Tag Archives: Curries

Curry house, Konkani Recipes

Magge Sasam | Konkani style Mangalore Cucumber curry

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My husband loves gardening and that’s his most favorite pastime too. He waters the plants atleast 4 times everyday even during the peak summers here in Qatar and waters them as soon as he comes back from work even without entering the house (have to add: even after night shift 😬). That’s his dedication towards plants and I tease him that his first love are his plants and not me. 😅

Couple of years back, he had grown Mangalore Cucumbers out of the seeds that I discarded from store bought ones. The creeper had spread all over the garden and we had a yield of over 50 of them. It was really amazing and even our relatives were surprised to see them grow specially in a desert land like Qatar. All credits go to his green thumb. Here is a picture of some of them.

Since they were so many in number, we shared some with our friends who eat these. I also made Mangalore cucumber sweet dosas or Surnalis but still many were left. That’s when I got the idea of making Magge Sasam just the way we make Kuvale Sasam with Ashgourd. It tasted so yummy that it became a regular at our place and all the magges got over in no time.

So, when I got Mangalore Cucumber from our grocery store last day, I thought I must share this recipe with my readers who have not tried this yet and clicked the pictures of this curry. With my husband on vacation, he too came and held the curry bucket and said it reminded him of the temple meals in our native which we missed this whole year. I loved the click and had to share it here.

Hope you all try and love this curry too. Tastes very good with white rice and lemon pickle. Happy and healthy cooking!

RECIPE:

Ingredients:

1 regular sized Mangalore cucumber/ Magge/ Vellarikka

1/2 tsp Turmeric powder

Salt to taste

For the masala:

1 Cup fresh/ desiccated Coconut

4 Kashmiri long red chillies (OR 4 green chillies)

1 tsp Tamarind paste

1 tsp Mustard seeds (to be spluttered before adding)

For the seasoning:

1 Tbsp Coconut oil

1 tsp Mustard seeds

Few curry leaves

Step by step recipe:

1. Cut both the ends of the mangalore cucumber and peel it’s skin off. Cut and discard it’s core. Chop it into cubes. Now pressure cook with turmeric powder, salt and water enough to soak it till it turns soft. It took two whistles for me in my electric stove top.

2. Take coconut, red chillies, tamarind in a mixer with little water. Grind to a coarse paste.

3. Now heat mustard seeds in a pan (without oil) and allow it to splutter. Add it to the masala.

4. Pulse in the mixer two to three times. No need to grind to smooth paste after adding mustard seeds. Grind to a slightly coarse paste.

5. Now add this mixture to the cooked mangalore cucumber and bring it to boil. Cook for about 10 mins on medium flame. Also check for salt and add if needed.

6. Now heat oil in a pan. Splutter mustard seeds. Add curry leaves and fry for few seconds. Pour the seasoning over the curry. Mix well. Remove from flame.

7. Serve hot with rice meals.

Notes:

* Don’t add a lot of water while pressure cooking the mangalore cucumbers or the curry turns watery. This is a thick curry. So add water only to soak it and pressure cook.

* Also, don’t overcook it. Mine gets done in two whistles on high flame in my electric stove top.

* I make this curry three ways. One is using green chillies alone which turns greenish white in colour. Second is this which I have shared ie using red chillies alone. Third is adding both green and red chillies in equal quantities. Three of these taste different and tasty. You can try the different variations each time for a change.

* Don’t grind the paste to smooth paste. Just add a little water and grind to a semi coarse paste. Also, don’t grind too much after adding the spluttered mustard seeds. Just pulse twice or thrice till it’s crushed.

* Remember that you have added salt while cooking the mangalore cucumber. So add only if needed later.

* This curry makes a good combination with white rice and lemon pickle.

* You can also make this Mangalore cucumber sweet dosas or Surnalis which taste very delicious.

