Methi - Palak & Capsicum Dry Curry

Methi Palak Capsicum dry curry is one of the side dish that goes well with almost all the main dishes.   I have prepared Udupi special dry curry using Palak and methi /fenugrik leaves.

Adding leaves in our diet is one of the healthiest choice. You can prepare lots of dishes using varieties of leaves which is available around the year.
I have used methi leaves, palak/spinach leaves, coconut and some spices.
Let us see some benefits of having mustard seeds in our diet. 
Mustard seeds are loaded with medicinal values. They are good remedy for detoxification of the body. It helps to get relief from pains. They are good for maintaining healthy skin and hair. It also good for women during menopause. Mustard seeds are rich source of minerals and vitamins. They are rich in minerals like calcium, magnesium, potassium and phosphorous. They are good source of dietary fiber.They do contain vitamin A and vitamin K and vitamin C. They help in managing diabetes and cholesterol level in our body. They are good source of anti bacterial properties and helps in treating ringworm. (skin disease).
Let us see the recipe Now :
It is an Udupi Special - Traditional Recipe. No Onion or Garlic is used in this recipe. 

Things Needed : 

To Cook :
Methi /Fenugrik leaves : 1 Bundle
Palak/spinach leaves : 1 Bundle
To Season :
Mustard seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon
Urid dal : 1/2 Teaspoon
Curry Leaves : 6 to 8
Coconut Oil : 1 Tablespoon
Ingh /Asafoetida : A pinch
To Dry grind :
Mustard seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon
Red chilly powder/Red chilly :1 Teaspoon/ 3 to 4
Coconut : 2 to 3 Tablespoons
To Add :
Coriander leaves : 1 Teaspoon
Lemon extract/Tamarind pulp : 1 Teaspoon
Jaggery : 1 Teaspoon

 Method :

1. Wash and cut palak and methi leaves into very small. Keep it aside. Wash and cut capsicum into small pieces.

2. Grate coconut and dry grind it with red chilly powder and mustard seeds. Keep it aside.

3. Wash and cut coriander leaves and soak very little tamarind in hot water and squeeze out the pulp.
4. Now keep a pan on the fire and heat. Add coconut oil and mustard seeds, urid dal.
5. Let it splutter. Add washed curry leaves and ingh. Add cut leaves and capsicum. Fry it on low flame for 2 minutes.

6. Add a pinch of turmeric powder and mix it well. Add 1/4 cup of water and cool on low flame.

7. Let all the moisture disappear. Add salt, jaggery and tamarind pulp. Let it cook for 2 minutes.
8. Add dry ground coconut - mustard mixture and stir slowly. So that it mixes well.

9. Let it cook on low flame for a minute. Shift the ready curry to a serving bowl.

10. Add cut coriander leaves to Ready Methi - Palak & Capsicum Dry Curry and serve.

Note :

Adding more chilly powder is optional. I have used tamarind pulp and lemon extract/juice can be used instead of tamarind pulp. Adding jaggery is optional. Do not cook dry curry for a long time after adding coconut. Adding onions or garlic is optional.
Time 15 Minutes
Serves : 2 to 3. 

Wheat -Rava Cake

Here comes Christmas and the celebration starts. We do enjoy wishing people, having a piece of cake , cookies etc etc etc.
Even facebook pages are loaded with varieties of cakes. i too thought of preparing a healthy cake using wheat flour and rava/semolina. It has turned as perfect cake and let us enjoy together having a yummy and healthy cake and say Merry Christmas and happy new year 2018 to All.

Here we go :
I have used Ashirvad wheat flour and medium size rava, cooking oil and little bit of ghee, sugar, cinnamon. Added little dates also.
No egg in this Wheat -Rava Cake.

Things Needed :

Wheat flour : 1 1/2 Cup
Medium size Rava : 1/2 Cup
Sugar : 3/4 Cup
Cooking Oil : 1/2 Cup
Curd : 1/2 Cup
Milk : 1/4 Cup
Cinnamon stick : 1/4 inch
Sal : A pinch
Baking Powder : 1 Teaspoon
Baking Soda : 1/4 Teaspoon

Method :

1. Sieve wheat flour and rava, baking powder,salt and baking soda altogether.

2. Put sugar in mixi jar and powder it. Add oil and curd and churn it nicely till it turns smooth paste.

3. Add milk and, cinnamon stick and grind it for 2 to 3 minutes.

4. Now shift the ground mixture to a big bowl and mix the flour mixture slowly. Add little milk if the dough turns very hard.
5.Let it mix well. No lump should be remained.
6. Apply ghee on the baking tray and sprinkle little wheat flour on it. Spread it well.
7. Pour the ready mixture to a tray and tap the tray to spread the dough evenly.

