Category Archives: Konkani Recipes

Tendle Kajjubi Upkari | Ivy gourd – Cashewnut stir fry Konkani style

May 10, 2023 Healthy Cooking with Mitha 2 Comments

Click on the image to save the recipe on Pinterest

Having grown up now (though I would love to be a child 😍), I realize how much my food choice has changed over the years. From loving hotel food as a kid to now, loving all the dishes that were made at home by my Amma and Grandma, recreating them in my kitchen and remembering my childhood memories with the dishes, I have come a long way. ❤️

Even though I still like to enjoy restaurant dishes occasionally, my comfort will always be the simple dishes that I make daily. We have pej or matta rice gruel for dinner and any kind of stir fry or upkari (as we call in Konkani) is a must with it.

So whenever I get good ivy gourd, I make this tendle kajjubi upkari which is an alternative to the famous Konkani dish called Tendle Bibbe upkari which is made with Bibbo or Fresh Cashews. They are available during our new year festival or Ugadi and in every Konkani household, either Bibbe upkari or Tendle Bibbe upkari is made.

Since I live in Qatar and we don’t get fresh cashews here, I make this upkari with regular cashews and it tastes delicious too. I made it yesterday and decided to share this easy recipe with all of you too. I know Konkanis already know this easy recipe but I am sure it will be new to atleast some of my readers.

So here’s sharing the recipe. Hope you all try and love this yummy dish. Happy and healthy cooking! ❤️

RECIPE:

Ingredients:

1 1/2 Tbsp Coconut Oil

1 tsp Mustard seeds

A sprig of Curry leaves

3 Green chillies

About 20 Ivy Gourds/ Tindora/ Tendle (2 Cups sliced)

3/4 to 1 Cup Cashews (regular ones)

Salt to taste

2 Tbsp freshly grated Coconut for garnish

Step by step recipe:

1. Wash ivy gourds well, then chop off the ends and slice them as shown. You can slice one ivy gourd into 6 long pieces.

2. Heat oil in a pan, add mustard seeds, allow it to splutter. Now add curry leaves and green chillies. Fry for few seconds.

3. Now add the sliced ivy gourds and cashews together. Mix well.

4. Add little water ( about 1/4 cup) along with salt. Cover and cook on medium flame for about 10 mins. Check in between if the water has evaporated. Add little more if needed.

5. Once the ivy gourds change colour to light green and turns soft along with cashews turning soft too, the upkari is done. If water is remaining in the stir fry, just keep the flame on high and fry till the mixture turns dry. Now garnish with freshly grated Coconut. Done 🙂

6. Serve with rice meals or with congee (pej/rice gruel). Tastes so yum ❤️

Notes:

* The ratio of ivy gourd to cashew is upto you. We love cashew in this upkari. So I add 1 Cup for 2 Cups sliced ivy gourd. You can also add just a handful. Tastes good even then.

* Remember to cook both the ivy gourd and cashews till soft. Ivy gourd takes time to cook, so keep the flame on medium, add little by little water and cook till it changes to light green and soft.

* We Konkanis make this with Bibbo or fresh, tender Cashewnuts during our New year festival called Ugadi. But since I live in Qatar and am here during Ugadi, I make it with cashews.

* You can check all my Konkani recipes here:

All Konkani Recipes

Breakfast time, Idli Stand, Konkani Recipes

Idli Usli | Idli Upma | Seasoned leftover idlis

May 1, 2023 Healthy Cooking with Mitha 3 Comments

As a kid, whenever my Anama (grandmother) or Amma made idlis, I would ask them to keep some extra to make idli usli as breakfast for next day. The super soft hing flavoured idli usli with bites of green chillies in it was, is and will always be one among my most favorite breakfast. Childhood nostalgia. ❤️

Now in my kitchen, where I am the manager 😂😂, I purposely make a whole batch of idlis extra just to savour idli usli the next day. My family too likes it ( Thank God! 😁), so two days breakfast is set when I make idlis.

Even though I make it every couple of weeks, it never occured to me that I could share this easy recipe with all of you too. But yesterday when I was about to make it, the idlis in my steel case looked so beautiful that as I admired it, I thought why not share this recipe on the blog too. If it helps even one of you, I will be very happy. ❤️

So here’s me sharing this super easy, quick and very tasty recipe of Idli Usli, Konkani style. Hope you all try it and remember me while enjoying it. Happy and healthy cooking! ❤️

RECIPE:

The Idlis used here are : Mallige idlis

Ingredients:

About 10 to 15 Leftover idlis (depends on how much you have)

1/4 tsp Hing/ Asafoetida

1 tsp Sugar

Salt to taste (be mindful as idlis already have salt)

For seasoning:

2 Tbsp Coconut oil

2 tsp Mustard seeds

2 tsp Cumin seeds/ Jeera

2 tsp Urad dal

A sprig of Curry leaves

3 to 4 Green chillies

Freshly grated Coconut for garnish

Step by step recipe:

1. Leftover idlis : I keep them in the refrigerator the previous night. Since they are cold and slightly hard, it’s easy to crumble them. You can also use idlis that are at room temperature. Fresh idlis need to be cooled completely before making usli.

