Navane - Urd Idlies .- (Foxtail Millet)

Foxtail Millet is known as  Navane in Kannada, Thenai in Tamil and Korralu in Telugu.
Foxtail Millet is an healthy alternative to rice. It is gluten free food. It is rich in Protein and Iron. It contain calcium and minerals. It helps to control the blood sugar and cholesterol. It reduces the risk of heart attack. Navane is rich in anti-oxidants and ideal food for people, who suffer from diabetes and gastric problem.
I have used Foxtail Millet and Urd dal to prepare Idlies. These idlies are healthy in a way. These idlies can be eaten for breakfast, lunch, as snack or for dinner too. Navane Idlies are soft and fluffy and tasty too. All age group will definitely love these idlies and Its very good for morning breakfast or even dinner.
Things Needed : 

Urd Dal : 1  Cup
Navane (Foxtail Millet) : 2 cups
Salt : to taste
Water : required
Oil : 1 Table spoon

Method :
1. Wash and soak Urd dal and Navane separately for 3 to 4 hours.
2. Now grind urd dal till paste and Navane into Rava consistency.
3. Put ground Urd and Navane dough in a big bowl mix the dough together and add salt.
4. Leave it for ferment over night or 6 to 8 hours.( The dough has to rise).

5. Keep Idly cooker on the fire. Apply oil to idly plates.
6. Mix the ferment dough nicely and put a big spoon of idly batter into each mould in the idly plate. Fill all the plates with idly batter. Arrange them in the idly cooker.
7. Keep a idly cooker or pressure cooker on the fire. Put sufficient water and keep a plate or bowl upside down.
8. Now place the idly plates in the cooker and cover the lid and cook for 8 to 10 minutes.
9. Put off the fire and open the lid. Take out the ready idly from the plates

Add caption

10. Serve hot idly with a spoon ghee and the side dish of your choice

Note : Must take while grinding Navane. The Navane batter should be like rava consistency.
The batter should be ferment well. Navane is also called as Navane akki.Do not make the dough very watery. It should be like rice idly consistency. To remove the cooked hot idly, you can sprinkle little water on the top of idly plate. So that idly comes out quickly with out a cut and as it it round and fluffy.
Time :
Preparation : 10 Minutes
Cooking : 10 Minutes.
Extra time for Soaking, grinding and fermentation.
Serves : 4 to 5

Navane or  Fox Millet.

Navane or Foxtail Millet.

Pigeon Pea ragda Aloo Patties

Pigeon Pea or Togari Kalu will be available plenty during the winter. People make use of this pea and prepare varieties of dishes. Pigeon Pea is called Togari Kalu in Kannada.Pigeon Pea Ragda Aloo Patties. Ragda means mixed curry  and paties are prepared using potato and spices.

Pigeon peas have many good qualities like, it provides excellent source of fiber, protein and sodium. They are low in fat content and its ideal food for heart healthy diets.
Here is a recipe of Ragada Patties prepared using Pigeon Peas or Togari Kalu as we kannadigas say. Ragada means Sambar or gravy and patties which are prepared using Potatoes, or Green Bananas or even Sweet Potatoes too. This dish can be eaten for break-fast or as evening snack.
I am sure since its yemmy every one and all age group will love to eat this Ragda Patties.
One more dish is Usli using the same peas and prepared this dish and it has less oil and can be eaten at any time of the day. You can even use your creativity and prepare chat..with this Peas.

1.Ragda Patties.

For the Curry : 
Things Needed:
Pigeon Peas : 2 Cups
Onions : 3
Tomatoes : 2 to 3
Garam Masala : 1 Tea spoon
Jeera : 1/2 Tea spoon
Coriander seeds: 1 Tea spoon
Green Chilly : 1
Coriander leaves : 1 bundle
Ginger : an inch
Turmeric powder : a pinch
Salt : to taste
Lemon : 1/2 Rind
Oil :  1 Table spoons

For the Patties:
Potatoes : 4 to 5
Bread slices : 6 to 8
Curry leaves : 3  to 4 Table spoon
Salt : to taste
Jeera (Cumin Seeds) : 1 Tea spoon
Red chilly : 1 Tea spoon
Oil : 1/2 Cup

Method : to Prepare Curry 

1. Wash and cook Pigeon Peas in a pressure cooker with required water and leave it for cooling.
2. Wash tomatoes, coriander leaves green chilly and cut into small pieces.
3. Remove the outer skin of onions (2 onions ), wash and cut into small pieces.
4. Now Grind tomatoes, garam masala, coriander leaves, coriander seeds, jeera, ginger, green chilly  and  2 table spoons of cooked peas into paste and remove from the jar and keep it aside.
5. Keep a pan on the fire. Heat the pan and put 1 table spoon of oil.
6. Add jeera and fry for 10 seconds. Add cut onion pieces and fry till they are brown.
7. Add ground mixture and mix it well. Add salt, turmeric and grated ginger to the mixture.
8. Add cooked peas and stir well. Let the curry boil nicely. Add water if required.
9. Stir inbetween and boil for 3 to 4 minutes.
10. Now shift the curry to the serving bowl.

2. Aloo Patties : 

1. Wash and boil potatoes in a pressure cooker for 6 to 8 minutes and remove the outer skin of the potatoes when it is cooled.

2. Wash and cut coriander leaves.
3. Now take a big bowl. Put potatoes, coriander leaves and the bread slices, salt, jeera and red chilly powder.
4. Smash the potatoes nicely and mix all the ingredients nicely. Knead it well and divide the smashed mixture in to small portions.

5. Keep a pan on the fire. Put oil .
6. Take a small portion of the mixture and give a shape according to your wish and shallow fry or just cook with little oil on both sides.  (At time 4 to 6 patties can be cooked).

7. Repeat the same procedure and prepare the patties from the remaining dough.
Now Put a big spoon of Peas curry in a deep plate. Keep 2 to 3 Aloo Patties and put some cut onions on the top and serve.

Note : See that the curry is piping hot. You can add or lesson the spices (chilly) according to your taste. See that the curry is little liquidy. (not watery). You can also use more onions if you wish. You can also mix onions along with boiled potatoes.  It taste differ. Must use little oil on both sides while cooking. Using more oil is optional. Here I have used less oil. You can also put grated carrots along with cut onions on the top of the patties while serving.

Serves : 4
Time :40 mins