Raw Banana Dry Curry ( Palya )

Raw Banana/ Balekai is used as vegetable. So many dishes can be prepared with Raw Banana. Here is a simple and quick dish that is " Raw Banana Dry Curry ". Dry Curry can be eaten with plain rice, chapati, roti, poori. This curry is very easy to prepare and quick too. Having this curry with hot plain rice and a spoon of ghee makes you more hungry than ever. Try it out..and you will surely agree with my words.

I have used raw banana and very little spices.
Lets see the benefits of having "Banana" in our diet. 
Plantains/Bananas are nutritious fruit. They consist of fiber and energy source. They are good energy boosters. Good for people who suffer from constipation since it contain good amount of dietary fiber. bananas contain potassium and it helps to prevent high blood pressure. Raw bananas are good to treat ulcers. They help in decreasing acidity and reducing irritation.
As I said earlier, Raw banana dry curry is easy, simple and quick to prepare.
I have not used any onions or garlic here. (Optional).

Things Needed :Ingredients :

Raw Banana : 2
coconut ( grated ) : 1 Table spoon
Mustard : 1/2 Tea spoon
Urd Daal : 1/2 Tea spoon
Jeera :1/2 Teaspoon
Curry leaves : 5 to 6 leaves or more.
coriander leaves : 4 to 5 sticks
Oil.: 1 Table spoon
Salt : to taste.
Turmeric Powder : a pinch
Chilli powder : 1/2 Tea spoon
Water : 1/4 Cup

Method :

1. Wash and remove the outer thick layer of outside of raw banana.

2. Cut the banana into small pieces and put it in a bowl of water, so that it does not turn black.

3. Wash and cut coriander and curry leaves.
4. Now keep a pan on the fire and heat. Add a tablespoon of oil.
5. Add mustard seeds, urid dal and let the mustard splutter. Add jeera and curry leaves.

6. Add banana pieces (drain all the water) and fry for a minute.

7. Add 1/4 cup (or little less) water and turmeric powder. Cook on medium flame.
8. Let all the moisture disappear. Add chilly powder and salt. Stir it slowly.
9. Add cut coriander leaves.
10. Serve Raw banana dry curry with the main dish you have prepared.

Note : 

You can dry grind coconut , red chilly powder and mustard and add instead of chilly powder. it gives better taste. Or you can deep fry cut bananas and add chilly powder and salt. If it over cooks it loses its taste.( So while adding water be careful). Add little water and then cook on low flame. Stir in between). Adding any other spice is optional. Adding onions and garlic is also optional. Adding fresh coconut is optional. ( I have not added ).
Time : 15 minutes
Serves : 2 to 3.

Crunchy Caramel Cashew

Caramel Cashew is sweet dish...can be eaten at any time of the day, can be used as toppings on the ice cream. It is crunchy and tasty bar.

Things needed :
Cashew nuts : 1 cup
Sugar : 1/2 cup
Ghee : 1 Table spoon

Method :
Apply little ghee on the small tray and keep it aside.
Roast cashew nuts and dry grind ( slightly ) or break in to small pieces. Keep a pan on the fire and put sugar. Go on stirring ( with out water ). Slowly it starts melting and turns brown colour while roasting.( roast on very low flame ). When it completely melts add cashew pieces and mix well stir for 1 to 2 minutes. Add 1/2 spoon of ghee. Mix thoroughly and pour it on the tray. Take chapati roller and roll the mixture evenly on the tray. Cut immediately in to pieces. Crispy caramel cashew is ready to eat.

Note : Should be little faster while removing and cutting the burfi. It becomes hard very soon.
Can use roasted ground nuts or almonds in stead of cashew..

TASTY WHEAT FLOUR LADDU

Wheat flour laddu is a healthy sweet dish and its easy to prepare. Wheat and sugar are used to prepare this laddu. We can eat these laddu at any time of the day.