2. Crumble them using hands as shown in the picture. Add salt ( be mindful as idlis already have salt) , sugar and hing.

3. Mix everything well and evenly with hands. Keep aside.

4. Heat coconut oil in a pan. Add mustard seeds. Allow it to splutter. Now add cumin seeds, urad dal, curry leaves and green chillies. Fry on medium flame till urad dal turns brown.

5. Now add the crumbled idlis and mix well on medium flame. Cover and keep for 5 mins.

6. Garnish with freshly grated coconut and serve hot. Done 🙂

Notes:

* If you don’t have leftover idlis, you can make the same recipe using Thick Poha. Only addition is peanuts in the seasoning which needs to be fried till crisp. Rest recipe is same. I make this regularly for a light and tasty evening snack. In Konkani it is called Phova Usli.

* I make regular idlis using this recipe of Mallige idlis. They come out super soft and very tasty.

* Since I love Idli Usli, I make an extra batch of Mallige idlis and refrigerate. Next day morning for breakfast, I make Idli usli.

* In this recipe, you can adjust the seasoning according to how many idlis you have leftover. I even make the usli when I have 6 to 8 idlis. It serves two people.

* Do remember to add less salt as idlis already have salt in them. Hing gives a wonderful aroma in the usli. So don’t skip it. Sugar gives a good balance in flavours too. Just a little is enough.

* You can also check these seasoned breakfast recipes that I make often:

Chow Chow Bath (Upma and Sheera)

Batat Phovu

Muga Dali usli

Chane Usli – Godu Phovu

Kobi Pohe

Bhajjil Phovu

Undi – Piyava Gojju

* You can also check different varieties of Idlis in my Variety Idlis collection.

Breakfast time, Konkani Recipes, Snacks

Batat Phovu| Kanda Batata Poha | Easy Breakfast recipe with rice flakes

December 4, 2022 Healthy Cooking with Mitha 4 Comments

Whenever I ask my husband what breakfast he would like to eat when there is no dosa or idli batter, he immediately says “Batat Phovu”. 😄 And to imagine that he used to simply dislike potatoes when we got married. I used to beg him to please get us some potatoes as it used to be my favorite vegetable. Yes, “used to be” 😂 Now I have joined him in not liking potatoes so much but he is slowly liking them in some dishes and one of them is this Batat Phovu. 😍

In fact, it is he who suggested me that I should definitely share this recipe on the blog while I was sceptical as this is quite a well known recipe. “Everyone makes this and everyone knows the recipe..”, I told him. “But don’t think anyone can make it as perfectly as yours!”, was his reply instantly. (This man really loves what I cook 😂😂)

So I decided to share the recipe on the blog. Because if it helps even one, I will consider my efforts worthwhile. Though I am not a perfect cook in any way, some dishes I cook comes out really tasty and Batat Phovu is one among them.

Here’s sharing the simple recipe for those who don’t know yet. Hope it’s helpful for you. Happy and healthy cooking! ❤️

RECIPE:

Ingredients: {Serves 2 to 3 people}

1 Cup = 240 ml

2 Cups Thick Poha / Rice flakes / Beaten rice

2 Tbsp Coconut Oil

1 tsp Ghee

1 tsp Mustard seeds

1 tsp Cumin seeds

2 Tbsp Peanuts

Few Curry leaves

3 Green chillies

1 medium sized Onion

2 medium sized Potatoes

1/4 tsp Turmeric powder

A pinch of Asafoetida/ Hing

2 tsp Sugar

Salt to taste

2 Tbsp Coriander leaves, for garnish

2 Tbsp freshly grated Coconut, for garnish

Juice of 1/2 an Indian lemon

Step by step recipe:

1. Heat oil + ghee in a pan. Add mustard seeds and cumin seeds. Allow mustard seeds to splutter. Now add peanuts, curry leaves and finely chopped green chillies. Fry for few seconds till peanuts get roasted.

2. Now add finely chopped Onion and fry till onions turn translucent.

3. Add peeled and finely chopped Potatoes and turmeric powder. Mix well and fry the potatoes for a minute. Now add few spoons of water. Cover and cook till the potatoes turn soft. Will take about 5 mins.

4. Meanwhile take Thick Poha in a bowl. Note to take thick variety of Poha and not the thin variety of Poha.

5. Now wash it well once or twice to remove impurities from it. Drain water completely after washing. Poha turns soft now. Add salt, sugar and hing powder. Mix well.

