CABBAGE CHUTNEY

Cabbage chutney is a side dish. It can be eaten with plain or masla rice, chapatis, roti, dosa, idli and even you can spread on bread and have them. It is spicy and healthy. Easy and quick to prepare.

Lets see some benefits of eating Green chilly in our diet. 
Green chilly is low in calories. It is fat free and rich in nutrients. It contain Vitamin A, C and K. It is also rich in capsaicum. (a compound that is responsible for the pungency of capsicums). Eating spicy dishes with lot of green chilly helps in summer to cooling down of our body by sweating process. Biting a green chilly will help to dissolve blood clots and aids in digestion. It increases our metabolism my burning calories. It is a good medicine for arthritis. They contain rich amount of antioxidant. It also helps in eye health and immune system. It also helps a lot in blocking the cholesterol content in the body. Vitamin A will help in the health and maintenance of our bones, teeth. It promotes a good health in intestines.It helps us to keep away from wrinkles. It also acts as an anti inflammatory medicine for skin relate issues.
No onions or garlic is used in "Cabbage Chutney " and any one can try this chutney. It is easy to prepare and yummy to eat.

Things Needed :

To Cook :

Cabbage : 1  Bowl ( half of the medium sized cabbage).

Green chillies :2 ( Green chilly was hot and spicy variety).

Coriander seeds : 1/4 tea spoon

To grind : 
Coconut : 1 cup ( Use freshly grated coconut ).
Ingh : a little
Tamarind : a small marble size
And cooked cabbage mixture. 

Salt : to taste

For seasoning : 
Oil : 1 Teaspoon

Mustard seeds : 1/2 tea spoon

Urd Daal : 1/2 tea spoon

Ingh : a pinch

Curry leaves : 5 to 6 leaves

Method :

1. Wash and keep cabbage in normal plain water for at least 1 hour to 2 hours.
2. Wash it again and cut into small pieces.
3. Add 1/4 teaspoon of coriander seeds. 

4. Put cut cabbage, coriander seeds, a pinch of turmeric powder and salt in a bowl.

5. Pressure cook, cabbage, coriander seeds, turmeric powder and salt all together with littel water. (14 glass of plain water) for 6 to 8 minutes and leave it for cooling.
6. Grate coconut and grind it with cooled cooked cabbage mixture. Use very little water. (You can use cabbage cooked water if there is).

7. Remove from the mixi jar to a bowl and add mustard, urid dal seasoning with curry leaves and ingh.

9. Serve "cabbage chutney " with any main dish you have prepared.

Note :

You can use red chilly instead of green chilly. Using more/less chilly is optional. It is nice to have spicy hot taste with chutney. Do not add more water while grinding. More thicker is the better to taste. Adding garlic is optional. (Add it while seasoning). 
Washing and soaking vegetables in water (before using it ) helps to lesson the chemicals used while growing the vegetables. Just put them in a bowlful of water for at least 2 hours.
Time : 20 minutes.
Serves : 2 to 3

PADAVALA KAI ( SNAKE GUARD ) PALYA

Padavala Kai/Snake gourd is one of the healthy vegetable that should be used more and more in our cooking. According to Ayurveda, Snake Gourd / Padavala Kai is rich in medicinal values that helps to take care of our body system.

I have used Padavala Kai/ Snake Gourd, coconut, mustard seeds, red chilly powder etc.
This Padavala Kai Palya is one of the traditional dish of our Native Udupi. / Dakshina Kannada.

Let us see some benefits of eating Padavala Kai / Snake gourd in our diet.
Snake gourd / Padavala Kai helps to detoxify the body.  It helps to improve digestion and provide strength and immunity to our body. It helps to treat diabetes and good for weight loss. It is rich in protein, soluble fiber and carbohydrate. It is rich in minerals like phosphorus, calcium, niacin, thiamin, magnesium, zinc, protein and vitamin A, vitamin E, Vitamin D, Vitamin B6, Vitamin B 12, and Vitamin C. They are rich in anti inflammatory properties.
Snake gourd Juice/Extract can be used to improve your scalp disorders and dandruff problem. It is low in calories.
Snake gourd helps to improve your skin health. It is said to be packed with multivitamins and helps to grow skin tissues quick. It is also good for good complexion and slow down the aging process. It has cooling and healing properties in it, helps to soothe skin irritation and allergies.

Padavala Kai /Snake Gourd Palya is a dry curry and you can have almost all the main dishes with it.

This is one of the traditional curry from Udupi/Dakshina Kannada.

No onion or garlic is used in this curry.

Lets see the recipe now:

Things Needed :

To Cook :

Padavala Kai : 2  : Small size

To Grind : 

Coconut : 2 to 3 Tablespoons

Red chilly powder : 1 Teaspoon
Mustard Seeds : 1/2  Teaspoon
Tamarind : Very small / One pea pod size

To Season :
Mustard seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon

Urid dal : 1 Teaspoon
Curry leaves : 5 to 6
Oil : 1 tablespoon

To Add :

Coriander Leaves : 2 sticks

Jaggery : 1 Tablespoon .( optional ).

Salt : to taste

Turmeric powder : a pinch

Ground Spice Powder :

Method :

1. Wash and cut padavala kai into small pieces. Cook till they turn soft.

2. Grate coconut and dry grind  it with red chilly/chilly powder, 1/2 teaspoon of mustard seeds.

3. Keep a pan on the fire and heat. Put a tablespoon of oil. Add mustard seeds and urid dal.
4. Add curry leaves once the mustard seeds splutter. Add cooked padvalakai/snake gourd pieces.

5. Mix it well and add turmeric powder.
6. Add jaggery, salt and stir once. Let the moisture completely disappear.

7. Add ground mustard and coconut mixture.
8. Now mix it nicely and cook for 2 minutes.

9. Shift the curry to a serving bowl and serve with hot rice or your choice of main dish.

Note : 

The vegetable should be cooked till it is soft. You can add water if required. Add coconut mixture when the water dries up completely from the cooked vegetable so that palya taste better. Adding jaggery is an optional. Add a spoon of fresh ghee turns Palya more tasty.

Time : 20 minutes.

Serves : 2 to 3.