BESAN MODAK (BENGAL GRAM MODAK)

Last year during ganesh festival, we made lots of varieties of modak which were published in Times of India.  Some of the recipes  I  am posting one by one out of it.

Here is Besan Modak or bengal gram modak.   It is made out of besan with pure ghee and powdered sugar.

NARALACHI MODAK, VELLA KOZHUKKATTAI,

To welcome the Lord Ganesha, Vignahartha, I have already posted two to three varieites of savory version of modaks.  Now is the turn to post a sweet variety which in every household we make it for varalakshmy vratham, pooja too.

Sweet varieties are prepared with whole green gram, chana dal, coconut, seasame seed and the variety is endless.

Naralachi modak, vella kozhukkattai

Tilachi modak, Seasame seed dumplings, sesame seed kozhukkattai..

During ganesh festival, varieties of modaks are prepared.  One among them is the Tilachi modak, seasame seed dumplings or sesame seed.  Sesame seeds with coconut, jaggery and peanuts as a filling is quite delicious for those who are fond of sweet varieites.  today sitting at home with little fever, decided to post few recipes ahead of Ganesh Festival  when I was able to sit for sometime.

People are coming out with innovative ideas and the market is flooded with colourful modaks.  But let us not forget the traditional method of making the modaks.

KARAKOZHUKKATTAI OR RICE DUMPLINGS

During ganesh festival, various types of modaks are made for neivedyam.  During the last Ganesh Festival, children from our complex made lots of eco friendly ganeshas and modaks made by ladies were published in Times of India.

Here is another savoury version of modak ahead of ganesh chaturthi  which is on 9th September 2013.  This rice dumplings are made very easily without much hassles and is a nice snacks too on normal days.

karakozhukkattai

God Bless All

CORN MOONGDAL MODAK

Ganesh Chaturthi is on 9th of this Month and everybody in Mumbai is thrilled to welcome the Elephant God Shri Ganesha, the remover of all obstacles. We have one and a half day Ganpati at home and in our Complex,it is 5 days.  Children are busy with their studies one side and another side, practicing dance for the ganesh festival.

Ladies are busy with the preparation of various cuisines for the festival one among them is MODAK.  Sweet or savoury, we enjoy all kind of dishes during the festival.

Sol Kadhi

Sold Kadhi is made and photographed quite some time back.  today sitting at home, got the opportunity to post the same.  Sol Kadhi is prepared with kokum and coconut.  This is the speciality of  Maharashtrian  cuisine and served as an appetizer or after a meal. It is  famous in konkan region too.  It is good for digestion hence after a heavy meal, people drink this.  This can be served as chilled or as it is. It is very easy to make and relished by everyone

It is a blend of kokum, coconut, ginger, garlic garnished with pudina/coriander leaves or a tadka.  

Ingredients

I

 1  Coconut grated
   3-4  Green chillies
   1 small piece of Ginger
   1 tsp Cumin seeds
   2 cups of Water

pinch of asafoetida.

   Little salt

II

 5-6 Kokum soaked in water for 10 minutes (fresh)

III

Garnishing:

tadka of Mustard seeds, cumin seeds, curry leaves
 Chopped mint leaves and/or coriander leaves for garnishing

Tadka/tempering

1 tsp oil

1 tsp mustard seeds

1/4 tsp cumin seeds

few curry leaves.

Method

 Put all the items mentioned under I  in the mixer and grind to a smooth paste.
Strain the same and keep aside.    

 Squeeze the kokum in the water and strain it. or alternatively you can add while grind too.
Add the kokum syrup to the coconut milk.

Garnish with chopped pudina/coriander leaves and tadka

Your sold kadhi is ready to serve.  serve chilled or in room temperature as you wish.

Note:  Kokum is sour in taste.  It is used in food as a substitute to the tamarind.  hence while adding to the coconut milk, check the sourness and add.

BARLEY SOUP

Barley soup is made with barley, moong dal or oats and some vegetables.  It is quite healthy as well as having medicinal values.

Barely has medicinal value. Barley is used for lowering blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol, and for promoting  weight loss. It is also used for digestive complaints including diarrhea, stomach pain, and inflammatory bowel conditions.

Some people use barley for increasing strength and endurance. Other uses include cancer prevention and treatment of a lung problem called bronchitis.

Barley is applied to the skin for treating boils.

In foods, barley is used as a source of vitamins, carbohydrates, proteins, and fatty oils.

 If we are having fever and have problem in passing urine, my mother always used to give us barely water to drink.  Recently when I was making barley water, my husband came and told me to make some soups for him. A healthy soup is prepared for him which i am sharing with you all.

CHINESE SOUP

My son was down with fever and cold.  He wanted to have some soups.  I had the ready made soup packets at home but he did not want that.  He told me to make some clear Chinese soup.  Luckily, there was some brocoli, cabbage, carrots and beans in the fridge.  He really enjoyed the hot soup which was served to him.

KARAMANI SUNDAL, RED CHOWLI SUNDA, COWPEA SUNDAL, BLACK EYED PEA SUNDAL. (sweet)

 Sundal varieites are made during the time of Navrathri specially.  Each day one variety of sundal is made for neivedyam (prasad) and then distributed to all the people who are visiting the Golu.  It can be made savoury as well as sweet.  The sweet version is given below.  Today being Teacher's day and co -incidentally, my birthday too. thought of posting this sweet recipe.

GREEN PEAS SUNDAL

 Sundal is  a simple South Indian salad made with different legumes like White chickpeas, black chickpeas, white watana, green watan, green gram etc.  It  is a dry subzi made especially for Nav Rathri and given to the ladies and children who visit the Golu.

The dried grams are  soaked in water for around 6-8 hours and pressure cooked and tempered with mustard seeds, urid dal, curry leaves and garnished with grated coconut and green chilli mix. This can be served as a side dish or can be had as a snack item with chopped onions, tomatoes on top of it.