6. Once potatoes turn soft, add poha to it and mix well continually till the mixture combines. Cover and keep for 5 mins on very low flame.

7. Now remove from flame and garnish with finely chopped coriander leaves and grated coconut. Drizzle lemon juice on top. Mix well. Serve hot. Done! ❤️

Notes:

* We like the Poha soft and moist. So I wash really well and also cook after adding to the pan. If you don’t like it soft, you can wash only once and just mix in the pan and remove from flame without covering it.

* Batat Phovu is best had hot when freshly made. If kept for long, it tends to get dry. In case you have to make ahead, just sprinkle few drops of water while reheating before serving. That makes it moist again.

* You can skip potatoes if you don’t like and make simple Kanda Poha with only onions.

* Some people also add carrots, capsicum and peas to this making it Vegetable Poha which is even healthier but my family loves Batat Phovu the authentic way only. Just shared as I thought it’s a great idea.

* I add oil + ghee to enhance the flavour of the Batat Phovu. You can add only oil if you like.

* Thick Poha is used to make Batat Phovu and not Thin Poha. Thin Poha is used in dishes like Godu Phovu (sweetened rice flakes) and Bhajjil Phovu (roasted rice flakes).

* I mix salt, sugar and hing in the washed Poha instead of adding in the pan as I have seen it results in even mixing and tastes really good.

* The thick Poha I use does not need soaking at all and turns soft when I wash it twice. If your Poha is very hard, you will need to soak for few minutes to make it soft before use.

* You can also try my other Poha recipes:

Kobi Pohe (Satwik version of Pohe with Cabbage)

Poha Vegetable Cutlet

Instant Poha Idlis

Instant Oats Poha Dosa

Other Breakfast Ideas

Desserts, Konkani Recipes

Madgane | Konkani traditional Chana dal sweet/ payasa/kheer

October 4, 2022 Healthy Cooking with Mitha Leave a comment

Though I am not an expert at making traditional Konkani dishes, if there is one Konkani sweet dish I can make really well, it is Madgane. Madgane is made on Ugadi day which is new year for us, as per Hindu calendar. When I made it for Ugadi few months back, I realized I had not shared this delicious recipe on the blog.

That’s when I decided to make it again during Navaratri which is yet another important festival for us and share with all of you. Today is a final day of Navaratri, tomorrow being Vijayadashami or Dussehra. 🙏

If there is something I miss the most living in Qatar, it is going to temples specially during festivals. My dad has been going to all Devi temples across Udupi and sends me pictures of beautifully adorned Devis. 🙏 Feels so happy for him. ❤️ It is a great blessing from the divine which we don’t realize the value untill we are away from it.

Wishing all of you a blessed Navaratri and Vijayadashami. 🙏

Hope you all try Madgane and relish it like we do. Happy and healthy cooking! ❤️

RECIPE:

Ingredients: ( makes about 6 bowls/ servings)

1/2 Cup Chana dal

1 3/4 Cups Coconut milk ( about 400 ml)

1 Cup Jaggery powder

2 Tbsp Rice flour

1 Tbsp Ghee

About 10 Cashews and few raisins

1/2 tsp Cardamom powder

Step by step recipe:

1. Roast Chana dal on medium to low flame till it starts letting out an aroma and starts browning.

2. Immediately remove from flame and wash well. Add fresh water, a little above the level of Chana dal, as shown in the picture.

3. Pressure cook till soft but not mushy. Chana dal should retain shape. I cook on high till 2 whistles, then keep on medium flame for 10 mins in my electric stovetop.

4. Now add cooked Chana dal, coconut milk and Jaggery in a thick bottomed pan.

5. Mix well and bring to a boil. Cook for 5 mins on high flame.

6. Take 2 Tbsp Rice flour and mix with 2 to 3 Tbsp water to form a paste free form lumps.

7. Add it to the Chana dal payasa while stirring continually so that it does not form lumps. Cook for 5 to 10 mins on medium flame till the mixture becomes thick. Remove from flame.

8. In another pan, take ghee, add cashews and raisins. Fry till raisins plump up. Add to the payasa. Also add Cardamom powder. Mix well.

9. Serve warm.

Click on the image to save the recipe on

Notes:

* I have used tinned coconut milk from Lulu hypermarket. If you are making fresh coconut milk, then take about 2 Cups of coconut gratings, grind it with little water to a fine paste in a mixer. Sieve it once to get thick coconut milk. Grind again with water, sieve to get thin coconut milk. Add thin coconut milk along with jaggery in step 4 and thick coconut milk along with rice flour paste.

* Be careful while roasting Chana dal as it burns very quickly. Roast on medium flame and remove as soon as it starts turning brown. Roasting is an important step as it gives a wonderful flavour to the payasa.

