Quick Dal

One of the easy, quick and simple dal is cooked in pressure cooker here. This dal is yummy and good to have with all the main dishes. This dal is very helpful,  when are just back from a travel and just want to eat some home food that too with rice.

Here I have used Toor dal, tomatoes, green chilly, ingh/asafoetida, gorikai/clustered beans, ginger, turmeric, coriander leaves and little methi/fenugrik seeds. Cooked every thing in cooker and seasoned with curry leaves, mustard and jeera.
Let us see the Recipe Now :

Things Needed :

To Cook :

Toor dal : 1 Cup
Gori kai /Cluster Beans : 1 Small bowl. (1 Handful).
Green chilly : 2 to 3
Methi Seeds : 4 to 5
Tomatoes : 2 Medium Sized
To Add  :
Salt : As required
Coriander leaves : 2 to 3 Tablespoons
Ginger : Grated : 1 Teaspoon ( An inch ).
To Season :
Ghee / Oil : 1 Tablespoon
Mustard Seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon
Jeera / Cumin Seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon
Ingh : A little
Curry Leaves : 6 to 8

Method : 

1. Wash and cut tomatoes, cluster beans, and slit green chilly.
2. Wash and cook toor dal,cut cluster beans, tomatoes, dry methi seeds with required water. (Pressure cook).
3. Keep a pan on the fire and put ghee. Add mustard seeds and jeera.
4. Add green chilly once the mustard seeds splutter. Add ingh and curry leaves.
5. Add cooked toor dal - cluster beans mixture and mix it nicely.(Smash it nicely).
6. Add little turmeric powder and required salt. Mix it well. Add grated ginger.

7.Let it boil nicely. Add cut coriander leaves and shift the dal to a serving bowl.

8. Quick Dal is ready to serve.

Note :

You can use palak, harive/amaranth leaves instead of cluster beans. Adding more chilly is optional.
Use of oil instead of ghee is optional. Use of onions and garlic is optional.
Time : 20 Minutes
Serves : 2 to 3 .

Mooli and Mixed leaves Curry

Mooli / Radish and mixed leaves Curry is a side dish and is full of nutritious and cooked with fresh spices.

I have used palak / spinach, goli soppu /purslane leaves and mooli/ radish.
The leaves are from our home. We have put some plants in the pot. And we get fresh, organic leaves.

Let us see the benefits of Goli Soppu/Purslane leaves.
The scientific name of Goli Soppu/Purslane leaf is Portulaca oleracea. The other names are pursley, pig weed or verdolaga.
Goli Soppu leaves are very low in calories and fats. They are rich source of dietary fiber, vitamins and minerals. Fresh leaves are rich in Omega -3 fatty acids and is good for heart health. The leaves are rich source of Vitamin A, It is rich in antioxidant and vitamin for vision. It is good for skin health and heart health. It is rich in vitamin C and some B complex vitamins. They contain minerals like iron, magnesium, calcium, potassium and manganese.

Goili Soppu / Purslane Leaves.

Bimbli /Averrhoa bilimbi (commonly known a sbilimbi, cucumber tree / sorrel tree) is a fruit bearing tree of Averrhoa fimily

Let us see the recipe now :
No Onion or No Garlic is used in this recipe.

Things Needed :

To Cook :
Toor Dal : 1/2 Cup
Goli Soppu /Purslane leaves : 1 Bowl
Palak /Spinach leaves : 1 Bowl.
Mooli /Radish : 2 Medium sized
Slit Green chilly :2

TO Grind :
Coconut : 1 Cup
Coriander Seeds : 1 Table spoon
Jeera/cumin seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon
Dried Bimbli : 5 to 6 Pieces
Chilly powder : 3/4 Teaspoon

To Add :
Salt : As required
Coriander leaves : 2 Tablespoons

Seasoning with : 

Coconut Oil : 1 Teaspoon
Mustard seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon
Ingh /Asafoetida : A little

Method :

1. Wash leaves and radish and cut into small pieces. Wash green chilly. Wash coriander leaves and curry leaves. cut them into small.

