Udupi Style Lady's Finger Curry /ಬೆಂಡೆಕಾಯಿ ಹುಳಿ

Lady finger/Bendekai /bendi is one of the wonderful vegetable that most of us like to eat. It has got loads of nutrients and medicinal values. This Lady Finger Curry is one of the traditional dish that prepared regularly in Udupi homes. These Bendekai/Lady's finger is brought all the way from Udupi.

Recently I had been to Udupi/Udyavara for my aunt's one year rituals. The time one year has already passed but she is in our heart  and will remain as such sweet memory.
Udupi  car street was full of life because of Shri Krishna Janmastami/Gokulastami festival and the whole Udupi is lightened up. People were busy buying the things they want for the next day festival. Loads and loads of vegetables and fruits, flowers all over around car street. We had been for lunch in Bhojana Shale as Saturday lunch is so auspicious. God bless one and all. While coming back to Udyava/sister's house, we got this Ooru Bendekai/Lady's finger grown around Udupi and Mangalore.
I have used Bendekai, tamarind, jaggery and some simple spices.
This is one of the traditional dish from Udupi.
No Onion OR Garlic is used in this Lady's Finger Curry.
Let us see the recipe now :

Ingredients :

To Cook :
Lady's Finger /Bendekai : 5 to 6
Tamarind pulp : 2 Tablespoons
Jaggery : 1 Teaspoon
Salt : As required
Turmeric powder : A pinch
Green chilly : 1
To Grind :
Coriander seeds : 2 Tablespoons
Jeera/ Cumin seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon
Red byadagi chilly : 4 to 5
To Season :
Oil : 1 Tablespoon
Mustard seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon
Ingh : A pinch
Curry Leaves : 6 to 8

Method : 

1. Soak marble size of tamarind in warm water and squeeze out the pulp. Keep the pulp aside.
2. Wash and clean the bendekai/Lady's finger and just wipe out the moisture from each lady's finger.
3. Cut lady's finger into small pieces ( an inch ) and keep it aside.

4. Put tamarind pulp in a pan and keep it on the fire.
5. Add salt, turmeric powder and a small piece of jaggery. Let it boil nicely.

6. Keep another pan on the fire, add mustard seeds and let mustard seeds splutter.
7. Add curry leaves and fry for 2 to 3 seconds.
8. Add lady's finger now and fry on low flame for 4 to 5 minutes on medium and low flame.

9. Now add this fried lady's finger pieces to tamarind water. Cook for 5 to 6 minutes.
10. Let Lady's finger turn slightly fried.

11. Grate coconut and grind it with raw coriander seeds, cumin seeds and red byadagi chilly.
12. Add required water and grind till paste. Remove the coconut mixture from the mixi jar.

13. Now add ground coconut mixture to cooked lady's finger and mix it well. Add slit green chilly.

 14. Add required water and mix it well. Let it boil on medium flame. Add salt if required.
Stir in between so that it does not get burnt at bottom.

  15. Shift Lady's finger curry to a serving dish and add cut coriander leaves.
16. Serve with the main dish you have prepared.

 Note : 

Do not cut lady's finger when they have moisture on them. Wash it nicely and then clean it with a clean dry towel.
Fry lady's finger pieces nicely in little oil and then add / prepare curry of your choice.
Boil tamarind water with salt and turmeric and then add lady's finger pieces and then cook, so that you will not get sticky substance or your curry will not turn as sticky content.
Adding handful of cooked toor dal helps the curry to bind with coconut mixture or use little more coconut to get the thick curry. I have used a handful of cooked dal to this curry.
Adding more /less chilly is optional.
Adding jaggery to the curry is optional. It helps to avoid gas formation in the curry.
Do not roast or fry the spices. This is raw spice curry and easy to prepare.
Time.: 30 Minutes.
Serves : 3 to 4.

Dates - Nendra Bale Halva

Dates - Nendra Bale Halva is a sweet dish. It is prepared using Nendra bale and dates with some dry fruits. It is soft and delicious sweet which you really relish it with your calm mind.

I have used Dates, Nendra bale and elakki banana with raisins, a few cashews and jaggery. I have also used poppy seeds on the top and it gives a yummy taste and you really enjoy having them.
Let us see some benefits of eating Poppy Seeds in our diet.
Poppy seeds are good content of calcium and magnesium. Calcium helps our bones and teeth to be strong and it helps the nerve and muscle function well. Magnesium helps in providing energy to the body. Poppy seeds have good source of anti -inflammatory properties. It helps to treat sleep disorder/insomnia. It is a good source of dietary fiber, minerals like calcium, magnesium andiron, vitamins and omega 6 fatty acids. Poppy seeds are used in Ayurvedic medicines. It is said to be a great pain reliever. It improves immunity in our body. It helps to improve digestion and prevent kidney stones. It is also used in cosmetics.
Let us see the recipe Now :

Things Needed : 

Nendra banana /Nendra balehannu : 2
Yalakki Banana : 2
Corn flakes : 1 Bowl ( Medium sized bowl)
Jaggery : 1 Cup
Almonds : 10 to 12
Raisins : 1 Handful
Ghee : 3 to 4 Tablespoons. / Little more than 1/2 cup
Dates :  250 Grams
Chiroti Rava /Thin variety of rava : 3 Tablespoons
Poppy Seeds/ Gasagase : 2 Tablespoons

Method : 

1. Remove the seeds from dates and remove the outer layer of bananas.

2. Dry grind almonds /cut almonds into thin slices.
3. Grind dates and bananas together and remove it from the mixi jar.

4. Dry grind cornflakes and keep it aside.

5. Keep a pan on the fire and add jaggery. Add an half cup of water and let it melt completely.
6. Remove it from the pan and sieve it with a siever and keep the clean jaggery aside.
7. Keep a big pan on the fire and put cleaned jaggery and ground banana -dates mixture. Add powdered corn flakes. Mix all the ingredients well.

 8. Stir nicely and let it cook on low flame. Add ghee in between and keep stirring the mixture.

 9. Slowly the mixture starts to thicken and it starts to leave the pan. Add ghee and stir nicely.
 10.  Add small size rava/semolina and stir for 3 to 4 minutes. See that rava mixes well with halva.

11. Let the flame be slow and medium. It changes its colour and starts to leave the ghee.
12. Apply little ghee on a plate /tray and keep it ready. Add raisins and powdered almonds.
 13. Put the ready Dates - Nendra Banana to the ghee greased plate and spread it evenly with a help of spoon.

 14. Let it cool completely. Add poppy seeds on the top. Press a little on the top.

 15. Cut Dates - Nendra Bale halva , according to your wish. ( Small / Big/diamond shape or a round shape.

16. Serve them once it is cooled completely.  

 Note.

Halva is soft and delicious. Adding more nuts is optional. Adding more jaggery is optional. Do not add much semolina though it helps to thicken fast, it taste differ. Adding more ghee is optional.
Time : 30 to 35 Minutes.
Serves : 25 to 30 Small sizes.