Kesu / Colocasia Spicy Palya.

Kesu /Colocasia Spicy Palya is one of the traditional dish that goes well with plain rice and coconut oil.

 In South Canara, the use of kesu is often tried with varieties of dishes. This is one of the dish that every one likes and when you are looking for some thing spicy, traditional, quick dish that helps as one of the side dish.
Colocasia or Kesu leaves are good for keeping our body warm. They are filled with fibers. Leaves are good to have since they are loaded with nutritious value.

Kesu /Colocasia Spicy Palya is one of the traditional dish from Udupi / South Canara.

No Onion or No Garlic is used in this Kesu / Colocasia Spicy Palya.

Ingredients :

Kesu Leaves : 10 to 15 : Small and medium sized
Raw Rice : 1/2 Cup
Methi /Fenugrik Seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon
Coriander Seeds : 2 to 3 Tablespoons
Jeera /Cumin Seeds : 1 Teaspoon
Red chilly : 6 to 8
Tamarind : 1/2 Lemon size
Salt : As required
Turmeric powder : A pinch
Ingh / Asafoetida : A pinch

Method :

1. Wash and soak raw rice and methi seeds for 10 to 15 minutes.

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

3. Add soaked rice and grind it like rava consistency.

4. Add salt and churn for a few seconds.
5. Remove it from the mixi jar and keep it aside.
6. Now wash and clean Kesu /Colocasia leaves. Remove the stem part if it is hard.
7. Cut it into very small pieces.

8. Keep a pan on the fire and heat. Add 2 to 3 tablespoons of oil.
9. Add mustard seeds and urid dal. Let mustard seeds splutter.  Add ingh and a few curry leaves.

10. Put cut Kesu leaves and stir slowly.

11. Spread them evenly. Add ground rice - spice mixture like dosa batter on the top of the leaves.
12. Sprinkle some water on the top and cover. Cook on low flame for 5 to 8 minutes.

13.Now remove the cover and mix it slowly. Let cooked leaves and the batter mix well.

14. Cook on low flame till it is done. Add little oil on the top. ( 1 Tablespoon ).

15. Shift the Kesu /Colocasia Spicy Palya to a serving dish and serve.

Note :

Use a thick bottom pan to prepare this dish. Let the flame be low and medium while cooking this dish. Do not use so much water while grinding. Let the batter be like rotti consistency. Sprinkle some water on the top while it is cooking. You can repeat the process of sprinkling water on the top at least 4 to 5 times. So that it does not get burnt. Low flame helps the dish to cook well. Do not add any jaggery. It should be only khara/spicy and slightly savoury.
Time : 30 Minutes
Serves : 2 to 3.

Maavina Kayi Hindi / ಹಿಂಡಿ./chutney

This Mango Tokku is very easy to prepare and you can keep them in fridge for a long time. 

 I got some mangoes from my relatives and was lazy to prepare pickle. The nest day I remember and saw it has turned bit yellowish but it was hard and I could try this Mango chutney /tokku which is very easy and you can keep this tokku in the fridge for a long time.

This Mango Chutney is prepared during the end of Mango season. Now we can see raw mangoes in some shops these days. 

This type of tokku is prepared at my aunt's house. No need to be boiled or cooked. Raw mangoes are used to this chutney and it is called as Hindi /ಹಿಂಡಿ. 

Let us see the recipe now :

Things Needed :

Raw Savoury Mangoes : 2 

Red chilly powder : 2 to 3 Tablespoons

Salt : 2 Tablespoons

Mustard seeds : 1 Tablespoon

Methi Seeds : 1 Teaspoon

Ingh/ Asafoetida : A little 

Oil : 2 Tablespoons 

To Season : 

Coconut Oil : 1 Tablespoon

Mustard seeds : 1Teaspoon

Ingh/Asafoetida : A little 

Method :

1. Remove the outer layer of mango and cut into small pieces.

2. Put salt and mix it well.

3. Dry roast methi seeds until it turns golden brown.

4. Dry grind mustard seeds and methi seeds and keep it aside.

5. Now grind cut mangoes with salt, red chilly powder, ingh and powdered mustard and methi seeds.

6. Do not add any water while grinding. You can use dry grinder /chopper.

7. Add a little turmeric powder and grind it. 

8. Let all the ingredients turn soft and completely fine.

9. Remove it from the mixi jar and add seasoned mustard seeds and ingh with coconut oil.

10. Leave it in a bowl till it is cooled and then store it in a glass bottle. ( Clean the bottle nicely before you put Hindi in to it). 