Things needed :

Wheat flour : 2 cups
sugar :3/4 cup
Ghee : 1/2 cup
Cardamom : 5 to 6 pods.
Almond and Cashew nuts : 1/2 cup ( together)

Ready to Serve Wheat flour laddu

Method :

1. Dry roast wheat flour nicely till the raw smell disappear.

2. Dry grind sugar with almond pods.

3. Fry cashews and raisins in a spoon of ghee and add wheat flour and fry for a minute.

 4. Put off the fire and mix powdered sugar and mix it well.

5. Divide roasted wheat flour into small portions.

6. Add ghee little by little and take a handful of mixture and prepare laddu.

7. Serve or eat laddu at any time of the day and enjoy.

Note :

Wheat flour should be roasted till the raw smell disappear. (do it on a low flame). Add ghee little by little while preparing laddu.
If you find difficult to prepare laddu, add little ghee to the mixture and it will be easy to prepare laddu.
Time : 30 Minutes.
20 Laddus can be prepared.

KESARI BAT(SHEERA)

Kesari bath/Sheera is a sweet dish. Kesari bath and khara bath (Upma) is a yummy combination.

Kesari bath is prepared using Rava/Semolina, sugar and ghee as main ingredients. It is very easy to prepare this sweet dish, We normally prepare this sweet dish for poojas and festival or feast. As I said earlier it goes well with Upma. So people have the habit of eating kesari bath and Upma together.
I have used Semolina/Rava, sugar, ghee and cardamom.
We can have them for breakfast. It can be served as sweet dish during the lunch or dinner. We can have them as snack too.
Things Needed :
Rava ( Samolina) : 1 cup
Sugar : 1 Cup
Ghee : 1/2 cup cup
Cardamom : 4 to 5 pods
Safaron: : a pinch ( or colour)
Water :  2 Cups
Cashew Nuts : 5 to 6

Method :
1.  Powder cardamom.
2. Keep water for boiling
3. Keep a pan on the fire and heat. Add a spoon of ghee and fry cashew nuts.
4. Add rava and fry nicely till the raw smell goes off. Now add boiling water and mix it well.

5. Add sugar when the rava starts thickening . Stir nicely.
6. Add saffron and 2 table spoons of ghee.

7. Stir uttil the mixture turns to thick and leaves the sides of the pan. Add crushed cardamom.

8. Add the remaining ghee and put off the fire. Shift ready Kesari bath to a bowl or plate. Spread it evenly.

9. Mix it nicely once again and serve Kesari bath .

Note :
Roast rava nicely till the raw smell disappears.  Adding more/less ghee is optional. You can add kesar colour instead of saffron. The use water should be 1 = 2. (I cup rava = 2 cups of water). Medium size rava is better to use to get a good result. Adding more/less sugar is optional.
Time : 15 Minutes.
Serves : 3 to 4

Pineapple curry ( Gojju )

Pineapple curry is gravy dish and can be eaten with Rice, Idly , Dosa, Poory or Chapatis. It is one of the traditional dish prepared during feast or festival.

I have used pineapple, rasam powder tamarind pulp, jaggery and some spices.
Lets see the recipe now. Pineapple curry has no onion or no garlic.

Ingredients:
Pineapple: 1 Bowl ( Cut it into small pieces )
Methi : 1/4 Teaspoon
Coriander seeds : 2 Tablespoons
Urid dal : 1/2 Teaspoon
Red chilly (byadagi chilli ) : 4 to 5
Tamrind Pulp : 1 Teaspoon
Jagari : 2 Table spoon
Oil : 1 Tea spoon
Mustard : 1/2 Tea spoon
Urd Dal : 1/2 Tea spoon
Curry Leaves : 6 to 8 leaves
Turmeric Powder : a pinch
Asofotodia ( Ingh ) a pinch
Sesame Seeds : 1 tea spoon
Coconut ( grated ) : 2 table spoons

Method :
1. Wash and remove the outer layer of pine apple and cut into pieces.
2. Cook cut pineapple pieces with littel water till it turn soft.
3. Keep a small pan on the fire. Add sesame seeds and roast. Remove from the pan.

