Bottle Gourd - Gongura Dal

Bottle gourd - Gongura/Kenaf leaves Dal is very easy and handy if you have Gongura leaves. It is quick and yummy dal that is healthy also.

I have used Gongura leaves which I bought from Pyramid Valley when we went last week.
I had half bottle gourd piece left in the fridge. So I put every thing together and cooked, seasoned with mustard seeds, ingh, jeera and curry leaves. Yummy dal was ready with in 20 minutes.
NO ONION or NO GARLIC used here in this Bottle Gourd - Gongura Dal.
Let us see the recipe now :
Gongura leaves are savoury and no need to use any lemon extract or tamarind pulp;
As I said it is very easy to prepare and good to have with almost all the main dishes. Good nutritious dal for all age group.

Things Needed :

To Pressure Cook :
Bottle Gourd pieces : 1 Bowl.
Gongura /Kenaf Leaves : 1 bundle. (only the leaves)
Moong dal : 1/2 Cup
Green chilly : 2 to 3
Ginger : Grated : 1 Teaspoon
To add :
Ghee : 1 Tablespoon
Pepper Pods : 1/2 Tsp
Salt : As required
Turmeric powder : A little
Seasoning :
Oil : 1 Tablespoon
Mustard seeds : 1/2 Tsp
Jeera /cumin seeds : 1/2 Tsp
Ingh/Asafoetida : A little
Curry leaves : 6 to 8 leaves.

Method :

1. Wash and remove gongura leaves from its sticks. Cut into small or put as it is in a pressure cooker.
2. Wash green chilly slit and put it with gongura leaves.

3. Wash ginger and scrape out the outer layer and grate it . Add it to gongura leaves.
4. Wash moong dal and add it to leaves.
5. Add 1/2 cup of water and little turmeric powder.
6. Wash bottle gourd and remove the outer layed of 1/2 bottle gourd. Cut it into small and put it with gongura leaves in pressure cooker.
7. Close the lid of pressure cooker and cook for 5 to 6 minutes. Leave it for cooling.

8. Keep a pan and put cooked mixture of gongura leaves, moong dal, grated ginger, slit green chilly.
9. Add required salt and a glass of water. Let it cook for 2 to 3 minutes.
10. Now keep a pan on the fire and heat. Add oil. mustard seeds, and jeera. Add crushed pepper pods.
11. Add ingh and curry leaves once the mustard seeds splutter. Add this to cooked dal .
12. Shift the ready Bottle Gourd - Gongura Dal to a serving dish and serve.

Note :

You can use toor dal instead of moong dal. Moong dal is packed with nutritious value.
Adding more chilly is optional. We like mild spice taste and do not use much spicy.
Adding more ghee is optional.
Time : 20 minutes.
Serves : 2 to 3.

Kesu /Colocasia Rava Rotti

Colocasia Rava Rotti is one of the side dish for lunch. Normally colocasia rotti is prepared using raw rice. I have used rava instead of rice and prepared this Rotti.

We from Udupi, normally use this rotti for lunch as one of the side dish. This colocasia rotti is eaten with coconut oil and the plain rice mixing together. The taste is lovely and you will surely enjoy the spicy taste.
Colocasia leaves are good for our body and it helps to protect our body from cold. The leaves are fiber rich.
Let us see the recipe Now :

Ingredients :

Medium Size Rava/Semolina : 1 Cup
Colocasia leaves : 8 to 10
Coconut : 1/2 Cup
Coriander seeds : 1 Tbs full
Jeera /Cumin Seeds : 1/2 Tsp
Tamarind : 1/2 Lemon size
Byadagi Chilly : 5 to 6
Ingh /Asafoetida : A little
Turmeric Powder : A pinch
Jaggery : 1 Tbs
Cooking Oil : 2 to 3 Tablespoons

Method :

1. Wash and cut out the stick on the top of Colocasia leaves.

2. Cut the leaves into small.

3. Grate coconut and grind it with coriander seeds, tamarind, turmeric powder,  jeera and byadagi chilly. Use required water. At last put jaggery and grind it for 1 to 2 minutes.

4. Put 1 cup of Rava/Semolina in a big bowl. Add salt. Add ground mixture. Add cut colocasia leaves.
5. Mix all the ingredients nicely.

6. Keep a tava on fire and heat. Sprinkle some oil on the tava.

7. Spread a handful batter on hot tava like dosa. (Better use fingers to spread the batter on tava).
8. Add some oil on top and cook on medium and low flame.

9. Turn the other side and cook till it turns golden brown.
10. Take out from tava  and serve Kesu /Colocasia Rava Rotti .

Note :

Use of tamarind is a must. Adding more jaggery is optional.
Use of rice flour instead of rava is optional.
Time : 30 Minutes. 
Serves : 3 to 4 Thin Rotti.