Sesame Gojju Avalakki

Avalakki/Poha/Aval/ is one of the easy dish that one can do within in a short time.You can prepare many many dishes using avalakki. This time I have prepared Sesame (Ellu/Till) gojju Avalakki.
I have used thick variety of avalakki, added some spice, Sesame seeds gojju, jaggery and little ghee.

Lets see some benefits of eating sesame seeds in our diet.
Sesame seeds/Gingly seeds are an excellent source of minerals and vitamins. They are rich in copper, manganese, calcium, magnesium, iron and phosphorus. They are rich in dietary fiber. They help to prevent high blood pressure. They help to build strong bones, increase heart health, help to cure sleep disorders and improve digestion. It also helps to reduce inflammation,
Let us see the recipe now :

Ingredients : 

Thick variety of Avalakki/Aval/Poha/ Beaten or flattened rice : 2 Cups.
Jaggery : 2 Tablespoons
Sesame Gojju : 1 Tablespoon
Rasam Powder : 1 Tablespoon
Turmeric powder : a pinch
Oil : 1 Tablespoon
Ghee : 1 Tablespoon
Coconut : 3 to 4 Tablespoons
Mustard seeds : 1 Teaspoon
Urid dal : 1 Teaspoon
Ground Nuts : 2 To 3 Tablespoons
Curry Leaves : 6 to 8 or more
Ingh : a little
Salt : As required

Method : 

1. Wash avalakki remove all the water and keep it aside. Add a spoon of Sesame gojju.
2. Add rasam powder, turmeric powder, jaggery, salt and mix it well.
3. Keep this avalakki for 5 to 10 minutes.

4. Wash curry leaves and keep it aside. Grate coconut.
5. Keep a pan on the fire. Add oil and heat. Put mustard seeds, urid dal and let the mustard splutter.
6. Add groundnuts and fry till they turn golden brown. Add curry leaves and ingh.
7. Now add mixed avalakki and mix it well. Add 1/4 cup of water. Let it cook on low flame.

8. Mix it slowly and let all the moisture disappear. Add a spoon of ghee on the top.
9. Add grated coconut and mix it nicely. Shift the ready avalakki to a serving dish.

10. Serve with a cup of curd.

Note :

You can use any puliyogre gojju instead of sesame gojju.  Use of any brand rasam powder is optional. Adding more/less spice is optional. Adding ghee is optional.
Time : 20 Minutes.
Serves : 3 to 4 

Recipe for Sesame gojju : 

Things Needed :
Sesame seeds : 3 to 4 Tablespoons, 4 to 5 pepper pods, 1 Tablespoon of jaggery, 1 tablespoon of ground nuts and little salt.

Method :
Dry roast sesame seeds (black/white), peper, till it pops up. Remove from the fire and let it cool. Dry roast groundnuts slightly. Dry grind sesame seeds and pepper pods till powder. Remove from the mixi jar.
Soak a lemon size of tamarind in hot water for 5 minutes and squeeze out the pulp.
Keep a pan on the fire and heat. Add tamarind pulp, salt and jaggery. Let it boil for 2 to 3 minutes. Add a pinch of turmeric powder, dry ground sesame powder and mix it well. Add roasted ground nuts. Let every thing mixes well and get thicken. Put off the fire and leave it for cooling. Sesame gojju is ready to use.
Do not keep this gojju for a long time. ( Maximum 1 Week).

Jackfruit Halwa

Jackfruit is season is still on and is available plenty in the market. We can prepare many many dishes with jackfruits, raw or rip. Jackfruit payasam, curries, kadubu/idli, muluka/sweet fried fritters and dry curry, cake dose or guli appa and happala/Papad.
Here I have prepared Jackfruit Halva and is so yummy.

I have used jackfruits, some dry nuts, corn flakes and chenna/Hurikadale/pottu kadale/ putani and jaggery. Adding chenna and corn flakes helps the halva to turn thick and it adds a good taste too.
You can keep this halva for a long time.
Let us see some benefits eating Jackfuits. 
Jackfruit is rich in vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates, fiber and protein. It has no chalories.
It contain some amount of Viamin A. It rich in B complex vitamins and Vitamin C. It has a good source of antioxidants and helps to get good immunity. Fresh fruits are good source of minerals like potassium, magnesium, manganese and iron. Potassium in jackfruit helps to maintain the sodium level in our body. It helps to reduce high blood pressure. Jackfuit is a rich source of of dietery fiber that helps to improve the digestion and prevent constipation.
Lets see the recipe now.

Ingredients :

Jackfruits : 25 to 30 fruits.
Jaggery : 1/2 Kg.
Corn flakes : 1 Cup (optional). (Any brand)
Chenna/Hurikadale/Putani/Pottu kadale : 1 Cup
Nuts : 1 Small cup (any amount)
Milk Powder : 2 Tablespoons (Optional)
Ghee : 3 to 4 Tablespoons

Method :

1. Cut jackfruits into small and add it to jaggery. (It helps the jaggery to melt soon). (10minutes).
2. Grind jackfruits and jaggery without using water and remove it from the mixi jar.

3. Cut dry fruits into small pieces. (I used walnuts, cashews and almonds).
4. Dry grind cornflakes and chenna and keep it aside.

5. Keep a pan on the fire and put ground jackfruit mixture.
6. Stir continueously on low flame. Add cornflakes and chenna dry powder.

7. Stiriing should be done continuously. Jackfruit turns into thick paste.
8. It starts to leave the pan. Add milk powder and mix it well.

9. Stir for another 5 to 10 minutes. Add the ghee at this stage and mix it well again.

10. Spread little ghee on a plate or tray. Pour the jackfruit halva mixture on the tray.

11. Even/level it nicely by adding a teaspoon of ghee on the top and spread it with spatula.
12. Leave it for cooling. It should be cooled completely. Then cut into your desired shape.

13. It takes a longer time to harden. So better leave it for at least 5 to 6 hours and then cut into small pieces.
14. Store it in a steel box or container.

Note :

It takes longer time to get the thickness for halva. One should do it on a low flame. Or it is burnt and will not be tasty.
Use of milk powder is optional. Use of dry fruits also optional. More or Less.
Cutting the jackfruit into small pieces helps grinding them quickly.
Adding jaggery to jackfruits and allow them to melt helps grind it easily.
You can also boil jaggery and filter it. ( I used fresh savayava jaggery and did not clean it).
You should use proper amount of jaggery so that it helps to get the hardness in halva.
No need to use lots of ghee because ghee comes out of halva and so much ghee in halva does not taste good.
Do not hurry to try to do it on high flame, it may turn chewy.
Use of sugar instead of jaggery is optional. (2 Cups of sugar). Useing jaggery is a healthy option.
Time : 1 hour 
30 to 40 Pieces can be made. (According to the size).
You can try this Halva with Ripe Nendra baale Hannu.