Friday, July 14, 2017

Radish - Palak - Malabar Leaves Curry

Radish - Palak - Malabar Leaves curry is one of the side dish which goes well with almost all the main dishes. It is an excellent combo for plain rice/ rotis/chapatis/poori/dosa/idli and even with raagi balls/mudde.

Malabar leaves and palak leaves are from our garden, used some radish and home prepared curry powder.
Let us see the benefits of " Pepper ".
Pepper / black pepper good for cough and cold. It gives good relief from respiratory disorders. Good for constipation, indigestion, anemia, muscular strains, diarrhea and heart diseases. It has antibacterial properties. They are rich in manganese, iron, potassium, vitamin C, vitamin K and dietary fiber. They are rich in anti inflammatory properties. Pepper helps to prevent gas formation in intestines.
Use of home made pepper powder is more beneficial to our health. They retain the freshness and using a pinch of black pepper to every meal is good for easy digestion and taste. It improves our health and take care of it.
Remember that, the person who had a surgery should not use much of pepper. It can have an irritating effect on the intestines.
As I said it earlier I have used Malabar leaves and Palak/Spinach leaves with dal and radish.
No Onion or Garlic used in this curry.  Palak/Spinach and Malabar leaves grown in our garden.
(Grown in Pots).

Things Needed :

Toor Dal : 1/2 Cup
Palak Leaves : 1 Bundle (Small bundle)
Malabar Leaves : 1 Handful
Raddish : 4 to 5
Curry Powder : 1 Tablespoon
Jeera/Cumin Seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon
Pepper Pods : 4 to 5
Methi seeds/fenugrik seeds : 1/4 Teaspoon
Tamarind : A small marble size
Coconut : 2 to 3 Tablespoons
Salt : As required
For seasoning :
Mustard seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon
Ingh /Asafoetida : A pinch
Curry Leaves : 6 to 8

Method :

1. Wash and cook toor dal (Pressure cook) and keep it aside.
2. Wash and cut malbar leaves and palak leaves and keep it aside.
3. Wash and remove the outer layer (scrape out ) and cut them into small pieces.


4. Cook malbar leaves, palak leaves and radish with required water till its soft.
5. Soak tamarind in little warm water and squeeze out the pulp. Crush pepper pods and keep it aside.
6. Grate coconut and grind it with jeera/cumin seeds and curry powder with required water.


7. Keep a pan on the fire and put cooked dal and leaves - radish mixture. Add methi / fenugrik seeds.
8. Add tamarind pulp, required salt and little turmeric powder. Let it boil for 2 to 3 minutes.

9. Add ground coconut mixture, crushed pepper pods and mix it nicely and boil for 3 to 4 minutes.

10. Shift it to a serving dish and add mustard seeds seasoning. Serve it with the main dish you have prepared.


Note :

You can use moong dal instead of toor dal. Use of onions and garlic is purely optional. Use of any spice powder of your choice is optional. I used home prepared curry powder. Use of more/less spice is optional. Adding methi seeds helps to reduce the cholesterol content in the curry. Adding crushed pepper pods helps to subside the gas in the curry.
Time : 20 to 25 Minutes.
Serves : 4 to 5.  

Home made curry powder :

Dry roast 1 teaspoon of urid dal and 2 tablespoons of coriander seeds with 5 to 6 red chilly (byadagi) on low flame. Put off the fire and add a handful of curry leaves and a pinch of ingh/asafoetida.
Dry grind it when it is cooled. 
(This quantity is enough for only 1 time).

Wednesday, July 12, 2017

Shallow Fried Colocasia Fritters

Kesu /Colocasia Leaf grows well during rainy season and it is fresh green and filled with vitamins and minerals. We do use Kesu leaves in our daily diet once in a while. It is helps to keep our body warm during the rainy season. I tried this pan fried Colocasia fritters and it taste just yum yum.


I have used channa dal/ Kadale bele and moong dal/Hesaru bele with some spices.
Let us see some benefits of using Colocasia Leaves.
Kesu/Colocasia leaves are rich in anti oxidants. They are rich in Vitamin C and it helps to boost our immune system. Colocasia leaves contain Vitamin A and it helps maintain our eye health and prevent the eyes from diseases. They do contain dietary fibers and good for easy digestion and helps to keep away the constipation, indigestion and diarrhea problems. Colocasia leaves contain very little fat and it has no cholesterol. It also helps to control the cholesterol level in our body. They also helps in weight reduce. They help in reducing the inflammation and control the blood pressure in our body. They are good for nervous system.They contain amino acid and protein and helps in providing energy, regulating blood sugar levels and gives strength to muscles and strong bones.   
Remember that colocasia leaves can not be eaten raw. It must be cooked with tamarind or it starts to itch your tongue and throat.
NO ONION OR NO GARLIC USED in this Colocasia Tava fried Fritters. Happy to say that Colocasia leaves are from our garden which are grown in pots.
Try and enjoy you will really love them. Use tender leaves to get the best taste.

Things Needed :

Colocasia leaves : 8 to 10 (medium size and tender ones should be used)
Channa dal/Bengal gram / Kadale bele : 1/2 Cup 
Moong Dal/Hesaru bele : 1/2 Cup
Tamarind : 1 Small lemon size
Rasam/Sambar Powder : 2 Tablespoons
Jeera / Cumin Seeds : 1 Teaspoon
Ingh /Adafoetida : A little
Turmeric powder : 1/4 Teaspoon
Salt : As required 
Oil : 3 to 4 Tablespoon
Curry leaves : Handful/According to your wish.


Method :

1. Wash and soak channa dal and moong dal for 10 to 15 minutes.

2. Wash and clean the leaves. Let all the water dry from the leaves.
3. Remove the stem parts (thick veins on the backside of the leaves). Cut into small pieces.
4. Soak tamarind in very little water and let it get soft.
5. Grind dals with tamarind, Rasam powder and jeera. Use very little water.

6. Grind it to rava/semolina (medium size) consistency.
7. Remove from the mixi jar and put it to a big bowl. Add turmeric powder and salt.

8. Mix it well and keep it aside.

9. Keep a pan and put little coconut oil. Add mustard seeds and ingh. Let mustard splutter. Add handful of curry leaves.
10. Add cut colocasia leaves and fry. Now add the ground dal mixture and let it cook till soft.


11. Mix the mixture in between so that it does not get burnt at the bottom. Let it cook on low flame.
12. Let it cook completely. Let all the moisture disappear. Put off the fire and let it get cool down.


13. Keep a pan on the fire and let it get heated. Sprinkle some oil on the top.
14. Take a small portion of the dal - colocasia mixture and shape it as vada and keep on the pan.

15. Sprinkle some oil on the top and let it cook till it get golden red. Turn the other side and cook.
16. Now the Colocasia fritters are ready to serve. You can cook 3 to 4 at times.
17.Repeat the same with remaining dal - colocasia mixture.

Note :

Take care of water quantity while grinding the dals. Use of any brand rasam powder is optional.
I have used home prepared rasam powder. Use of tamarind should be taken care or the fritter might give a itching feel while eating. Use only the tender leaves. Use of coconut is optional. I did not use.
Use of cooking oil is optional. I used coconut oil for shallow fry. The quantity of cooking oil is optional. More/less.  Use of jaggery is optional. I did not use it. I have used tender stems of colocasia leaves. Remove the outer layer of the stems and then cut into small pieces and use it.
You can use Palak/Spinach, methi leaves or Dil leaves instead of colocasia leaves. Do not add tamarind if you are using these leaves.
Time : 30 Minutes.
Serves : 6 to 8 Fritters can be prepared. (According to size ).

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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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