Jeera - Pepper Huggi /Khara Pongal

Jeera - Pepper Huggi/Khara Pongal is one of the quick, healthy and easy Rice dish. It is one of the favourite dish of many South Indians.

I have used jeera/cumin seeds, green chilly, ingh/asafoetida as spices and moong dal and raw rice.

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

Black Pepper is called as Kaali Mirch in hindi, nalla miriyalu - Telugu, Karumilaku - Tamil and Kari menasu in Kannada language. It is known as Kurumuluk in Malayalam.
Black pepper is known as king of spices. Black pepper is traded widely to other parts of the world,  even in ancient times.
Black pepper is used as spices and medicine.It is loaded with antibacterial and anti - inflammatory properties.Pepper helps in improving digestion, relieve cold and cough. It helps to boost metabolism. It helps in treating skin problems and weight loss. It is good for treating asthama, sinus, nasal congestion. Pepper pods helps to reduce memory impairment and cognitive malfunction. It is helps in treating Alzheimer patients and those who suffer from dementia. Very good for other age related problems. Black pepper benefits in easing gastric problems and peptic ulcers, since they are loaded with antioxidant and anti -inflammatory properties. It contain good amount of dietary fiber.
Black pepper is rich in minerals like manganese, copper, magnesium, calcium, phosphorus, iron, potassium and small amount of protein. It has good amount of  vitamins like Vitamin K, Vitamin B6.

No Onion or Garlic is used in this Jeera - Pepper Huggi/Khara Pongal. It is very easy to cook, it is simple, delicious and protein rich food.
Let us see the recipe.

Ingredients :

To Cook :
Raw rice : 1 Cup
Moong Dal : 1/2 Cup
 To Season :
Jeera/cumin seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon
Pepper Pods : 2 to 3
Ingh/ Asafoetida : A pinch
Green chilly : 2
Curry leaves : 6 to 8
Ghee : 1 Tablespoon
To dry roast :
Jeera /cumin seeds : 1/ 2 Teaspoon
Pepper pods : 5 to 6
To Add :
Pepper and jeera powder : 1/2 Teaspoon
Grated Coconut : 2 to 3 Tablespoons
Grated Ginger : 1 Teaspoon
Salt : As required
Water : 3 Cups of water.
Ghee : 1 Tablespoon
Cashew Nuts : 1 Tablespoon

Method :

1. Wash and cook raw rice and moong dal in a pressure cooker.

2. Grate coconut and keep it aside. Wash curry leaves and green chilly. Slit green chilly and keep it aside. Wash and remove the outer layer of ginger. ( An inch of ginger). Wash it again and grate it.
3. Keep a pan on the fire and dry roast pepper pods and jeera ( 2 minutes). Dry grind it and keep it aside.

4. Keep a big pan on the fire and heat. Add a tablespoon of ghee and put jeera, pepper pods and fry.
5. Add 3 to 4 pepper pods and 1/2 teaspoon of jeera. Fry them nicely for a few seconds and add green chilly.
6. Fry green chilly for a few seconds and add curry leaves. Add ingh.

7. Put cooked moong dal and rice mixture. Add required salt and ground jeera and pepper powder.
8. Add grated ginger. Mix all the ingredients slowly on very low flame. Let i t be on fire for 2 minutes.
9. Put off the gas. Add grated coconut.

10. Keep a small pan and put ghee. ( 1 tablespoon). Add cashews and fry nicely.
11. Add this fried cashews to ready Khara Pongal.
12. Serve with a cup of curd or coconut chutney with hot Jeera - Pepper Huggi/Khara Pongal.

Note :

Do not over cook rice. Adding more green chilly is optional. Adding more ghee is optional. It adds to the taste. Do not stir more . It might turn very soft.
Time : 30 Minutes
Serves : 4 to 5
Purely Karnataka Dish.

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.

Channa Dal Payasa / Kheer

Shravana the month of festival is here. It is a festival of nature. Naagapanchami , Nagara chowthi, Raksha bhandhan, Shri Krishna Janmastami, so and so many festivals in this month. It looks like almost all the days in this month people are busy with poojas, naivedya and pooja functions.

So every day you need to prepare some or the other sweet dishes for Neivedya to God/Goddess.
Here is one such sweet dish which is prepared for festivals, feast and other happy functions.
Channa dal/kadale bele payasa is one of the easiest dish which we can prepare and serve as neivedya.
I have used channa dal, avalakki/flattened rice, jaggery, cardamom and coconut
This Channa Dal Payasa is done during poojas, festivals and feast. It is cooked and then mixed with jaggery, coconut milk, cardamom, and avalakki./flattened rice. Some use cooked rice instead of avalakki.
This Channa Dal Payasa is one of the Traditional Dish from South Canara /Karnataka and we can prepare them for festivals, feast and parties.

Let us see the recipe now :

Ingredients :

Channa Dal : 1 Cup
Avalakki /Aval/Poha : 1 small cup./2 handful.
Jaggery : 3/4 Cup
Cardamom : 5 to 6 Pods
Coconut : 1 Cup
Salt : A pinch.

