Carrots - Tomato and Onion Dry Curry

 Carrots - Tomato and onion dry curry is a side dish. It is simple and easy to prepare. I always like to go for an easy preparation. It does save time. You can enjoy eating this curry with plain rice, chapatis, poori or roti, topping to the bread toast and even you can prepare chapati rolls.
As I said it is easy to prepare Carrots, tomato and Onion dry curry. When you are in a hurry or coming back after a long journey, or a stroll you can prepare and enjoy this curry. Beginners also can give a try.
Lets see some benefits of eating carrots and tomatoes in our diet.
Carrots are rich in anti oxidants, vitamins and dietary fiber. They contain very little fat and no cholesterol. They are rich source of carotenes and vitamin A. It has natural anti oxidant properties and protect human body from harmful oxygen and free radical injury. It also helps to maintain good eye health and reproduction. They are also good in vitamin C and helps the body to maintain healthy teeth and gum. Carrots are also rich in many B - Complex groups of vitamins such as folic acid, Vitamin B - 6 etc. They also contain loads of minerals like copper, calcium, potassium, manganese and phosphorus. They help to control high blood pressure.
Tomatoes are filled with nutrients and antioxidants that help to keep your health in good shape. Tomatoes contain Vitamin A and it helps to improve the eyesight as well as it helps to prevent night blindness. Tomatoes contain Vitamin C and Vitamin A, Vitamin  K, potassium and iron. These minerals helps to maintain normal blood health. Vitamin K controls bleeding and blood clotting. They also help in blood circulation. Eating tomatoes regularly helps to decrease the level of cholesterol in the blood and reduce the deposition of fats in the blood vessels. They help to keep your digestive system healthy and prevent constipation and diarrhoea. They also help to remove the toxins from the body.
Now lets see the recipe. As I said earlier Carrots - tomatoes and onion dry curry goes well with almost all main dishes. You can prepae it either for lunch or using as toppings for the snack or for dinner.

Ingredients :

Tomatoes : 4 to 5
Onions : 2
Carrots : 2 to 3
Green chilly : 2
Curry leaves : 5 to 6
Coriander leaves : 2 Table spoons
Oil : 1 Table spoon
Cumin Seeds (jeera) : 1/2 Tea spoon
Garam Masala powder : 1/2 Tea spoon
Mustard seeds : 1/2 Tea spoon

Ginger : An inch.

Salt : To taste

Method :

1. Wash and cut tomatoes (de seed them before cut), chilly and onions into small pieces.
2. Wash and Scrape out the outer layer of carrot and grate it.

3. Wash and remove the outer layer of ginger, wash it again and grate it.

3. Keep a pan on the fire and heat. Add oil and put mustard seeds. Let it splutter.
4. Add jeera and cut green chilly. Fry for 20 seconds. Add curry leaves and cut onions. Fry nicely till they turn slightly brown.

5. Add tomatoes and fry till they turn soft.

6. Add grated carrots, ginger, garam masla powder, salt and turmeric powder.
7. Stir nicely and cook for 2 minutes.
8. Now carrot, tomato and onion dry curry is ready.

8. Now carrot, tomato and onion dry curry is ready. Put off the fire and add coriander leaves. Mix it well and shift it to the serving dish..

Note :

You can use more chilly if you like spicy. You can also use ginger paste instead of fresh ginger. Remember using fresh ginger is a healthy. You can also use garlic pods while frying onions.You can add more vegetables like radish, potatoes, peas and beans can be added to this curry. Taste may differ and it might take longer time.
Preparation time : 5 minutes
Cooking time : 5 minutes.
Serves : 3

Shavige - Rava Banana Kesari Baat;

Vermicelli or Shavige is used very often in Indian culinary. We do prepare Upma, Payasam (Kheer) and other items.
Rava or semolina is also one of the main ingredient used in Indian kitchens.
Kesari baat or sheera or Sooji ka halwa is normally prepared with  medium size rava. Here is a little twist. I have used both semolina and shavige ( vermicelli). It is an easy dish and anyone can learn. I mean even people who are new to cooking and have interest can try this dish.
Shavige or vermicelli is prepared using rice or wheat or all purpose flour that is maida or moong bean.Vermicelli prepared from wheat is good for people who are suffering from high cholesterol and high blood pressure. It is loaded with fiber.
Shavige -Rava Banana Kesari Baat can be prepared for breakfast or kitty parties or kids parties or when guest's surprise visit.  It is also can be prepared for festivals, functions and as Prasaadam.
Let us see the recipe Now

Ingredients :

Rava ( Medium size) : 1 Cup
Shavige ( thin variety ) :3/4 cup
Sugar : 1 Cup
Cardamom : 3 pods.
Well ripen  Banana : 1 (big or 2 small)
Cashew Nuts : 2 Table spoons (cut ones)
Raisins  (dry grapes) : 1 Table spoon
Water : 2 Cups .
Kesari (Saffron) : 5 to 6 Rakes
Ghee : 3/4 Cup

Method :

1. Powder cardamom and keep it aside/ Cut cashews into small pieces.

2. Keep water for boiling. Cut bananas in to thin slice and keep it aside.

3. Keep a pan on the fire and heat. Add 1 table spoon of ghee. Add cashew nuts and fry till they turn golden brown.

4 Add raisins and fry till they are fluffy. Add Shavige and fry for 2 minutes.

5. Add  rava (semolina) to the fried vermicelli and fry nicely till the raw smell disappear.

6. Add boiling water. Stir nicely it thickens.

7. Add sugar when it starts thickening. Add cut bananas and stir continuously on low flame. (It turns bit watery and starts to thicken again).
8. Add a spoon of ghee and saffron (kesari) flakes and mix it nicely. It starts to leave the pan.

9. Put off the fire. Add remaining ghee and mix it well.
10. Shift the ready kesari baat to a serving dish and serve hot Shavige - Rava Banana kesari baat .

 Note :
Adding more sugar (another 1/2 cup of sugar can be added). adding more or less ghee is purely optional. You should use boiling water to cook. Stir nicely till the pan leaves the kesari baat. Frying rava is a must to get the good result.
Total time : 20 minutes
Serves : 5 to 6.