Bhendi - Aloo Curry

Bhendi is Lady's Finger(okra) and Aloo is nothing but potatoes. Every one normally likes Potatoes. Mixing Lady's finger and preparing a combo curry indeed a good thought.

Lady's finger, is liked by most. It is said  that "The one who eats Bendi (Lady's finger) will be good at calculation and will be definitely intelligent and also will be excellent in Maths.  I do not know whether, the above said words are really true or just some simply said promise to make the children eat this vegetable. What ever it is this particular combo Bemdi Aloo curry goes well with rice, chapati, roti, poori or even dosa and idli and it is one of the healthy side dish you can prepare quickly and easily.

Now lets see some benefits of eating Lady's Finger.
Lady's finger or Okra are rich source of dietary fiber, minerals and vitamins. It is often recommended by nutritionists in cholesterol controlling and weight reduction programs. They do not contain saturated fats and cholesterol. They contain healthy amounts of vitamin A and anti-oxidants. Fresh Okras are good source of folates. They are rich in Vitamin C, Vitamin K and B complex. Lady's finger are also good source of many important minerals such as iron, calcium, manganese and magnesium. Lady's finger juice is consumed to control the diabetics.

Here is a recipe of Bendi - Aloo Curry and I am sure all age group will surely enjoy having them.

Things Needed:

Lady's Finger : 15 to 20 ( 1/4 KG)
Potatoes : 2
Tomatoes : 3 to 4
Garam Masala powder : 1/2 Tea spoon
Rasam Powder : 2 Tea spoons (MTR)
Green Chilly : :2
Curry leaves : 5 to 6
Coriander leaves : 2 to 3 Table spoons
Jeera : 1/2 Tea spoon
Turmeric Powder : a pinch
Lemon juice : 1 Table spoon (1 lemon extract)
Oil : 2 Table spoons
Ingh : a pinch
Methi seeds : 1/4 Tea spoon
Salt : Required

Method :

1. Wash Bendi (Okra) and leave it for some time and dry the water completely. Then cut them into small.

 2. Wash and cut potatoes into big pieces .(like wedges) and cook with little water for 3 to 4 minutes.(Half cook).

 3. Wash tomatoes and remove the seeds from in side and cut them in to small pieces.
 4. Wash green chilly, coriander leaves, and curry leaves . Cut them in to small. Grate ginger and keep it aside.

 
5. Now keep a pan on the fire and heat. Put oil, jeera and methi seeds. Let methi seeds turn lightly brown.

 6. Add green chilly, curry leaves and ingh. Add cut Lady's finger and fry for 2 to 3 minutes. Add salt and turmeric powder.

7. Add tomatoes and ginger ,fry them nicely along with lady's finger.

 
 8. Now add half cooked potatoes and stir slowly and mix it well. Leave them on low flame. (Stir in between).

9. Add Garam Masala powder and Rasam powder when the potato is completely cooked. (Do not over cook).

10. Mix it nicely and cook on low flame for 2 to 3 minutes. Add coriander leaves and lemon extract.

11. Put it in a serving bowl and add a spoon of ghee.

12. Serve Bendi -Aloo curry with the choice of your main dish.

Note:

Do not over cook potatoes. It turns soft and will be smashed with the curry.
You can use tamarind instead of lemon juice. Add it when you add tomatoes and cook it nicely.
You can also use more oil and more spices.
Adding coconut is also an optional. Retaining the potato skin is optional.
Time : 20 minutes
Serves : 4

Simple Shavige Pulav

Shavige or Vermicelli is made with Durum wheat. (Which is one of the best wheat variety). We can prepare Shavige- Upma, or varieties of spicy snacks and sweet dishes from Shavige. Normally in India, specially South Indians use Shavige for break fast, some time for lunch and even during their fasting days. (Vrutha or Ekadasi and some special days).

Shavige is a traditional type of pasta. It is known as seviyam in Urdu and Hindi. Shemai in Bengali, Sev in Gujarati, Shavige in Kannada, Seval or Semiya in Telugu, Semiya in Tamil and Malayalam. As I said it before we can prepare various dishes using Shavige.

Here is a recipe of Shavige Pulav which is easy to prepare. It is healthy and will be liked by all the family members I am sure.

Ingredients :

Shavige (Anil Shavige) : 1/2 Kg
Carrots : 2
Capsicum : 1
Green chilly : 1
Lemon : 1 Tablespoon
Ghee : 2 Tablespoons
Oil : 4 Tablespoons
Cashew nuts : 10 to 15 pieces
Cloves : 5 to 6
Cinnamon : 2 small pieces.
Jeera : 1 Teaspoon
Pepper Pods : 5 to 6
Coconut : 1/2 Cup
Ginger : 1 Teaspoon (grated)
Salt : required
Turmeric powder : 1/4 Teaspoon
Garam Masala Powder : 1 Teaspoon

Method : 

1. Wash and cut carrots and capsicum.
2. Cook carrots with little water till soft. (5 minutes).
3. Wash and remove the skin from ginger and grate. Squeeze out the lemon juice and keep it aside.

5.Grate coconut and keep it aside.
6. Now keep a big pan on the fire and heat. Put oil, jeera, pepper pods, cinnamon pieces and cloves.
7. Let it fry for 10 to 15 seconds. Add  green chilly, Shavige and fry till they are brown.

8. Add cooked carrots and put required water. Add turmeric powder and garam masal powder. Mix it well.

9. Add salt and grated ginger, let it cook nicely till the water disappear. (Cook on medium heat).
10. Put off the gas and put lemon juice, ghee and fresh grated coconut.

11. Now keep a small pan and put 1 table spoon of oil. Heat and put cut cashew nuts and fry till they are brown.

12.Add cut capsicum and fry till they turn soft. Put this mixture to ready shavige pulav.

13. Mix it slowly and pour the ready Pulav to a serving dish.

14. Serve "Shavige Pulav " with a cup of curd or coconut chutney.

Note :

You must fry shavige till it gets brown colour.
Using ghee is optional. Instead of ghee use little more oil.
You can grind coconut, garam masala, cinnamon, cloves , green chilly and ginger with little water and fry this mixture and fry till the raw smell disappear and add it to Shavige Pulav.
You can use more vegetables like peas and beans.
Adding lemon is optional.
Using onions is also optional.
Time :  40 Minutes
Servings : 5 to 6