Tuesday, December 31, 2013

Pigeon Pea ragda Aloo Patties

Pigeon Pea or Togari Kalu will be available plenty during the winter. People make use of this pea and prepare varieties of dishes. Pigeon Pea is called Togari Kalu in Kannada.Pigeon Pea Ragda Aloo Patties. Ragda means mixed curry  and paties are prepared using potato and spices.



Pigeon peas have many good qualities like, it provides excellent source of fiber, protein and sodium. They are low in fat content and its ideal food for heart healthy diets.
Here is a recipe of Ragada Patties prepared using Pigeon Peas or Togari Kalu as we kannadigas say. Ragada means Sambar or gravy and patties which are prepared using Potatoes, or Green Bananas or even Sweet Potatoes too. This dish can be eaten for break-fast or as evening snack.
I am sure since its yemmy every one and all age group will love to eat this Ragda Patties.
One more dish is Usli using the same peas and prepared this dish and it has less oil and can be eaten at any time of the day. You can even use your creativity and prepare chat..with this Peas.

1.Ragda Patties.

For the Curry : 
Things Needed:
Pigeon Peas : 2 Cups
Onions : 3
Tomatoes : 2 to 3
Garam Masala : 1 Tea spoon
Jeera : 1/2 Tea spoon
Coriander seeds: 1 Tea spoon
Green Chilly : 1
Coriander leaves : 1 bundle
Ginger : an inch
Turmeric powder : a pinch
Salt : to taste
Lemon : 1/2 Rind
Oil :  1 Table spoons

For the Patties:
Potatoes : 4 to 5
Bread slices : 6 to 8
Curry leaves : 3  to 4 Table spoon
Salt : to taste
Jeera (Cumin Seeds) : 1 Tea spoon
Red chilly : 1 Tea spoon
Oil : 1/2 Cup

Method : to Prepare Curry 

1. Wash and cook Pigeon Peas in a pressure cooker with required water and leave it for cooling.
2. Wash tomatoes, coriander leaves green chilly and cut into small pieces.
3. Remove the outer skin of onions (2 onions ), wash and cut into small pieces.
4. Now Grind tomatoes, garam masala, coriander leaves, coriander seeds, jeera, ginger, green chilly  and  2 table spoons of cooked peas into paste and remove from the jar and keep it aside.
5. Keep a pan on the fire. Heat the pan and put 1 table spoon of oil.
6. Add jeera and fry for 10 seconds. Add cut onion pieces and fry till they are brown.
7. Add ground mixture and mix it well. Add salt, turmeric and grated ginger to the mixture.
8. Add cooked peas and stir well. Let the curry boil nicely. Add water if required.
9. Stir inbetween and boil for 3 to 4 minutes.
10. Now shift the curry to the serving bowl.


2. Aloo Patties : 



1. Wash and boil potatoes in a pressure cooker for 6 to 8 minutes and remove the outer skin of the potatoes when it is cooled.
2. Wash and cut coriander leaves.
3. Now take a big bowl. Put potatoes, coriander leaves and the bread slices, salt, jeera and red chilly powder.
4. Smash the potatoes nicely and mix all the ingredients nicely. Knead it well and divide the smashed mixture in to small portions.

5. Keep a pan on the fire. Put oil .
6. Take a small portion of the mixture and give a shape according to your wish and shallow fry or just cook with little oil on both sides.  (At time 4 to 6 patties can be cooked).

7. Repeat the same procedure and prepare the patties from the remaining dough.
Now Put a big spoon of Peas curry in a deep plate. Keep 2 to 3 Aloo Patties and put some cut onions on the top and serve.

Note : See that the curry is piping hot. You can add or lesson the spices (chilly) according to your taste. See that the curry is little liquidy. (not watery). You can also use more onions if you wish. You can also mix onions along with boiled potatoes.  It taste differ. Must use little oil on both sides while cooking. Using more oil is optional. Here I have used less oil. You can also put grated carrots along with cut onions on the top of the patties while serving.

Serves : 4
Time :40 mins







Monday, December 23, 2013

Snake Gourd Kheer

Ready to serve Padavalakai/Snake Gourd Kheer/Payasa 

    

 
Snake Gourd is a vegetable and it is known as padavala kai in Kannada, Chinchinda or Padaval in Hindi, Padavalanga in Malayalam, Pudalnkai in Tamil. Snake gourd is used here in this recipe for Kheer.(Payasam). This Kheer contain Padavala kai, jaggery, coconut, milk and cardamom. This kheer helps you to cool down the body.  Since the jaggery is used all age group can enjoy this kheer.
Snake gourd is very high in water content and has a cooling effect on the  body. It is low in calories and fat free. Snake gourd contain lots of fiber which is helpful for the digestive system. The fiber is also helpful for those with diabetes. It is a good resource of minerals.

Things Needed :
Snake gourd : 2 (small size)
Jaggery : 1/2 Cup
Coconut : 1 Cup
Milk : 1 Cup
Beaten Rice (Awalakki) : 3 to 4 Table spoon
Cardamom : 5 to 6 Pods
Ghee : 1 Table spoon
Cashew nuts : 2 Table spoons

 Method :
1. Wash and cut Snake gourd into small pieces and pressure cook for 5 to 6 minutes.
2. Grate coconut and keep it aside.
3. Powder cardamom and keep it aside.
4. Grind coconut with little water and squeeze out the milk. Grind the coconut again with little more water and squeeze out the milk again from the ground coconut mixture and keep them separately.

5. Now keep a pan on the fire and put cooked snake gourd pieces and jaggery. Cook them together for 2 to 3 minutes. Add the thinner (coconut milk which got in the second time).
6. Add beaten rice and mix it nicely and let it cook for 2 minutes.
7. Now add the thicker coconut milk and just boil for 1 minute. Put off the gas and pour the ready kheer to a serving bowl. Add cardamom powder.
8. Now keep a small pan and heat. Add ghee and fry cashew nuts for 10 seconds. Pour cashew ghee mixture to the ready kheer.
9. Add milk when you are ready to serve the kheer and serve hot or cold kheer.


Note :

 You can also grind coconut into paste and add it to the kheer instead of coconut milk. Use 5 to 6 almonds  with coconut if you are grinding the coconut into paste. It will help the coconut to be paste consistency and helps the kheer to thickens. You can also clean the jaggery by boiling jaggery with little water and when it dissolve sieve the jaggery in a siever. It helps to take away the dirt from the jaggery.

Time : 30 Minutes
Serves : 6

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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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