Almond /Badam Halva

Almond Halva /Badam Halva is one of the delicious sweet treat and I love to have it at any time of the  day. I am not a big fan of sweets but I always prefer to have this Badam Halva.

It is very easy and quick to prepare it. The taste is amazing when you do prepare at home.
The ingredients I used are almonds, sugar, boiled milk, ghee and Kesar/Saffron.
Posting this sweet dish for to note our son Rishikanth Got married to Kavitha Last week and We wish the newly wedded couple to all the best and lead Happy Life.
I also request all my friends to Wish  Rishi - Kavitha for their bright future.

Lets see the recipe Now :

Ingredients :

Almonds : 1 Cup
Sugar : 1 Cup or little less
Milk : 1/2 Cup
Ghee : 2 to 3 Tbs
Milk Powder : 2 Tbs

Method :

1. Soak almonds in hot water and remove its husk.
2. Grind almonds with milk to paste consistency.

3. Add 1/2 cup of sugar to a big pan and keep the pan on the fire.

4.Put ground almond - milk mixture and milk powder.

5. Add a tbs of ghee and stir it slowly.

6. Let the flame be on slow flame.

7. Stir continuously it it starts to leave the pan.

8. Add a tbs of ghee and put off the fire.

9. Mix it nicely and put it in a serving dish.

10. Serve as You Wish.

Time : 15 to 20 minutes.
Serves : As you like it.

Note :

Adding more sugar to halva is optional. Adding more ghee is optional. Take out the halva once it starts to leave the pan. Then add a tbs of ghee. Grind it till paste to get good taste. Adding milk powder is optional.

Carrot Uttappa

Uttappa is a puffed dosa with some vegetables or onion pieces. Here I have tried with carrots and the batter used here is idli batter. Idli batter has semolina instead of rice. I have steamed medium sized rava, cooled it and added to fermented urid batter. After preparing idli, the remained batter is used for preparing Carrot Uttappa.

Idli batter is slightly different from dosa batter. Idli batter has more urid dal and the  the rice used will be rava consistency.
Carrot Uttappa is good for breakfast, or in the evening or for dinner. Carrots are full of fiber and rich in vitamins and minerals.

1. RAVA - URID IDLI To prepare Idli batter please follow the link given below

Urid dal is full of protein and rich in fiber. South Indian breakfast is easy to digest, helps you be cheerful and keeps you energetic Whole day.
Let us see the recipe Now :

Ingredients :

Idli Batter : 1 Bowl
Carrot : 1
Chilly Powder : 1/2 Tsp
Ginger : 1/2 Tsp
Salt : A little

Method : 

1. Wash and grate carrot, remove the outer layer of ginger and grate it.
2. Mix carrot and ginger gratings, salt and chilly powder nicely and keep it aside.
2. Keep a pan on the fire and heat. Clean it with a clean kitchen tissue.
3. Add very little oil and put a ladle of batter on the hot pan.

4. Add some grating mix and put a tsp of oil on top.

5. Cover and cook on medium or low flame.

6. Turn the other side and cook for a minute.

7. Take out the Carrot Uttappa from the pan and serve with your choice of side dish.

8. Prepare the same with remaining Uttappa.

Note :

Rice Urid dal Idli batter link is given at the top. Please follow to get the good idli batter.
Use of oil is optional. Adding coriander and curry leaves is optional. I did not have the coriander leaves so could not add it. Better use less spice for good health.  No onion or garlic is added because it might cause acidity. I am not in favour of onions and we do not use much onions.
Time : 30 Minutes.
Serves : 3 to 4 .

Mango - Ginger Chutney

Now the season of mangoes are started. You can get good raw mangoes in the market. Here I have tried This Udupi style Mango  Chutney which is spicy and definitely You will love it.

Kota a small town on the way to Kundapura near Brahmavar. The people here are well known for their typical rural kannada speaking. Kota Brahmins are famous for spicy food.
The very famous MT.R and Maiyas group of hotel owners in Bangalore are from Kota and they do serve yummy, healthy food to the public.
I said all these about Kota and Kota brahmin, their spicy food because I have prepared Mango Chutney in the same traditional way.