Method :

1. Wash channa dal and pressure cook for 8 to 10 minutes. Let it cool.

2. Grate coconut and grind it with cardamom pods. Grind it nicely. Remove coconut mixture  in a bowl. Wash avalakki/flattened rice and keep it aside.

3. Keep a pan on the fire and put jaggery. Add a cup of water and mix it. Let jaggery melt and it turns as liquid. Sieve it with a siever and keep it aside.
. Let it get cool. Strain it keep cleaned jaggery aside.

4.Keep cooked dal on the fire and put cleaned jaggery water to it. Add washed avalakki and boil.
Let it boil nicely. Add a pinch of salt.

5. Now add ground coconut mixture and mix it well. Let it boil for at least 5 minutes.

6. Shift Channa Dal Payasa /Kheer to a serving bowl.
7. Keep a small pan on the fire and heat. Put a tablespoon of ghee and fry cashews and raisins till raisins get fluffy.

8. Add this ghee fried nuts to Payasa/kheer.
9. Serve ready payasa after a lunch/dinner as desert.

Note :
Channa Dal should be cooked softly to get the best payasa. Adding coconut milk instead of ground coconut is optional.
Use of fresh coconut milk is a must to get good taste. Use of more/less ghee is optional.
Using coconut milk adds to the taste. You can use cooked rice instead of avalakki. (Optional). You can also use little raw rice grains while grinding coconut. It adds to the thickness of payasa.
Adding boiled and cooled fresh milk to Payasa , just before serving is optional. It adds to the taste. Do not add hot milk. Payasa might get curdled.
Time : 30 Minutes 
Serves : 4 to 5 
Purely : South Canara Sweet Dish.

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. 

Coconut Milk Ganji / ಕಾಯಿಹಾಲು ಗಂಜಿ / Rice Porridge

Ganji is a Kannada word for Rice Porridge. It is one of the staple food which keeps your body and mind cool. I have tried this Coconut milk Ganji/Kanji and it tasted superb. The fresh coconut milk ganji is yummy and healthy simply good. Try and enjoy one of the traditional dish from South Canara/Udupi.

In South Canara and around this Kayi Halu Ganji is prepared during Dasara festival at our home. Paddy which is grown is just right to harvest and just before the harvesting we have a custom to prepare rice ganji and samarpan to God. 

The custom we follow @ my aunt place is called HOSATU/ಹೊಸತು ಊಟ . In one of the Dasara day the freshly grown paddy with along with its plant is brought home ( One handful) by a male person of the house and pooja is done. The paddy grass/ಕದಿರು ಕಟ್ಟುವುದು is tied to a pole in the front of the home. A few paddy  husk is removed and add it to cooking ganji. Ganji is nothing but rice porridge. Rice is cooked with more water and eaten as it is. ( Without removing the starch). 

I have used coconut, Sona Masuri raw rice to prepare this Ganji, as we call it in our language Kannada/Karnataka/ India. 

Let us see some benefits of eating fresh coconut milk in our diet.

Coconut milk is one of the healthier saturated fat product. The fat is said to be easily metabolized by the body. It is anti microbial, anti bacterial and anti viral. Coconut milk is good for our hair and skin. 

Coconut milk is rich in vitamins and minerals. It contain minerals like iron, calcium, potassium, magnesium and zinc. It contain vitamin C and E. 

Coconut milk contain lots of fat and one should drink or use it in minimum quantity.

Let us see the recipe now :

Things Needed :

Raw Rice : 1 Cup

Water : 3 to 4 cups 

Coconut milk : 1 Glass. ( 1/2 coconut of small size coconut).
Salt : A pinch

Method : 

1. Keep water for boiling. ( 1 Cup Rice = 4 Cups of water. ( Raw rice : Sona Masoori )

2. Wash rice and put it into the boiling water and cook rice till it turn soft.

3. Grate coconut and grind it with little water. Remove from mixi jar and squeeze out the milk from ground coconut. ( Use a siever to take out the milk from the ground coconut). Keep the thick milk aside.

2. Grind coconut again with little water and take out the milk from it. ( Second time).

3. Let the rice cook till it is soft. Put off the fire and keep the rice bowl down. Add a pinch of salt and mix it.

4. Add fresh coconut milk and mix it well.  Leave it for 2 to 3 minutes. Shift it to a serving dish.

5. Now Coconut Milk Ganji is ready to serve.

6. Serve with pickle/Chutney, papad and ghee.

Note : 

Cook rice with exact amount of water. Do not cook ganji after adding coconut milk. Keep the ready cooked rice bowl down and then add fresh coconut milk to get the aroma and healthy properties.
Fresh grated coconut should be ground nicely with required water to get fresh coconut milk. Re grind the coconut mixture again to get the second quality of coconut milk. Do not add much water while grinding. The consistency of Coconut milk Ganji should be loose but not watery. ( It should not be running consistency ).
Time : 25 Minutes. 
Serves : 2 .