Curry house, Konkani Recipes

Raw Banana moong curry | Kerala style recipe

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I get many messages from my readers about which place I really belong to, as I keep mentioning both Kerala and Karnataka in my write ups. Actually I am from a beautiful village named Katapady near Udupi. When I was 9 years old, we shifted to Ernakulam and thus started my life as a Keralite. After shifting many rental houses, we bought our own house in a place called Elamakkara. It was in midst of many temples and we loved the area very much. That house still brings back many beautiful memories as I did my schooling and college life, spent my pregnancies and days with my newborn babies in that house. Many nostalgic memories to cherish forever. ❤️

My parents shifted back to Udupi two years back and are enjoying themselves in their dream flat which is in midst of nature. You can see so many varieties of birds and butterflies there with every morning welcomed by their chirping. I love chatting with Amma lying on her bed looking at the beautiful birds. Right now I am in Qatar (settled here after marriage since 9 years) and honestly, it feels really homesick not being able to travel even if I want to (not risking with the present situation). Hope next year brings more happiness. ❤️

Coming back to this recipe (got emotionally carried away like always 😅), I had shared a recipe of Sprouted moong methi sukke earlier which I had learned from the Konkani community in Elamakkara. Many of my readers and relatives had tried and loved it so much. So here’s sharing one more recipe which is commonly made by them. They actually use banana stem and whole moong but I replace with raw bananas as stem is not available here.

Hope you all try it and love it too. Happy and healthy cooking!

RECIPE:

Ingredients: { The below measurements serve 5 to 6 people, so halve the quantity of moong and raw banana and adjust chillies if making for 2 people }

2 medium sized Raw Bananas

1 Cup dried whole moong/ green gram

Salt to taste

For the ground masala:

1 Cup Coconut

1 tsp Jeera or Cumin seeds

4 to 5 Green chillies or to taste

1/2 inch Ginger piece

For seasoning:

1 Tbsp Coconut oil

1 tsp Mustard seeds

A sprig of Curry leaves

2 long red chillies

Step by step recipe:

1. * Soak dried moong in atleast double the water overnight or for atleast 8 hours. Drain the water completely. Wash well. Pressure cook with water a little above it’s level for 2 whistles (or as per your cooking range) till it turns soft.

* Also chop both ends of raw Banana. Peel the skin off and finely chop the raw Banana and add to water.

2. Heat oil in a pan. Splutter mustard seeds. Add curry leaves and red chillies. Now add raw bananas and fry for few minutes till it cooks halfway.

3. Now grind coconut, green chillies, Jeera and ginger along with about 1/4 Cup water to a coarse paste. Don’t make a smooth paste.

4. Now add this paste along with salt, cooked moong to the raw bananas and cook together till the raw bananas turn soft. Also add water as needed. This a thick gravy.

5. Serve hot with rice meals.

Notes:

* This curry thickens as you keep it. So add water as much as you like it. We prefer it dry as we eat with matta rice gruel for dinner. Adjust thickness using water.

* You can substitute raw bananas with Banana stem (gabbo) too. That’s how it’s made among Kerala Konkani people.

* Do remember to grind the coconut mixture to a coarse paste to get the best flavour.

* Also add couple of more green chillies if you like spicy curries.

* If you want to make the curry in less quantity, soak only 1/2 Cup moong and use 1 raw Banana in the curry. This will serve 2 people for 1 meal.

* I make Easy Raw Banana tawa fry as an accompaniment with this curry along with rice. The meal turns out very tasty.

* You can also try this Sprouted moong methi sukke. Tastes Amazing!

Curry house, Konkani Recipes, Salads

Moong dal Kosambari | Konkani style seasoned salad

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Click on the image to save the recipe on Pinterest.

I have been blogging continually for a week now and my readers must be wondering what kind of energy has got into me 😅. Actually I realized how much time I was wasting in overthinking and felt it was best if I deviate my time towards something productive. So here I am with my son sleeping in my arms completing his evening sleep while I am blogging with my favorite songs in the background on spotify instead of random browsing or feeding my moody thoughts (which are sometimes too much to handle for the sensitive me 😬).

This kosambari is my favorite accompaniment to our rice meals. It is quick to assemble, very healthy with protein rich moong dal and tastes yummy too. People from Karnataka and Konkanis know this as they have grown up eating it at home, in temples and even in weddings.

There are many variations but this is how I make kosambari. It can beat any exotic salad in terms of taste and I am sure will won’t be able to stop eating it. It’s a favorite of my family and I have to make a huge bowl of it. Even then I hardly get to eat couple of spoons of it (my son comes when I eat my dinner and finishes off my share of the kosambari too 😂).

Hope those who don’t know will try and love it. Happy and healthy cooking!