* While pressure cooking Chana dal, ensure that it retains shape and is not mushy. In Madgane, the bite of chana dal is important.

* Don’t add a lot of water while pressure cooking and even after that as that payasa will become watery.

* 1/2 Cup Chana dal to 1 Cup Jaggery works perfectly for me. You can vary as per your taste.

* Rice flour paste is added to give thickness to the Madgane. Don’t skip it as it enhances the texture so much.

* Traditionally, fresh Cashew or Bibbo is added to Madgane. I don’t get it, so I add regular Cashews roasting only slightly along with raisins.

* Don’t forget Cardamom powder as it gives a wonderful aroma to Madgane.

* Leftover Madgane can be refrigerated and had next day.

Dosa corner, Konkani Recipes

Matta rice – Urad dosa | Surai Ukde Udida polo

January 18, 2022 Healthy Cooking with Mitha 3 Comments

As all of you already know, dosas are our family staple breakfast. So much that any day any time any variety of dosa batter would either be fermenting or ready in the refrigerator (talk about dosa love ❤️). This is one variety that I have been making quite often now and happy that I am able to share it today with all of you.

We have been home bound again since few weeks due to the sudden increase in Covid cases here in Qatar and my daughter’s classes are also online now. Half of my day goes in juggling between managing her classes, entertaining my son and cooking alongside while the rest half goes in playing with them and finishing off my chores. So I hardly get the lavish time that I used to get before to blog.

And whenever I do get some little time in between, I prefer to watch random YouTube videos or listen to my favorite songs and bhajans while walking inside my home or arranging the toys which has become my way to soothe myself. Along with these, the weather has become so beautiful in Qatar with light rains that I just sit looking outside at the trees, the birds and the precious raindrops. It’s a gift from nature that I was waiting for since many years. ❤️

Hope you all are doing well too. Really wishing peace and happiness with good health for all of you. Since this is my first post in 2022, I take this opportunity to wish all of you a very Happy New year too. Stay safe, take care. Happy and healthy cooking! ❤️

RECIPE:

Ingredients: {Makes 17 dosas}

1 Cup Urad dal (I use split ones)

1 Cup Matta rice/ Parboiled rice/ Ukde tandulu in Konkani

1 1/2 Cups White rice (any variety)

1/2 Cup thick Poha/ flattened rice

Salt to taste

Oil or Ghee to cook the dosa

Step by step recipe:

1. Wash well and soak Urad dal separately and matta rice- white rice together in two vessels for 4 to 6 hours. (Matta rice needs more soaking time.) Here is the picture to show the rice varieties that I have used.

2. After soaking time, drain the water and add Urad dal in a mixer.

3. Grind to a smooth paste adding little water. Add to a vessel. Now drain and add both the rice along with poha in the mixer.

4. Grind this to a smooth paste. Add it to the Urad dal batter along with salt. Mix well with hands.

5. Keep covered at room temperature for 8 to 10 hours. I keep the batter for about 12 hours now since it is winter as the batter takes more time to ferment. In summers, 8 hours would be enough.

6. Mix the batter well once. Heat a dosa pan and pour a ladle of batter in the center. You can make both thin or thick dosas with this batter but we prefer thick spongy dosas. Add ghee over the dosas once the surface looks cooked.

7. Flip and cook the other side for few seconds too.

8. Remove and serve with a chutney of your choice.

Notes:

* I usually make a simple ginger chutney with this dosa. Just grind coconut with ginger, green chillies, tamarind, salt and little water to a smooth paste. Season in coconut oil with mustard seeds and curry leaves.

* I use the Palakkadan Matta rice variety which we consume daily for our meals, to make this dosa. It is also called Kerala red rice or Kerala Parboiled rice. In Konkani, we call it Ukde tandulu. You can use any variety of brown rice.

* Note that the soaking time for Matta rice is atleast 6 hours so that it grinds well in the mixer.

* Poha makes this dosa very spongy and soft. I use thick variety, you can use thin ones too.

* This batter stays well if refrigerated for couple of days. Ideal for lunch boxes too as the dosas stay soft for a long time.

* I got inspired to make this dosa from my Surai Ukdle Polo, a dosa commonly made in Konkani households.

* I also make Paniyarams or Appos with Matta rice and mixed dals – Mixed dal Appos.

