Cow Peas - Mangalore Cucumber Curry /Gasi.

Fresh cow peas are seasonal pods and they are very soft and tender when they are just plucked from its plant. Later they dry it and then store it to use as dry pods. We can use fresh pods to prepare many dishes and the dishes turn not only delicious, it is packed with full of proteins and nutrients. I have used Mangalore Cucumber/Bannada southekai along with cow peas and prepared yummy curry.

This curry is called as Gasi/Thick and spicy curry and one of the traditional dish of South Canara./Udupi , Mangalore. Malenadu region.

Let us see some benefits of Coriander seeds in our diet.

Indian spices are very famous even in our ancient period. We read about the exchange of spices to gold from foreign countries. Spices like cinnamon, pepper, ginger, cardamom, cloves, nutmeg etc were the most popular spices sold through Arab merchants from India to Europe and other parts of the world. Indian spices are famous even now. We Indians use many spices in our Indian cooking. The spices like coriander seeds, jeera/cumin seeds, mustard seeds, pepper pods, cardamom and the list is so big. The spices take prominent place in our Indian cooking. 

Coriander seeds are loaded with health benefits. They help to cure digestive disorder /indigestion, cure the conjunctivitis and some eye problems. They are good for preventing arthritis and rheumatism. They do help in curing abdominal pains and helps in curing anemia. They are good remedy for controlling diabetes. They are good for inflammation, diarrhea and controlling cholesterol levels in our body. It is also good for aches and cramps and helps in lowering the blood sugar in our body. Coriander seeds is loaded with Vitamin C, Vitamin A and Vitamin B1. It has good source of iron, calcium and phosphorus.

Do not add any onion or garlic to this curry.

 Cow Peas - Mangalore Cucumber Curry/Gasi is purely Traditional Udupi Brahmin's Curry/Gasi

 Let us see the recipe Now:

Things Needed :

To Cook :

Mangalore Southekai/Cucumber : 1 Bowl (1/2 of 1 Medium sized Cucumber)

Fresh Cow Peas: Alasande Beeja : 1 Small bowl.

Spices to fry :

Channa dal : 1 Teaspoon

Coriander seeds : 1 Teaspoon

Jeera / Cumin seeds : 1/4 Teaspoon

tamarind : Very small quantity. 

Red Byadagi chilly : 5 to 6 ( More /Less as you wish).

Ingh /Asafoetida : A pinch

Oil : 1/2 Teaspoon

To Grind :

Fresh grated coconut : 1 small cup/ 4 to Tablespoons

Fried Spices and required water.

To Add : 

Salt : As required

Turmeric powder : A pinch

Ground Coconut mixture

Coconut Oil Seasoning 

Coriander leaves : 1 Tablespoon

Method :

1. Wash and peel off the mangalore southekai outer layer and remove the pulp and seeds from it.

 (Some time it has bitter taste).

2. Cut southekai into small pieces and  and soak them in water. Grate coconut and keep it aside.

3. Remove the pods from cow pea's cover. Wash it and keep it aside.

4. Cook them with required water. Use a pressure cooker to cook. ( 3 to 4 Minutes will do).

5. Keep a small pan and put 1/2 teaspoon of oil. Add channa dal and fry till it turns golden brown.

6. Add ingh and red byadagi chilly. Fry for 1 minute. Add all the other spices like coriander seeds, jeera, and curry leaves. Mix it well and put off the fire. Add grated coconut to it. Let it cool.

7. Grind all the fried ingredients with a small marble size tamarind. ( Remove the seed if it has).

8. Add required water and grind it into fine paste. Remove the ground mixture to a small bowl.

9. Keep a big pan on the fire and put cooked cow peas and cucumber pieces. Add little turmeric powder.

10. Add required salt and mix it well. Let it boil for 2 minutes.

11. Add ground mixture and mix it well. Let it boil for 3 to 4 minutes. Stir in between slowly so that it does not get burnt.

