Sweet Potato - Basale (Malabar Spinach) Curry

Sweet Potato - Basale (Malabar Spinach) Curry is a gravy dish. Basale/Malabar Spinach is loaded with healthy properties and grow nicely even in pots. I have used one full bowl of leaves from our home garden.

I have used Basale, sweet potatoes, coconut and some spices.
Let us see some benefits of having Tamarind in our diet.
Tamarind contain chemincal compounds, minerals, vitamins and dietary fiber. The dietary fiber in tamarind helps in preventing constipation. They also help in reducing the bad cholesterol level in our body. Tamarind is rich in tartaric acid. It gives sour taste to food and it is powerful antioxidant. It helps our body to protect from harmful free radicals. Tamarind has rich source of minerals like copper, potassium, calcium, iron, zinc and magnesium. Potassium helps in controlling heart beat and blood pressure. Iron content in tamarind helps in production of red blood cells. Tamarind has good source of Vitamin A, folic acid, Vitamin C.
" Sweet Potato - Basale Curry " goes well with almost all the main dish.
Let us see the recipe now:

Things Needed :

To Cook :
Basale  /Malabar Spinach 1 bundle
Sweet potatoes : 2
To Grind :
Coconut : 1/2 cup
Red byadagi chilly : 4 to 5
Coriander seeds : 1 1/2 Tablespoons
Jeera /Cumin Seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon
Tamarind : Small marble size
Seasoning ;
Oil : 1 Teaspoon
Mustard Seeds " 1/2 Teaspoon
Ingh /Asafoetida : a pinch
To add :
Salt : To taste
Coriander Leaves : 2 Tablespoons

Method :

1. Wash and cut Malabar Spinach/Basale leaves and keep it aside.
2. Wash and remove the outer layer of sweet potato and wash it again and cut it into desired size.

3. Cook Basale/Malabar Spinach and sweet potato till soft.
4. Grate coconut and grind it with tamarind (remove the seeds if any), raw coriander seeds and jeera.
5. Grind it nicely and remove from the mixi jar. ( Use only required water).

6. Keep a pan on the fire and put cooked sweet potato and basale /malabar spinach.
7. Add a pinch of turmeric powder and required salt. Mix it well and let it boil for a minute.
8. Add ground coconut -spice mixture and mix it well. Let it boil for 2 to 3 minutes.

9. Shift the ready Sweet Potato - Basale curry to a serving dish.
10. Add cut coriander leaves and mustard seasoning.

11. Add a spoon of ghee and mix it nicely.
12. Serve with the main dish you have prepared.

Note:

You can use a pressure cooker to cook leaves and sweet potatoes. (Optional). This curry is called Hasi Huli (curry) since the spices are used raw. (Not roasted). Use of jaggery is optional. I have not used.
It has no dals in in it. (Toor /Moong). Use of dals are optional. You can also use very little (1 teaspoon of) soaked raw rice while grinding coconut and spices. It helps the curry to be thick but the taste differ.  I have not used. This is one of traditional raw spice curry in Dakshina Kannada/South Canara and Malenadu side. Use of onions and garlic is optional. I have not used.
Time : 20 Minutes.
Serves : 3 to 4 

Raw Tomato Curry

Raw Tomato Curry is prepared using green tomatoes. Green tomatoes are from our home garden. Tomatoes can be grown nicely in the pots. It is nice to see vegetables grow in your own garden.
I have used green tomatoes, onions and home prepared spice powder.

Raw Tomato curry a side dish which goes well with almost all the main dishes  like plain rice. chapatis, poori, dosa, idli and all types of rotis.
 Let us see some benefits of having " Green Tomatoes " in our diet.
Green tomatoes are rich in antioxidants and B Vitamins. The antioxidants help in protecting our immune system and prevent premature aging. It has good amount of iron. They contain some amount of B complex vitamins and they help our body to use proteins, fat and carbohydrates and help to produce energy. They also help in producing good blood cells (red blood cells). Green tomatoes contain Vitamin K. They contain very low amount of minerals like iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium and manganese. These minerals help us taking care of good production of blood cells, proper nerve function, and bones and muscles. They contain some amount of protein, fiber and wide range of nutrients.

Let us see the recipe now :

Things needed

Green Tomatoes : 8 to 10 ( I have used very small tomatoes )
Onions : 2
Green chilly : 2
Ginger Gratings: 1 Teaspoon
Spice powder/Sambar Powder/Rasam Powder 1 Tablespoon
Salt : As required
For Seasoning :
Oil : 1 Tablespoon
Jeera/Cumin Seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon
Mustard Seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon
Ingh/Asafoetida : A pinch
Curry Leaves : 6 to 8 Leaves
Coriander Leaves : 1 Tablespoon
Lemon : 1 Teaspoon

Method :

1. Wash and cut tomatoes into small pieces.

2. Remove the outer layer of onions, wash and cut it into small pieces.
3. Wash and cut curry leaves, green chilly and coriander leaves. Keep it aside.
4. Keep a pan on the fire.Heat. Put oil and mustard seeds. Let it splutter.
5. Add cumin seeds and ingh/Asafoetid. Add curry leaves,  green chilly and cut onions.

6. Fry nicely for 30 seconds. Add cut tomatoes.
7. Mix it well and fry for 1 to 2 minutes.

8. Add 1/2 cup of water and let it cook till soft. Add grated ginger and salt.

9.Mix it well. Add spice powder.
10. Mix it well and cook for 2 minutes.

11. Add coriander leaves. Shift the ready curry to a serving dish. Add little more coriander leaves.
12. Serve Raw Tomato Curry as one of the side dish.

Note :

Use of onions and garlic is optional. I have used onions. Adding of spice powder is your choice. Rasam powder and Sambar powder is also suits this curry. Adding ghee/butter is optional. Adding more/less chilly is optional. Use of garam masala/chat masala powder is optional.
Time: 15 Minutes.
Serves : 2 to 3.

Spice powder recipe.

Roast 1 teaspoon of urid dal, channa dal, 2 Tablespoons of coriander seeds, 1/4 teaspoon of methi/fenugrik seeds, red chilly (byadagi menasu) 1/2 Teaspoon of jeera/cumin seeds one by one. Dry grind with 2 tablespoons of dry coconut (2 tablespoons). Now remove from the mixi jar and use it whenever you want it.