More Kuzhambu (Typical South Indian Dish)

                                    More Kuzhambu ( Typical Iyengar Style)

A lovely tangy Vegetable gravy dish made out of sour butter milk. Today I am writing the recipe made with White Pumpkin. The basic gravy is the same, however, you can change the vegetables according to your liking or availability. Generally vegetables like White pumpkin, Chayote Squash (Chow Chow), Okra, Green Capsicum, Egg plant are the ones, that are mainly used with this gravy. Many times I have even seen people use Potatoes too.
But  the vegetables mentioned above tastes very good when cooked and added to the basic gravy.
One thing important is that the the Butter milk must be sour, because sourness only would give it the taste. Since I live in a place where butter milk never get sour enough, I would have to use a little bit of Tamarind juice to make it sour. It is perfectly alright to use Tamarind if one cannot get sour curd  or buttermilk. The taste would be just the same.

Ingredients to be soaked in water together:
1. 1 tsp of Tuvar dal, 
2. 1 tsp of Channa dal, 
3. 3 tsps of dry coriander
4. 1tsp of Carom Seeds (Ajwain or Omam)
5. 3 tbls of grated coconut
6.1 green chilly and 1 red chilly (you can add more according to the amount you prefer)
7. 1/2 tsp of rice
8. As always with all my dishes I add quite a few curry leaves while grinding itself.

 Soak a small lemon sized tamarind ball in cup of water( if the butter milk is sour then no need for tamarind)
For the vegetable:
100- 150 grams of  White pumpkin, cut into big pieces (about 1 inch squares)
Boil them with enough water to cover them, along with a tsp of Turmeric powder, salt to taste, and a tsp of Hing/ Asafoetida. 
Keep the pot covered with a lid and once it has come to a boil, turn the heat to simmer and let them cook till they are half done.
Next squeeze the juice of the Tamarind and add it to the boiling Pumpkin mixture
Boil everything together till the raw smell of the Tamarind goes off
Add more water as required. It should be of pouring consistency not too thick.
Test whether the Pumpkins are cooked.
In the meantime grind the soaked mixture in the grinder into a paste.
Pour this mixture into the Pumpkin mixture, keeping the gas at simmer all the time
Wait for it to come to a boil or two.
Take it off from the stove and pour it into a serving bowl.
Now take a small thick bottomed pan, and heat it
Add one tsp of Sesame oil, once it is hot enough add 1 tsp of Mustard seeds, 1 tsp of Fenugreek seeds, once they splutter, add a few curry leaves and pour this on top of the More Kuzuhambhu
Add some fresh chopped coriander leaves. (optional)
(I have not added Jeera in this because instead of Jeera I have used Carom seeds)

Serve it hot with Rice, along with some dry vegetable curry, some Aplams/Popadams/ Potato wafers. It also goes well with Chapaties, Dosas and Adaas.
Mostly people make it with Jeera, but it can also be made with Carom seeds, which most people have forgotten to use these days in this dish. (it is not invented by me)
 People who have had More Kuzhambu in our house really appreciated the slightly different taste the Carom seeds bring to this yummy dish.
The ingredients:

                                        The ground Masala to be added to the boiling  Pumpkin mixture

                                       The Yummy More Kuzhambu served along with other items
                                                                                      for Lunch

                                   Serve it with some Parupu, it would taste very good.

Delicious Stuffed Brinjal (Eggplant) Curry.

Almost everyone loves stuffed Brinjal curry. There many ways to make it, according to the region one belongs to, in North India it is made differently and that also tastes good.
Some times we can mix both ways  to make this wonderful dish.
Today, I made this as a side dish in the South Indian style.
It is very easy to make with all the ingredients, present always in the kitchen.

Here are the ingredients needed for making Masala for the stuffing:

1.Baby Brinjals about 10 to 12 (slit into 4 only half way)
2. Oil about a few drops (just to brush a little)
3.Urad dhal 1 tsp
4.  Dry Coriander about 3 tsp
5. Peanuts about 2 tblps
6. Grated dry Coconut (Copra) 2 tblsp
7. 2 red chilies ( you can add more if you feel like)
8. Sesame Seeds about 2 tblsp
9. Cinnamon about 2 inches long, 1/2 tsp of Hing
10.Clove: 2 and 1 tsp of  Febugreek seeds
11. Plenty of Curry leaves

Method:
1. Dry roast Coriander, Red Chilies, Cinnamon, Cloves, Sesame seeds, Fenugreek Seeds and let them change color a little bit, and then add the curry leaves. Keep them aside to cool.
2. In the same pan dry roast the peanuts, remove it and keep it aside
3. Dry roast the dry grated coconut/or if you don't have dry coconut, just dry roast the fresh grated coconut. Keep it also aside to cool.
4. Once they have cooled down grind the peanuts coarsely, don't let them become powdery. Keep it aside.
5. In the same grinder jar powder all the  other ingredients, including the Hing.
The aroma that would emanate from this masala is mind blowing.
Some people add Jaggery, but I have not added, as the sweetness is there from the coconut itself. But if you like you can some (only a little bit)  add it later towards the end  of the cooking .

