame.

5. Add byadagi chilly and fry with channa dal. Let channa dal turn slightly golden brown.
6. Put off the fire and add curry leaves and ingh. Let all the ingredients get cool.
7. Grind it with mango pulp, fresh coconut, salt  and required water. Grind it till it gets paste consistency.

8. Remove it from mixi jar to a bowl.
9. Season with coconut oil, mustard seeds, 1 red chilly, curry leaves and ingh.
10. Channa Dal - Mango Fruit Chutney is ready to serve.

Note :

Do not over fry dal. Chutney turns bitter. Adding more / less chilly is optional. Adding tamarind instead of mango pulp is optional. Use of more coconut adds to the taste.
Time : 10 Minutes
Serves : 2 to 3.

Simple Bottle Gourd /Sorekai Dry Palya

Bottle gourd/Sorekai/Doodi is one of the healthy vegetable and it available plenty all around the year.

I have done many recipes with Bottle gourd. Here is a simple,  yummy, easy dry curry which is very quick too. 

I have used simple spices and the bottle gourd. 

Let us see the recipe now : 

No Onion or No garlic is added to this Simple Bottle Gourd /Sorekai Dry Palya

Things Needed :

Sorekai / Bottle gourd pieces : 1 Bowl.

Red byadagi chilly : 2 

Jaggery : 1 Tablespoon
Coconut : 2 to 3 Tablespoons
Salt : As required
Coconut Oil : 1 Tablespoon
Mustard seeds /Sasive : 1/2 Teaspoon
Urid dal /Uddina bele : 1/2 Teaspoon
Curry leaves :  6 to 8
Coriander leaves : 1 Tablespoon ( Optional)

Method :

1. Wash and peel of the outer layer of bottle gourd./Sorekai.
2. Cut bottle gourd into very small pieces and cook with required water till soft.

3. Grate coconut and keep it aside. Wash coriander leaves and curry leaves and cut into small.
4. Keep a pan on the fire and heat. Add coconut oil, mustard seeds and urid dal.
5. Cut red chilly into two to three pieces and put it the seasoning.
6. Let mustard splutter. Add curry leaves and mix it once.
7. Add cooked bottle gourd pieces and jaggery. Mix it well.

8. Add turmeric powder (a pinch) and required salt. Let jaggery melt and mix it with the pieces.
9. Let all the moisture disappear completely. Put off the fire and add grated coconut.
10. Mix it well and shift the ready dry palya .curry to a serving dish.

11. Add coriander leaves on the top.

12. Serve with the main dish you have prepared. We had this curry as one of the side dish with our lunch.

Note :

You need to cook bottle gourd pieces till soft to get good taste. (Do not over cook).
Adding jaggery is optional. We like to add little jaggery in some of the dishes in Udupi style of cooking. Adding green chilly instead of red chilly is optional. Taste differ. No need to add more oil. Do not cook the curry after adding fresh coconut. Adding coriander leaves is optional.
Time : 15 Minutes
Serves : 2 to 3 
Purely : Udupi Taste /Karnataka /India .

Raw Mango Traditional Pickle / Kethe Uppina Kai

Raw mango Traditional Pickle  as we call it is one of the traditional dish done with raw mangoes. This pickle  is used as one of the side dish with dosa, idli, rice, curd rice and many more main dishes. This pickle can be prepared it quickly.
It is so easy to prepare and we do enjoy eating with Ganji.

This pickle is so handy and it helps and eases our daily work . In South Canara in our homes we normally do not prepare chutney always. It has become a habit that we use varieties of pickles especially mango pickles. The varieties of mango pickle like, ಕೆತ್ತೆ, ಅಡುಗಾಯಿ, ಮಿಡಿ, ಹಿಂಡಿ, /kette, adugaayi, midi, hindi etc. Each type of pickle is yummy to taste and some last long at least for 2 to 3 years even.