RECIPE:

Ingredients:

1/4 Cup Moong dal

3 English cucumbers ( I use them as Indian ones are rarely available here)

1 Carrot, peeled and grated

3 Green chillies or to taste

3 Tbsp freshly grated coconut

Juice of one Indian lemon

Salt to taste

For seasoning:

1 tsp Coconut oil

1 tsp Mustard seeds

Few curry leaves

A pinch of Hing powder

Step by step recipe:

1. Soak moong dal in almost double the amount of water for about 30 to 45 mins. It will swell in size and when you bite, there will be no rawness in it. Then you can use it. Meanwhile, also wash well and chop cucumbers. Add cucumbers, grated carrot, green chillies and grated coconut in a mixing bowl.

2. When the moong dal is soaked, drain water from it completely and add to this along with salt.. Also heat oil in a pan, splutter mustard seeds and fry curry leaves slightly in it. Add Hing powder too. Then pour the seasoning over this.

3. Finally add lemon juice and mix well.

4. Serve with rice meals or enjoy as it is.

Note:

* Make sure to soak the moong dal well. When you taste and see by 30 mins, you will know whether it has rawness or can be eaten. If you feel it’s still raw, soak for more time. Anyhow, by maximum one hour, it will swell well and will be ready to be added to the salad.

* You can make this with cucumber alone or carrot alone but I love mixing both as it gives a good flavour and looks good too.

* Goes well as an accompaniment with rice and rasam.

Click on the image to save the recipe on Pinterest.
Curry house, Konkani Recipes

Benda Uli/ Bhindi fry/ Spicy Lady’s finger fry

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If there is one vegetable that I am not fond of, it is Lady’s finger. My all time favorite veggies are potato, elephant yam, beetroot, carrot ie all underground vegetables 😋. But Mr hubby hates potato and beetroot. So all these years, we have never bought beetroot and rarely use potato except for masala dosa or chapati bhaji. Husband’s food choices replace mine (Kahaani ghar ghar ki, I suppose! 😆)

Now guess which veggie is his favorite? Yes, Lady’s finger 🙄😅. So this lady makes way into our house more than quite often and he makes me eat it saying it is healthy 😬. So I have learnt to cook it in a way that I can atleast bear to eat it.

Benda Uli is commonly made at his place and the only dish he too likes with Bhindi. Though it is made little liquidy, I make it crisp so that it does not turn slimy (which I absolutely dislike). It turns out good and even my kids like it.

Hope you all try and like it as well. Happy and healthy cooking!

RECIPE:

Ingredients:

3 Cups chopped Lady’s finger / Bhindi/ Benda

2 Tbsp Coconut oil

1 medium sized Onion, finely sliced

1 medium sized Tomato, finely chopped

1 tsp Red chilli powder or to taste

Salt to taste

Step by step recipe:

1. This is how I prepare the Lady’s fingers for any curry. Wash them well under running water. Then allow it dry completely. Just keep it as such for little while and it will air dry. Chop off both ends of the Lady’s fingers and then cut into small pieces. Put in a bowl and keep aside.

Note: Ensuring that there is no water in the Lady’s fingers avoids the sliminess in the curry.

2. Now heat oil in a pan and add finely sliced onions. Fry till it turns translucent.

3. Now add tomatoes and fry till it turns soft.

3. Add the chopped Lady’s finger and fry it continually till it cooks. Don’t add water at all or else the curry turns slimy. It will take time but the texture of Lady’s finger will be very crispy and tasty.

5. Now add red chilli powder and salt. Mix well such that everything blends well. Cook for couple of minutes.

6. Remove from flame. Serve with rice meals.

Notes:

* Towards the end of frying, I purposely allow it to get little burnt ( to a little brownish tinge and not to black ). It gives it a very good flavour to the curry.

* For Lady’s finger, the most important part is preparing the vegetable. Wash first and then allow it to dry off completely. This ensures that slimes don’t form while cooking the Lady’s finger.

* Usually Benda Uli is made little liquidy but I prefer this method of cooking it (water free) as it gives crispy and tasty curry.

* Red chilli powder is to taste.

Chutneys, Curry house, Konkani Recipes

Banana flower/ Bondi Chutney & Bondi Upkari

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Banana flower is very healthy especially for our digestive system and kidney function. So I always try to include it in our meals at least once a week. This chutney is my favourite which my mother used to make regularly.

As good as it is for health, it is also lipsmackingly delicious . We enjoy it with our rice meals and also with dosas. Here’s sharing how my Amma used to make this chutney and also the upkari.