I made this in the Microwave. It takes the same time whether you do it in the Microwave or on the gas stove.
I just brushed a drop of sesame oil on the slit Brinjals.

To do the stuffing:
Take the ground mixture, add salt to taste, 1 tsp of Turmeric powder, mix them well.
Now stuff each Brinjal between the slits
Place then in a glass Microwave safe bowl, cover it loosely with some paper towels
 Keep the Microwave on high for about 5 minutes.
Take it out in between and just turn the brinjals.
After 5 minutes it would almost be cooked

 Take them out and add coarsely ground Peanuts and keep it high for 2/3 minutes  or till it done completely.

Now for the Tempering:
  Heat a pan on the gas stove, add 1/2 tsp of Sesame oil ( if it is not there  it is okay you can use vegetable oil)
Once it is hot enough add 1/2 tsp of Mustard seeds and a few  fresh Curry leaves
 Now transfer the Brinjal Curry to the pan and just lightly stir them once so that everything is well blended.

 Place it in a serving plate and decorate it with freshly chopped Coriander leaves.
 Now your Stuffed Brinjal Curry  is ready to be served.

Remember, we can cook delicious dishes using less oil, less salt , less sweetness, less spices and still enjoy them. Once you have tasted the goodness of food cooked this way, you will never go back to the old style cooking. Can you believe it, that this whole dish was prepared using less than 1 teaspoon of oil and I have only dry roasted all the ingredients for the masala?

 Change to a new healthier life style: Cook out of the box!

Next recipe would be "More Kuzhumbu", you would definitely love the way I make it.

Ennai Badane kai ( Brinjal in Gravy)

Ennai Badane kai is a typical North Karnataka side dish which goes well with the famous another North Karnataka speciality which is Jhola  Roti.
However one can have it with Rice, Biriyani, Parantha and Roti, as it goes well with them too.
It is made by using small size Brinjal which is slit in the middle into 4. Now we can use any color Brinjal, white, violet, or green it doesn't matter, for it would taste the same.
However, white colored small Brinjals are very rarely available, sometimes only in speciality stores like Namdhari. it is always very soft inside with no seeds, and with no insects too. It almost feels and tastes like butter.
This time I happened to get white Brinjal, and I decided to make Ennai Badnekai with it.

Here are the ingredients:
1. Brinjal small size any color about 6/7
2. oil about 1tsp. some curry leaves
3. Turmeric powder 1 tsp.
4. small piece of tamarind soaked in water

For the masala :
grated Coconut, about 3 tbls
Cashew nuts about 4/5 (optional)
Ground nuts(dry roasted) 4 tblsps
coriander (dry) about 2 tsps.
Jeera about 1 tsp.
Cinnamon, 1 inch piece, 3 cloves
1 small onion
2 medium size tomatoes
a few cloves of Garlic
4/5 pepper corns
1/2 inch piece of fresh ginger
2 small cardamom
3 tsps of oil fr frying the ground masala.

 To add later:
1 tsp of Garam masala
some fresh chopped coriander leaves
 a few curry leaves
a tsp of fresh grated coconut ( just for decoration)

 Method:

First slit the brinjals into 4 just half way
Heat 1 tsp of oil in a non stick pan
add just a tiny bit of salt and turmeric powder and a few curry leaves
 add the whole slit Brinjals, and fry them keeping the heat in simmer, and close it with a lid
 keep stirring occasionally, within few minutes they would be crisp on top and be cooked from the inside. Take them out and keep them aside.
Now for the masalas:
 grind all the masala items together in the mixer grinder, to a fine paste, adding just a little bit of water if needed.
 Next heat the remaining oil in the same pan in which you fried the Brinjals

Add the ground masalas to it and fry till the raw smell vanishes
 Now add the tamarind water to this paste, add 2 small cups of water, to it.
 Add the salt to taste and 1 tsp of Red chilly powder, and the Brinjals
Let everything come to a boil, reduce the heat to simmer, covering it again with a lid.
 Keep stirring once in a while, add water according to the need of the dish which should be thick and a little of a pouring consistency, like a typical gravy.

Once everything is nicely blended and cooked add the final ingredients, that is the Garam masala, and keep the it covered for about a few seconds, then take it out and pour it into a serving dish.

