Cucumber - Green chilly Sasive

Cucumber - Green chilly Sasive/mustard curd curry is one of the side dish we relish in the beginning of the lunch. It is served /eaten first and then other side dishes arrive /served one by one.

In Kannada /Karnatka State Language, Sasive means Mustard seeds. Use of mustard seeds label the curry as Sasive. 
Curd gives coolness to our body and at the same time mustard used in the curd curry helps in taking care and protect us from catching cold.
I have used small cucumber, green chilly, fresh grated coconut, pepper pods, mustard and very little jeera/cumin seeds.
We Udupians do not add jeera or pepper to this Sasive. Its only cucumber, red or green chilly, coconut and little ingh. But the taste of Bangaloreans change a little. They do add little jeera and pepper. It might be because of the weather here. Jeera and peeper not only adds to the taste they do have medicinal value of their own. They try to avoid getting cold and helps in digestion.
Eating pepper in our daily life helps to avoid gas in the food and protect us from getting alzemere disease.
Cucumber Sasive is prepared even in some festivals and feast.

No onion or No Garlic is used here in this recipe.

Let us see the recipe Now :

Ingredients :

Small variety Cucumber : 2
Coconut : 1/2 Cup / 2 to 3 Tbs
Green chilly : 1
Pepper Pods :  5 to 6
Mustard seeds : 1/2 Tsp
Jeera : 1/4 Tsp
Ingh : A little
Salt : As required
Curd : 1 Cup
For Seasoning :
Coconut Oil /Any cooking oil : 1 Tsp
Mustard seeds : 1/2 Tsp
Ingh /Asafoetida : A little
Curry Leaves : 5 to 6 leaves

Method :

1. Wash nicely and cut cucumber into small pieces.
2. Grate fresh coconut and keep it aside.
3. Wash green chilly and curry leaves and keep it aside.
4. Now grind grated coconut, cut cucumber, green chilly, pepper pods, mustard seeds, jeera and little ingh with required water. Shift the ground mixture to a bowl.

5. Add salt and curd to the mixture and mix it well.

6. Add mustard seasoning with coconut oil, ingh and curry leaves.

7. Cucumber - Green chilly Sasive is ready to serve. Serve as one of the side dish for lunch. It goes well with plain rice. Eating this cucumber sasive helps to digest your food easily.

8. Serve as a dip to fried dishes. Serve as one of the side dish to chapati, poori palav and other masala rice dishes.

Note :

Do not make Sasive very watery. It does not taste well. Use minimum water while grinding. Cucumber provides water to grind. Adding any cooking oil to season is optional. Do not add much spice. It should be mild.
Time : 10 Minutes.
Serves : 2 to 3. 

Almonds - Oats - Ragi Laddu

Laddu/Laadu/Unde as we call it a sweet round ball of different healthy ingredients like jaggery or sugar, ghee and other ingredients. I always prepare varieties of laddu, and I do give it to our relatives and friends. Here I have prepared Rag and Oats laddu with dry fruits like almonds and raisins.
I have used Oats, almonds, raisins, ragi flour/finger millet flour and jaggery.

Oats are very rich in fiber and good for diet. Almonds filled with minerals and vitamins. Ragi flour is gluten free and good iron content.Raisins are best dry fruit and loaded with good health benefits. Jaggery provides energy and take care of our health.
Let us see the recipe now :

Things Needed :

Sesame Seeds : 2 Tablespoons
Oats : 250 Grams
Ragi /Finger Millet flour : 2 Cups
Almonds : 1 Small Cup
Raisins : 1 Small Cup
Jaggery : 1 1/2 Cups
Ghee : 1 Small Cup
Dates : 1 Big Bowl

Method :

1. Dry roast sesane seeds,  finger millet and Oats till the raw smell disappear. (Dry roast in low flame).

2. Dry grind Almonds, sesame seeds, Oats separately and remove it to a big bowl.

3. Powder Jaggery and keep it aside.
Remove the seeds from dates and smash the dates and see that it turns as one bundle.

3.Keep a pan and put powdered jaggery and 1/2 cup of water. Let it melt completely.
4. Sieve the liquid jaggery and keep it aside.

5. Now keep a pan on the fire and heat. Put cleaned jaggery and stir till it turns into one string consistency.
6. Add raisins and mix it well and stir for  a minute.

7. Put powdered Oats, Almonds and dry roasted Ragi/Finger Millet. Mix the ingredients nicely.
8. Pour jaggery mixture on the top of Ragi - Oats - Almonds powder. Do not pour at once. (
Add it little by little).

9. Add a cup of ghee and mix the ingredients nicely.

10. Take a small amount of laddu mixture and give a laddu shape. ( Round Ball shape).

11. Repeat the same and prepare all the laddu. Let it cool completely.

12. Store in a air tight box. Eat or Serve as you wish to.

Note :

The jaggery consistency should be Little more than one string consistency. Adding any nuts on the top is optional. Frying raisins in ghee is optional. I have used it with out frying. Use of more ghee is optional. You can add little more melted ghee, if you feel that laddu mixture is dry and not able to prepare laddu. (If it dries up it breaks while you are making laddu).
You can also use organic joni bella to prepare the laddu. No need to clean it.
Time : 30 to 40 Minutes.

Serves : 25 to 30 Laddus.