Do try it and you will definitely love it. Happy and healthy cooking! ❤️

RECIPE:

Ingredients:

1/2 a medium sized Banana flower/ Bondi (I took the other half for upkari)

1/2 Cup fresh or desiccated Coconut

2 tsp Oil

1 tsp Mustard seeds

1 tsp Cumin seeds/ Jeera

A sprig of curry leaves

1 tsp Tamarind paste

3 dried Red chillies or to taste

Salt to taste

Step by step recipe:

1. First of all, remove the outer layers of the banana flower along with the small white flowers inside. Just two or three layers will do till you get the inner firm banana flower. Chop it finely and immediately add to a bowl with water.

Note: I got 5 Cups of chopped banana flower in total. Took 2 cups for chutney and 3 cups for upkari.

2. Heat a pan with oil and add mustard seeds, cumin seeds and curry leaves.

3. When mustard seeds splutter, add the drained chopped banana flower to it. Fry well and cook with very little water till it turns soft.

4. Now add coconut and fry till it turns light brown in colour.

5. Allow it to cool. When it cools down, grind it along with red chillies, Tamarind and salt to a smooth paste adding water little by little as needed as it’s a thick chutney.

6. Remove in a bowl and serve with rice meals.

Notes:

* For the upkari or stir fry, Heat oil in a pan and add finely chopped garlic. Fry till garlic turns light brown in colour. Add the drained chopped banana flower and cook till it turns soft adding salt and red chilli powder as it cooks. Garnish with grated coconut on top. {On days that we don’t eat garlic especially during fasting days, I add Hing or asafoetida instead to the seasoning and it tastes delicious too.}

* While discarding the outer layers of the banana flower, discard the two or three hard and outermost ones. Rest are consumable.

* Immediately add the chopped banana flower to water or else it will turn black.

* Cook the banana flower well or else the chutney will have a raw flavour.

* This chutney is thick and can be enjoyed with rice meals or even with dosa.

* If refrigerated, it can last well for two days.

Chutneys, Curry house, Konkani Recipes

Surna Koot | Spicy Konkani style yam pickle

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Elephant yam or Surnu is my favourite vegetable since childhood and my birthday lunch would always include Surna upkari or stir fried elephant yam which Amma never forgot to make. Her love made it even tastier. I can never make it that way. ❤️

During festive occasions, this elephant yam pickle or Surna koot is commonly made by my husband’s aunt and is my absolute favourite. She is an expert cook and my Guru who introduced me to cooking post marriage (before that, I was a Amma’s baby who was hardly allowed inside the kitchen 😍).

But after marriage, I learnt a lot from my husband’s aunt or mhave as I call her. The way she cooks so lovingly for everyone taking care of everyone’s likes and dislikes has been an inspiration for me.

So here’s sharing the recipe for the pickle. We love it a lot and I regularly make it when I get elephant yam. Hope you all try and love it too. Happy and healthy cooking!

RECIPE:

Ingredients:

2 Cups finely chopped Elephant Yam/ Chena/ Soornu

Salt to taste

2 Tbsp Oil ( to fry the yam)

For the masala paste:

5 to 6 dried Kashmiri red chillies or to taste

1 tsp Tamarind paste

1/2 tsp Hing or Asafoetida powder

1/2 tsp Coriander seeds + 1 tsp Mustard seeds + 1/2 tsp Methi seeds {to be fried in 1 tsp oil}

For the seasoning:

2 tsp Oil

1 tsp Mustard seeds

A sprig of Curry leaves

Step by step recipe:

1. Heat oil in a pan and add the finely chopped Elephant Yam pieces along with salt.

2. Fry till the pieces turn crisp. Keep aside. You can deep fry instead. But I prefer shallow frying it.

3. Take dried red chillies, tamarind paste, hing in a mixer. Fry coriander seeds, methi and mustard seeds in little oil. Cool and add to the mixer.

4. Add little water and grind to a smooth paste.

5. Heat oil in a pan and splutter mustard seeds. Add curry leaves and fry till it turns crisp. Now add the ground paste. Allow it to come to a boil.

