Pasta My style

Eating Pasta has become a passion now a days. Though it has ni taste and does not take much spice, it does a magic on all age group. I have tried this pasta on my style . It was yummy and we liked it very much.

Varieties of Pasta and noodles are available in the market. You get wheat pasta and noodles which are healthy options. Lots of veggies can be mixed with pasta so that kids do eat veggies along with pasta.
Normally pastas are loaded with cheese and tomatoes or cream.
I have just tried this pasta that suits our taste. I have used carrots, beans and tomatoes.  Added Oregano leaf powder. It added the taste in Pasta.Added some fried potatoes.

Let us see some benefits of having Oregano in our diet.O

Oregano is a herb which has its own aroma and belongs to mint family. The name  oregano derived from the Greek. Oregano means " mountain of joy ". This perennial herb's scientific name Origanum Vulgare. It is loaded with health benefits. It protects the immune system in our body. Helps to prevent chronic disease. It helps to improve digestion, detoxify the body and strengthen our bones. It also improve our heart health and increase energy levels.
It boost immunity in our body. It has a rich source of anti bacterial properties and take care of our body . It is full of fiber and helps in an easy digestion. Oregano is a natural form of Omega - 3 acids and it helps in balancing cholesterol levels, reduces inflammation and helps to prevent heart attack and strokes. Oregano is filled with nutrients and other organic compounds. It has manganese, calcium, iron, vitamin K and other organic compounds. It helps in detoxifying our body.

 Let us see the recipe now :

Things Needed :

Wheat Pasta : (Any shape) : 1 Bowl : 250 Grams
Carrots : 2
Capsicum : 1
Tomatoes : 2 (Medium sized)
Beans : Handful .
Potatoes : 2 (Medium sized)
Jeera /Cumin seeds : 1 Teaspoon
Oregeno : 1 Teaspoon
Salt : As required
Chilly Powder : 1/2 Teaspoon
Jeera : 1/2 Teaspoon
Ginger : An inch
Olive Oil : 2 Tablespoons
Coriander leaves : 2 to 3 Tablespoons
Oil : 1/2 Cup ( To fry potatoes) (Optional)

Method :

1.Keep water for boiling and cook pasta til they are slightly soft. Add a teaspoon of oil.

2. Remove and drain all the extra water and put cooked pasta in a big bowl.

3. Wash and cut tomatoes, beans, coriander leaves, carrots and capsicum into very small pieces.
4. Cook capsicum, beans, and carrots with very little water and let all the moisture disappear while cooking.
5. Remove the outer layer of potatoes and cut into finger chips shape. (Long and thin). Wash and keep it aside. Remove the outer layer of ginger, wash it and grate it.
6. Keep a pan and add olive oil and heat. Add jeera and fry till it turn slightly golden brown.
7. Add thin cut tomatoes and fry nicely till it leaves the pan. Add cooked capsicum
, beans and carrots.
8. Fry nicely till they turn slightly golden brown. Add grated ginger. chilly powder and salt. Mix it well.
9. Add Cooked pasta and mix it slowly. Let it cook nicely on low flame. Sprinkle Oregano on the top.
10. Remove it from the pan and add cut coriander leaves.

11. Keep a frying pan on the fire and add oil. Fry cut potatoes nicely till they turn golden brown and remove it from the oil. Fry all the potato pieces same way and put it on a kitchen tissue.
12 .Add this fried potatoe to Pasta just before serving.

Note:

Cook pasta nicely till they turn soft. Adding any other vegetables to pasta is optional. Potatoes can be cooked and add it to pasta instead of frying potatoes in oil. (Healthy option). Adding oregano is optional. But adding Oregano helps in many ways. Adding some Indian spices like garam masala , channa masala , pav baji masala et. can be added while cooking vegetables. Adding more oil is optional. Adding onions and garlic is optional. You can also cook tomatoes till soft and grind it like a paste. You can use this tomato paste to cook pasta. ( I cut the tomatoes into very small pieces. Adding french fries to Pasta is optional. ( You can cook and add it at the end.). Adding onions and garlic is optional.
Time : 40 minutes. (Al together).
Serves : 2 to 3.

Southekai Dose (Mangalore Cucumber dosa)

Southekai /Mangalore Cucumber Dosa is one more Udupi Special dish.  We have it with Jaggery. (Joni bella).

Uduipi is in the southern part of Karnataka and its quite hot since its on the edge of Arabian sea. (Coastal side). People have the habit of keeping themselves cool. The food too is depending upon the climate. It is always a mild and yummy food. I have a recipe here which is prepared using Mangalore

Southekai/Cucumber.

I have used raw rice, mangalore cucumber, liitle jeera/cumin seeds, pepper and little coconut. No need to ferment and you can have them with any type of chutney, sambar/curry or even plain jaggery.

Let us see the recipe now :

Things needed :

Raw Rice : 2 Cups

Mangalore Cucumber/Southekai : 1/2 ( Medium sized 1/2 mangalore cucumber).

Coconut : 1 small bowl.

 Pepper pods : 4 to 5
Jeera/Cumin seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon

Salt : As required 

Oil : 3 to 4 Tablespoons

Method : 

1. Wash and soak rice for 2 hours.
2. Wash and remove the outer layer of Southekai and remove the seeds and pulp.
3. Cut southekai/cucumber into small pieces. Soak the pieces in water for 5 minutes. Wash it again.
4.Grate coconut and grind it with rice and cucumber pieces. (Add very little water to grind).

5. Add jeera/cumin seeds, pepper pods and grind along with rice and cucumber.

6. Remove it from mixi jar to a bowl. Add salt and mix required water.
7. Dosa dough should be normal dosa consistency.

8. Keep a pan and heat. Sprinkle little oil and clean it with a kitchen tissue.
9. Take a ladle full of dough and spread it around the pan.
10. Sprinkle little oil on the top and let it cook. Turn the other side and cook for a minute.

11. Remove it from the pan. Repeat the same with remaining dough/
12. Serve hot Southekai dosa with side dish you prepared. We had it with jaggery and chutney pudi.

Note :

Do not add much water while grinding. Southekai provides the required water. If the dough turns watery add little rice flour and mix it. Adding coconut adds to the taste. This is one of the Udupi Special dosa and no need of fermentation. Soaking Southekai pieces helps to remove the bitterness if any. Dosa will not be so crispy or thin.
Type : South Canara 
Time : 2 hours + 20 minutes
Serves : 3 to 4.