Basale & Black Eye Bean Curry

Basale /Malabar leaves are very popular and loaded with vitamins and minerals. They grow plentiful even in pots. We have planted Basale in many small pots and do cut and make use of it very often. Eating the same type of curry, one really gets tired and bored. So while making use of the leaves I try to do give little twist with different taste and get the good result out of it. Here is one such recipe.

Lets see some benefits of eating Black Eye Bean in our diet.
Black Eye bean contain high amount of fiber. Fiber is a nutrient that helps to regulate our digestive system, eases constipation and irritable bowel syndrome. Fiber helps to control cholesterol levels and good for people who wants to control their weight. Black Eye Bean is loaded with Potassium and potassium helps in controlling our blood pressure. They also support and strengthen our muscles and bones. They are low in fat and calories. They contain good amount of protein and Iron.
Basale & Black Eye Bean Curry do not contain any onion or garlic.
Baslae/Malabar leaves, dil leaves and Tomatoes are from our home garden.

Ingredients :

To Cook :
Black Eye Bean : 1 Cup
Basale Leaves : 1 Bundle
Dil Leaves : 1 Handful (optional)
Tomatoes : 4 to 5 (Raw tomatoes)
To Fry : 
 Methi Seeds : 1/4
Channa Dal : 1 Tablespoon
Coriander Seeds : 2 Tablespoons
Jeera : 1/2 Teaspoon
Red chilly : 6 to 8
Ingh :Asafoetida : a little
Curry leaves : 5 to 6
Oil : 1 Teaspoon
To Grind :
Coconut : 1/2 Cup
Tamarind : a small marble size
Fried spices along with fresh coconut
To Add
Coriander leaves : 1 Tablespoon
Methi seeds : 1/4 Teaspoon.
Salt : as required

Method :

1. Wash and cut basale/malabar leaves, dil leaves, Tomatoes in to small and cook till they turn soft. (Use 1/2 cup of water).

2. Wash and cook black eye bean and pressure cook with a cup of water and allow it to cool. (for  8 minutes).

3. Grate coconut and keep it aside.
4. Keep a small pan on the fire and heat. Add oil, methi seeds (1/4 teaspoon) and fry till they turn brown.
5. Add channa dal, red chilly and fry nicely till dal turn golden brown. Add coriander seeds and fry for 10 seconds.

6. Add ingh, jeera and curry leaves and put off the fire. Let fried ingredients cool.
7. Now grind coconut and fried spices till paste. Add little water to grind.

8. Keep a big pan and put cooked leaves, black eye beans and mix it well. Add a pinch of turmeric powder.
9. Add Salt and cook for 2 to 3 minutes. Add ground paste, raw methi seeds (1/4 Teaspoon) and mix it well.

10. Let it cook for 3 to 4 minutes. Now shift the curry to a serving dish and add coriander leaves on the top.

11. Basale/Black Eye Bean curry is ready to serve.
12. Serve with the main dish you have prepared.(Rice, chapati, roti, dosa or idli).

Note : 

Channa dal is added to thicken the curry. (It gives a good aroma too). Adding raw methi seeds helps to lower the cholesterol content in the curry. Do not add more methi/fenugrik seeds. Curry may turn bitter. Adding onions and garlic is optional. Just add cut onions and you can fry garlic and then add it to the curry. Garlic liking people can enjoy by adding garlic.Dals are not added in this curry. (Adding dal is also an optional. Baslae /Malabar leaves are not used during feast or festival. So you can prepare this curry with any other edible leaves which can be used on festival or feast or special days. You can soak black eye bean for 3 to 4 hours before cooking or you can cook straight . Wash it nicely and add hot water and keep it for 5 to 10 minutes and then pressure cook it for 8 minutes.
Time : 30 Minutes.
Serves : 4 to 5.

Palak Paratha (Green Spicy Chapati)

Palak Paratha is a healthy dish. It is a main dish and we can have them for breakfast, for lunch or for dinner. Normally kids do not want to eat leaves. So here is a simple way that you can make them eat leaves. It is a healthy recipe and not much of spice is used here.
Palak or any other edible leaves are loaded with iron and other minerals.

Lets see some benefits of eating Jeera /cumin seeds in our diet.
Cumin /Jeera seeds have wonderful flavour and aroma. They are loaded with number of health benefits. It is good for improving digestion. They are loaded with fibre and good for people who are suffering  from constipation. They are good sources of potassium and it helps to regulate blood pressure and heart rate. They contain anti inflammatory, anti bacterial and anti fungal properties and they are good remedy for cold and asthma. They contain good amount of iron, and are good for people suffering rom anemia. They also contain high amount of calcium good for women.
No onion or no garlic used in this " Palak Paratha ", and it is easy to prepare. A healthy paratha for all age group, easy to carry for the traveling, kids lunch box and even for the working people.

Ingredients:

Wheat Flour : 3 Cups
Palak Leaves : 1 Bundle
Jeera powder : 1/2 Teaspoon
Garam Masala : /12 Teaspoon
Coriander leaves : Handful (of a small bundle).
Chilly powder : 1/4 Teaspoon
Oil : 2 to 3 Tablesppon
Salt : as required

Method :
1.Wash and cut only the leaves of palak (spinach) and keep it aside.
2. Wash and keep coriander leaves aside.
3. Now keep a pan on the fire and put 1/2 glass of water. Let it boil.
4. Add cut palak leaves and let it turn slightly cooked. (1 to 2 minutes). Remove the leaves from the pan and keep the boiled water aside.

5. Let the palak leaves cool. Grind them with coriander leaves nicely till paste. (Do not add any water while grinding).
6. Put the ground palak paste in a bowl. Add salt, garam masala powder jeera powder and chilly powder. Mix it well.

7. Add wheat flour and use palak boiled water and prepare chapathi dough. Keep it for 5 minutes. ( Add extra water if it requires).

8. Keep the dough for 5 minutes and then divide the dough in to small ball size.

9. Dip a ball size of paratha and then roll it out like chapati.

10. Keep tava on the fire and cook paratha on both side by using very little oil.
11. Repeat the same with remaining dough and prepare parathas.

12. Serve paratha with cup of curd and the side dish you have prepared.

Cooking palak is to get away the raw smell. Do not over cook. Cook with little water and use the extra water while preparing the dough. (Palak cooked water). Do not use more spices. Mild spice is always healthy. You can use little ( a tablespoon) ghee or oil while preparing the dough. It helps the and turns the paratha soft. Use of garlic or onion is optional. While grinding you can add garlic pods and thin cut onions can be added while mixing the flour. (Completely optional). The taste differ. You can add jeera seeds instead of jeera powder. (Jeera powder helps the paratha to roll well and you can not see any spice on the top).
Time : 20 minutes
Serves : 4 .