This particular variety of pickle is done very easily and quickly. Normally when the raw mango starts this variety of pickle is prepared.
I have used raw mango, mustard seeds, coconut oil, and  red chilly powder.
I have used two  big raw mangoes.
Let us see the recipe

Things needed :

Raw mango : 2 :Big size
Mustard seeds : 2 Tablespoons
Salt : 5 to 6 Tablespoons
Chilly Powder : 3 to 4 Tablespoons
To Season/Temper :
Coconut Oil : 1 Tablespoon
Mustard seeds : 1 Teaspoon
Ingh /Asafoetida : A pinch

Method :

1. Wash and wipe mango with clean towel. Leave it for a few minutes.
2. Peel off the green outer layer and cut mango into very small pieces.
3. Take a big bowl and put mango pieces and salt. Mix it well and leave it for a day.
4. Now keep a pan on the fire and put a glass of water. Put a handful of salt and boil till it reduces to half.
5. Add salt water from the mango you have dipped. Let it boil for a minute. Put the cut mango pieces to boiling salt water and put off the fire. Let it cool.
6. Grind mustard seeds and chilly powder with cooled salt water. Let mustard seeds turn as paste.
7. Remove it from mixi jar and mix it with mango pieces. \

8. Let the ground paste and mango pieces mixes well.
9. Add coconut oil, mustard seeds and ingh/Asafoetida seasoning and mix it nicely.

10. Let it cool completely. Store it in a glass bottle and use it as you like. Better to store in fridge.

Note

Remember that to wipe mango nicely and then use it. Adding more oil, chilly powder is optional.
Use of coconut oil is optional.
Any brand of chilly powder is optional. I have used MTR red chilly powder.
Time : 20 Minutes.
Serves : Depends upon the servings.

Ondelaga /Gotu Kola / leaves Chutney

We South Indians like chutneys. Chutney goes well with all the main dishes.

It is one of the healthy habit to eat chutney with lunch /breakfast or snacks. Chutney is prepared using coconut/dals, vegetables etc. Here is a healthy chutney prepared using Ondelaga.

Ondelaga /Gotukola is also known as Brahmi leaves.

Ondelaga is called in different names in different language.

Botanical name for Ondelaga is Centella Asiatica and other names are Indian Pennywort and Asiatic Pennywort. In Kannada these leaves are called as Ondelaga/ Uraga / Brahmi leaves.

In Telugu it is known as Saraswathi Akku, Tamil: Vallari Kirai, in Marati it is called as Karivan / Karivana. In Gujarathi is Khanda Brahmi , In Bengali it is known as Tulkudi adn in Hindi it is known as Bensag Brahmi.
Ondelaga leaves and benefits :
Ondelaga leaf is one of the medicinal herb which is also used in cooking. It is used as a memory enhancer. It contain antioxidants and regulates the blood sugar levels in diabetic people. Ondelaga has cooking property and it helps to keep the mind calm and free from anxiety. It also helps to sleep well. It is normally said that eating Ondelaga helps to improve our memory and good for children. The shape of the leaf is just like our cerebellum and it helps in controlling concentration and memory. Ondelaga leaf helps in rebuilding brain tissues by influencing the brain cells. It helps in building strong immunity in our body.
These Ondelaga Leaves are used in hair oil and is good for strong healthy hair.
Please note  do not consume these leaves in big quantity, it might cause headache, giddiness.
Let us see the recipe now :
Do not fry these leaves much in oil. So that the medicinal value in the leaf will retain its properties in them.
Ondelaga/Gotukola  leaves chutney goes well with all the main dish. Yummy taste with hot rice and a teaspoon of ghee, goes well with dosas and idli also.
It is simple and healthy and anyone can try this chutney. You do get these Ondelaga Leaves in most of the market.
Tip : Handful of Ondelaga leaves are more than enough to use for 1 time. Do not eat regularly.  Once in a week or twice a week will be ok.
These Ondelaga Leaves are from Our home. We have planted them in a small pot. They grow plenty within no time.
Lets see the recipe now :

Things Needed :

Ondelaga /Gotukola Leaves : 1 Handful
Urid dal : 1 Tablespoon
Red chilly : 4 to 5
Curry Leaves : 5 to 6
Ingh /Asafoetida : A little
Tamarind  : Small marble size
Fresh grated coconut : 1 Cup ( 1/2 of one small coconut)
Salt : As required
To Season/temper
Coconut Oil : 1 Teaspoon
Mustard seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon
Ingh /Asafoetida : A little
Curry Leaves : 5 to 6

Method :

1. Wash and keep aside Ondelaga leaves and curry leaves.

2. Grate coconut and keep it aside.
 3. Keep a small pan on the fire and heat. Add oil. Let it get heated.
4. Add urid dal and fry till they turn golden brown. Remove fried urid dal to a plate.
5. Add red chilly and fry nicely. Let it get crunchy. Add ingh and curry leaves. Put off the fire.
6. Add grated coconut, ondelaga leaves and mix it well. Let it cool.