Breakfast time, Konkani Recipes, Snacks

Instant Sweet Appo | Wheat Jaggery appe | Easy Sweet Paniyaram | Godu Appo

December 16, 2021 Healthy Cooking with Mitha 3 Comments

The bowl of sweet appes that you can see above has been finished off by my sweet 3 year old son as I write this. After I made it and gave him one, he took a bite and asked me innocently, “mmm yummy Amma, ye hotel?” 😄. I felt very happy and like a chef that my son found the appes so good that he thought they were from hotel. 😍

He wanted more and finally ate the whole bowl of it. My heart filled up as a mother by seeing him eat happily and I wanted to share my happiness with all of you too as soon as possible. So, sat to write down this blog now itself. ❤️

These appes were one among the first I learnt to make when I got the Appe pan as we have grown up eating them. My kids love it a lot and I make it regularly for them as a tasty snack. It’s so quick to make yet fills up their tummies in a healthy way. ❤️

I also want to share a glimpse of my kitchen counter with all of you today seeing which makes me very happy each day. I love arranging it and love to keep the house clean. Took this picture to send my Amma and felt like sharing with you all too. A peek into my kitchen and my favorite place in the house. 😍

The popsicle molds are my recent purchase and I am loving making new varieties of fruit popsicles each day for the kids. Their excitement while enjoying them is one of a kind. 😍 Will share the recipes when I find time. ❤️

Hope you all loved reading this blog. Do try these appes and I am sure you will love them. Happy and healthy cooking! ❤️

RECIPE:

Ingredients: { Makes about 24 small sized appos }

1 Cup Wheat flour (Chapati Atta)

1/2 Cup Jaggery powder or to taste

2 to 3 Tbsp freshly grated Coconut

A pinch of Salt

1/4 tsp Cardamom powder

1/2 Cup Milk

1/2 to 3/4 Cup water (to make the batter)

1 small Indian Banana (1/4 Cup mashed banana)

Ghee to cook the appos

Step by step recipe:

1. Take 1 Cup wheat flour, 1/2 Cup Jaggery powder, about 2 Tbsp freshly grated coconut, salt and Cardamom powder in a mixing bowl.

2. Add 1/2 Cup Milk and water (1/4 Cup each time) to make a slightly thick lump free batter. It takes about 1/2 Cup to 3/4 Cup water to make this batter depending on the brand of wheat flour and how much water it absorbs. The consistency should be neither very thin nor very thick. It should be thicker than dosa batter.

3. Now add the mashed banana to the batter. Mix well. I add 1 small Indian Banana which is 1/4 Cup when mashed.

4. Now heat the Appe pan and when it becomes hot, reduce the flame to medium. Now add a drop of ghee in each of the holes of the pan. Add one spoonful of batter in each of them. Don’t keep the flame on high as the appes may turn black in colour. Always keep the flame on medium to get golden coloured appes.

5. Cover and cook for a minute or till the surface looks slightly cooked.

6. Flip and cook for a minute again.

7. Serve them warm or at room temperature. Tastes so yum! 😍

Notes:

* You can skip banana if you don’t have but trust me, these appes taste really heavenly with the banana flavour and the slight bite of bananas in them.

* If you are not adding bananas, you will need to add a pinch of baking soda to help the appos fluff up. I don’t like to use soda and hence I add bananas everytime while making appos.

* This is how I make Wheat banana pancakes too. So you can use appe batter to make pancakes.

* The measurements I have shared above works very well for me. You can add or reduce jaggery, coconut and milk as per your taste.

* Always cook the appes in medium flame for perfect golden coloured appes.

* I also make Mixed dal Appes which comes out delicious. You can check the recipe here.

Breakfast time, Konkani Recipes, Snacks

Bhajjil Phovu | Easy Konkani style roasted Poha snack

November 11, 2021 Healthy Cooking with Mitha 2 Comments

I know I have been taking long breaks from blogging and there are many reasons for it, some are personal, some are worth sharing with all of you. The main reason why I can’t blog like before is my son, who needs me all the time, to play with him, to hear his life issues as a 3 year old (😅) and sometimes to just hug him tight, sitting on our sofa, looking outside at the birds. ❤️

But all this will last only for 4 more months as we have got him admission for Kindergarten (KG 1/ LKG) which he will join in April. It’s a bitter sweet moment for me as both the kids will be at school while the home turns empty.. Though I know I will get all the time in the world for myself, I really don’t know what I will do with that time 😂. Will definitely miss the chatter and the fun mornings with my son. ❤️

It’s been many days my husband has been asking me to restart blogging ( he loves this blog much more than me 😅) and I wanted more time to get my mind reset on blogging. Today he said he will play with the momma’s boy and here I am writing this blog.

I learned to make this roasted Poha snack long back when Nandini Bhandarkar Akka posted it on our common food group. We all loved it and it has now become a regular at my place. I absolutely love how quickly it can be made, yet tastes really delicious with simple flavours.

