Awarekai Saagu with Roti

Aware kai is also called as field beans. It is a winter crop and you get awarekai, during this perioud of November to January. Many dishes are prepared using Awarekai. A few examples like Aware kai saru, upma, idli, Dosa, Rotti and also different types of curries according to their region.
Like other pods Awarekai is also has many good health benifites. Like wise it is full of vitamins and contain lots of minerals.
This recipe is Awarekai Sagu. I have used awarekai, corianderseeds, jeera, fresh clove and a smll piec of cinemon green chilly, ginger and pepper pods. This is a spicy curry and it goes well with chapati, roti, poori, dosa or even idli. Even during Upavas (Ekadashi and other fasting days you can prepare this dish).
I also prepared Roti using the large amount of wheat flour and a Table spoon of maida and a pinch of salt and curd.
I am sure every one will like this combination of Awarekai-Roti and njoy eating together.

This Recipe is without onions and garlic. 

Awarekai Saagu
Things needed :
Awarekai : 2 cups
Roasted Chenna (Putani or hurikadale) : 2 Table spoons
Ginger : 1 Inch
Coconut : 1 /2 Cup
Green chilly : 2
Tamarind or Lemon juice : 1 Table spoon
Coriander leaves : 1/2 bundle ( small bunch)
Cinemon : a small piece
Cloves : 5 to 6
Coriander seeds : 1 Table spoon
Jeera (cumin seeds) : 1 Tea spoon
Home made cream : 2 Table spoons (Optional)
Salt: to taste
Oil : 1 Table spoon

Method :
1. Wash and cook Awarekai in a pressure cooker for 6 to 8 minutes and keep it aside to cool.

2. Wash coriander leaves, ginger and green chilly. Grate coconut and keep it aside.
3. Now grind grated coconut, cloves, coriander seeds, coriander leaves, roasted chenna, 1/2 tea spoon of jeera, cinemon and tamarind (marble size tamarind will do) with required water till paste.

4. Keep a pan on the fire. Heat and put oil.

5. Put 1/2 spoon of jeera and fry for 10 seconds, Add ground masala and cooked Awarekai. Add water if required.

6. Add salt and mix it well. Let it cook nicely for 3 to 4 minutes. Stir in between to see it does not get burnt.

7. Shift the Awarekai Saagu to the serving dish and put fresh cream.( I have used the cream which i get after boiling milk). (Its optional).

Awarekai Saagu is ready to serve.

Note : You can also prepare this saagu with peas, channa or pigeon pea pods. You can add spices according to your wishes (less or more). Using the cream is optional. You can add fresh butter. Remember using less fat is good for health. Using Onions and garlic is also optional. Just fry cut onions and garlic pod with jeera or fry galic ginger paste and add onions, then add cooked awarekai and cook for 3 minutes. Then add ground coconut mixture.

Roti
Things needed
Wheat flour : 2 cups
Maida (All purpose flour) : 2 Table spoons
Curd : 2 Table spoon
Salt : a little
Oil : 1 Table spoon

Method :

1. Put wheat flour and maida in a big bowl.
2. Add curd, oil and salt.
3. Mix it nicely and then add water little by little and prepare chapati dough. Let the dough rest for 30 minutes.
4. Now kneed the dough again and divide them in to small portion and make like small balls.

5. Take one small ball and roll them with a roller like chapti. Let it be little thicker than chapati

6. Keep a tava on the fire. Heat and put this roti and let it cook for 1 minute. Turn the oter side and cook for 10 seconds.

7. Now put this roti on the gas flame and cook for a few seconds. It givs a Roti look and taste.

8 Roast on both side and put it in a serving plate and serve with Awarekai Saagu.

Repeat the same with the remaining dough.
Note: Let the dough be soft. Do not roll in thin chapati. You can also cook on tava too.

Awarekai Saagu with Roti
Time : 4o mins
Serves : 3 to 4

Doodhi Sorekai Carrots VEGGY HALVA

VEGGY HALVA  is a sweet dish.  Veggy Halva is a combination of Bottle gourd (Sorekai), Local Carrots and White Pumpkin. These vegetables are grated and mixed with sugar, milk, ghee and cardamom.

White Pumkin or  Doodhi or boodu kumbala kai (Kannada language) is highly nutritious and it is low in calories and high in vitamins A, C and E. It contains minerals like magnesium, phosphorus and iron. It also lowers the cholesterol, Antidepressant and good for eyes too.
Carrots are notably rich in anti-oxidants, vitamins and dietary fiber. Carrots contain Beta carotene which is powerful and natural anti oxidant and it helps to protect body from any harmful injury.
Bottle gourd or Lauki (Hindi) or Sorekai (in Kannada) has many good qualities. It is good for weight loss. (especially the juice). It helps to reduce the high blood pressure and keeps the heart healthy. The fiber and the minerals in the bottle gourd supports healthy digestion and helps to overcome constipation problems.
Veggy Halva can be prepared for parties, festivals or to celebrate some thing special. It can be eaten at any time of the day too.

Things Needed :
Bottle Gourd : 1/2 Portion.
Carrots : 2 to 3
White pumpkin 1/4 potion of the medim size
Ghee : 1/2 Cup
Sugar : 1 to 1 1/2 cup
Cardamom :  6 to 8 Pods.
Milk Powder : 2 Tablespoons
Cashew Nuts : 2 Tablespoons

Method : 
1. Wash and remove the outer skin of the vegetable and grate it. Keep it aside.

2. Powder the cardamom with a spoon of sugar and keep it aside.

3. Now keep a pan on the fire and heat. Put 1 Teaspoon of ghee and fry cashew nuts and remove the nuts when it turn reddish.

4. Now squeeze out the extra water from pumpkin. Keep the juice aside.
5. Put grated carrots, bottle gourd and pumpkin. Keep the flame medium.

6. Fry them for 2 to 3 minutes. Add sugar and stir niely.
7. Put a tablespoon of ghee while stirrring. Stir the mixture till it leaves the sides. Add ghee in between while stirring. (Littlt by little). Continue stirring.
8. Add milk powder and mix it well. When the halwa starts to leave the pan stir for another 2 to 3 minutes and put off the gas. Add the remaining ghee and the fried cashew nuts and mix again.

 9. Shift this sweet Veggy Halwa to the serving bowl.

10. Serve Halwa after dinner or along with breakfast.

Note : You must be very careful while stirring. Do not allow the Halva to get it burnt. Even Bottle gourd also will leave out the its water. You can use this for curry or juice. You can also try this halva in the micro wave oven. Every 2 minutes you need to mix the mixture until its done. You can also use more sugar and ghee if you like. Use of milk powder helps to absorb the moisture. Use of jaggery is optional. Taste may differ. This halva is good for kids.
Time :

Preparation : 20 minutes
Cooking : 25 to 30 minutes
Serves : 6 to 8.