Chiroti Rava Chakkuli

Chakkuli is also known as chakli or Muruku. Chakkuli is a fried dish. It is crispy and crunchy that every one will surely like to munch..Previously fried things are prepared during the festivals in large scale and used it for many weeks.The time has changed. Different varieties of fried items are shining in the market. Indian fried snacks have become famous world wide.

Chakkuli or chakli is one of the popular fried dish of every one. Especially South Indians like this dish and it can be prepared with different ingredients.Chakkuli mould is very important here to give a shape. Chakkuli the word has come from Sanskrit. ( the circular shape). The chosen flours are mixed with water and then made into thick dough. Then the dough is put into the mould and then pressed to give a round shape. Then fried in hot oil till they turn slightly golden brown and crispy. It can be kept for many days.
I remember my aunt used to prepare this chakkuli in large quantity during "Gokulastami Festival" and share with the neighbours around our home. Gokulastami festival falls  in the month of August or September. It is the biggest festival celebrated in grand manner in Udupi, Dakshina Kannada and all over India.It is believed that Shree Krishna is born on that day night. It is also a rainy season and the rains just slow down during this period and the weather is cool and nice to enjoy in South Canara.. Gokulastami is celebrated in grand way in Udupi and Shree Krishna temple is very famous temple here.
Home made things are always better and safe. You can prepare chakkuli at home and satisfy your taste bud and your people.Here Chiroti rava and rice flour are the main ingredients that I have used. Little spices like jeera and chilly powder are added to give a spicy taste. Crispy, crunchy chakkulis can be kept at least for 1 to 2 weeks in air tight bottles.

Lets see the recipe

Ingredients : 
Chirote Rava (thin variety of Semolina) : 1 Cup
Rice flour : 3 Cups
Water : 1 Cup
Butter : 1 Table spoon
Salt : to taste
Chilly powder : 1 Tea spoon
Jeera : 1 Tea spoon
Sesame seeds : 2 Table spoons
Oil : 2 Cups ( To fry)
 Method :
1. Keep a cup of water to boil on the stove. Add salt and let it boil nicely.

2. Add chiroti rava to the boiling water. Mix it well till it thickens. Put off the fire.

3. Add rice flour and a table spoon of butter, jeera and sesame seeds. 

4. Prepare the dough. Kneed the dough nicely. (Use water if necessary while preparing the dough).

5.Divide the dough in to small portion. Take a portion of it and put it in the chakkuli mould and let the mould be ready with dough.

6. Keep a frying pan on the fire and put oil. Let it become hot.
7. Now press the mould  handle by turning it.Let the chakkuli fry nicely on both side. (I pressed the dough directly to the hot oil).

8. Fry it till both sides turn crispy and crunchy.(slightly golden brown).

9. Remove the fried chakkuli and put it on the kitchen tissue. It absorbs the extra oil.

10. Prepare the chakkuli with rest of the dough.

11. Serve hot chakkuli with  a cup of hot coffee or tea or juice.
12. Put them in airtight bottle when they are cool.
Note :
You can use water if necessary while preparing the dough. Do not add more butter, chakkuli may break in to tiny piece and spread in oil. Do not use any cooking soda or baking soda. Adding more chilly powder is optional. You can mix rice flour when the dough is bit cool. You can prepare chakkuli first on a plate and then fry them. At time you can fry 3 to 4. I directly pressed chakkuli in to hot oil. You can also prepare these type of chakkuli with medium size rava.
Time : 40 minutes.
Serves : 5 to 6.

Almond & Dates Kheer

Almond & Dates Kheer is a desert which is easy to prepare and healthy to have as a desert. It is simple easy and yummy to have it. It is sugar free and ghee free. This way you can reduce the sugar intake and quench your thirst of sweet bite. Many have a habit of eating some sweet after their meal. This desert will surely serve the purpose. It is completely diet recipe as no sugar or ghee is used.
Lets see some benefits of adding  almonds and dates in our diet.
Almonds or badam lower the bad cholesterol. They protects artery walls from damage. They reduce the heart attack risk. Almonds help to build strong bones and teeth. They also provide healthy fats and help in weight loss. Almonds lower the rise in blood sugar and insulin after meals. They help provide good brain function. They nourish the nervous system. According to Ayurveda, almonds help increase high intellectual level.
Dates are good for heart problems, anemia , diarrhea, and constipation. They are good for gaining weight. They are rich in many vitamins, minerals and fiber. They contain oil, calcium, sulfur, iron, potassium, phosphorous, manganese, copper and magnesium. They are very beneficial for good health. Eating one date per day is good for healthy diet.
Now lets see the recipe.
This is a sweet dish and we can have them after lunch or dinner.

Things Needed :

Almonds : 1/2 Cup
Dates : 1 Cup
Cardamom : 2 to 3 pods
Milk : 1 Cup;
Cashew nuts : 1 Table spoon

Method :

1. Dry roast and dry grind almonds and keep it aside. (Medium size rava consistency).

2. Remove the seeds from dates and dry grind it nicely to powder form.

3. Remove the outer skin of cardamom and powder it.
4. Keep milk for boiling in a pan.
5. Add almond powder and mix it well and stir for a while.

6. Add powdered dates and mix it well and boil it for 2 to 3  minutes. Stir in between.

7. Put off the gas and add powdered cardamom and mix it well.

8. Add cashew nuts and mix it well just before serving.

Note :

Cut cashew nuts in to small pieces. Adding more milk to get little thinner consistency is optional. Adding more dates is also optional. It adds to the sweet taste. Frying cashew nuts in a spoon of ghee is optional. ( I have used as it is, did not fry in ghee). You can also dry roast them. Heat a pan or tava and just roast them on it with out oil or ghee.
Time : 10 minutes.
Serves : 5