Wednesday, September 21, 2016

Green Grapes Chutney

Grapes and chutney you must be just thinking  Hmmmmm .Yes it is chutney from green fruity grapes. It was just a try and it turned out be Wow,,,and tasty.
I have used green grapes, fresh coconut and green chilly. Green Grapes chutney is a side dish and it goes well with almost all the main dishes.
Got these greapes from the form while coming back from Chikka Ballapura after a visit to Avala Betta. 
Avala Betta is a small hill, where the cows used to go up and have their green grass. On the top it is very nice. There are edges which looks scary and people go and take pictures standing on the sharp
edge.
Even now cows come to graze. Avala means Cows in Telugu language and because of this the Gudda (what we call for a small hilltop) is called Avala betta.  
Lets see some benefits of eating Grapes in our diet.
It is well known that eating fresh fruits and vegetables always keeps us healthy and strong. Grapes are well known as queen of fruits. They are filled with antioxidants. They are rich in anti-inflammatory properties and good for bone health and good for balancing the blood pressure level in our body. Grapes are filled with fiber and Vitamin C and a good help for people who suffer from constipation. They are rich source of micro nutrients like copper, iron and manganese. They help to strengthen the bones. They are good for indegestion, kidney disorders. Grapes are filled with Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin B6 and minerals like potassium, calcium, iron, phosphorus, magnesium.
No Onion or Garlic used in this dish.

Things Needed :

Green Grapes : 1 Bunch (20 to 25 fruits)
Urid dal : 1 Tablespoon
Green chilly : 2 to 3
Curry Leaves : 6 to 8
Ingh/Asafotida : A pinch
Coconut : 1 Cup ( 3 to 4 Tablespoons).
Seasoning :
Mustard seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon
Curry leaves : 2 to 3
Oil : 1/2 Teaspoon.
Ingh : A pinch

Method :

1. Wash and remove the seeds from grapes. Keep it aside.
2. Wash green chilly and curry leaves. Grate coconut.

3. Keep a small pan on the fire. Put little oil and a tablespoon of urid dal and fry nicely. Add green chilly to it.
4. Add curry leaves and ingh to the fried mixture. Let it cool.

5. Now grind green grapes, grated coconut, fried dal mixture and salt with very little water.

6. Remove from the mixi jar and put it in a serving dish. .
5. Season with mustard and urid dal. Serve with one of the side dish.

Note : 

Frying urid dal in a very little oil is optional. ( I have used little oil). You can dry roast too. Taste differ. No need to add any tamarind pulp of lemon extract sinch grapes are bit sour . Adding mustard seasoning is also an option.
Time : 10 Minutes
Serves : 3 to 4 

Monday, September 19, 2016

Cabbage Spicy Idli

Cabbage Spicy Idli is one of the special dish of Udupi people. It can be eaten/served for breakfast/snack or even for dinner.

We (being an Udupian) do prepare and stick to most of the traditional dishes very often. It does not mean we do not eat chats or North Indian dishes. But it is minimum I can say. Garam masala does not suit that hot weather and it dries out your body moisture. Garam Masala spices are strong and it dries out all the moisture in the body. You should either drink lots of water or use Kasori/Kachcha methi in your cooking to to retain the body moisture. May be people of yesteryears knew and ate what suits to their body according to that place they belong to.
What ever it is it has become a fashion and habit to have all the fast food eatables, even the kid fall as prey to this habit.
Coming back to "Cabbage Spicy Idli", it is prepared using Patrode dough". Patrode is one of the traditonal famous and lovable dish of South Canara and Malenadu people. Naturally it helps to keep our body warm during the rainy season. I had some patrode dough remaining in my fridge and made use of preparing " Cabbage Spicy Idli".
Patrode dough is a mixture of raw rice, coriander seeds, jeera/cumin seeds, red byadagi chilly, ingh/asafoetida, jaggey and tamarind.
Lets see some benefits of eating Tamarind in our diet.
Tamarind contain essential and beneficial chemical compounds, minerals, vitamins and dietary fiber.
It helps to reduce the bad cholesterol. It contain tartaric acid which gives sour taste to food and it contain antioxidant property which helps and protect our body away from harmful radicals. Tamarind is a good source of minerals like copper, potassium, calcium, zinc and magnesium. Potassium helps to control the heart rate and blood pressure and iron is essential for red blood cell production. It is rich in Vitamins like Vitamin A, folic acid, Vitamin C. It also help to reduce inflammation in the body and improve eye health. Tamarind helps to boost respiratory health and good skin conditions. Improve the digestive system and relieve pain. It helps to improve our immune system.
Lets see the recipe now :

Things Needed :

Patrode dough : 2 Cups
Cabbage : 2 Cups
Oil : 1 Teaspoon
Method :
1. Wash and cut cabbage into very thin pieces.

2. Put Patode Dough in a big bowl. Add cut cabbage and mix it well.

3. Greece idli plates with a spoon of oil.
4. Keep pressure cooker/idli cooker on the stove and put some water at the bottom. Let it heat.
5. Put a spoon of cabbage dough mixture in each place of a idli plate.
6. Arrange them and keep it in the idli/pressure cooker. Close the lid and cook for 20 to 25 minutes.


7. Open the lid and check whether Cabbage Spicy idli is well cooked by inserting a spoon edge.
8. Shift the idli to a serving bowl and serve with butter/Ghee and jaggery/chutney.


 Note : 

The mixture will not stick to the spoon edge if it is well cooked. (or you need to cook again).
 Adjust the sweet and chilly according to your wish.
Adding more/less jaggery is optional. Cut cabbage into small/very tiny pieces so that it cooks faster.
Do not put weight if you are using pressure cooker.
Time : 30 Minutes
Serves : 4 to 5  

Patrode Dough Recipe : ( for cabbage spicy idli).

Things Needed :
Raw Rice : 2 Cups
Methi/Fenugrik seeds : 1 Teaspoon
Urid Dal : 1 Tablespoon
Coconut : 2 to 3 Tablespoons
Jaggery : 2 to 3 Tablespoons
Red chilly : 4 to 5
Tamarind : 1 Marble size
Salt : As required
Coriander leaves : 2 Tablespoons
Jeera : 1/2 Teaspoon
Ingh / Asafoetida : A pinch
Turmeric powder : A pinch
Method :
Wash and soak rice, urid dal and methi seeds together for at least 2 hours. Grate coconut and grind rice, spices(coriander seeds, jeera, ingh, turmeric powder and tamarind all together), till a paste. Add jaggery and salt. Add only riqured water. (Idly dough consistency). Remove from the mixi jar. Your Cabbage Spicy Idli dough is ready to prepare cabbage idli. You can also use this dough to prepare big brinjal roast, capsicum rotti etc.
Note : You can use medium size rava instead of using raw rice. (Roast rava nicely and add it to the ground mixture. (Need to grind all the spices and coconut). You can also use Rice Rava instead of grinding rice.

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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