 Decorate it with freshly chopped coriander leaves, coconut and curry leaves.
 Serve it with  Jhola Roti, Plain Rice, Biriyani, Parantha, or Plain Phulkas.
 You can also make a raw vegetable salad with Onion, Tomatoes, Cucumber and Carrots.

I have mentioned very little oil, whereas it is made with lots of oil, that is why the name "Ennai / oily Badane kai)
Enjoy!

Tasty Mullagai Podi (Gun powder/ Dosai, Idli Chutney Powder)

I just love Mullagai podi. If I were to choose between this Chilly powder, Chutney and Sambhaar, I would go for the Chilly powder. Nothing goes as well with Idly and Dosa as this Mullagai podi. It not only tastes good, but is always there in all South Indian houses.
North Indians may not have come across this tasty powder for they have been served Idly/ Dosas with only Sambhaar and different kinds of Chutney like Coconut and Pudina.
If people from the north are reading this, they will know that there is this wonderful powder which they can have it with their favorite Idly/ Dosa.
Here is a super easy, simple and  healthy recipe for making this powder:
Mullagai Podi
Ingredients:
1 cup Urad Dal
1 cup Chana Dal
1 cup Peanuts
1 to 11/2 cup/cups of Chilly ( if you like less spice and more color than go in for Kashmiri Chilly. If you want both color and spicy/hot then mix Guntur and Kashmiri Chillies
1 small bunch of fresh dried Curry leaves( no water should be there)
1/2 cup Sesame seeds
Salt to taste
1/2 tsp of sugar/ jaggery(optional)
1/2 a cup of dry Coconut grated (Copra) and lightly fried(optional)
I have not used Copra.

Directions:
Dry roast the Urad and Channa Dal till the raw smell goes out
Dry roast the peanuts
Just when it is almost roasted add the sesame seeds and curry leaves to it  and roast them (do not burn them)
Dry roast the red chillies

Let everything cool.
Add salt and sugar
After it has cooled, grind them coarsely in the mixer grinder.
Now, I like it coarse, but if you like it to be more fine please grind it accordingly.

Some people even add roasted Copra/ dry coconut shavings, and grind it along with the other ingredients. I have not added it.
However, if you are not going to keep the Mullagai podi for too long you can add Copra. It is your choice.
Now your Mullagai podi is ready to be had with Dosai/ Idly and Kanchipuram Idly.

It has all the goodness of two Dals, Peanuts, Sesame seeds, and also Curry leaves. Can you see bits of green, that is powdered Curry leaves.
 The aroma of fried curry leaves is simply mind blowing, makes one want to have this immediately with Dosa/ Idly. Some people add Ghee or Butter to this powder, and make a paste (only if your health permits you and maybe you are a non - vegan). You can even avoid oil and mix the powder with Curd or Vegan yogurt
Usually, we South Indians have it mixed with Sesame oil , whichever way you have it would taste heavenly. We always carry our Idlies soaked in this Mullagai Podi and Sesame oil for our travels.
Though there are many ways to make this powder, I make it this way and people who have tasted it in our house have loved it.
The red color has come from the Kashmiri Chillies that I have used. You can see the green bits of the Curry leaves.

Enjoy this Mullagai Podi and please don't forget to let me know how it tasted through the comment box.
Kanchipuram Idli

Regular Dosai

Quick And Easy Paneer(Cottage Cheese) Dish.

I am sure that you will like this easy to make paneer dish

Serves: 2 adults
Preparation time: 10 minutes

Ingredients:
1. Paneer 200 grams cut into squares. (you can use low fat cottage cheese or Paneer)
2. Onion 1 small (cut and separated like you see in the picture below)
3. 2 big Tomatoes (not the really soft ones, but ripe) cut into big pieces.
4. 1 Capsicum ( I did not have it and so I have not added  it),cut in chunky pieces.
5. 4-5 cloves of Garlic crush it and just peel it
6. 1 inch Ginger sliced thinly or julienned
7. 2 teaspoons of any vegetable oil
8. 1 teaspoon or a little less of red chillie powder (adjust it according to your taste)
9. 1 teaspoon of Garam Masala
10. Salt to taste.
11. Chopped fresh Coriander leaves

Directions:

Take a pan and heat up the oil. 
Add the onions to it and saute for a few seconds
Add the ginger and garlic saute it for a second.
Now add the cut Capsicum and toss it for 2 seconds
Add the tomatoes and toss it
Now add the salt , garam masala, and the chillie powder, and mix everything gently
Finally add the cut paneer, and toss it gently , and let everything get mixed.
Toss everything once again gently and remove from the stove.
Garnish it with chopped fresh coriander leaves.

