Sunday, January 18, 2015

Brinjal - Capsicum - Tomato Curry


Brinjal - Capsicum - Tomato Curry is a thick gravy dish and it can be prepared within 10 minutes since all these vegetables can be cooked quickly. This curry can be eaten with chapatis, dosas, idli roti, poori or even plain rice.
Any type of brinjal can be used to cook this curry but the long brinjal taste good and gives a good colour too.

Let us see some benefits of having Tomatoes in our diet.
Tomatoes are one of the low calorie vegetables. They are an excellent sources of antioxidants, dietary fiber, minerals and Vitamins. the antioxidants present in tomatoes are scientifically found to be protective of cancers,  Tomatoes contain very good level of Vitamin A ( helps to have good vision and healthy bones),  Vitamin C  (antioxidant), potassium and iron. Potassium and iron are essential for maintaining normal blood health. Vitamin K  present in tomatoes controls bleeding and blood clotting. Tomatoes help in blood circulation. Tomatoes help to decrease the level of cholesterol in the blood. They help to reduce the deposition of fats in the blood vessel. Eating tomatoes  help us to keep our digestive system healthy and prevents the constipation and diarrhoea. It also helps to prevent jaundice and effectively removes toxins from the body. .

Here is a recipe of quick dish " Brinjal- Capsicum -Tomato curry " which is easy to prepare and I am sure all age group will surely love to have the curry.

Ingredients :

Brinjal :  5 to 6 (long shaped brinjals and it is also called Mysore brinjals)

Tomatoes : 4 to 5 (Medium sized)
Capsicum : 1
Rasam Powder : 2 Tea spoons
Garam Masala : 1/2 Tea spoon
Green Chilly : 1
Jeera : 1/4 Tea spoon
Mustard Seeds : 1/2 Tea spoon
Methi Seeds : 1/4 Tea spoon
Turmeric powder : a pinch
Oil : 1 Table spoon
Salt : required
Jaggery : 1 Tea spoon
Curry Leaves : 6 to 8
Coriander Leaves : 2 Table spoons
Ingh : a pinch

Method : 

1. Wash and cut brinjal, capsicum  and tomatoes  into small,  slit green chilly and grate ginger. Keep it aside.
2. Put cut brinjal in a bowl of water to avoid brinjal turning black and also it helps the bitter taste go away from brinjal.
3. Now Keep a pan on the fire and put oil. Heat the pan and put mustard seeds and methi seeds. Let the mustard splutter.
4. Add slit green chilly and jeera to the oil. Add ingh and curry leaves. Mix it well and fry for 5 seconds.

5.Squeeze out the water from the brinjal and put it to the seasoning mix and fry nicely for 1 minute.
6. Add cut tomatoes and capsicum and mix nicely and add turmeric powder.
7. Add  1/2 cup of water and let it cook for 3 to 4 minutes. Stir in between.
 8. Add Rasam Powder, Garam Masala powder, jaggery and Salt. Stir slowly till it get thickening. The curry is done.
9. Shift Brinjal - Capsicum - Tomato curry to a serving dish and add coriander leaves on the top and serve.

Note:

No need to add more oil. Do not add more water. Do it on a  medium flame. You can add Kasoori Methi if you wish instead of Mdthi seeds. Adding salt is optional. You can also add cut onions and garlic while frying brinjal (I have not added). (optional). You can also add a spoon of besan on the top of the curry and fry on low flame. It adds to the thickness of the curry and taste differ.
Time : 15 minutes
Serves : 3

Friday, January 16, 2015

Boiled Rice + Rice Flour Ottu Shavige

 Ottu Shavige ( Rice Noodles)

Ottu Shavige is Home Made Noodles or a type of pasta. It is prepared with using Rice. It may be boiled or raw rice. Shavige (Noodles) prepared for special functions and festivals. Festivals like Thread ceremony and some special occasions. Though it is a long process to prepare this shavige it is one of the most liked food by all age group. We in South Canara ( Southern part of Karntaka , India) prepare this Shavige and enjoy eating with Fresh Coconut milk and Jaggery or make chitranna (lemon Shavige) and with curd curry, coconut chutney and Mango pickle and fresh coconut oil.
Ottu shavige is prepared with slightly different way in Tamilnadu, Kereala and even in Srilanka and they call it as Idiappam.
Now a days so many varieties of noodles with different size and shapes have come to the market and we do prefer the ready made. But still the Home Made is always the best and the healthiest food one must know.
 Ottu Shavige Can be eaten for breakfast, lunch or dinner.

Things Needed :

Boiled Rice : 2 Cups
Raw Rice flour : 1 Cup
Salt : to Taste
and Shavige Mould 

Method :

1. Wash and soak boiled rice in boiling water and leave it for overnight or 8 to 10 hours.
2. Grind it with sufficient water. Grind nicely till  a paste consistency . Add salt and remove the ground mixture to a big bowl.


3. Keep a bigger pan on the fire and put ground mixture. Add a glass of raw rice flour and mix it well.
4. Start stirring the ground mixture until it turns thick and cooked. ( 6 to 8 minutes). Put off the gas.



5 Take a handful of mixture and prepare as a balls. Arrange these balls in a plate.

6. Keep a Idly cooker or pressure cooker on the fire and put some water and keep a bowl upside down.
7. Place a plate on the upside bowl. Place the arranged balls on the plate and cover the lid.
 8. Cook for 10 to 15 minutes. (if pressure cooker do not keep the weight).


 9.Now remove the balls one by one and fill in the ready mould and press them on the plate in circle shape.



10 Repeat the same with the remaining rice balls.
  11. Ottu Shavige is ready to serve . Serve with the side dishes you prepared.

Note :

You need a Shavige  mould to prepare this. I have used Chukkli mould and the Shavige plate (which is available in the market).
You must grind the rice till paste. Use required water and add 2 glasses of water while adding rice flour.  Do not make it watery. You can not put it in a mould if it is watery and it does not taste good. Better use Shavige Mould which is available in the market.
You must press the dough when it is piping  hot or it may turn hard and pressing the shavige might be difficult.
You can have this Shavige with
Majjige huli, coconut chutney, Vegetable curry, Pickle and Coconut oil, Kai Haalu ( that is coconut milk with jaggery), Mango Rasayana. Banana Rasayana  OR you can prepare chitranna , puliyogare, etc...

Time : 40 minutes . Soaking time extra 8 hours.
Serves : 5  to 6

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About

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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