Hope you all try and love this Bhajjil Phovu. Happy and healthy cooking! ❤️

Thank you Nandini Bhandarkar Akka for your recipe. ❤️

RECIPE:

Recipe credit: Mrs Nandini Bhandarkar

Ingredients:

1 1/2 Cups thin Poha/ Aval/ flattened rice (thin variety)

2 tsp Coconut oil

1 tsp Mustard seeds

6 to 8 Curry leaves

3 Green chillies

1/4 tsp Turmeric powder/ Haldi

1 tsp Sugar/ Jaggery powder

Salt to taste

Freshly grated Coconut for garnish

Step by step recipe:

1. Dry roast the thin variety of Poha in a pan (without oil) on medium flame till it turns crisp. Takes about 5 mins.

2. Now remove it in a mixing bowl. Keep aside.

3. Now heat coconut oil in the same pan. Splutter mustard seeds, add curry leaves, finely chopped green chillies, turmeric powder and fry for few seconds.

4. Add the roasted Poha to this seasoning along with salt and sugar. Mix well. Switch off the flame.

5. Remove in a bowl. Garnish with freshly grated coconut. Serve!

Notes:

* Bhajjil Phovu makes for an excellent evening snack as it is light on the tummy and can be easily made, yet really delicious.

* You can also roast peanuts in the seasoning.

* Please note that this snack is made using thin Poha and not thick Poha. Thick Poha needs soaking before consuming whereas thin Poha does not need it.

* If making for breakfast, you can combine it with Upma or Chane Usli too for a filling breakfast.

* Store this in a tight, moist free container and it lasts well for few days too. You can add freshly grated coconut just before serving.

* This Bhajjil Phovu tastes just like the Phova Chiwda that is made during festivals, the difference being this Phovu is a simpler and easier version of it.

* For more recipes with Poha/ Aval, you can check – Poha recipes collection

* For all breakfast recipes – Breakfast recipes collection

* For all snack ideas – Snack recipes collection

* For all Konkani recipes – Konkani recipes Collection

Chutneys, Konkani Recipes

Sambarpalli Chutney | Panikoorka/ Doddapatre chutney – version 2

June 30, 2021 Healthy Cooking with Mitha 2 Comments

Sambarpalli leaves are also known as Panikoorka in Malayalam, Doddapatre in Kannada, Ajwain Patta in Hindi and Indian Borage in English. They are very good for digestion and also to cure common cold.

It’s amazing how good music can change your mood completely. This morning as I woke up, checked my YouTube subscriptions and saw that T series has released something called a mixtape which is a combination of two beautiful songs. Today’s was a mix of Tera Chehra and Jaan Meri, both of which are soothing songs, the mixtape sung beautifully by Jubin Nautiyal and Tulsi Kumar. It gave a wonderful start to my day and I loved it so much that I listened to it on repeat. ❤️

So since I am in a pleasant mood, I decided to utilize it to blog a new recipe (Make hay while the sun shines 😀). This chutney might look like a simple recipe but it’s a very special one. Not only does it taste super delicious, is healthy, made from our home grown leaves and importantly learnt from one among my favorite people, Mamta mai. ❤️

Me and her are so similar in many many ways that she calls us as twins with 25 years difference 😂😂. We met each other through food groups, then realized we are related distantly and now we bond just like two long lost siblings and gel along like best friends. 😍 It’s super sweet how she cares for me and her love is very precious for me. ❤️

So when she shared this recipe of Sambarpalli chutney, I had to try it as we have loads of these leaves in our backyard, all thanks to my husband’s gardening skills. For him, plants are his love and passion in midst of his hectic work life, something which makes him very happy. Here is the sambarpalli bush which came in as a small plant but look at how well it has grown. 😍

So, here’s sharing the recipe of this chutney made from homegrown leaves. A very healthy yet delicious chutney. Hope you all try and love it. Happy and healthy cooking! ❤️

Thank you so much Mamta mai for this recipe. ❤️🙏

RECIPE:

Recipe Credit : Mrs Mamta Shenoy

Ingredients:

About 8 to 10 Sambarpalli leaves

1 tsp Oil

1 tsp Jeera/ Cumin seeds

3 to 4 Green chillies

4 Garlic pods

3/4 Cup Coconut

1 tsp Tamarind paste

Salt to taste

Step by step recipe:

1. Heat oil in a pan and add cumin seeds. Fry for few seconds. Add green chillies and garlic. Fry till garlic turns slightly brown in colour. Add sambarpalli leaves and fry till it wilts.

2. Allow it to cool. Then add it to a mixer jar along with coconut, tamarind and salt.

3. Add little water as needed and grind to a smooth paste. Serve as a rice accompaniment or with idlis or dosas.

Notes:

* You can another version of chutney with these leaves here – Sambarpalli leaves Chutney . This version is without garlic.

* The leaves I have taken are tender, small ones. If the leaves in your plant are large ones, 5 to 6 will suffice for the amount of coconut mentioned.

* These leaves are very healthy and I use them in two ways apart from making chutney:::

1. I put couple of leaves in a vessel along with water. Heat it and take steam inhalation when even having the slightest of cold symptoms.

