Ridge Gourd Jeera Huli...

Ridge gourd/Heerekai is one of the best Indian vegetable which is full of fiber, minerals and vitamins. You can prepare so many varieties of dishes using Ridge gourd. I have prepared jeera huli/using cumin seeds and coconut.

Jeera Huli goes well with almost all the main dishes like plain rice, chapatis, rotis, dosa or idli. It is easy to prepare and a quick dish that can be done in 10 minutes. Ridge gourd jeera huli is one of the traditional dish from Udupi./Dakshina Kannada.
No onion OR No garlic is used here.
Let us see the recipe now :

Ingredients :

To Cook:

Ridge gourd : 2 .
Green chilly : 2 to 3
Ginger : 1 Tablespoon.( grated).
Coconut : 1/2 cup.
Jeera : 1/2 Tea spoon.
Salt: To taste.
To season : 
Mustard seeds : 1/2 teaspoon.
Urd daal: 1/2 teaspoon
Curry leaves
Coriander leaves: 1 Tablespoon. ( cut leaves).
Coconut oil .  1 Tablespoon.
To add :
Methi seeds: 6 to 8.
Turmeric powder:  a pinch.
Salt : As required

Method :

1. Wash and peel the edge of ridge gourd and remove the outer layer. (Outer layer can be used for chutney).
2. Cut ridge gourd into small pieces. Wash and cut green chilly and curry leaves. Wash and remove the outer layer of ginger and wash it again. Grate it and keep it aside.
3. Grind coconut, ginger, and jeera together adding little water to it.
4. Grind nicely till paste and remove from the jar. Keep it aside.
5. Keep a big pan on the fire. Put oil and heat. Put mustard seeds and urd daal
6. Let the mustard seeds spurt. Add curry leaves and cut green chilly and add cut ridge gourd pieces. 7. Add turmeric powder and fry on low flame. ( 1 to 2 minutes). Add required water and cook on medium flame.
8. Let ridge gourd pieces turn soft. Add required salt and ground coconut mixture. Mix it well and cook for 3 to 4 minutes.
9. Shift the ready curry to a serving dish, add coriander leaves and serve with your choice of main dish.

Note: 

Ridge gourd pieces should be cooked well. Adding a handful of moong dal to ridge gourd makes the curry thick. Taste different.
You can also add other vegetables like carrots, beans etc. No need to add onions or garlic.
The curry consistency should be thick. Adding more coconut makes the curry thick. Adding a spoon of ghee adds to the taste.
Time : 10 Minutes
Serves : 2 to 3 

Dideer Rava Idli

Dhideer means fast ...Rava idlies can be prepared immediately and it is easy to prepare. 
Rava idlis were first invented in Bangalore/Karnataka/India from one of the famous Hotel (Even Now) M.T. R. during 2nd World war. It is said that during war time the rice became scarcity and M. T. R, tried the idli, using Rava/Semolina. Thanks to them and it has come long a way and is world wide famous, healthy and yummy.

 I have used medium size Rava, curd/yogurt, cooking soda and little salt.
It is very easy and energetic, healthy and keeps you full for a long time.
Let us see the recipe now :

 Ingredients :

Medium size Rava ( Samolina): 2 cups.
Curd ( Yogurt) 1 Cup.
Green chilly : 2 ( small);
Coriander leaves : 3 Tablespoons.
To Season :
Oil : 1 Teaspoon.
Mustard seeds : 1/2 Tea spoon
Urd Dall: 1/2 Tea spoon.
Curry Leaves : One handful.
To Add : 
Salt : to taste.
Cooking Soda : 1/2Teaspoon.

Method :

1. Wash and cut curry leaves, coriander leaves, green chilly in to small pieces.
2. Keep a pan on the fire and put a teaspoon of oil. Let it heat. Add mustard seeds and urid dal.
3. Let it splutter. Add curry leaves and green chilly. Add rava and fry for 2 to 3 minutes.
4. Put off the fire and shift the roasted rava to a plate. Let it cool.
5. Take a big pan and add cooled rava, curd, required water, salt and mix it well.

6. It should be idli dough consistency. Let it rest for 5 minutes.
7. Wash and grease idli plates with ghee or oil.
8. Add cooking soda to ready idli dough and mix it well.
9. Put some water to idli cooker or pressure cooker and keep it on the fire. Let the water boil.
10. Add a small ladle of rava idli dough in greased idli plates.
11. Arrange them and keep it in pressure cooker and close the lid. Do not put weight.
12. Let it cook for 7 to 8 minutes. Remove the lid and take out the idli plates with idlis.

13. Sprinkle some water (normal temperature) on hot idlis and remove it from the plates.
14. Put it in hot box or a bowl. Serve with your choice of side dishes.

15. It can be served with ghee/butter, pickle, sambar and chutney.

Notes: 

Roast rava on low and medium flame till the raw smell disappear. Let it cool completely to add curd/yogurt. Or rava dough turns as very soft and idli will not taste good. Adding cashews is optional. Adding more green chilly is optional.You can also add grated carrots, capsicum and prepare vegetable idli. Do not add more cooking soda.
Time : 30 Minutes 
Serves : 3 to 4 
Type : South Indian style.