7. Now grind all the ingredients required salt, tamarind and required water til it turns your desired consistency.
8. Remove from the mixi jar and put it in a serving bowl. Add tempered mustard and curry leaves.

9. Serve with the main dish of your choice.

10.We had Ondelaga /Gotukola Leaves chutney with Hot plain rice with ghee. NO need to say it was Yummmmmmmy..

Note:

There are two varieties of Ondelaga Leaves.
Type 1 : The leaf is small and thin. You can use the stem also in this type of leaf.

Type : 2 : The leaf is thick, darker than the local variety. It is hybrid leaf. Remove the stem and then use it. The stem is bit hard and it does not grind into paste. I have used these Ondelaga leaves from our garden

Ondelaga leaves are also known as brahmi leaves. It is always better not to cook this leaves. You can also use these leaves like coriander leaves, putting it on the top. Cut into very thin pieces. I have seen in Cambodia ppl use this leaves even on the top of Pizza. ( As they are one or two whole leaves kept on the top of Pizza while serving). Use of more chilly is optional. Use of byadagi chilli is optional.You can use guntoor chilly also. ( The one who likes it very spicy). .
Time : 15 Minutes 

Serves : 2 to 3. 

Onion - Avalakki Uppugari

Avalakki Uppugari/Quick Avalakki is one of the very famous dish from Udupi and Dakshina Kannada region. Any time you can prepare this Avalakki and enjoy. 

I remember those days I spent in Udyavara near Udupi. My doddamma and doddappa had paddy field and they used to grow paddy, cow peas, horse gram, urid etc, etc,  etc. There were some workers staying in near by our house. My doddamma was  kind hearted woman who used to prepare breakfast for all the workers who come in the early morning for work. This Avalakki Uppugari is very famous and every one's favourite. My doddamma never used onions and instead of that she used to add more coconut. 

Avalakki Uppugari and a cup of Chai goes hand in hand at any time of the day.

Wherever you go or in many Konkani Hotels this type of Avalakki chat is available even now. (Even in small villages).

 I have used onions and little fried shavige (Sev). Thin Avalakki, coconut, jaggery and coconut oil's seasoning is added and that gives a yummy taste to Avalakki Uppugari.

Let us see the recipe now :

Things Needed :

Thin variety Avalakki : 2 Cups ( 2 Handful)

Coconut :  3 to 4 Tablespoons

Jaggery : 2 Teaspoons

Salt : A little ( As required )

Rasam Powder : 1 Teaspoon

Thin variety of Sev : 1/2 Cup/5 to 6 Tablespoons

Seasoning :

Coconut Oil : 2 Teaspoons

Urid dal : 1/2 Teaspoon

Mustard Seeds : 1 Teaspoon

Red chilly ( Byadagi ) : 1 

Curry Leaves : 6 to 8 or little more leaves 

Method :

1. Clean thin Avalakki/Poha/ Aval and keep it aside.

2.Grate fresh coconut and keep it aside.

3. Remove the outer layer of onion and cut into small pieces.

4. Take a big bowl, add grated coconut, cut onions, rasam powder, salt and jaggery. 

5. Mix all the ingredients and add avalakki and mix it well.

6. Keep a pan add coconut oil, mustard seeds and urid dal. Cut red chilly into 2 to pieces and add.

7. Let mustard seeds splutter. Add curry leaves and put off the fire.

8. Add this seasoning to ready Avalakki mixture. Mix it well nicely with hand.

9. Put it in a serving dish and add little Sev on the top and serve.

Note :

This Avalakki should be served as soon as you prepare it. Or it turns soft and onion added avalakki is not good for health. Adding onion is optional. It adds to the taste. Adding grated carrots is optional. I have not added. You should use fresh coconut. It adds to aroma and softens the avalakki. Adding Sev is optional. You can add roasted groundnuts. 

Time : 10 Minutes 

Serves : 2 to 3.