Toor Dal - Ondelaga Chutney

Toor dal - Ondelaga Chutney is a side dish that goes well with most of the main dishes. We had this Toor Dal - Ondelaga chutney for lunch.

Ondelaga/Gotukola is used as culinary vegetable and it is a medicinal herb plant. 

I have used Toor dal, red byadagi chilly, ingh/Asafoetida, curry leaves, tamarind pulp and fresh coconut gratings.

Let us see some benefits of eating Ondelaga/Gotukola leaves in our diet.

The plant yield only one leaf in its stem so that it is called as Ondelaga. (One leaf). 

It is used as a culinary vegetable and as a medicinal herb. It is known a Mandukaparni In Sanskrit. It is in the shape of frog so that it got its name as Mandukaparni.
People call it as Brahmi also because it is loaded with medicinal values.
Its known as Ondelaga in Kannada/Karnataka.
Saraswathi Aku in Telugu/Andra pradesh.
Vallari Keerai in Tamil/Tamilnaadu
Karivan or Karivana in Marati /Maharasthtra
Kandha Brahmi in Gujrati /Gujarat
Thulkudi in Bengali /Bengal
Bengsag and Brahmi in Hindi

It helps in good relief for pains. It boost cognitive function.
 Ondelaga helps in reducing anxiety and stress. It helps in controlling the blood sugar level.
It also helps in reducing the swelling and improve the circulation of blood.
Gotukola is rich in anti inflammatory properties and helps to reduce the joint pains and arthritis.
It is good for memory power. It is good for our skin health and hair health.
Gotukola helps to detoxify our body and keeps us in good health
It is good for blood pressure since it helps in controlling the blood pressure level by decreasing the tension and anxiety in our body.
It is good for digestive disorders, helps in strengthening nervous function and memory power in us.
Let us see the recipe Now :
Do Not Fry the leaves when you cook. It looses its healthy benefits when it is cooked. It should be added at the end of the process of cooking.

Ingredients :
Ondelaga Leaves : 1 Handful
Toor Dal : 1 Tbs
Oil : 1/2  Tsps
Tamarind : Small marble size
Byadagi chilly : 4 to 5
Ingh /Asafoetida : A little
Salt : As required
Coconut : 1 Cup
To Season :
Oil : 1 Tsp
Mustard seeds : 1/2 Tsp
Ingh : A little
Curry Leaves : 5 to 6

Method : 

1. Keep a small frying pan on the fire and heat. Add half tsp of oil, 1 tablespoon of toor dal.
2. Add 4 to 5 byadagi chilly and fry nicely till toor daal turns as golden red.
3. Add little ingh and put off the fire.

4. Add a handful of ONDELAGA leaves and mix it well. Keep it aside.

5. Soak little tamarind in warm water for 5 minutes and squeeze out the pulp. Keep the pulp aside.

6. Grate coconut and grind it with fried mixture, tamarind pulp, salt. Add water if required while grinding.
7. Take it out from the mixi jar and put it to a serving dish.

8. Add mustard seeds seasoning with little ingh and curry leaves.

9. Toor dal - Ondelaga Chutney is ready to serve.

10. Enjoy Toor Dal - Ondelaga Chutney with your food.

Note :

Fry dal till it turns golden brown. You should be careful while adding water if required.
Adding more chilly is optional.
Use or more coconut is optional.
Time : 15 to 20 Minutes.
Serves : 3 to 4 .

Aloo Palya

Aloo/Potato Palya / Potato Dry Curry is an easy and yummy Palya. It is fantastic combination for Curd Rice or any other main dishes. Here is Aloo Palya with South Indian touch, try and enjoy.

I have used Potatoes/Aloo, seasoning with usual mustard seeds and jeera. Added some sambar powder to give South Indian taste. Added some coconut to give South Canara taste. The combination was super good and we enjoyed it as one of the side dish with our lunch.
I also prepared Parata/Parota with the same Aloo Palya. Give a try and enjoy parota also. You will definitely like the taste.
Aloo is full of carbs and it provides energy to our body. It is better to cook rather than frying. Frying potato is not that good.
Its a simple curry and easy to prepare it.
Let us see the recipe Now :

Ingredients :

To Cook :
Potatoes /Aloo : 2 to 3 (Medium sized).
Seasoning : 
Cooking Oil : 2 Tb
Mustard Seeds : 1 Teaspoon
Jeera /Cumin Seeds : 1 Tsp
Curry Leaves : 6 to 8
To Add :
Salt : As Required
Turmeric Powder : A little
Ingh/Asafoetida : A little
Chilly Powder : 1/2 Tsp
Pepper Pods : 4 to 5
Sambar Powder : 1 Tbs
Fresh Grated Coconut :  2 to 3 Tbs
Green chilly : 1

  Method :

1. Wash and peel off the outer layer of potatoes.
2.Cut them as french fry shape. ( Long and thin).  Wash and slit a green chilly.

3. Wash it again and take out all the water and keep the potatoes aside. Grate coconut and keep it aside.
4. Keep a pan on the fire and heat. Add cooking oil, mustard seeds and jeera.
5. Let mustard seeds splutter. Add ingh, slit green chilly, crushed pepper and curry leaves.

6. Add cut potatoes and stir slowly. Let the flame be low and medium.
7. Sprinkle some water and cook. Stir in between. Crush pepper pods and keep it aside.

8. Add little turmeric powder and mix it well.

9. Let it cook till soft. Add required salt.
10. Add chilly powder and sambar powder.

11. Mix it nicely and add grated coconut. Cook on low flame for 2 minutes.

12. Put off the fire and shift Palya to a serving dish.

13 We had Aloo Palya for our lunch.

14. I used the palya to prepare Parota at night.

Note :
Adding more oil is optional. You need to add water little by little till Potato turns soft. (Do not add at once. Adding little by little is advisable).
Adding sambar powder adds to the taste.
No onions or garlic used.
Adding coconut is optional.
Time : 25 to 30 Minutes.
Serves : 3 to 4 .