Goose berry - Lemon Rice

Goose berry Lemon rice is a simple Rice dish. Not much of ingredients is needed. Indian goose berry is available around the year now a days. But it is better to buy during its season. It will be more fresh and juicy.

All you need is cooked rice, lemon, goose berry and some spices. If cooked rice is ready it is very easy to prepare. We can have Goose berry and lemon Rice for breakfast, lunch or dinner. ( rice dish is prepared for breakfast in most of the houses in Karnataka). It is good for parties, festivals and one pot meal or kitty party. We can have it for brunch (breakfast + lunch ) for a lazy Sunday. Perfect for festival celebration.
Lets see some benefits of using Lemon in our diet.
Lemon has strong antibacterial, antiviral and immune boosting powers. It is good for weight loss and juice is a digestive aid and liver cleanser. They contain good medicinal value and used in treating throat infections, indigestion, constipation, dental problem, internal bleeding, obesity, respiratory disorders, cholera and high blood pressure. Lemons are used in hair and skin care. It is also considered as blood purifier. Lemon juice is useful for treating kidney stones, reducing strokes and as refreshing drink. Lemon drink helps to relax  and keeps you cool.
Lemon contain  Vitamin C, Vitamin B6, Vitamin A, E, copper, calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium, zinc, phosphorus and protein. They also contain antioxidants and helps to prevent diabetes.
Now lets see the recipe; 

Things Needed :

To Cook
Raw Rice : 2 Cups
To Add
Lemon : 1
Goose berry : 2
Coconut : 1/2 Cup
Turmeric Powder : 1/4 Teaspoon
Salt : Required
For seasoning 
Oil : 2 Tablespoon
Ghee : 1 Tablespoon
Green Chilly : 2
Curry leaves : 6 to 8 or more
Coriander leaves : 2 to 3 Table spoons
Mustard seeds : 1 Teapoon
Urid dal :  1 Teaspoon
Cashew Nuts : 2 Tablespoons

Method :

1. Wash and cook rice in a pressure cooker and keep it aside.

2. Wash and cut green chilly, curry leaves, coriander leaves and keep it aside.

3. Grate coconut and goose berry and keep it aside. Extract lemon juice and keep it aside.
4. Keep a pan on the fire and heat. Add oil.
5. Add mustard seeds, urid dal. Let it splutter.
6. Add cut green chilly and curry leaves. Add cooked rice. Reduce the flame to low.
7. Add turmeric powder and salt. Mix it well.

8. Add 1/2 of grated gooseberry, lemon extract and mix it again slowly.

9. Add coconut and shift the lemon rice to a serving dish.
10. Keep a small pan on the fire and put ghee.
11.Add cashew nuts and fry till they turn golden brown.

12. Add this fried cashews and ghee to the rice mixture.
13 Top up with remaining gose berry gratings.
14.  Goose berry Lemon rice is ready to serve. Serve with a cup of curd

Note : 

Do not over cook rice.  Use little less water ( 1 cup - 2 1/2 cup of water). Use of more oil and ghee is optional. Use of more chilly is also optional. Adding coconut is also optional. Use of onions and garlic is also optional.
Time : 30 minutes. Including cooking rice. 
Serves : 4 

Rava-Snake Gourd Pulp Rotti

Rava Snake Gourd Pulp Rotti is a breakfast dish. Rava rotti is an easy dish and we can eat them as snack or for dinner also. I just wanted to add the snake gourd pulp this time to see how the rotti turns out. It has become superb.

I normally do not waste any vegetable's peel or pulp. But remember that it is washed nicely and away from chemical spray. I like snake gourd and prepare many side dishes like dry curry, kootu curry, sihi (a type of sweet curry which is prepared using snake gourd) etc. So the pulp too can be made use of . We can prepare chutney, gojju, majjige curry etc. Check while buying snake gourd it is not turned hard (over grown). It should be soft and fresh. Here I have used cooked pulp. Added the cooked pulp to rava dough and prepared rotti. It was very nice and tasty. One should know that the pulp also can be used for some thing or the other.
Please note : Do not add ripen Snake gourd pulp to the rotti.   Do not add if the seeds are hard. The only soft and tender (seeds that are yet to grow) pulp should be used in cooking. (Edible).
Lets see some benefits of eating Snake gourd.(Padavalakai in Kannada language).
Snake gourd/padavalakai helps to improve the strength of the immune system. It also helps detoxify the body and reduces fever, improve the digestive process of the body. It is good for diabetes. It also helps to loss extra weight.
Onions are not used in Rava -Snake Gourd Pulp Rotti and it can be prepared on any special days or fasting days.

Things Needed :

Rava/Semolina (medium size) : 2 Cups.
Snake Gourd Pulp : 1 Cup (Cooked or raw)
Coconut : 1/2 Cup
Green chilly : 1
Coriander Leaves : 2 to 3 Tablespoons
Curry Leaves : 1 Handful
Curd : 1/2 Cup
Ginger : Small Piece (1 teaspoon-grated)
Salt : Required
Water : Required
Oil :  3 to 4 Tablespoons

Method :

1. Wash and cut curry leaves, coriander leaves and green chilly.
2. Wash and remove the outer layer of ginger, wash again, grate and keep it aside.
3. Grate coconut and keep it aside.
4. Now take a big bowl. Add rava, curd, grated coconut, ginger, cut coriander and curry leaves.
5. Add salt and snake gourd pulp. Add required water and mix all the ingredients and keep it for at least 10 minutes.

6. Now keep a dosa pan (tava) on the fire and heat. Sprinkle oil on the tava.
7. Take a handful of dough and spread it on the tava in a circle shape. (With the help of fingers).

8. Sprinkle oil on the top, cover the rotti and cook for 1 minute on medium flame.
9. Turn the other side and cook ( 30 seconds).

10 Now the rotti is ready to serve. Serve with the side dish you have prepared.

11. Repeat the same with remaining dough.
12. Serve Hot rotti with a spoon of ghee or butter on the top. Hot rotti taste better.

Note : 

You can use bottle gourd pulp, ash gourd pulp, pumpkin pulp also. Cooking the pulp helps to soften the dough and rotti comes out well. (or you need to grind them if using raw). Rava rotti dough consistency should be thicker than idly dough. It helps to spread the dough on the tava easily.
Adding onions are optional. The thickness of the rotti is optional.(thick/thin). You can use butter milk instead of curd.
Time : 30 minutes
Serves :  3 to 4