Cow Peas - Mangalore Southekai Curry

Cow Peas - Mangalore Southekai Curry is a gravy dish.

Mangalore Southekai/Mangalore Cucumber/Bannada Soutehkai/Colour Cucumber is one of the vegetable from Mangalore so it is called Mangalore Southekai. We do use this vegetable for many dishes even in dosa, seeds are used for a type of "Rasam", the outer layer is used for chutney so and so.
Here is a curry which I have used Mangalore Southekai, Avade/Cow Peas
(Red) and home made spice powder.

Let us see some benefits of eating Avade/Tadaguni Kalu/Cow Pea in our diet.
Cow pea is good for digestive health. It is one of the healthy dietary fiber content. They are rich in fiber. They help in taking cae of heart protection.It helps in balancing the cholesterol in our body.
No Onion or No Garlic used in this " Cow Pea - Mangalore Southekai Curry ".

Let us see the recipe Now :

Things Needed :

To Cook :
Cow Peas : 1 Cup
Toor Dal : 1 Handful
Mangalore Southekai : 1 Bowl
French Beans : 2 Handful (10 to 15 )
To Grind :
Home made Curry Powder : 2 to 3 Teaspoons
Tamarind : 1 Small marble size
Coconut : 2 to 3 Tablespoons
To Season
Oil : 1 Teaspoon
Mustard Seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon
Jeera : 1/4 Teaspoon
Ingh/Asafoetida : A pinch
Curry Leaves : 6 to 8
To Add :
Ground Paste
Turmeric powder : a pinch
Salt : As required
Ghee : 1 Teaspoon
Coriander Leaves : 1 Tablespoon

 Method :

1. Wash cowpeas and soak for 2 to 3 hours. Wash toor dal and keep it aside.

2 Wash and cut french beans and Cucumber. Soak cucumber in a big bowl of water for 10 minutes.

3. Now put cow peas, dal, cut cucumber and beans in a pressure cooker and add little water.
4. Pressure cook for 5 to 6 minutes. Let it cool.

5. Cut/Grate coconut, add tamarind and homemade curry powder and grind it with little water.

6. Remove from the mixi jar and keep it aside.

7. Now add salt, turmeric powder to the cooked dal and vegetables. Add little water and cook for a minute.
8. Add ground spice mixture and mix it well.

9. Let it cook for 3 to 4 minutes. Shift the curry to a serving dish. Add mustard seeds - jeera seasoning and mix it well.
10. Serve with the main dish you have prepared. Add a teaspoon of fresh ghee just before serving.

Note :

Soak Cow peas for at least 5 to 6 hours/over night. (It doubles the size and cooks faster). Use of any brand sambar/rasam powder is optional. I prepared homemade Huli/Sambar powder. If you are using ready sambar powder/curry powder use a small piece of cinnamon. It adds to the taste. Use of onion and garlic is optional. Use of jaggery is optional. I did not use jaggery. Cooking Southekai with its skin is optional. Soaking cut cucumber pieces helps to remove the bitterness in Southekai.
Time : 20 Minutes
Serves : 4 to 5

Home Made Huli/Sambar Powder. 

Things Needed :
1/4 Teaspoon of Methi/Fenugrik seeds
2 Tablespoons of coriander seeds
4 to 5 Red chilly (Byadagi)
1/2 Teaspoon of Jeera/Cumin Seeds.
A small piece of cinnamon
1/2 Teaspoon of Poppy seeds.
Ingh/Asafoetida : a little
Method :
Dry roast/fry (1/2 teaspoon of cooking oil) methi seeds till brown, add coriander seeds and roast nicely. Add red chilly, cinnamon piece and roast for 1 minute and put off the fire. Add jeera and poppy seeds. Mix it well and dry grind once it is cooled. Huli/Sambar Powder is ready to use.
Note : Do the roasting process on medium and low flame.

