Dates - Banana Rasayana

Rasayana is a sweet dish, which is normally prepared using Banana or Mango or both together. It is one of the traditional quick dish, and can be eaten with dosas , neer dosas, idli, poori and chapatis. Some people call this as Shikarane also. There are many ways to prepare this Rasayana.

Normally Dakshina Kannada people (Udupi , Mangalore or Malenaadu ), We take a fresh coconut, grate it and grind it with little water to get its fresh coconut milk, then add jaggery and cardamom, mix it well and serve with holige (Pooran Poli), Kadubu, Neer Dosa, Shavige (Home made Rice Vermicelly) and even it goes well with Uddina Dosa. During the mango season we add ripe mango pulp to fresh coconut milk and prepare Mango Rasayana. We can use ripe banans also instead of mangoes or use both the fruits and make it more delicious. Believe me this is the way how the Traditional Rasayana prepared in our homes.

Now a days  it should be quick, easy and bit of on the healthy side dishes are more famous and good for office goers and the house wives too.This dish can be prepared easily if you have ripe banana and the normal fresh boiled and cooled milk. Eating sugar one has to think twice.

Adding jaggery that is what I prefer but this time used Dates and Honey instead of jaggery. It is still easy, you do not have to think whether the jaggery melted and combined with the Rasayana well. Think of preparing when you have lot of  well ripened bananas. Children and even all age group will love to have this " Dates -Banana Rasayana ", and 100 % healthy and do not have to worry about the sweetness.
Lets see a few benefits of eating Dates in our diet.
Dates are one of the most popular fruits packed with essential nutrients, vitamins and minerals that are required for normal growth, development and overall well being. Fresh dates are soft, easy, digestible and simple sugar. When eaten they replenish energy and revitalize the body instantly. The fruit is rich in dietary fiber, which prevents LDL, cholesterol absorption in the gut. They contain anti oxidants, anti infective, anti inflammatory. They are moderate sources of vitamin A. Dates are excellent source of iron and potassium. Date fruits are also rich in minerals like calcium, manganese, copper and magnesium.

Here is a recipe of Simple, Easy, Quick and Tasty  "Dates Banana Rasayana"  recipe which will fit into all age group taste and health.

Things Needed :

Bananas : 4 to 6
Dates : 6 to 8
Honey : 2 Table spoons
Cardamom : 3 to 4 pods.
Milk : 1 to 2 Glass  (Boiled and Cooled).

Method 

 1.Remove the skin of cardamom and powder it. Keep it aside
2. Cut dates in to small pieces and keep it aside.
3. Remove the banana skin and cut the fruits into small. Put them in a big bowl.7.

4. Pour 1 table spoon of honey on the top of banana. Put cut dates and add milk.

5. Mix all the ingredients nicely with the help of a big spoon or use hand. Squeeze bananas and dated in hand and let all the mixture mix it nicely.
6. Add cardamom and mix once again and shift  Dates - Banana Rasayana to a serving bowl.

7. Serve with the main dish you have prepared.

 

8. We had " Dates - Banana Rasayana " with Neer Dosa.

 Note : 

You can use more bananas. Use of jaggery or sugar instead of honey and dates also an optional. You can add dry nuts to Rasayana.You can add grated coconut to the  Rasayana mixture. ( It adds to the taste). You can prepare Banana Dates Milk Shake with this mixture. Use boiled and cooled fresh milk.
Time : 10 Minutes.
Serves : 1 to 2.

Sweet Potato -Carrot Dry Curry

Sweet Potato - Carrot Curry is a dry curry and we can have them with bread, buns , chapatis pooris or even with Rice. (Plain or Masala). Just thought of using both vegetables and prepare some thing for buns. It goes well with buns. You can also try this dish to top up the roasted bread or bread toast.

You all know the benefits of eating Sweet Potato and carrots in our daily diet.
Sweet potato are loved by kids as well as adults. Sweet Potatoes do not contain saturated fats and cholesterol and it is rich source of dietary fiber, anti -oxidants, vitamins and minerals.It is recommended as a healthy food supplement even in diabetes. Sweet Potatoes are excellent source of beta- carotene and vitamin -A. These compounds are powerful natural antioxidants. Vitamin A is required by the body to maintaion integrity of healthy mucus membranes and skin. It is a vital nutrient for healthy vision. Sweet potatoes provides a good amount of vital minerals such as iron, calcium, magnesium, manganese and potassium, are very essential for the body.

Eating carrots help to improve the vision. Carrots are good source of anti- oxidants and helps to slow down the aging of cells.They are rich source of  vitamin A and Vitamin C. They are rich in Many B complex groups of vitamins such as folic acid. They are full of minerals like copper, calcium, potassium, manganese and phosphorus.

Here is a recipe of  " Sweet Potato -Carrots Dry Curry",  which is easy to prepare and njoy having this with whole family members of all age group..I am sure every one will definitely love this curry.

Things Needed :

Sweet Potatoes : 2 to 3
Carrots : 2
Tomatoes : 2
Garam Masala : 1 Table spoon
Green chilly : 1
Ginger : 1 Table spoon (grated)
Mustard seeds : 1/2 Tea spoon
Urid Dal : 1/2 Tea spoon
Jeera : 1/2 Tea spoon
Salt : to taste
Oil : 2 Table spoon
curry leaves : 1 Handful
Coriander leaves : 2 Table spoons.

Method :

1. Wash and boil or pressure cook sweet potatoes and remove the skin and smash the sweet potatoes and keep it aside.
2. Wash and grate carrots, ginger, cut tomatoes, green chilly, coriander leaves and keep it aside.

3. Now keep the pan on the fire put oil and heat. Put mustard seeds , urid dal and let it spurt.

4. Add jeera and curry leaves . Add cut tomatoes and fry nicely. Add green chilly and garam masala  and fry for 1 minute.

5. Fry till tomatoes turn thick. Add cooked and smashed  sweet potatoes and mix it well.

6. Add grated carrots, required salt and mix it well slowly.

7. Cook on low flame so that it does not get burnt.
8. Add cut coriander leaves and take out the sweet potato carrot dry curry and shift it to the serving bowl.

9. Serve with the main dish you have prepared.
10. I served this " Sweet Potato -Carrots dry curry " with poories.

11. I also had this curry with buns just like  " Dabeli " ,

12.. I just put some Sweet Potato curry in the middle of the bun and put some roasted ground nuts. It was really nice to have them.

 Note :

Do not over cook sweet potatoes.  You can add green peas (fresh) to this curry. You can add more spices, onions and garlic. (I did not use any of these).
Time : 20 Minutes
Serves : 4 to 5