4. Put methi seeds and dry roast til it turn slightly golden brown. Remove from the pan.
5. Add urid dal and dry roast till they turn slightly golden brown. Add coriander seeds.
6. Add curry leaves ( 4 to 6 ) and put red chilly. Roast nicely till it gets crispy.
7. Now put off the fire and add ingh and coconut.
8. Soak tamarind in hot water and squeeze out the pulp and keep it aside.
9. Grind roasted spice mixture, tamarind pulp,
sesame seeds with dry coconut/coconut with little water.
10.Remove the ground mixture from the mixi jar.

11. Keep a big pan on the fire and heat. Add coconut oil (optional) and mustard seeds.
12. Add curry leaves once the mustard seeds splutter. Add ingh and curry leaves.
13. Add cooked pineapple, tamarind pulp, jaggery and salt. Mix it well and let it boil for a minute.

14. Add a pinch of turmeric powder and ground coconut spice mixture. Mix it well.
15. Let it boil for 2 to 3 minutes. Shift the ready curry to a serving dish.

Note :
Cook Pineapple in a medium heat. Use of coconut oil is optional. Use of more or less jaggery is optional. House prepared spices are always better and tasty. Use of more or less chilly is optional.
Time : 20 Minutes
Serves : 3 to 4
Serves : 2

Nutritious Laddu

Nutritious Laddus are prepared using walnuts, cashews, raisins, almonds and poppy seeds. They are very nutritious and yummy and very healthy sweet. No sugar in it.
You  can cut in to slice or turn as laddu and have them when ever you want.

I have used dates (fresh Lion dated), Anjur/figs, Almonds/badams, Cashews, Raisins and little poppy seeds. It is sugar free and guilt free laddu / slice.
Dates are free from cholesterol and contain very low fat. Dates are rich in vitamins and minerals. They are rich source of protein, dietary fiber. It helps to improve the digestive system as it contains soluble and insoluble fibers. they are great energy boosters as they contain natural sugars. Dates are very low in calories and suitable for health conscious people.
Figs are also filled with
Nuts like, Badam(almonds), Cashew nuts, Figs, dry grapes are full of nutrients and good for health.
They are good for digestion, diabetes, cough, astama and constipation. They also help to control the cholesterol level and helps to gain weight in people who wants to put on some weight. They are filled with minerals, vitamins like, Vitamin A, Vitamin B1, Vitamin B2, Calcium, Iron, Phophours, Manganese, Sodium, Potassium and Chlorine.
We bought these figs from a small place near Sagar, It is home grown and sun dried.
These " Dates and Nuts Laddus" are loaded with nutrition and good to eat at any time of the day. You can carry it for travelling and good for kids school snack box. Good for ladies kitty party or kids party.
No Need to roast or fry any nuts. Use them as they are to get good benefits.

Lets see the recipe Now: 

Things needed :
Dates : 250 Grams
Cashew nuts :200 Grams
Almonds : 200 Grams
Walnuts : 100 Grams
Figs : 100 Grams (Optional)
Raisins : 200 Grams
Dry figs/Anjur  : 100 Grams
Poppy Seeds : 1 Tablespoon

Method :

1. Dry grind almonds coarsely. Remove the seeds from dates and cut into small pieces.

2. Powder walnuts into powder.

3. Powder figs into powder. ( Use a dry grinder - mixi jar).

3. Cut cashews into small pieces.
4. Now take a big bowl and mix all the nuts and powdered figs.

5. Mix all the ingredients nicely for some time and see they are hard as logs.

6. Now roll it as logs and slice or take a small portion and prepare laddu.

7. Prepare laddus and arrange them in a tray and sprinkle some poppy seeds on them.

8. Dates and Nuts Laddu is ready to serve. You can store them in a airtight bottle or box.

9. You can also prepare the the whole content as a log.
10. Slice the log in to small pieces. Sprinkle some poppy seeds on the top and enjoy.

 Note :
 You can also add other dry fruits like Apricot with dates. It gives more taste too. Adding Mari/Glucose biscuits to ingredients is optional. It helps the ingredients to bind it well and the pieces turn as thick and well shaped slices. ( I have not added, because biscuits contain maida/All purpose flour).
Put on your creative cap and mould shapes you fancy!