6. Now add the shallow fried elephant yam pieces and allow to cook till the pieces turn soft. Also add salt if needed.

7. Adjust water and add red chilli powder if needed. Remove from flame. Serve with rice meals.

Notes:

* In this recipe, usually the yam pieces are deep fried after applying salt. You can do it too but since I don’t like deep frying, I shallow fry it till it turns crisp. Though it takes time, it is to avoid the extra oil.

* You can adjust salt, water and red chilli powder towards the end to make it as spicy or as thick or thin as you like. It’s usually had like a semi thick gravy with rice meals.

* We enjoy it with our Matta rice gruel (congee or pej) and it’s a comforting soulfood.

Curry house, Konkani Recipes

Sprouted Moong Methi sukke | Kerala Konkani style spicy curry

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Click on the image to save the recipe on Pinterest

I have lived a major part of my life in Kerala. So inspite of being a Kannadiga, I love many dishes from the Kerala cuisine like Avial (especially in marriage sadyas 😁), Palada payasam ( Best bakery ones 😋), Puttu Kadala and Porottas (from thattu kadas ❤️), Appam stew (from my bestie’s lunch box 😅)… I can go on and on about it..

Also, since we lived among the Konkani GSB community in Elamakkara, we got a chance to taste dishes from their cuisine too. Many of them became just like our family and used to share whatever special they cook with us. And me being a foodie used to get so excited to taste something new.

One among the dish was this sprouted Moong Methi sukke which was made by an aunty whom we call Shyamala akka. She runs a catering service from her home and also sells snacks like chips and ladoos. So when we had a function at home, we ordered meals from her and this sukke was a part of it. We all loved it so much that we had to ask her for the recipe.

She was kind enough to share it in detail with us and after that, it’s a regular at my place. It is super healthy as it includes two variety of sprouts and is so delicious that you can’t stop eating it, that’s a promise.

Sprouting is very nutritious as it manifolds the health quotient of both moong and methi. Hope you all try this curry. I am sure you will love it. Happy and healthy cooking!

RECIPE:

Ingredients:

1/4 Cup dried Fenugreek seeds/ Methi {gives about 1 Cup methi sprouts}

1 Cup whole Moong/ Green gram {gives about 3 Cups moong sprouts}

3 Cups water or as needed

1 Tbsp Tamarind

2 tsp Red chilli powder

2 tsp Coconut oil

1 tsp Mustard seeds

A sprig of curry leaves

Salt to taste

1/4 Cup freshly grated Coconut

In the below steps by step pictures, I have taken 2 Cups Moong to sprout as I needed to use it for other dishes. For this recipe, only 1 Cup moong is required which yields about 3 Cups of sprouts.

Step by step recipe:

1. Wash well and soak Fenugreek seeds and whole moong separately in atleast thrice the amount of water overnight or for atleast 8 hours.

2. Now drain the water completely from it using a strainer. Do not forget to drain the water completely.

3. Now cover and keep aside for 10 to 12 hours.

4. Now when you open after 10 to 12 hours, you can see little sprouts have emerged depending upon the weather in your place. In hot weathers, sprouting happens in a faster pace then in cold weathers. Wash the sprouts well and drain again completely.

DAY 1 of SPROUTS

5. Keep again covered for 10 to 12 hours. Then you can see that the sprouts have increased in size. Now they are ready to be used. Wash them again and drain. Keep aside.

DAY 2 of SPROUTS

6. Heat oil in a pan. Splutter mustard seeds and add curry leaves. Now add both the sprouts together (1 Cup Methi sprouts + 3 Cups Moong sprouts). Mix well.

7. Add 3 cups of water and cook covered till the sprouts turn soft but still are firm. Add tamarind paste, salt and red chilli powder.

8. Mix well and cook for 5 more mins. Add water if needed and mix well.

9. Remove from flame and garnish with grated coconut.

Click on the image to save the recipe on Pinterest

Notes:

* Methi usually takes two days to sprout while moong sprouts within a day. But I sprout both for two days as it gives good sprouts for moong too.

* Remember to drain water completely before keeping for sprouting or else the sprouts can start smelling.

* Also remember to wash well atleast once daily to avoid the sprouts going bad.

* Red chilli powder is to taste. You can reduce or increase as per your taste.

* Don’t overcook the sprouts. Just cook till they turn soft yet are firm.

* The ratio of 1:3 of methi sprouts : moong sprouts gives perfect taste to this curry.