2. Wash and put toor dal to a pressure cooker.
3. Add cut leaves, radish, a slit green chilly and little turmeric. Add required water and cook for 5 minutes.

4. Grate coconut and grind it with coriander seeds, bimbli, jeera/cumin seeds and red chilly powder
5. Add required water to grind.   

6. Keep a pan and add cooked vegetables and dal. Add required salt. Let it cook for 2 minutes.

7.Add ground spice - coconut mixture and mix it well. Add 3 to 4 methi seeds to it. mix it well and boil.

8. Let it boil for 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in between so that it does not get burnt.

9. Shift the curry to a serving bowl and add seasoning done in coconut oil with mustard seeds, curry leaves and ingh. Add cut coriander leaves.

Note :

Do not over cook the leaves and radish.  2 to 3 whistles will do if you are using pressure cooker.
You can also cook the leaves separately.  Adding raw coriander seeds and jeera adds to easy digest and adds aroma to the curry. Adding more dal is optional.
Time : 30 Minutes

Serves : 3 to 4 people.

Mixed Dal Rasam

Mixed dal Rasam is one of the simple dish and goes well with almost all the main dishes. It is full of protein filled and fiber rich Rasam.

I have used Channa Dal, Toor dal and moong dal here. I also used some tomatoes and green chilly with home prepared  curry powder.
Dal /lentils are filled with minerals and vitamins. They are rich in carbohydrates and provide energy to our body. They are rich in protein.
Let us see the recipe now :

Ingredients :

Toor dal : 1/4 Cup
Chana dal : 1/4 Cup
Moong dal : 1/4 Cup
Green chilly : 2 to 3
Ginger : An inch
Tomatoes : 3 to 4 ( Medium sized ).
Salt : As required
Methi seeds : 1/4 Teaspoon
Curry Powder : 1 Tablespoon
Coriander leaves : 2 Tablespoons
For Seasoning :
Oil : 1 Teaspoon
Ghee : 1 Tablespoon
Muster seeds : 1 Teaspoon
Jeera / Cumin Seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon
Ingh /Asafoetida : 1 Pinch
Curry leaves : 8 to 10

Method :

1. Wash and boil all the three dals together in a pressure cooker for 8 to 10 minutes.

2. Wash and cut tomatoes, curry leaves, coriander leaves and slit green chilly
3. Wash and remove the outer layer of ginger and wash it again. Grate it and keep it aside.

4. Keep a pan on the fire and heat. Add oil and mustard seeds. Let it splutter.
5. Add jeera and ingh. Add curry leaves. Add tomatoes and fry for a minute.
6. Add green chilly and cooked dal. Mix it well. Add little water if required. Add methi seeds.

7. Add salt, grated ginger and little turmeric powder. Let it boil for 2 minutes.
8. Add curry powder/rasam powder and mix it well. Let it boil for 2 to 3 minutes.

9. Add a tablespoon of ghee and put off the fire. Shift ready mixed dal to a serving bowl.

10. Add cut coriander leaves and serve with the main dish.

Note :

You can soak channa dal for 1 to 15 minutes. So that it cooks well and mixes well with other dals.
Adding any spice is optional. Adding any brand rasam powder is optional. Adding more green chilly is optional. The rasam should be bit thicker than rasam. It taste heavenly with plain rice. It goes well with chapatis and other main dishes.
Time : 30 Minutes
Serves : 3 to 4 .

Home prepared Spice /Curry Powder:

Fry 1/4 tsp of methi seeds till golden brown and add 1 tablespoon of coriander leaves with 4 to 5 red byadagi chilly. Add 1/2 teaspoon of jeera and a pinch of ing. Use 1 teaspoon coconut oil to fry. Dry grind this and add it to Mixed dal rasam. Fresh spice powder adds to the taste. 

1 time use

Raw Tomato Spicy Curry

Raw tomato Spicy Curry is mild spicy and goes well with all most all the main dishes.