Coming back to the subject of Mangoes or any vegetable in that matter, using the seasonal fruits and vegetables are very good habit and they are filled with natural nutritious properties in them.
I have used Raw Mango, very little dry ginger and byadagi chilly fried in coconut oil.
Use of coconut oil is very good for health. It keeps your body and mind safe.
In this chutney we remove the outer layer of raw mango and fry red chilly in coconut oil. (Only chilly).
Let us see the recipe now :

Ingredients :

Raw Mango : 1 Small one
Byadagi chilly : 5 to 6
Fresh grated coconut : 1 Cup
Ingh /Asafoetida : A little
Dry Ginger : 1/4 Tsp (Optional).
Salt : As required
Cooking Oil : 2 Tbs
Mustard seeds : 1/2 Tsp
Ingh : A little
Curry Leaves : 5 to 6 leaves.

Method :

1. Wash and remove the outer layer of mango and cut them into small pieces.
2. Fry byadagi chilly in 1 tsp of coconut oil. Let it cool.

3. Grate or cut coconut into small pieces and  Grind it with mango pieces, fried chilly, salt, ginger and required water. (Chutney should be thick, so use limited water only).

4. Remove the chutney to a serving bowl.
5. Season with mustard seeds, ingh and curry leaves and add it to Mango - Ginger Chutney.

6. Serve it with hot rice and little ghee on top.

Note :

Fry chilly nicely on low flame. Adding more chilly is optional. Adding ginger is optional. Ginger adds to the taste and is healthy. Removing the outer layer is a must to get good taste of the chutney.
Use of coconut oil is optional.
Time : 10 Minutes.
Serves : 3 to 4 People.

Quick Paneer Bites

Paneer is a milk solid and is filled with proteins. I have prepared quick bites using Nandini
Paneer. It is an easy, quick, simple and healthy bite.

I have used Nandini Paneer, chilly powder, jeera powder, garam masala and chat masala. Added a teaspoon of curd and mixed the spices and rolled the paneer pieces in spice mixture. Left that for rest for 10 minutes.

Let us see some benefits of eating Panner in our diet.

Cottage cheese /Paneer is rich in protein. It helps to strengthen our bones and teeth. It is good for improving our digestion. It also maintains the blood sugar levels in our body. It is a rich source of proteins, magnesium and folate.
Let us see the recipe Now :

Ingredients :

Paneer : 250 Gr.
Curd /Yogurt : 1 Tablespoon
Chilly Powder : 1/2 Tsp
Pepper : Crushed : 2 to 3 pods
Garam Masala powder : 1/4 Tsp
Jeera /Cumin Seeds : 1/2 Tsp
Chat Masala powder : 1/4 Tsp
Salt : As required
Cooking Oil : 2 Tbs

Method :

1. Cut Paneer into desired shape and size.

2. Take a big bowl and Put curd, salt, garam masala, chilly powder, Crushed pepper and jeera.
3. Mix all the ingredients nicely and add paneer. Slowly stir and leave it for 5 to 10 minutes.

4. Keep a pan on the fire and heat. Add a teaspoon of oil and place paneer one by on hot tava.
5. Sprinkle some oil on top and by the sides. Cook on both sides on medium flame.

6. Shift it to a serving dish and sprinkle some chat masala on top and serve.

Note :

You can add more spices of your choice. I do prepare dishes with mild spices. You should cook on both sides till golden brown. Cook on medium flame. Cooking the whole process on low flame will turn Paneer hard. Adding more oil is optional.
Time 20 Minutes. : All together.
Serves : 2 to 3.

Bottle Gourd Jeera - Pepper Curry

Bottle Gourd /doodhi/sorekai is one of the healthy vegetable and it has become very popular these days. It is filled with vitamins and minerals. It helps to regulate the blood pressure and sugar level in our body. It is filled with fiber.

I have used bottle gourd, moong dal, coconut, jeera and pepper.

