Chakkuli( Urd Muruku)

Chakkuli or Chakli is a fried snack prepared using rice flour as a main ingredient.
We in Karntaka/India call as Chakkuli in Kannada langurage. In TamilNadu it is called as Muruku. Chakli in Hindi and what ever we call this fried snack is liked by most of the fried lovers.

Chakkuli can be eaten at tea time, or as starter during the dinner or anytime of the day you can have chakkuli. Even you can pack some chakkuli for kids lunch box.
We can prepare chakkuli in many ways. I have done chakkuli with boiled urd dal and rice powder. Preparing this chakkuli is very easy.
Things Needed:
Urd Dal: 1 Cup
Rice powder: 4 cups
Butter: 2 Table spoons
Salt: to taste
Chilly Powder: 1 Tea spoon
Sesame Seeds: 1 Table spoon
Oil: 2 to 3 cups
Chakkuli Mould.

Method:
1. Roast urd dal and boil with 1 cup of water in the pressure cooker for 8 to 10 minutes. Leave it for cooling.
2. Keep a pan on the fire and heat. Now roast rice powder for 10 to 20 seconds will do. (Let the rice powder be warm). Leave it for cooling.
3. Take big bowl. Put cooled Urd dal. Remove the excess water and keep it aside, and smash in the hand nicely.
4. Add rice powder to the Urd dal mixture. Add salt, sesame seeds, chilly powder and 2 tablespoons of butter.
5. Mix it nicely. Use extra water drained water if only required and prepare chakkuli dough (It can be poori dough consistency)..
6. Now fill the chakkuli mould with chakkuli dough and close it. Roll chakkuli on the plate.
7. Keep a deep pan on the fire and heat. Add oil to the pan. Put chakkuli in the oil and fry them till crispy and take it out from the oil.

8. Repeat the same with the rest of the dough. Crispy Chakkuli is ready to serve.
9. Put them in a airtight bottle and close it when the fried chakkuli is cooled down.

Note: You can directly cook the urd dal with out roasting. Roasting dal will add aroma to the chakkuli. You can also add more chilly powder if you wish. You can also add jeera along with sesame seeds. Do not allow the prepared dough to be dry. You can cover the dough with wet kerchief or small towel. Do not refrigerate the dough. It may take more oil.

Avalakki Chitranna (Beaten Rice - Oggarane)

Beaten rice or flatten rice is known as Awalakki in Kannada. Awal in Tamil and Poha in Hindi.
I have prepared simple Awalakki Chitranna/Huli Awalakki as it is famous as.

I have used thick variety of awalakki, rasam powder, ground nuts and other simple spices.
Awalakki is also used during fasting and we can prepare many items, like Awalakki uppittu, gojjavalakki, avaalakki payasa, avalakki bisi bele bath, awalakki chitranna in many varieties. I have done Awalakki Chitranna in simple way and it easy to prepare and will be definitely loved by all. We can have this Chitranna for break fast, lunch or as evening snack and also can be prepared for dinner. Its healthy and tasty.
Things Needed: 
To Cook :
Awalakki ( Beaten Rice) : 2 Cups. (Thick Awalakki should be used)
To add :
Lemon Juice or Tamarind Pulp: 1 Tablespoon
Jaggery : 2 Tablespoon
Rasam Powder : 1 Tablespoon
Salt: to taste.
Coriander leaves: 2 Tablespoons
To Powder :
Sesame seeds : 1 Tablespoon
Coconut: 1/2 Cup
Turmeric powder: a little
To Season :
Mustard seeds: 1 Teaspoon.
Urd dal : 1 Teapoon
Oil: 2 Tablespoon
Ghee: 1 Tablespoon
Curry leaves: 10 to 15
Green chilly: 2
Ground Nuts: 2 Tablespoons.
Water:1/2 Cup

Method: 
1. Wash and cut green chilly, coriander leaves and curry leaves. Squeeze out the juice from the lemon and keep it aside.
2. Roast Sesame seeds for 1 minute and powder when it is cool.
3. Wash Awalakki nicely and put it in a big bowl.
4. Add lemon juice or tamarind pulp, turmeric powder, rasam powder, jaggery and salt to the Awalakki. Add 1/2 cup of water and keep it for 10 to 15 minutes.
5. Now keep a pan on the fire and heat. Put oil and add mustard seeds, urd dal. Let the mustard splutter. Add curry leaves, cut green chilly and ground nut. Fry ground nuts till brown.
6. Add soaked Awalakki mixture to the pan. Mix it thoroughly (Do this slowly) on the low flame. Add water if still required. Let all the moisture disappear. Add roasted powder sesame and rasam powder. Add coconut and mix it nicely again. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes.
7. Remove the cooked Awalakki and put it in a serving bowl. Add 2 spoons of fresh ghee and cut coriander leaves.
8. Mix it again and serve hot Awalakki Chitranna with a cup of curd.

Note: You can use lemon pulp or tamarind pulp, any of  one of them. Soak tamarind in hot water for 10 minutes and squeeze out tamarind to get the pulp. This way you can get good and quick pulp. Using ground nuts is an optional. Instead you can use cashew nuts. You can also use more jaggery if you like sweet taste or you can use it very less.
Serves: 3 to 4
Time: 30 minutes.