8. Bake it with 180 degree celcius for 35 to 40 minutes. (Oven baked). Remove it from oven and let it be there on the top for for 5 minutes. ( After baking just leave it there).
9. Insert a knife edge to make sure the cake is done. (It does not stick to the edge of the knife).

10. Cut it once it is cooled. Enjoy with a cup of coffee/tea or whenever you want it.

Note :

You can use thin variety of rava. (optional). Use of butter /ghee instead of oil is optional. Use of rose essence instead of cinnamon is optional. You can also prepare this cake in pressure cooker. Remove the gasket from the lid. Do not use weight. Place a plate or bowl inside the pressure cooker and place the cake dough container on the top. Close the lid and bake for 35 to 40 minutes. If the cake turns hard pour some milk and mix it well. (It should be bit thicker than idli dough). I have used mixi jar to churn the ingredients. Use of egg beater, cake mixer is optional.
Time : 40 Minutes. 
20 Small pieces can be done.

Baragu / Proso Millet Dosa/

 Baragu/Proso mIllet is one of the millet family grain. We can prepare lots of dishes using baragu in our Indian style. I have prepared dosa using baragu instead of rice.

Millets have become very popular these days because of their healthy content and it has rich source of minerals and vitamins.
I have used Baragu/ Proso Millet, urid dal and methi dal for dosa. Dosa turns out very colourful and it is better to have them when they are hot.
Let us see some benefits of eating " Baragu/ Proso Millet " in our diet.
Baragu has rich source of antioxidants and it helps to get rid of wrinkles. They contain high amount of lecithin and it helps in strengthening nervous system. Baragu/Proso millet has calcium and it is good for growing kids. Proso millet reduces and controls the cholesterol level in our body. Baragu is gluten free and it provides energy,It has carbohydrates in very small level. It has minerals in it. They do contain minerals like phosphorus, mangaese, magnesium etc.
Let us see the recipe now:

Things needed :

Baragu : 2 Cups
Urid dal : 1/2 Cup
Methi Seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon
Avaalakki : One handful
Toor dal : 1 Tablespoon
Salt : As required

Method :

1. Clean and soak Baragu/Proso Millet, urid dal, toor dal, methi seeds for 3 to 4 hours.

2.Wash and soak avalakki./flattened rice for 1 to 2 hours.

3. Grind all the ingredients together and remove it from the mixi jar.

4. Put it in a big bowl and add salt. Mix it well and leave it for formentation. 6 to 8 hours or over night.

5. Keep a tava/pan on the fire and heat. Clean the tava with a kitchen tissue.
6. Mix the dough nicely and take a ladle of dough and spread it on the hot tava. (Let the flame be low). ( Add water if required and adjust the dough to proper consistency.

7. Sprinkle oil on the top and turn the dosa other side and cook for a minute.

8. Hot baragu dosa is ready to serve. Repeat the same with remaining dough.

9. Serve Baragu/Proso Millet dosa with the side dish you have prepared.

Note :

Dosa dough should not be watery. Use only the required water while grinding. And then you can ad water and adjust the dough. No need to add any cooking soda. Let the dough be ferment well. Dosas are soft and yummy. Serve hot dosas to get the good taste of it. Though looks nice but it is softer than normal dosa. This time I have used a mixi to grind. You can use a grinder. It gives a best result.
Do not add oil on tava and put the dough to spread. It will stick to the ladle and you may not be able to spread it evenly. So add oil on hot tava and clean it nicely with a kitchen tissue. Lower the flame. Now you add dough and spread it as big dosa as you need.
Time : Soaking time 4 hours + grinding and ferment 6 to 7 hours. Dosa preparation 30 Minutes.
Serves : 5 to 6 .

Spicy Chutney Poori

Ridge Gourd green chilly  chutney is done for afternoon lunch as one of the side dish and got bored to eat the rest and just prepared some pooris using this same chutney. It is nice and fluffy.

