Veg Saagu

This is a no onion no garlic recipe. I learnt this from my amma. This is a side dish which goes well with chappatis and puris.  It’s not too  spicy so kids will also love this.

 

 

 

 

 

INGREDIENTS

Carrot                             250 gms

Beans                             250 gms

Potato                            1 or 2 nos

Grated coconut            ½ cup

Green chilly                   5 to 6

Jeera                                1tsp

Mustard seeds                ½ tsp

Curry leaves                     few

METHOD

Grind coconut, jeera and green chillies into fine paste for masala.

Chop the vegetables and pressure cook for 2 whistle, add  masala to cook vegetables and boil it for 5 minutes. Heat 1 tsp of oil in pan add mustard seeds. When it splutters add curry leaves. Pour this on boiling curry and mix well. Vegetable saagu is ready to serve with chappatis.

 

 

 

POTATO WEDGES

Instead of running around for junk foods for snacks we can prepare healthy and tasty snacks at home.  This is more hygienic than the frozen foods and bakery items available in the market.  Kids will also love this because its very crispy and tasty.  This is my version of potato wedges and my son loves it very much. This can also be used as starters.

Ingredients

Potatoes                             -  2 big

Chilly flakes                       -   1 tsp

Jeera                                   -   a pinch

Garlic                                  -  4 to 6 flakes

Pepper powder                -   ½ tsp

Oregano                       

Oil                                       -   2 tbsp

 

Method

Peel and Cut potatoes vertically into 6 to 8 pieces. 

Heat oil in kadai, add pinch of jeera and chopped garlic fry till light brown, add potato pieces fry till golden brown in low flame.  Sprinkle chilly flakes, pepper powder and oregano and mix it well then fry for another 2 minutes.  Healthy potato wedges ready to serve.

Benne Masala Dose (Butter Masala Dosa)

This is also known as Davangere Benne Masala Dose and its a Karnataka special Recipe.  Instead of Ghee or oil, Butter is extensively used in this Dosa.  This is not for those who are on low calorie diet.   But just for the sake of tasting this you can try this.  Really a tasty one.  I got this recipe from the internet.

 

 

 

 

 

Ingredients

Raw Rice                                  --  2 cups

Urad dal                                   --   ¾ cup

Channa dal                              --    ¼ cup

Toor dal                                   --    ¼ cup

Fenugreek seed (methi)       --    2 tsp

Beaten rice flakes (avil-poha)-   1 hand ful

Salt to taste

Butter                                       

Sugar                                          --  1 tsp

Method

 

Soak rice, dals and methi for 4 to 5 hours.  Wash rice flakes and grind alongwith the soaked ingredients into thick Dosa batter.   Allow to ferment at room temperature for 8 to 10 hours.  Next day add sugar and salt to taste and mix well, keep for 5 to 10 minutes.

Heat tawa and pour ladleful of batter and prepare thin dosa.

Add butter and fry till crisp

 

Apply red chutney on the Dosa.

 

 

 

 

Stuff with Potato Bhaji and add little butter and fold.

 

Benne Masala Dosa  is ready to serve.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Karathe ani Alwa Mande Goona (Chembu Kaipakka curry)

This is my husband’s Grand Mother’s Recipe.  I learned this from my mother in law.  This is one of the authentic Konkani recipes in North Kerala side. For this we need Bimbul (Bimbul in Konkani, Bilimbi in English), Alwa mande (Chembu in Malayalam, Colocasia in English  and in Hindi Arbi) and Bitter gourd.

Its a combination of the sourness of Bimbul, sweetness of coconut milk and the bitterness of karela.  Its a very good side dish.  This is not too spicy curry.

 

 

 

 

Ingredients

Alwa Mande (Arbi-chembu)       --  10 to 15  if small ones/2 to 3 if big

Green chilly                                    --  5 to 6

Bitter Gourd(kaipakka)                --   1 big

Grated coconut                              --  ½ cup

Hing powder                                   --  ¼  tsp

Bimbul                                             --   6 to 8

Coconut oil                                     --  1 tsp

Salt to taste

                             

Method

Peel of the outer skin of Alwa Mande and chop into cubes, chop kaipakka in to cubes, slit green chilly and Bimbul.  Add little water and salt and pressure cook for 1 or 2 whistles. 

Grind coconut  into fine paste, add boiled vegetables, add hing powder and then boil it for 5 minutes, switch off the gas and pour 1 tsp of coconut oil.  Goona is ready to serve.

 

 

 

Hinga povu

I learnt this from my mama’s wife Namitha mai .  We used to hear from our mamu (uncle) that mai prepare it the best.  Today I thought to try her method of hinga phovu. Just called her and ask the recipe, prepare it for evening snack with sev and banana. Really  tasty.  Thanks mai for good recipe.

Ingredients

Thin pohvu(beaten rice flakes)                      1 cup

Grated coconut                                                 1 cup

Coriander seeds                                                3 tsp

Hing powder                                                      ¼ tsp

Red chilly                                                            4 to 5

Salt to taste

Method

Dry roast coriander seeds, red chilly, salt and hing powder fry till nice aroma comes, let it cool for sometime.

Then powder it with 1 tbsp of grated coconut(do not add water)

In large bowl add grated coconut and powdered masala mix well with hand. Then add phovu(beaten rice flakes ) and mix well.  Now it is  ready to serve as snack.  Good combination  with sev and banana.

Bondi Kirpul (banana flower stir fry)

 

Ingredients

Bondi                                             1

Garlic                                             6 to 7 cloves

Red chilly                                      4 to 5

Grated coconut                            2 tbsp 

Oil                                                   1 tbsp

Method

Finely chop the bondi.   Soak in water for 10 minutes.  Drain the excess the water.  Heat oil in kadai add crushed garlic fry till light brown, add chopped red chillies fry for a minute, add finely chopped bondi (Banana flower).  Sprinkle little water and close the lid cook till done, add grated coconut, keep for 2 to 3 minutes.  Bondi Kirpul ready to serve.

MISS YOU DAD

It was really the worst day of my life.  30^th of Oct 2013 my Dad left us forever to the world of eternity.   My mom and Dad came to visit me on 15^th Oct 2013 after one year  and on 21^st Oct 2013 was his 60^th Birthday.  We all celebrated his 60^th Birthday at our home.  My brother and his wife also had come and we all were very happy.  But that happiness stayed only for next 8 days.  On the ninth day  he had an heart attack and left us at 9.45 in the morning.   Since then my life was not like before.  I could not concentrate on any work.  All the time the feeling  was lurking inside  that my Dad lost his life at my home.  Later I consoled myself thinking that, it must be the Destiny, might be pre-decided by fate.  I was lucky enough to feed him with his favourite recipes for that last 15 days he spent with me,  we were able to celebrate his 60^th Birthday together.  His lose cannot be replaced but his blessings will be always with me.

 Life must go on, so I am again back with my passion, I am back with my Dad’s favourite recipes.

 

The hardest thing about you being gone isn't missing you so very much. It's noticing how different life is without you. I love you, even through the miles...