2. Heat the leaves in a pan as shown in the first picture. Then when it starts oozing water, remove it and crush it using mortar and pestle. Sieve the juice and mix honey (for kids above one year old) . Give as medicine for kids and adults when suffering from cold or stomach ache. Works very well. Take about 6 to 8 small leaves for one dose.

Hope these home remedies are helpful to you too. These leaves are really magic!

Curry house, Konkani Recipes, Salads

Banana stem salad | Banana stem Kosambari | Banana stem Upkari | Gabbo recipes Konkani

May 24, 2021 Healthy Cooking with Mitha 3 Comments

There was a time when I used to make only one or two curries for our matta rice meals. Since I cook the matta rice very soft like a gruel, a side dish would be sufficient to enjoy a simple dinner. Don’t know when I started cooking more, maybe lockdown effect 😄 or to deviate my mind 😅 or listen to more music 😍, I now make atleast 3 to 4 varieties of curries daily. It makes me very happy to see the thali with different colours and nutrients too.❤️

My son is also a huge fan of his plate filled with curries and says, “Amma, Wow 😍” when I bring his meal to feed him. I am glad that this boy needs no extra efforts to make him eat veggies. He already loves vegetables (even traditional ones) so much that I am sure he was a farmer in his past life and a Konkani for sure. 😅

As for me, due to him, I too have learned to like these vegetables which I did not like as a kid (Amma, true na? 😂). So, as a mother, at 31 year old, I am learning healthy eating habits from my 2.5 year old son ( how cool is that 😄). But honestly, not only this, if I have learned to be happy at the simplest things, it is through my kids, if I have learned to enjoy life with whatever we have, it is through them. Even if I scold them, they still come back to me with the same amount of love and hug me saying, “Love you, Amma”. That forgiving, non judging, free thinking, trusting nature of kids and the innocence, which gets lost as we grow up, have to be learned from kids. Maybe that’s what is a part of the circle of life. ❤️

So, on this thoughtful note, sharing the recipes with Banana stem. Hope you all like it. Happy and healthy cooking!

RECIPE:

Ingredients:

Banana stem (inner pith)/ Gabbo as available {mine was 35 cm in length}

For Kosambari:

1/4 Cup Moong dal

1 Cup finely chopped Banana stem

3 Green chillies

2 Tbsp Coriander leaves

2 Tbsp grated Coconut

A pinch of Hing/ Asafoetida

1 tsp Oil, 1 tsp Mustard seeds, A sprig of Curry leaves – for seasoning

Lemon juice from 1 Indian lemon for garnish

Salt to taste

For Salad:

1 Cup finely chopped Banana stem

1 Cup Curd / Yogurt

2 Green chillies

Salt to taste

1 tsp Oil or ghee, 1 tsp Mustard seeds, 1/2 tsp Cumin seeds, A sprig of Curry leaves – for seasoning

Step by step recipe:

1. First wash well and soak the moong dal in enough water and keep aside till use. This is for the kosambari.

2. Next, wash the Banana pith well. I get the outer parts of the stem already removed. So I don’t have pictures of how to remove that. Please check YouTube videos on how to use banana stem if using for the first time. Cut into roundels while removing any fibres which may come out. Immediately put in a vessel filled with water as shown.

3. Now finely chop these roundels and add little to a bowl for the salad. Also add finely chopped green chillies.

4. Now add curd and salt. Mix well.

5. Season oil or ghee by spluttering mustard seeds and adding cumin seeds and curry leaves. Pour this seasoning over the salad. Mix well. Salad is ready.

6. For the Kosambari, now again finely chop the banana stem and add to the soaked, drained moong dal along with green chillies and coriander leaves.

7. Now add coconut along with the seasoning of mustard seeds and curry leaves in oil.

8. Add lemon juice and salt. Mix well. Kosambari is ready.

9. For the Gabbe Upkari, cut the rest of the Banana stem into long pieces. Heat about 2 tsp Oil in a pan. Add a pinch of Hing along with 3 to 4 broken red chillies and the chopped Banana stem pieces with salt and little water. Cover and cook till the stem pieces turn soft. Garnish with grated Coconut and mix well.

10. Serve the Banana stem salad, Banana stem Kosambari and Upkari with rice meals.

Notes:

* I also make a simple sambar along with these three dishes as it makes a great combination and a very wholesome meal.

* Remember to remove the outer parts of the Banana stem if you have the stem with outer parts intact. Check YouTube videos on how to use Banana stem. I get it with the innermost pith in my nearest supermarket.

* While chopping the pith, you will get some fibres come out. Discard it.

* Keep the chopped pieces in plain water or tumeric water till use, else the pieces turn black very quickly.

* Don’t worry about using banana stem without cooking it in salad and Kosambari. It can be had raw and tastes really good too. Just chop it very finely.