12. Shift it to a serving dish and add mustard seeds, ingh, curry leaves seasoning done in coconut oil.

13. Add cut coriander leaves.

14. Serve Cow Peas - Mangalore Curry/Gasi with the main dish you have prepared.

Note :

You should remove the outer layer and the pulp from Mangalore Southekai because pulp contain bitter taste. Removing the outer layer helps the southekai to cook soft and good. Retaining the outer layer is optional.  Fresh fried spices adds to the taste. Use of pressure cooker to cook veggies is optional. Adding more /less chilly is optional. Do not add more channa dal, the taste will not be good and it becomes sticky sometime. Do not add more coriander seeds and no need to fry much. Soaking southekai pieces in water helps to remove the bitterness in them. 

Time : 30 Minutes.

Serves : 3 to 4 

Udupi/Karnataka /Indian Curry.

Alasande/southekai Kootu /Jeera Curry

Alasande /Cow Peas and Southekai /Mangalore Cucumber Kootu /Curry is one of the Udupi style dish and it goes well with all most all the main dishes. 

I have used fresh Alasande/ cow peas, carrots, Southekai/Mangalore cucumber and coconut.
No Onion or No garlic is used in this Kootu Curry. This type of curry is done during festivals, feast and some grand functions.
Let us see the recipe now :

Things Needed : 

To Cook :
Alasane /Cow Peas : 1 Cup
Southekai /Mangalore Cucumber : 1
Carrots :  2 ( Small Ones).
To Grind : 
Coconut : 1 Cup
Jeera/Cumin Seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon
Coriander seeds : 1 Teaspoon
Green chilly : 2 to 3
Tamarind : Tamarind seed size. (Very small)
To Add :
Ground coconut mixture
Salt : As required
Seasoning :
Oil : 1 Teaspoon
Urid dal : 1/2 Teaspoon
Mustard seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon
Ingh /Asafoetida : A pinch
Curry Leaves : 5 to 6

Method :

1. Wash and  pressure cook  cow peas and vegetables for 2 to 3 minutes. Let it cool.

2. Grate coconut and grind it with coriander seeds, jeera, green chilly and tamarind.

3. Keep a big pan on the fire and put cooked vegetables in it. Add salt, turmeric. Let it boil.

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

5. Shift the curry to a serving dish. Add seasoning and serve with your choice of main dish.

Note :

Do not over cook the vegetables. You can cook them separately. Adding more /less green chilly is optional. Use of coconut oil for seasoning is optional. No need to roast /fry any spice. Do not add much tamarind to this curry. Use of curd instead of tamarind is optional.
Time : 20 Minutes.
Serves : 3 to 4 . 
Purely South Indian Dish. 

Southekai Dose (Mangalore Cucumber dosa)

Southekai /Mangalore Cucumber Dosa is one more Udupi Special dish.  We have it with Jaggery. (Joni bella).

Uduipi is in the southern part of Karnataka and its quite hot since its on the edge of Arabian sea. (Coastal side). People have the habit of keeping themselves cool. The food too is depending upon the climate. It is always a mild and yummy food. I have a recipe here which is prepared using Mangalore

Southekai/Cucumber.

I have used raw rice, mangalore cucumber, liitle jeera/cumin seeds, pepper and little coconut. No need to ferment and you can have them with any type of chutney, sambar/curry or even plain jaggery.

Let us see the recipe now :

Things needed :

Raw Rice : 2 Cups

Mangalore Cucumber/Southekai : 1/2 ( Medium sized 1/2 mangalore cucumber).

Coconut : 1 small bowl.

 Pepper pods : 4 to 5
Jeera/Cumin seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon

Salt : As required 

Oil : 3 to 4 Tablespoons

Method : 

1. Wash and soak rice for 2 hours.
2. Wash and remove the outer layer of Southekai and remove the seeds and pulp.
3. Cut southekai/cucumber into small pieces. Soak the pieces in water for 5 minutes. Wash it again.
4.Grate coconut and grind it with rice and cucumber pieces. (Add very little water to grind).

5. Add jeera/cumin seeds, pepper pods and grind along with rice and cucumber.

6. Remove it from mixi jar to a bowl. Add salt and mix required water.
7. Dosa dough should be normal dosa consistency.

8. Keep a pan and heat. Sprinkle little oil and clean it with a kitchen tissue.
9. Take a ladle full of dough and spread it around the pan.
10. Sprinkle little oil on the top and let it cook. Turn the other side and cook for a minute.

