Monday, January 14, 2008

Sweet Pongal ( Huggi )

Happy Shankrathi to you all.
Shankranthi is a Harvest Festival in some places and Sun is moving from Dakshinayana to Uttarayana.. A special occasion to celebrate. Yellu Bella Tindu olle Matadu ..this is kannada saying. People in Karnataka have a tradition..they mix up roasted jingly seeds with roasted ground nuts adding jagary and dried coconut. (Both cut in to small pieces) This specialy made eatable is served to all houses nearby and near ones and dear ones.
This tradition brings up a good harmony in the area around...live happily with oneness.

Things Needed
Rice: 1/2 cup.
Moong Dal 1/2 cup
jagary: ( Bella in Kannada): 1 cup
Ghee : 2 to 3 Table spoon
Cashew nuts : 4 to 6 ( cut in to small)
Cardamum: 2 to 3 seeds

Method: 
1. Wash rice and moong dal and pressure cook for 10 minutes. Leave it for cooling. Powder cardamum and keep it aside.
2.Keep a big pan on the fire and heat.
3. Put a spoon of ghee and heat. Fry cashew nuts in that ghee till they are brown. Remove them from the pan.
4. Now put jaggery  in that pan and put cooked rice and moong dal.
5. Stir until water disappears. Add cashew nuts cardamum and ghee.
6. Cook until it mixes with jaggery and put some ghee and fried cashew nuts
7. Shift the ready pongal to the serving bowl.
8.Serve this sweet pongal during the lunch or dinner.

Note : 
Cook on slow fire. You can add coconut if you like. Add coconut just before serving.
Time : 30 minutes.
Serving: 3 to 4

Saturday, December 15, 2007

Carrot parota

Paratas are very famous staple food of North Indians. Punjabi Parathas are world famous. Paratas are prepared with veggies, plain or dal etc. Hot parata and ghee or butter on the top of parata with pickle or any curry is enjoyable at any time of the day. Paratas or Indian  flatbread is made of wheat. Wheat is grown widely and it is the main crop of Punjab and North India. So it is one of the reason paratas are the staple food of people of North India . They eat parathas any time of the day like, breakfast or snack or dinner.
I have prepared Carrot Paratas, using carrots, onions and little spices. It can be prepared easily and you don't have to look for a curry for this parata. A cup of curd and a little pickle will help you to enjoy your Carrot Parata.
Let us see some benefits of eating carrots in our diet.
Carrots are rich in anti - oxidants, vitamins and dietary fiber. They have very less amount of fat and no cholesterol. They are rich in Vitamin . Beta-carotene is one of the powerful natural anti oxidant that helps and protect human body from harmful oxygen free radical injury. They are good in Vitamin C and it helps the body to maintain healthy connective tissue, teeth and gum. They are rich in many B-complex group of vitamins such as folic acid. They contian minerals like copper, calcium, potassium, manganese and phosphorus
Carrot Parota can be eaten at anytime of the day. It can be prepared for breakfast, or evening snack and for dinner.

Things Needed :

Wheat flour;   2 cup
Carrot: 2 to 3 ( medium size )
Onion : 2 (small size)
Green chillies: 2
Coriander leaves: 6 to 8 sticks.
Ginger: a small piece
Cummin/Jeera seeds: 1/2 Tea spoon
Garam Masala Powder : 1/2 Teaspoon
Jeera/cumin powder : 1/2 Teaspoon
Salt: to taste.
Oil: 3 to 4 Table spoon

Method:

1. Wash and grate (just remove the outer layer) carrots. Cut onions into small pieces.
2. Wash and cut coriander leaves and green chilly into thin pieces.
3. Take a big pan and put wheat flour a spoon of ghee or oil and mix. Add water little by little and prepare dough. Keep it aside.
4. Keep a pan on the fire and heat. Add oil and jeera. Fry for 10seconds. Add cut onions and fry for a minute.
5. Add carrots, green chilly and fry till all the moisture disappear. Add salt and jeera powder, garam masala powder.
6. Stir nicely and mix it well. Add coriander leaves and stir till all the moisture disappear. ( or you may not be able to roll pJarata).
7. Now take prepared dough and divide them into small portion.
8. Take a small portion of dough and kneed it. Flatten the dough slightly and place a tablespoon of ready carrot onion mixture.
9. Cover the dough from all side and make it as a ball.
10. Keep some wheat flour in a plate.
11. Take filled wheat dough, dip it in the flour and roll slowly with a ruler. Let it be bit thick.
12. Heat tava on the fire and sprinkle oil on it. Place the rolled  carrot onion parata on the tava.
13. Cook on both side and sprinkle some oil on both side. Let the parata turn slightly golden brown on each side.
14. Remov from the pan and serve with the main dish and a cup of curd along with Carrot parata.
15. Repeat the same with remaining dough.

Note : 

Let the fried mixture be completely dry while cooking. You can use more or less chilly. (optional). Using ghee or butter to cook parata is optional. You can use more or less spices.
Time : 30 to 40 minutes. 
 Serves : 3 to 4 people .        

Jack fruits Seeds Tikki

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author
My name is Nalini Somayaji. Teaching is my profession. Cooking is my passion. Reading, travelling, visiting new places, having fun with kids are some of the hobbies I can say. My recipes are Healthy, quick, easy and simple. Grown up being a traditional family member I love and respect Indian culture and traditions. Love classical dance and music.
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