Note : 

Do not add any water while grinding.  Mangoes should be cleaned in dry clothes nicely before using it. Adding more chilly powder is optional. Use of savoury mango is must. Keep this mango chutney in a fridge to save for more days. I have used MTR Chilly Powder. 

You can add mango chutney to prepare Mango Chitranna. 

Time : 30 Minutes

Serves as you use it.

Udupi Style Lady's Finger Curry /ಬೆಂಡೆಕಾಯಿ ಹುಳಿ

Lady finger/Bendekai /bendi is one of the wonderful vegetable that most of us like to eat. It has got loads of nutrients and medicinal values. This Lady Finger Curry is one of the traditional dish that prepared regularly in Udupi homes. These Bendekai/Lady's finger is brought all the way from Udupi.

Recently I had been to Udupi/Udyavara for my aunt's one year rituals. The time one year has already passed but she is in our heart  and will remain as such sweet memory.
Udupi  car street was full of life because of Shri Krishna Janmastami/Gokulastami festival and the whole Udupi is lightened up. People were busy buying the things they want for the next day festival. Loads and loads of vegetables and fruits, flowers all over around car street. We had been for lunch in Bhojana Shale as Saturday lunch is so auspicious. God bless one and all. While coming back to Udyava/sister's house, we got this Ooru Bendekai/Lady's finger grown around Udupi and Mangalore.
I have used Bendekai, tamarind, jaggery and some simple spices.
This is one of the traditional dish from Udupi.
No Onion OR Garlic is used in this Lady's Finger Curry.
Let us see the recipe now :

Ingredients :

To Cook :
Lady's Finger /Bendekai : 5 to 6
Tamarind pulp : 2 Tablespoons
Jaggery : 1 Teaspoon
Salt : As required
Turmeric powder : A pinch
Green chilly : 1
To Grind :
Coriander seeds : 2 Tablespoons
Jeera/ Cumin seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon
Red byadagi chilly : 4 to 5
To Season :
Oil : 1 Tablespoon
Mustard seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon
Ingh : A pinch
Curry Leaves : 6 to 8

Method : 

1. Soak marble size of tamarind in warm water and squeeze out the pulp. Keep the pulp aside.
2. Wash and clean the bendekai/Lady's finger and just wipe out the moisture from each lady's finger.
3. Cut lady's finger into small pieces ( an inch ) and keep it aside.

4. Put tamarind pulp in a pan and keep it on the fire.
5. Add salt, turmeric powder and a small piece of jaggery. Let it boil nicely.

6. Keep another pan on the fire, add mustard seeds and let mustard seeds splutter.
7. Add curry leaves and fry for 2 to 3 seconds.
8. Add lady's finger now and fry on low flame for 4 to 5 minutes on medium and low flame.

9. Now add this fried lady's finger pieces to tamarind water. Cook for 5 to 6 minutes.
10. Let Lady's finger turn slightly fried.

11. Grate coconut and grind it with raw coriander seeds, cumin seeds and red byadagi chilly.
12. Add required water and grind till paste. Remove the coconut mixture from the mixi jar.

13. Now add ground coconut mixture to cooked lady's finger and mix it well. Add slit green chilly.

 14. Add required water and mix it well. Let it boil on medium flame. Add salt if required.
Stir in between so that it does not get burnt at bottom.

  15. Shift Lady's finger curry to a serving dish and add cut coriander leaves.
16. Serve with the main dish you have prepared.

 Note : 

Do not cut lady's finger when they have moisture on them. Wash it nicely and then clean it with a clean dry towel.
Fry lady's finger pieces nicely in little oil and then add / prepare curry of your choice.
Boil tamarind water with salt and turmeric and then add lady's finger pieces and then cook, so that you will not get sticky substance or your curry will not turn as sticky content.
Adding handful of cooked toor dal helps the curry to bind with coconut mixture or use little more coconut to get the thick curry. I have used a handful of cooked dal to this curry.
Adding more /less chilly is optional.
Adding jaggery to the curry is optional. It helps to avoid gas formation in the curry.
Do not roast or fry the spices. This is raw spice curry and easy to prepare.
Time.: 30 Minutes.
Serves : 3 to 4.

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.