11. Remove it from the pan. Repeat the same with remaining dough/
12. Serve hot Southekai dosa with side dish you prepared. We had it with jaggery and chutney pudi.

Note :

Do not add much water while grinding. Southekai provides the required water. If the dough turns watery add little rice flour and mix it. Adding coconut adds to the taste. This is one of the Udupi Special dosa and no need of fermentation. Soaking Southekai pieces helps to remove the bitterness if any. Dosa will not be so crispy or thin.
Type : South Canara 
Time : 2 hours + 20 minutes
Serves : 3 to 4.

Southekai - Jackfruit Seeds Huli ( Sambar)

Southekai/Mangalore cucumber/bannada southekai is one of the best veggie and it got its name tagged Mangalore Southekai, since it is grown mostly in South Canara/Dakshnina Kannada previously. ( South Karntaka). But it is grown in almost all over India now a days and it is one of the healthiest vegetable available in the market round the year.

I have used Jackfruit seeds with Southekai /Cucumber, which is very traditional curry that we have during Jackfruit season. Jack seeds are collected and dried in sun during the summer and kept for using it in a rainy season in our home during those days. ( The heavy rainfall has decreased these days :( )
Let us see some benefits of having jack seeds in our diet. 
Jack fruit seeds are good source of Vitamin B and it provides energy and keep our eyes, skin and hair healthy. It has antioxidant properties and prevent the damage caused by free radicals. The seeds contain minerals like zinc, iron,calcium, copper, potassium and manganese. Iron and copper helps to forming red blood cells and calcium helps in building strong bones. Potassium helps to maintain proper blood pressure levels and manganese helps to regulate blood sugar levels.
No Onion OR No Garlic added in this Soute Kai - Jackfruit Seeds Huli. ( Curry).
Udupi Special and Traditional Style . 

Let us see the recipe Now :

Things Needed :

To Cook
Southe Kai /Mangalore Cucumber/Bannada Southekai : 1 ( Medium size)
Jack fruit seeds : 15 to 20
Toor Dal : 1/2 Cup (4 to 5 Tablespoons)
To Grind :
Fresh grated coconut : 1/2 Cup
MTR/Maiya's Rasam /Sambar Powder : 2 Tablespoons
Tamarind : A marble size
To Add :
Salt : As required
Jaggery : 1 Teaspoon
Turmeric Powder :  A pinch
Coriander Leaves : 2 Tablespoons (Optional)
Seasoning :
Coconut oil : 1 Tablespoon
Mustard Seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon
Urid dal : 1/2 Teaspoon (Optional)
Ingh/Asfoetida : A pinch
Red chilly : 1
Curry leaves : 6 yo 8

Method : 

1. Wash and remove the outer layer of cucumber and cut into desired size. Soak the cut pieces in a bowl of water. It takes away the bitterness of soutehkai. (if there is ). Keep it for 5 minutes.

2. Smash jack seeds and remove the hard cover and wash them and cut them in to small pieces.
3. Wash toor dal and add jack seeds with required water and pressure cook for 8 to 10 minutes. Cook southekai pieces separately with required water.

4. Grate coconut and grind it with tamarind and rasam powder with required water. Remove it from the mixi jar.

 5. Keep a big pan and put cooked jack seeds, toor dal mixture,  soutehkai and add little water.
6. Add required salt, jaggery and turmeric powder. Mix it well and let it boil for for 2 to 3 minutes.
7. Add ground coconut and rasam powder mixture to the boiling southekai mixture.

 8. Mix it well and let it boil nicely for 3 to 4 minutes. Stir in between so that it does not get burnt at the bottom. Put off the fire and shift the ready Southekai.

9. Add coconut oil, mustard seeds, asafoetida and curry leaves seasoning to southekeai Huli.
10. Serve Soute Kai - jackfruit seeds Huli with your desired main dish.

Note :

You can cook toor dal and jack seeds together in a pressure cooker so that it cooks well.
Cook Southe kai separately till soft.
Use of any brand of rasam powder / sambar powder is optional. Home prepared powder is the best.
Use of any cooking oil is optional. I used coconut oil which is healthy and aromatic flavour.
Time : 30 Minutes.
Serves :  3 to 4.
Udupi Special .