Raw Banana Kootu ( Plantain Curry)

Raw Banana Kootu is a gravy dish and we can have them with rice, chapati, roti, idli and even dosas. Raw banana is used in many curries and koftas and it is one of the favourite vegetable for many people in South India.

Lets see some benefits of Raw Banana.
Raw Bananas or Plantain is a carbohydrate source. It contain a high amount of resistant starch. The green bananas may reduce the risk of diabetes and helping to lower blood cholesterol levels. Green Bananas are good source of fiber. It keeps your stomach full for a long time. It contain low fat. Plantains contain Vitamin C.
Here is a recipe of Raw Banana (Plantain) Kootu which is very easy to cooked with mild spices and will be liked by all age group.
No Onion or No garlic added in this Kootu Curry. It is one of the traditional dish of Iyengaris. ( Combination of pepper pods and Jeera are good for digestion and helps to digest the food easily).

Things Needed : 

To Cook :
Raw Banana (Curry Banana) : 2
Tomatoes : 2
Toor Dal : 1/4 Cup
To Dry roast or fry :
Jeera : 1 Tea spoon
Pepper pods (whole pepper) : 6 to 8
Methi Seeds : 1/4 Tea spoon
To Season :
Oil : 2 Teaspoons
Ingh : a pinch
Mustard Seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon
Curry leaves : 5 to 6
To grind :
Coconut : 1/2 Cup
Roasted spices
To Add :
Salt : according to taste
Water : Required water
Coriander Leaves : 1 Table spoon
Green chilly : 2
Turmeric Powder : a pinch. (less than 1/4 tea spoon)

Method :

1. Wash and remove the outer skin of the Plantain and cut it into small pieces (according to your wish) and put it in water).

2. Wash and cut coriander leaves, tomatoes and grate coconut.
3. Wash and cook dal in a pressure cooker and leave it for cooling.
4. Now keep a pan and put 1 spoon of oil. Put methi seeds and fry them nicely till they turn brown.
5. Add jeera and pepper pods and ingh to it. Add curry leaves , green chilly and put off the fire.

6. Now add coconut to the fried mixture and grind nicely using little water.

7. Remove the ground mixture and keep it aside.
8. Keep a big pan on the fire and put remaining oil. Put mustard seeds. Let it splutter.
9. Add 5 to 6 curry leaves and fry. Add little ingh and Cut banana. Mix it well.
10. Add water and cook till they turn soft.( 2 to 3 minutes). Add cut tomatoes.

11. Add cooked dal and salt. Add turmeric powder. Mix it well.

12. Add required water and mix it well. Let it cook for 2 minutes.
13. Now add groud coconut - spice mixture and mix it well.

14.  Let the Kootu boil nicely for 2 minutes.

15. Put off the fire and shift kootu to a serving dish.

16. Add coriander leaves and mix it well and serve with the main dish you prepared.

 Note :

Do not cook Plantain too soft. It may smash in the curry and you may not be able to  get the vegetable. Adding more spice, chilly is an optional.
Adding onions and garlic is also optional. You can add lemon juice (lemon extract) to the curry to give a tangy taste. (1 lemon).
Adding dal is also an optional. Use more coconut if you are not using dal to get a thick curry.
Time : 30 minutes
Serves : 5.

Raw Mango Shavige Baat

Shavige or Semiya(Vermicelli) is the main ingredient, which is made using rava or wheat normally. This is nothing but a  noodles in different shapes and sizes. We do prepare many dishes using Semiya. Semiya is called Shavige in Kannda (Langauage in Karnataka).  Shavige uppituu, chitranna, Puliyogre (Savoury tasty dish), Shavige Pulav, coconut chitranna, Shavige Payaasam or Semiya kheer as a sweet dish,  are some dishes to name.

The dish is known as Shavige in Kannda, seviyan in Urdu and Hindi, Shemai in Bengali, Sev in Gujarati, Sevalu in Telugu and Semiya in Tamil and Malayalam.

Here is a recipe of Shavige which is prepared using Raw Mango, it is some thing like Mavinakai chitranna ( Mango Shavige), we can have Mango Shavige Baat for breakfast, lunch, as evening snack and even for dinner. You can pack them for kids lunch box or for a long traveling, picnics or Outings. I am sure every one and all age group will definitely love to have this "Raw Mango Shavige Baat".
It is easy and quick to prepare. N

Ingredients :

Shavige : 2 Bowls
Raw Mango :1
Green Chilly : 2
Ginger : 1 Teaspoon
Curry leaves : 6 to 8
Coriander leaves : 2 Tablespoons
Mustard seeds : 1 Teaspoon
Urid dal : 1 Teaspoon
Jeera : 1/2 Teaspoon
Oil : 2 Tablespoons
Ghee : 2 Tablespoons.
Coconut : Fresh and grated : 1 Cup
Jaggery :  2 Tablespoons.
Salt : To taste
Water : Required water

Method : 

1. Wash and cut green chilly, curry leaves, coriander leaves. Keep it aside.

2. Grate coconut , Mango, ginger and keep it aside. Keep water for boiling.

3. Now keep a pan on the fire and heat. Put oil and mustard seeds, urid dal.

4. When the mustard seeds start to splutter, add curry leaves, green chilly and jeera.
5. Add Semiya and fry them till it is roasted. 

6. Add boiling water and mix it nicely. Add salt, jaggery and grated Mango and ginger.

7. Cook on low flame till it is soft and the water evaporates. Stir in between to avoid get burnt at the bottom.

8.Now put off the gas. Add coconut and cut coriander leaves. Add ghee and mix it well.

 9. Shift the Mango Shavige baat to a serving dish.

 10. Serve with a banana and a cup of curd.

Note:

Do not add too much water as it looses the taste. 1 cup semiya 1 1/2 cup water will be enough. If the mango is too savoury add only half of the mango. Adding jaggery will add to the taste. But do not add too much of it. Adding green chilly will give more spicy tasty.
Adding ghee or oil is optional. Adding onions also optional.
Time : 30 Minutes
Serves : 4 to 5