It has always been a big hit whenever I had served to my relatives and friends.
I am sure you would be very satisfied with everything so fresh and tasting so good.

This was done some time back with capsicum

You can serve it with Phulkas (soft Indian bread)

There is hardly any masalas, or anything very spicy or oily in this dish.
This time I could not get low fat paneer(cottage cheese), for it can be made with low fat Paneer and it would taste just as good. 
Do make this simple dish and give me your feedback through the comment box.

One Pot Meal: Vangi Bhaat

                                                               Vangi Bhaat/ Brinjal Rice
                                                          A Delicacy Of Karnataka, (South India)

A really easy dish to make. All you need is some cooked rice, see that it is  Sona Masuri or some other normal rice, please, please I beg you not to use Basmati Rice or any other rice that has an aroma of  its own for they are not meant for making South Indian dishes. Once you have the cooked rice ready, all you need is some Brinjals, you can use any type of Brinjal, white, green or violet, and some freshly ground masalas to make this yummy one pot meal.

Now lets get down to the ingredients:
1. Rice 1 cup/ tumbler ( cooked) I have used red/ brown rice which more healthy

2. Brinjal about 250 gms (if you are using small brinjals you can just slit them  in four, keeping the bottoms intact. if you are using regular long Brinjals then you can slice them into tiny pieces.
3. 1 cup of peanuts, dry roasted (we would be using a little for grinding and the rest to be added as  whole at the end)
4. Fenugreek seeds 1/2tsp.for grinding and 1/2 tsp for seasoning
5. Mustard seeds 1/2 tsp for seasoning.
6, a small bunch of curry leaves
7.2  green chillies slit
8. some fresh coriander leaves chopped.
9. one small onion finely chopped
10.  Salt to taste
11.  Tamarind (a really small lemon sized) soaked in a little water.
 12. Dry coconut grated, roasted and added in the end, about 3 tsps.

 The  Ingredients for the Masalas to be ground:
1, 2 inches of cinnamon
2.2-3 cloves
3.3-4 black pepper
4. Coconut about 2 tablespoons
5. dry red chillies- 3
6. dry roasted peanuts- about 4 tsps
7. if you like you can add 2 tsps of sesame seeds (optional)
8. a few curry leaves for added taste 

Directions:
 Heat a pan pour just 1/2 a tsp of any vegetable oil, and fry all the dry ingredients in a low heat.
Take them out and leave them to cool for grinding.This ground masala can be stored in the fridge and used for making stuffed Brinjal curry  too




Directions for the Brinjal mixture:
Next  in the same pan add about 4 tsps of vegetable oil, and once hot, season it with mustard seeds, fenugreek seeds, and once they have spulttered add curry leaves, slit green chillies , and chopped onions and fry for a few minutes, keeping the flame always on low.
After the onions have changed color (don't make them brown), add the Brinjals, (either the cut ones or the slit ones) turmeric powder, salt and mix everything , and let the Brinjals fry and cook for a little while.
Remember never to keep the heat on high, and keep stirring it once in a while.
After about 5 minutes, squeeze the tamarind juice and pour the juice into the pan, and keep the pan covered and let the Brinjals cook, keep removing the lid and keep stirring occasionally.

Grind the dry masalas, and add that to the Brinjal mixture, let everything blend for a while, keep stirring lightly.

Now add the remaining dry roasted peanuts, and add the boiled / cooked rice, and sprinkle the dry roasted copra or coconut, and mix everything well but with gentle hand. 

 Transfer the Brinjal Rice into a bowl or a big plate and sprinkle the chopped coriander leaves.

This yummy one pot meal is ready to be served. 

You can serve it curds, or make some Raita with cucumber, tomato and onion, and some Papads and Rice Fritters

                          You can also make some Curd rice  if you have some left over rice

 Serves 4-5
Preparation time: about 45 mins.

Now about Brown Rice:
(Brown rice contains higher amount of vitamins and minerals. The bran of brown rice not only increases the fibre content but also contains a variety of colour pigments that may be beneficial for health. Given that different variety of brown rice contains different amount of nutrients and colour pigments, it may be a good idea to include a variety of them in your diet. You can also enjoy a variety of flavour and texture by making it a point to use  Red Rice, Black Rice and Hand pounded Rice too. Stay away from everything white, like white bread, white rice, and white flour.

Consuming a diet rich in whole-grains, such as brown rice, is beneficial to health as it lowers the risk of heart disease, diabetes and certain cancer. It also helps in weight management).

Remember if you add some more Brinjal than what has been mentioned, it doesn't matter, it is still going taste terrific. You can increase or decrease the chillies according to your taste. 

Just do it and enjoy this recipe.