Kadaayi Paneer My style

Kadaayi Paneer is one of the famous yummy dish which most of the people love to have it with rotis, chapatis or any type of bread (Naan).

I wanted to prepare this Kadaayi Paneer since long back. One of the friend in Face book, Roopa Satish requested me to prepare this long back. My sons like Paneer and I am not a big fan of Paneer. Once in a while it is ok to have, though it is one of the milk content. I am fond and big fan of milk and ghee.
Let us see some benefits of having " Paneer" in our diet.
Paneer is made from milk and it has good source of proteins. Paneer is very popular in India. Paneer is known as cottage cheese, Paneer takes longer time to digest so it keeps the hunger away. Paneer is loaded with calories and it is very good for hard working people. Paneer contain calcium and good for healthy bones and teeth. It also help in improving the metabolism of our body. Paneer is one of the nutritious food for vegetarians.
Kadaayi means a pot, which is used for cooking. I have used 200 grams of Nandini Paneer, which is one of the reliable good suppliers for milk and milk product here in Karnataka.
I have used tomatoes, fresh roasted spices, cashews and fresh milk cream here.
NO ONIONS OR NO GARLIC IS USED IN THIS ' KADAI PANEER' .

Lets see the recipe :

Things Needed :

To Cook:
Paneer : 200 grams (Nandini)
Capsicum : 1

To Grind 
Tomatoes : 2 (Medium size)
Ginger : half inch
Cashew Nuts : 1 Tablespoons
Tamarind : A small marble size
Dry roasted spices

To Dry roast 
Coriander seeds : 2 Tablespoons.
Jeera: 1/2 Teaspoons
Pepper Pods : 3 to 4
Red chilly : 3 to 4

To Season 
Oil : 1 Tablespoon
Jeera : 1/2 Teaspoon

 To Add :
Ground spice paste
Garam Masala powder : 1/2 Teaspoon
Turmeric Powder : A pinch
Kasoori Methi ( Raw Methi powder ) : 1 Tablespoon
Fresh Cream : 2 Tablespoons
Coriander Leaves : 2 Tablespoons

Method : 

1. Cut paneer into small pieces.

2. Wash and boil tomatoes for 2 minutes. Remove the outer skin and cut into small. Keep it aside.
3. Wash and cut capsicum (remove the seeds and bulb) and cut into small pieces. Soak Paneer pieces in Hot water. 

4. Keep a pan and dry roast coriander seeds, jeera, pepper and red chilly. ( I used byadagi chilly).

5. Grind it with tomato pieces, cashews, ginger, tamarind and roasted spice mixture.

6. Keep a little pan and heat. Add a tablespoon of oil and jeera. Let jeera turn slightly brown.
8. Add cut capsicum and fry nicely till it turns soft. Put off the fire.

9. Keep little bigger pan on the fire and put ground spice, cashew mixture. Add salt and garam masala powder . Mix all the ingredients nicely. Add a pinch of turmeric powder. Let it boil for 2 minutes. Add water if required.

10. Add Paneer pieces (only the paneer pieces) and mix it nicely. Let it boil for 3 to 4 minutes.

11.Add Kasoori Methi and mix it. Add fried capsicum and mix it well. Let it boil for a minute.

12. Kadaai Paneer is ready to serve. Shift the ready Kadaai Paneer to a serving dish.

13. Add cut coriander leaves and fresh cream on the top and serve.

14. Serve with your choice of Roti/poori/naan/chapati ...

Note :

Frying paneer pieces in oil is optional. (Not that healthy).
Put the fried Paneer in Hot water so that paneer pieces will be soft and yummy.
Adding more spice like chat masala or any other spices is optional. Adding butter/fresh cream according to your wish. (More calories :) ). Use of fresh roasted spice adds to the taste. You can also use coriander powder and jeera powder instead of roasting the spice. Use of any brand " Paneer " is optional.
Time : 20 to 25 Minutes
Serves : 4 to 5