* The process of sprouting may look difficult but trust me, your work is very less. You just need to soak, drain and wash. That’s all. Rest work is done by the sprouts themselves. 😁 (I have just added a lot of step by step pictures so that it’s helpful for people who are new to sprouting.)

Curry house, Dosa corner, Konkani Recipes

Snake gourd seeds spicy dosa | Poddale beeye Sannapolo

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After I posted Ridgegourd skin chutney, it reminded me of another “taste from waste” which my grandmother made regularly. It is these small dosas from the seeds of snake gourds. They are not the dosas that we have for breakfast but had with rice meals and called as sannapolo in Konkani.

There are so many varieties of sannapolos made with onion, cabbage, moringa leaves and many others. Those require soaking and grinding rice and toor dal. But this variety of sannapolo can be made instantly as it uses rava instead.

And anything that can be made instantly becomes instantly my favourite too 😉. What better way to use up the healthy part of this vegetable in a delicious way. A meal of these dosas with upkari and ukde pej (Matta rice congee) becomes a soulful meal for us. Something I can never get tired of. ❤️

Hope you all try this and love it like we do. Happy and healthy cooking!

RECIPE:

Ingredients:

3/4 Cup Snake gourds seeds (I took the core of two regular sized snakegourds)

1/2 inch Ginger piece

3 Green chillies

1/2 Cup Coconut (fresh or desiccated)

1 Cup Rava or Semolina

Salt to taste

Coconut oil to cook the dosa

Step by step recipe:

1. * Wash the snake gourd well and scrape the white skin with a knife.

* Then slice lengthwise and remove the core. Keep it aside.

* Chop the snakegourds to small pieces and keep it in another bowl to make Upkari. (Will share the recipe in notes) Soak 1/4 Cup chana dal for the Upkari for about 30 mins.

2. For the spicy dosa or sannapolo, grind the seeds along with coconut, ginger and green chillies to a slightly coarse paste.

Note: Don’t grind too much or it can taste bitter. Just pulse two to three times so that the seeds are crushed.

3. Add this paste to a bowl. Add rava and salt. With little water, make a thick batter.

4. Heat the dosa pan and make small dosas. Drizzle coconut oil and cook the dosas on both sides till they turn brown and crisp.

5. Remove and serve with rice meals. This is not the regular dosa had for breakfast. It tastes best with rice, rasam or dal and snake gourd stir fry (Upkari).

Notes:

* If the snake gourd seeds are very small and easily crushable with hands, then no need to grind it along with the other ingredients in the mixer. Just mix it with the ground paste.

* While grinding the seeds, don’t grind for too long. Just pulsing is enough. Grinding for too long can cause a bitter flavour.

* The rava that I use is normal upma rava. Since this is a thick dosa, don’t add a lot of water. Just enough water to make a thick batter.

* For the snake gourd Upkari, heat coconut oil in a pan. Splutter mustard seeds and add the soaked chana dal, green chillies and curry leaves. Add chopped snake gourd and hing along with salt and little water. Cook till the snake gourd turns soft. Garnish with grated coconut.

Chutneys, Curry house, Konkani Recipes

Ridge gourd skin Chutney | Ghosale sheere Chutney & Ridge gourd Upkari

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We amchis (GSB Konkanis) are famous for not wasting anything when it comes to food. We use every possible part of any vegetable while cooking. I have seen my grandmother and mother do it and follow the same. It is not only economical but is very healthy too.

One of the most used “taste from waste” in my kitchen is watermelon rind (the white part of watermelon) which many people throw away. But you can make these sweet and spongy dosas called Surnalis with it. Also lipsmacking Halwa with jaggery can be made with it.

This chutney is yet another amazing example of using up vegetable peels. The chutney from ridgegourd skin tastes so yummy that I used to literally beg my dad to bring it so that my mother could make this chutney.

I love it so much that I peel the skin a little thicker than normal so that I get more chutney than Upkari 😅. Here’s sharing how my grandmother and mother make this chutney. Hope you all try and love it too. Happy and healthy cooking!

RECIPE:

Ingredients:

Skin or peel of one long Ridge Gourd

2 tsp Ghee

1 tsp Cumin seeds/ Jeera

1/2 tsp Hing or Asafoetida

3 Green chillies

1 Cup fresh or desiccated Coconut

1 tsp Tamarind paste

Salt to taste

Step by step recipe:

1. Remove the peel or the ridges of the ridge gourd and cut into pieces.

Note: Cut the ridge gourd into small pieces too for the Upkari or stir fry. Will share the recipe in the notes.