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

Peeper has been used since ages and it is loaded with medicinal values. It is known as king of spices and we Indians do use in our cooking. It is high in antioxidant and helps to improve damaged cells in our body. It is loaded with anti inflammatory properties. It helps to improve blood sugar level. Pepper also helps in lowering the cholesterol levels. It is good for cough and cold. it helps in absorbing nutrients from the food we eat. It good for digestion. It is good for brain health. It is said that  it may help the brain health. ( Avoid losing memory).
No Onion or No Garlic Curry .
Let us see the recipe now :

To Cook :

Bottle gourd pieces : 1 Bowl
Moong dal : 1/2 Cup
Green chilly : 2
To grind :
Coconut : 1 Cup
Jeera /Cumin seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon
Pepper Pods : 5 to 6 pods
Ginger : An inch
To Add :
Ground coconut mixture
Tamarind Tokku : 1 Teaspoon
Salt : As required
Turmeric powder : A little
Coriander leaves : 1 Tablespoon
To Season :
Coconut Oil : 1 Tablespoon
Mustard Seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon
Ingh /Asafoetida : A little
Curry leaves : 5 to 6

Method :

1 Wash and remove the outer layer of bottle gourd. Cut bottle gourd into small  small pieces.

2. Wash and cook moong dal with required water.

3. Wash coriander leaves, curry leaves and cut them in to small pieces. Wash ginger and scrape out the outer layer. Cut ginger into pieces and keep it aside.
4. Prepare seasoning with coconut oil and add cut bottle gourd pieces. Mix it well and add water. Let it cook till the pieces are soft. Add little turmeric powder while cooking. Add cut green chilly.

 5.Grate coconut and grind with pepper, jeera and ginger with required water.

6. Now mix cooked dal and cooked bottle gourd pieces. Add tamarind tokku. Add salt. Stir slowly and mix the curry well.

7. Add ground coconut mixture and mix it well.

8. Let it cook on medium flame for 4 to 5 minutes. Stir in between so that it does not get burnt at the bottom.

9. Shift bottle gourd, jeera - pepper curry to a serving dish. Add cut coriander leaves.

10. Serve bottle gourd, jeera - pepper curry for lunch or as you wish. (with chapati or any other main dishes).

Note :

Cut bottle gourd in to small pieces so that it cooks quickly. Adding more chilly is optional. Adding toor dal instead of moong is optional.
Adding tamarind pulp instead of tamarind tokku is optional.
Time : 30 Minutes.
Serves : 3 to 4.

Pumpkin Mosaru Bajji

Mosaru bajji is a type of curry prepared using Curd or butter milk. Here I have prepared Mosaru bajji using pumpkin. It is an easy recipe and not much of preparation is needed. Try and enjoy.

I have used cooked pumpkin pieces, curd, seasoned with mustard seeds, ingh, green chilly and curry leaves.

Let us see some benefits of eating PUMPKIN in our diet.

Pumpkin is a type of winter squash, is filled with vitamins and minerals.
It is rich in antioxidant properties and helps to strengthen our immunity in our body. It is good for our eye health.It is low in calorie and good for people who are in diet. It is good for our heart health. It is rich in Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin B6 and Vitamin E. It is full of fiber and good for people who suffer from constipation.Pumpkin is filled with minerals like potassium, iron, copper and manganese. It is also rich in protein and good for our skin health.
NO ONION or NO GARLIC DISH.
Good to prepare during festival, feast, fasting or family get together.
Let us see the recipe now :

Things Needed :

Cooked Pumpkin pieces : 1 Bowl
Curd /Yogurt : 1 Cup
Salt : As required
Seasoning :
Coconut Oil : 1 Teaspoon
Mustard seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon
Jeera/Cumin Seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon
Ingh/Asafoetida : A little
Green chilly : 2
Curry Leaves : 5 to 6

Method :

1. Wash and peel off the hard layer of the pumpkin and cut into pieces.

2. Cook and keep it aside. Let it cool. Wash and cut green chilly. Cut in to small pieces.
3. Now smash cooked pumpkin pieces nicely.
4. Add salt and a cup of curd.

5. Mix it well and shift it to a serving dish.

6. Add seasoning done in coconut oil, using mustard seeds, jeera/cumin seeds,  cut green chilly, ingh and curry leaves.

7. Mix it and serve as one of the side dish.

Note :

Pumpkin cooks quickly so no need to use the pressure cooker. (Optional).
Use of red chilly instead of green chilly is optional.
Use of any cooking oil is optional.
Use of savoury curd makes Mosaru bajji tastier.
Time : 10 minutes. (Pumpkin pieces should be cooked already).
Serves : 2 to 3 .