Sweet Potato Fries.

Sweet potatoes fries are fried dish and you can munch them with a cup of hot coffee or tea. You can have them with your lunch or dinner also. As always it is easy to prepare.

I just fried thin cut sweet potatoes. And then added little chilly powder and salt.
Some pieces are dipped in besan and rice flour combination with spices and salt.
One more variety is that fried bajji/fritters are served with corn, cucumber, carrot salad. The salad is coated with chat masala and the combination is yummy.
Eating fried dishes is always fun. Hot chips or any fritters during the rainy day make us to munch more and more. It is said the body needs some oiling during rainy season and winter. Do not feel guilty. Eat them and have a good walk or some exercise later.
Lets see the munchy crunchy sweet potato recipe and get ready to prepare hot fries.

Things Needed :

Sweet potato : 1 (Big one)
Channa/besan flour : 1 Cup (small)
Rice flour : 1 cup (small)
Red chilly powder : 1 Teaspoon
Jeera/ Cumin seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon
Salt : required
Oil : 1 Cup (to fry)

Method 

1. Wash and remove the outer layer of the sweet potato. Wash it again and cut into small thin slices and keep it aside.
2. Take a big bowl and put besan / channa flour, rice flour and salt.

3. Add red chilly and jeera to the flour mixture. Mix it well and add little water and make as thick dough. (dough consistency should be like idli dough).

4. Keep frying pan on the fire Heat and put oil. Let it get hot.
5. Now dip each slice (pieces) of sweet potato and coat them with the dough and put them in the hot oil. Let the flame be medium.
6. Let to cook till golden brown and turn them to the other side and cook for 1 minute.

7. Put them on the kitchen sheet. Let the extra oil go off.

 8. Serve hot Sweet potato bajji.fritters with ketch up. We had it with Carrot, cucumber and corn salad.

Salad preparation : Wash and grate carrot, cut cucumber into small pieces. Take a bowl and mix corn , grated carrots, and slightly boiled corns. Mix it well and add little salt and a pinch of chat masala powder. Mix it well. Arrange the bajji according to your wish and serve. 

Note :

Wash the sweet potato thoroughly. Cut them in to thin pieces. Let the oil be hot. Fry them on medium flame. Adding garlic is optional.
Remove the husk and the skin of garlic and just pound it or crush it or cut into thin pieces. No need add any oil to the dough. Adding rice flour not only gives the crispness to the bajji. Adding cooking soda is optional. I have not added any garlic or oil to the dough.
20 to 30  pieces can be prepared 
Time : 20 Minutes.

Sweet Potato Fries.:
Method :
Wash and cut Sweet potatoes in to slices. (bit thick). Keep oil on the fire and heat. Fry them in hot oil till they turn brown. (both sides).
Remove from the hot oil and put it on a kitchen tissue. Put them in a big bowl. Add red chilly powder( 1/4 Teaspoon), Chat masala 1/4 teaspoon and a lttle salt. Mix it well and serve. Kids will love to had this. It will be slightly crunchy, soft inside. You can munch them while watching tv, reading a book and as I said kids will enjoy it thoroughly.

Time : 10 minutes.
Serves : 2 to 3

Quick Bottle Gourd Curry

Bottle gourd/ Louki is one of the healthy vegetable. Here is a recipe of a curry which can be prepared easily and quickly. It is one of the first choice of me to cook fast with minimum time spent in the kitchen. Cooking is real fun if you have some interest in cooking. Preparing fresh food is always better for the good health.
I have used bottle gourd, toamtoes and some mild spice. It is always better to use less spice. Eating less spice always take care of your health. You definitely need spices or the food will not be tasty. But there should be limit. It is always one's choice but think of it before using.

Lets see some benefits of eating bottle gourd in our diet. 
Bottle gourd contain 90% of water and it is very east to digest. Eating bottle gourd helps us to keep our body cool and calm. It helps and controls urinary system and reduces the urinary infection. It contains many vitamins and minerals like calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, Vitamin A and C. It is very useful for people who wants to reduce weight loss. Bottle gourd is very helpful for reducing high blood pressure and to keep healthy heart. It is good for diabetic patients. It has rich source of fiber and good help for people who suffer from constipation. It is also good for liver inflammation.
No Onion or Garlic is used in this " Bottle Gourd Curry ", It goes well with almost all the main dishes and it is simple and easy to prepare.

Ingredients:

To Cook : 
Bottle Gourd/ Lauki/ Doodi : 1 Bowl  (Half of one big bottle gourd).
Tomatoes : 2
Green chilly : 2

To add : 
Dry Ginger powder : 1/2 Teaspoon
Jaggery : 1 Tablespoon
Salt : Required
Methi seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon
Rasam Powder : 2 Tablespoons

Turmeric powder : a little
Coriander leaves : 2 Tablespoons
Ghee : 1 Tablespoon

For seasoning : 
Jeera : 1/2 Teaspoon
Mustard seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon
Curry leaves : 6 to 8
Ingh : a pinch
Oil : 1 Teaspoon

Method :

1. Wash and remove the outer layer of bottle gourd and cut into small pieces. cook them till they are soft. (Use little water to cook).

2. Wash and cut coriander leaves, green chilly, curry leaves and tomatoes. Keep it aside.
3. Keep a pan on the fire and heat. Add oil. Add mustard seeds and let it splutter.
4. Add jeera, curry leaves, green chilly and ingh. Add cut tomatoes and fry nicely. Add methi/fenugrik seeds. 

5. Let the tomatoes turn soft. Add, jaggery, dry ginger powder and mix it well. Add required salt and turmeric powder.

6. Add cooked bottle gourd and mix it well. Let it cook for 2 minutes. Add rasam powder mix it well.

7. Let it cook for another two minutes. Mix it nicely and put off the fire. Add cut coriander leaves and ghee.
8. Shift the ready Bottle gourd curry to a serving dish.

Note :

Bottle gourd pieces should be soft. (Do not pressure cook). You can add fresh ginger instead of dry ginger powder.  Adding methi /fenugrik seeds helps to reduce the cholesterol in the curry. Adding onions or garlic is purely optional. Adding more or less oil is also optional. You can add cream to the curry. Taste differ and curry turns rich.
Time : 20 minutes
Serves : 2 to 3 
Recipe for Fresh Rasam Powder :
Dry roast or Fry (1 teaspoon of oil)  : 1/4 Teaspoon of methi seeds, 2 tablespoons of coriander seeds, 4 to 5 red chilly (Byadagi).  1/2 teaspoon of jeera and a little ingh on low flame and leave it for cooling. Dry grind and use fresh rasam powder. You can add curry leaves ( 6 to 8 will do ).