Curry house, Konkani Recipes

Amma’s Carrot Upkari | with ground masala

May 19, 2021 Healthy Cooking with Mitha 7 Comments

This recipe of carrot upkari is simple but the blog is very special as I am posting it on my Amma‘s birthday today. Since I am not with her, this post is my gift for her, my little way of showing my love to make her feel special (the least I can do ❤️). Hope you like it Amma. 😍

Amma and Aanu (my dad) got married in March 1989 and I was born in December the same year. So Amma always says that I am the greatest gift from God as I came into her life so quickly. As for me, her love made me so close and attached to her that even today, she’s the one I am closest to, in my life. ❤️

Amma was a working woman and I am amazed at how well she used to manage both work and home together. She used to cook very lovingly for me and my brother, which made the food taste so delicious that I still remember the flavours and aroma of her dishes (Maa ke haath ka jadoo ❤️).

These are some of my favorites from what she used to make and each of these dishes carry a special memory of Amma in it. ❤️

The moong curry with chapatis which I used to take in my college lunch box, a favorite among my friends too.. ❤️

The eggless Tomato omelette which Amma used to make with the most pieces of tomato in my omelette (out of extra love for me 😍).. ❤️

The panpolos with tomato chutney which Amma made during my pregnancy craving, not one or two but more than 15 at a time, while using her walker for support.. Can never forget that ever in my life.. ❤️

The piping hot, delicious Alu parathas and carrot pulao which were made during weekends by Amma after we were bored of regular meals.. Her love made it extra tasty for sure. ❤️

Same is with today’s recipe of Carrot Upkari.. Though it’s a very simple dish, Amma made it so well that I used to ask her to make it always.. ❤️

This is a collage of pictures of Amma with me in the first two photos and with my kids in the photos below it. The left side picture is of Amma with my daughter, when she had come here to Qatar and we had taken her to Villagio mall. I captured this moment between the loving grandmother in Amma and her first grandchild, to be treasured forever. ❤️ The right side picture is with my son, her second grandchild but not loved any less. This is when he had worn the Krishna costume on Janmashtami. Such a beautiful moment this was, my Shankar Krishna immersed in grandma love. ❤️

As loving a mother Amma is, she is equally my kids’ most loving grandmother too, their moga mamama, as they call her. 😍

I searched for many quotes to describe her, to make a card and found this one apt for her. ❤️

Her beautiful smile is always reassurance for me, that I have her with me, to share my feelings and thoughts, to listen to my woes, to feel happy for my happiness and to pray for me always. ❤️

Amma suffers from muscular dystrophy in her legs since many years and needs wheelchair for movement. But the way she lives her life, happily, filled with devotion to God, music, even doing many household chores while sitting on the wheelchair, without complaining, is commendable and very inspiring for me. Hats off to you, Amma. So proud of you! ❤️

A mother’s love is always exceptional and unconditional. I believe that we can’t be loved by anyone more than our mother can love us. Even if we are far from her, she only wants us to be happy and will always pray for us. Her love is not based on conditions that I should be with her, I should talk to her or even does not expect me to love her as much as she loves me. She just loves truly with all her heart, irrespective of any conditions. ❤️

On this note, here’s wishing you a very Happy Birthday, Amma. May you always be healthy and happy. Love you so much. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

For my readers, excuse me for such a long write-up. But I know you all will also agree that no matter how much we write for our mothers, it’s very less for their love. Anyhow, hope you all will try this recipe and remember my Amma when you do. Happy and healthy cooking! ❤️

RECIPE:

Ingredients:

3 Cups peeled and chopped Carrots

1 medium sized Onion

3 to 4 Red chillies (depends on the variety)

6 to 8 Curry leaves

Salt to taste

2 tsp Coconut oil

2 Tbsp grated Coconut for garnish

Step by step recipe:

1. Take chopped onion, red chillies and curry leaves in a mixer.

2. Now add little water and grind to a smooth paste.

3. Heat oil in a pan and add the ground paste. Fry for couple of minutes till the raw smell of onion goes away.

4. Now add chopped carrots and salt. Mix well. Add little water, cover and cook till the carrots turn soft.

5. The mixture turns dry on cooking as all the water is absorbed. Remove from flame. Garnish with grated Coconut. Serve with rice meals.

Notes:

* The number of red chillies depends on the variety of chillies you have. Since carrots are sweet, the masala needs to be spicy to make the curry spicy too.

* Remember to fry the ground paste well in oil. Else there will a raw smell of onions in the curry.

* Curry leaves adds a wonderful aroma and flavour. So don’t skip it.

* Here are the other recipes by Amma which I have added on the blog:

# Amma’s Moong curry with freshly ground masala

# Amma’s Carrot Pulao

# Amma’s Tomato Chutney and Panpolos

# Amma’s Alu Paratha

# Amma’s Eggless Tomato Omelette