These pooris goes well with a cup of coffee/tea or you can have it with a cup of curd.
I have used Ridge gourd peel chutney, rice flour, little jeera, salt and oil to fry.
Let us see the recipe Now :

Things Needed : 

Ridge gourd chutney : 2 to 3 Tablespoons
Rice flour : 1 Cup
Jeera /cumin seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon
Salt : As required
Oil : To fry

Method : 

1. Put ridge gourd chutney in a big bowl.
2. Add rice flour and mix it well.

3.Add jeera and little salt. Add water slowly if wanted and kneed the dough nicely.
4. Divide the dough into small ball size.
5. Roll them as small pooris.

6. Keep a small pan on the fire and heat. Add oil and let it get hot.
7. Fry pooris one by one on both sides. Put them on a kitchen tissue.

8. Now spicy ridge gourd chutney pooris are ready to serve.

9. Serve them with a cup of coffee/tea/juice or with a cup of curd.

Note :

The dough should be thick like poori dough. Take care while adding water. No need to add ghee/oil while preparing the dough. Coconut used in chutney is oil content. Adding more chilly, red/green is optional. I have not added. Do not use stale or spoiled chutney. It might smell bad and not good for health. You can also add cut coriander leaves and curry leaves to the dough. Add flour if dough turns Time : 15 Minutes.
Serves : 15 to 20 pooris ( According to size ).

Ridge gourd chilly chutney Recipe : Click the link  to know  :

Ridge gourd chilly chutney   :

Oats - Finger Millet - Palak Rotti

Oats - Finger Millet - Palak Rotti is one of the healthy dish and it does provide energy to your body, keeps your tummy full for a long time and it is the way you can help your kid eats Spinach/Palak leaves. It is an diabetic friendly food...

Rotti of  any type has become every one's favourtie now a days. These oats, ragi rotti turned cripsy, cruchy and yummy and it is one of the stomach filling, fun loving dish which keeps you full for a longer time. Farmers eat these ragi rotti in the mornings and keep on working in the field for longer hours.
I have used Palak leaves, Oats, raagi/finger millet and other ingredients.
Let us see some benefits of eating " Onions " in our diet.
Onion is rich in Vitamin C and helps to improve immunity. They help to regulate blood sugar in our body. It also helps to reduce inflammation and heals infections. Eating raw onion helps to lower bad cholesterol and keeps our heart healthy. Applying onion juice on the burning sensation and pain areas helps to reduce the pains. Onion contain Vitamin A.
Oats - Finger Millet - Palak Rotti is easy to prepare and the rotti lovers can even pack their lunch with these yummy rottis.
Let us see the recipe now :

Things Needed :

Ragi/Finger Millet flour  : 2 Cups
Oats /Plain Oats  : 1 Cup
Palak /Spinach Leaves : 1 Bundle
Onions : 2 Medium size
Green chilly : 1
Curry Leaves : 1 Handful
Coriander leaves : 2 Tablespoons
Coconut : Fresh and grated : 1 Cup
Salt : As required
Hot boiling water : 2 Cups
Oil : 2 to 3 Tablespoon

Method :

1. Put oats, finger millet flour in a big bowl, add required salt and mix it well.

2. Wash and cut palak leaves, coriander leaves, curry leaves and cut green chilly in to thin.
3. Grate coconut and keep it aside.

4. Remove the outer layer of onions and wash it again. Cut into small pieces.

5. Now put all the ingredients to a big bowl and mix it with oats and finger millet powder.
6. Add hot water and leave it for 5 minutes. After 5 minutes mix all the ingredients slowly.
7. Add water if required. The dough consistency should be bit liquid and loose. ( Little thicker than idly dough).

8. Keep tava /Pan on the fire and heat. Sprinkle little oil on the top and clean it with a kitchen tissue.
9. Take a handful of dough and spread it on the tava in a circle shape. Use a spatula and spread the roti slightly thinner. Let the flame be very low.

10. Put little oil on the top and cook on medium flame for 1 to 2 minutes. (Cover the lid).
11. Now take away the lid and turn the rotti to other side and cool for a minute.

12. Oats - Finger millet rotti is ready to serve. Serve with the side dish you have prepared.
13. Add butter or ghee on the top of hot rotti. It is always better to eat rotti when it is hot.
14. Repeat the same with remaining dough.

Note : 

No need to dry grind oats. Just add it with finger millet flour. Adding more/less chilly is optional. Adding any other leaves or spice is optional. Adding oil/ghee  is optional. Keep the flame low when you are spreading rotti. Then you increase the flame and cook. Do not over cook and burn roti.
Time : 30 Minutes
Serves : 2 to 3.