WaterMelon Rind sweet Curry

Sweet curry is some special dish of Udupi/South Canara/ Dakshina Kannada. We do love to have this curry and it taste yummy. Normally Sweet curry is prepared using ridge gourd/Heere kai and snake gourd/Padavalakai . I have just tried Watermelon Rind for this authentic dish and it came our just fantastic. Watermelon Rind suits well for Sweet Curry.

I Have used watermelon rind(the white part), jaggery and coconut with very little spice. This curry goes well with plain rice, chapatis, poori, dosa and any type of roti.
Watermelon sweet curry has no onion or no garlic. 

Things Needed:

To Cook :
Watermelon Rind : 2 Cups.
To Grind 
Coconut: 1/2 cup. ( Fresh grated)
RawRice : 1 Tea spoon
To Add : 
Jaggery : 2 Table spoons.
Salt :To taste ( according to your taste).
Ground coconut mixture
Mustard seasoning.
Turmeric powder : a pinch.
For Seasoning :
Ghee : 1 Table spoon.
Mustard Seeds: 1/2 Tea spoon
Urd Daal: 1/2 Tea spoon.
Curry Leaves: 6 to 8
Red chillies : 2 to 3

Method : 

1. Wash and remove the outer layer of green part from the rind.
2. Cut the rind into thin pieces. Soak a teaspoon of raw rice in little water. Keep it aside.

3. Put them in the container pressure cook with very little water for 5 to 6 minutes. Let it cool.

4. Grate coconut and grind it with a spoon of raw rice/rice powder with very little water.

5. Now keep a big bowl and put cooked watermelon rind pieces. Add jaggery and salt.
6. Add Turmeric powder. Add ground coconut mixture. Mix it well and let it boil for 3 to 4 minutes.

7. Shift the curry to a serving dish.

8. Keep a small pan on the fire. Add ghee mustard seeds, urid dal. Let the mustard splutter.
9. Add red chilly and curry leaves and fry for 10 seconds. Put this mixture to the ready curry.
10. Serve with the main dish you have prepared. (Plain rice, chapati, poori, dosa, idli etc).

Note : 

The vegetable should be cooked well and it should be soft. Use of raw rice helps to bind the curry well once it is done. Adding jaggery is optional. More/Less. Using ghee to seasoning adds to teh taste. Must stir in between while the curry is boiling. Cook the vegetable until soft.  Stir nicely while its boiling.
Time : 30 Minutes.  
Serves : 2 to 3. 

Poppy seeds - Cool Drink (hasi Gasa-gase)

Poppy Seeds  Drink helps to cool your body and refresh you and helps you to be fresh whole day.
It is good for hot summer day. I have used poppy seeds, almonds and honey with fresh boiled milk.

Lets see some benefits of having Poppy Seeds in our diet. 
Poppy seeds/Gasagase/Khus khus is rich source of anti oxidant properties. They do have fatty acids and it is good for our body. Poppy seeds are rich in mono unsaturated fatty acids that help in lowering bad cholesterol and increases good cholesterol levels. They are rich in dietary fiber and good for people who suffer from constipation. They are rich in Vitamin B complex vitamins. Poppy seeds contain good amount of minerals like iron, copper, calcium, potassium, manganese and zinc.
Lets see the recipe now. Sugar is not added and it is an easy drink that anyone can prepare.

Things needed :

Poppy Seeds : 2 to 3 Tablespoons
Almonds : 10
Honey : 1 Cup (8 to 10 Tablespoons)
Fresh Boiled Milk : 1 Litre

Method :

1. Clean and soak poppy seeds and soak almonds in warm water.
2. Remove the outer skin of almonds and grind it with soaked poppy seeds.
3. Now remove the almond and poppy seeds paste and put it in a big bowl.

4. Add water and mix it well. Put it in a big bowl.
5. Add boiled and cooled fresh milk.
6. Mix ground poppy seeds, almonds with milk.

7. Add honey to it and mix it well. (You can use 5 to 6 tablespoons of Honey to 1 litre Milk). Adding more honey is optional. The drink should be mild sweet.

8. Poppy Seeds -almonds Cool milk is ready to serve.

Note : 
Do not roast poppy seeds. It is said that roasting poppy seeds might lose its healthy properties.
Grinding with almonds helps the poppy seeds turn as paste. Do not boil the mixture for a long time. Just one boil will do. Fresh milk can be boiled and cooled earlier. Do not mix Hot milk to poppy seeds mixture. It might curdle and milk may turn spoiled. Let it be cooled milk and cooled poppy seeds mixture. Adding more/less honey is optional. Adding jaggery instead of honey is also optional.
Serves : 8 to 10
Time : 20 Minutes.