These tomatoes are home grown. We do try and grown some of the easy veggies on the terrace in pots. Some time they grow nicely and some time some insects will spoil the whole plant. This Time we could get some large bunch of tomatoes and I decided to remove it when they are raw. I have prepared the spicy curry using these raw tomatoes and some cherry tomatoes are dipped inside the curry. Cherry tomatoes are given by our friends who stays very close to us and they do have a big space for gardening and work hard in their garden.
I have also used a handful of  ಹೊನೆಗೊನೆ ಸೊಪ್ಪು /Sessilis Joy weed/   Alternanthera sessilis. These leaves are grown plenty in our pots and it is said it is very good for health and keeps our body and mind cool.
Let us see the benefits of eating Honegone Soppu in our diet.
Honegone soppu ( In Kannada language) is known as Sessile Joy weed /Dwarf copperleaf /Joy weed in English. Garundi in HIndi, Kanchari in Marathi, Ponnanganni in Tamil. In Malayalam it is known as Ponnakannikkira and in Telugu Ponnagantikura. In Konkani - Koypa , Sanskrit - Matsyakshi.
Honegone Soppu/Sesssile joy weed is loaded with nutrients and lot of medicinal benefits. The leaves contain anti-fungal and anti bacterial properties. The leaves helps to soothe the wounds and helps in reducing the acidity level in our body.They help to improve our vision. It is good for people who suffer from night blindness. Eating its flower continuously helps to improve the eye sight. It cools down the body and strengthens the eye nerves and muscles and improves the vision power. It acts as the best medicine for eye disease. It is good for people who suffer from piles and helps to cure jaundice. It is good for treating hepatitis, chest cold, asthma and liver disease. It helps to regulate the nervous system and helps to reduce weight. It helps to cure infertility. It provides energy to diabetic people and maintain the blood sugar level in our body. It is good for hair care and helps in cooling the body heat, eye irritation, knee pain, white discharge. It also helps in getting back to good appetite.  It prevents headache due to summer heat and helps in boosting milk production in  breast milk feeding mothers.
No Onion or No Garlic is used in this Raw Tomato Spicy Curry.
Let us see the recipe Now :

Ingredients.

Fresh Cow Peas : 1 Cup
Toor Dal : 1/2 Cup
Raw tomatoes : 10 to 15 or little more. ( I have used small size tomatoes).
Honegone soppu/ Sessilis joy weed : One handful (Optional).
Spice powder  :  2 Teaspoons
Tamarind pulp : 1 Tablespoon
Salt : As required
Seasoning : 1 Tablespoon
Cherry Tomatoes : 12 to 15 (Optional)

Method :

1. Wash and clean Honegone soppu and cut into small. ( Tender stem easily breaks ).
2. Remove the pods from cow peas shell. ( Outer layer).

3. Wash and cut raw tomatoes into small.

4. Wash toor dal and put it in a pressure cooker. Put cow peas, cut Honegone soppu, tomato pieces.
5. Add little water and cover the lid. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes and put off the gas. ( Use weight).

6. Remove the pressure cooker lid and mix all the cooked mixture nicely. Soak marble size tamarind in hot water. Squeeze out the pulp and keep it aside.
7. Keep the cooked mixture on the fire and add l/2 cup of water. Add tamarind pulp.
8. Add salt, and little turmeric powder. Mix it well and let it cook for 2 minutes.
9. Now add spice powder/Rasam powder/Sambar powder and mix it well.

10. Let it boil for 3 to 4 minutes. Put off the gas.  Put cherry tomatoes as they are. ( Optional).
11. Shift the ready Raw Tomato Spicy Curry to a serving dish.

12. Add the seasoning with mustard seeds, ingh and curry leaves and serve with the main dish of your choice.

Note :

Do not pressure cook the ingredients for a long time. It might get smashed. And the curry will not be that good. Adding spice powder of your choice is optional. I have added home prepared spice powder. Adding more/less spice is optional. Use of coconut oil for seasoning is optional.
Time : 20 Minutes.
Servings : 3 to 4 .