2. Heat ghee in a pan and add cumin seeds and hing. When it changes colour, add green chillies and ridge gourd skin. Fry well till the skin cooks well.

3. Now add coconut and fry till it turns brown in colour. Remove and allow it to cool.

4. Grind with tamarind, salt and little water to a smooth paste. This is a thick chutney.

Notes:

* My grandmother used to add couple of roasted Red chillies too to the chutney while grinding for extra flavour. I skip it so that it does not turn spicy for my kids.

* This is a thick chutney and along with Upkari makes an excellent combination with rice meals. You can enjoy with dosas too.

* I peel the ridge gourd little thick as I love this chutney. You can peel it thin if you are used to doing that way.

* For the Ridge Gourd Upkari, splutter mustard seeds in coconut oil. Add green chillies and the chopped ridge gourd. Add salt and cook without adding water till the pieces turn soft. Garnish with freshly grated coconut and remove from the flame.

Curry house

Dhaba Style Paneer

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We are a paneer loving family and our idea of a special weekend dinner is incomplete without paneer. So when my dearest friend and soul sister Sumangala posted Dhaba style Paneer on her Instagram handle @onlyvegfoodie, I could not resist trying it instantly. It looked so so delicious.

And how amazing it came out too. My kids who usually make faces during dinner time ate whole heartedly and happily that day. My daughter even ate the curry as it is which is a rarity since she always finds everything spicy. So you can imagine how much she liked it.

I also want to write something about Sumangala. We first met through our GSB youth wing Elamakkara (where we lived in Kochi) during our college days. We were (still are 😁) both talkative and got along very well. She’s very loving and a down to earth person. I still remember my visits to her house and the nearby Shiva temple with her. Now we both are busy mommies with two kids of our own but our common love for cooking keeps us connected on Instagram. So glad to see you happy Suma. Love you. The memories with you are unforgettable. 😘

Hope you all try her recipe of Dhaba style Paneer and love it as much as we did. Happy and healthy cooking!

RECIPE:

Ingredients:

To marinate:

200 grams Paneer cubes

1 tsp Red chilli powder

1 tsp Coriander powder

2 tsp Garam masala powder

1/2 tsp Haldi powder

2 tsp Water

Other ingredients in order:

1 Tbsp Ghee

1 Tbsp Oil

2 Cardamom pods

2 Cloves

1/2 inch Cinnamon stick

1 Bay leaf

1 tsp Cumin seeds or Jeera

1 tsp minced Ginger

1 large Onion, blended in mixer

2 large Tomatoes, pureed in mixer

2 Tbsp Coriander leaves, while frying

1/2 tsp Kasuri methi, crushed between palm

1 tsp Red chilli powder

1 tsp Garam masala powder

2 tsp Besan/ Chickpea flour

Salt to taste

Coriander leaves for garnish

Step by step recipe:

1. Take Paneer cubes in a bowl. Add red chilli powder, garam masala powder, haldi powder and coriander powder along with little water. Mix well and keep aside for 30 mins.

2. Heat oil and ghee in a pan. Add jeera along with Cardamom pods, cloves, cinnamon stick, bay leaf. When jeera changes colour, add blended onion and ginger.

3. Keep frying continually till the raw smell goes away and the paste leaves the sides of the pan. Now add kasuri methi, red chilli powder, garam masala powder and besan.

4. Fry for two mins till the rawness of besan goes away. Now add tomato puree along with coriander leaves and cook covered for 6 to 8 mins till the mixture leaves the sides of the pan.

5. Now add paneer cubes and mix well. Cook again covered for 5 mins.

6. Remove from flame. Garnish with Coriander leaves. Serve with rotis or rice.

Notes:

* Paneer can be substituted with mushroom or cauliflower.

* You can fry the marinated paneer first before adding to the gravy for a firmer paneer. I skipped that step since we like the softness of paneer in gravies.

* Do remember to cook well after adding onion puree, after adding besan and after adding tomato puree. All three steps need some time to cook thoroughly but is very important to get the authentic dhaba style Paneer.

* You can skip the red chilli powder in the gravy and add only to the marinate if you don’t like too much spicy gravy. My kids loved it even though I added red chilli powder in both marinate and gravy.