Spice Powder : 

Dry roast 1/4 teaspoon of methi seeds, 1/4 Teaspoon of mustard seeds, 2 tablespoons of coriander seeds, 1/2 teaspoon of urid dal and 1/2 teaspoon of jeera/cumin seeds and 4 to 5 byadagi chilly.
Dry roast the ingredients separately till golden brown. Let mustard seeds start to splutter. It adds to the taste.
Dry grind it together once it is cooled. Try this spice powder and enjoy your curry with this spice powder.
One time Use only.

Quick Sambar Rice

Sambar Rice is a quick Rice dish with full of veggies. It is one of the Tamil Nadu people's favourite food that can be cooked quickly and easily.

Sambar Rice is filled with proteins, vitamins and carbohydrates. Veggies are full of fiber and vitamins. It is like a full meal and it surely fills our stomach.
Sambar rice can be cooked for one pot meal, lunch or even dinner. You can take this full meal for travelling or even to office. ( For lunch)
Let us see the recipe Now :

Ingredients :

To Cook :
Rice : 1 Cup
Toor Dal : 1/2 Cup or little less
Carrots : 2 ( Medium size)
Knolkol /Kohirabi/Navilu kosu : 2
Cluster beans /Gori kai/Chavali Kodu : 100 to 150 Gr.
To Dry Roast :
Methi seeds : 1/4 Teaspoon
Red chilly : 5 to 6
Urid dal : 1/2 Teaspoon
Channa dal : 1/2 Teaspoon
Coriander seeds : 2 Tablespoons
Jeera /cumin Seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon
Curry Leaves : 5 to 6
Ingh / Asafoetida : A little
To season :
Capsicum : 1
Cashew Nuts : 2 to 3 Tablespoons. ( 6 to 8 nuts)
Oil : 2 Teaspoons
Mustard seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon
Ingh : A pinch
Curry Leaves : 5 to 6 leaves.
To Add : 
Tamarind Pulp : 2 to 3 Tablespoons pulp ( Small marble size tamarind)
Turmeric powder : A little
Salt : As required
Dry ground powder
Seasoning 
Coriander leaves : 2 Tablespoons

Method : 

1. Wash and cut scrape out carrots and cut into small pieces.
2. Wash and peel off the outer layer of knolkol and cut into desired size.
3. Wash and remove the edges of cluster beans and cut into desired size.

4. Put them in a pressure cooker. Add washed toor dal. Add 1/2 Cup of water.
5. Pressure cook all the above ingredients for 2 to 3 minutes. Let it cool.
6. Wash and cook rice and keep it aside.

7. Soak tamarind in hot water for 5 minutes and squeeze out the pulp. Keep it aside.
8. Dry roast all the spices one by one on low flame and dry grind once it is cooled.

9. Keep a big pan on the fire and put cooked rice, vegetables with dal.
10. Add tamarind pulp and haldi/turmeric. Add salt and mix all the ingredients nicely.
11. Add water if required and let it boil for 2 to 3 minutes.
12. Add dry ground fresh spice powder and mix it well. Let it boil for 2 to 3 minutes. Wash capsicum and remove its seeds from inside. Cut it into thin pieces. keep it aside.

13. Keep a pan on the fire and add oil and ghee. Add cashew nuts and fry.
14. Add mustard seeds, ingh and let mustard seeds splutter.
15. Add ingh and curry leaves . Add cut capsicum and fry till the pieces turn golden brown.

16. Shift the ready Sambar Rice to a serving dish. Add fried capsicum and seasoning mixture to Sambar rice.

Mix it well and serve with papad.

Note :

Cooking vegetables separately helps to keep the veggies crunchy. Adding more chilly to Sambar rice is optional. Adding fresh spice is optional. You can use any brand of Sambar powder instead of home prepared sambar powder.
Time : 40 Minutes 
Serves : 3 to 4 .

Serves : 3 to 4 .