OLE KAJU USAL

Ole kaju means fresh kaju.  During summer, I have seen the village ladies in the market selling it in Watas means they keep a certain quantity on leaf and price them for Rs.10/- Rs.20/- etc.  If you take three watas, if the cost is Rs.60/- they might give you for Rs.50/- but in this case she was reluctant to give as  the cashews are costly plus getting wet kaju is difficult.

This is a konkan belt dish.  konkan curries are basically prepared in coconut gravy.  Fresh nuts melt in mouth and are very flavourful.  This can be served with bhakari/rice etc.

So far I have not prepared this and wants to try the subzi out of this.  Hence I just bought only one watta i.e. may be around 1/4 cup another 1/4cup I will be adding the dry kaju soaked in  warm water for 8-10 hours as told my neighbour as she is from Konkan.area.

Let us look at the recipe now: 

IDLI RAVA, BHAGAR, DAL KOZHUKKATTAI

I had some  idli rava and bhagar very little quantity in fridge.  I thought of making use of it with some dal.  Actually I had some Adai batter in the fridge and thought of mixing in it but the quantity will be huge and I am the only person to eat adai at home. 

Hence thought of making kozhukkattai with it.   It really tasted good with chutney and sambar.

Actually, my neighbour always share her pooran poli with me during the festival of holi,  in return I always make some South Indian Breakfast for her.  So today, I made this kozhukkattai for her  and the recipe is here for you too.

Let us look at the recipe now:

IDLI RAVA, BHAGAR, DAL KOZHUKKATTAI

millet kozhukkatai, tinai, kappa kozhukkattai, lapsi pidi kozhukkattai,  upma kozhukkatai,

SWEET AND SOUR MANGO PICKLE WITHOUT OIL

Mango season is on and mouth is watering when I see mangoes in the market.  Recently I bought a kg of mangoes for making vadu mangai.  Since they  do not allow us to select, there were uneven size small, medium and bigger ones.  Normally, we get the mangoes almost in same size but now a days, it is very difficult to get them.  We had to really hunt for it.  I checked with Thane and Mulund market and finally got it from Mani shop that too only one kg.

During this season, every one is busy making various kinds of pickles.

Coming back to the recipe, there were bigger ones in the lot so I decided to make sweet and sour mango pickle with it.  The idea was given to me by one of my colleagues when I shared the instant mango pickle with them.  She told me to add jaggery in it but I added some other ingredients too in it and it was awesome.

Let us look at the recipe now:

MANGO MASTANI

Mango mastani is a drink with a dollop of ice cream and chopped nuts which is quite filling.  During mango season, do not miss this drink as you would love to make it again and again.  

Infact, this post is lying in my draft for the past one year and some how I could not publish it.  Now the mango season is on,  and the heat also, a drink like this is awesome to satisfy/quench your thirst and hunger.

As I was going through the draft, I saw this today and decided to publish it.

Let us look at the recipe now:

MURINGAELAI UTTAPPAM

Muringa elai or drumstick leaves are very good for health.  Muringa elai (drumstick leaves) is a good source of vitamins and iron.  I always include this  in our menu whenever I get a chance to pluck the leaves from the garden or from my friends place or from the office.  In our office, we have a big tree and the gardener always used to give me the leaves.

I have posted  muringa elai adai.  This is the favourite dish my father and me too love this  made out of  plain boiled rice.   Here I am posting the Uttappam made out of this leaves.

Let us look at the recipe now:

MURINGA ELAI UTTAPPAM

DAL PALAK

Palak - vitamins and minerals available abundantly in this.  Green leafy vegetables are always  required to be included in the menu once in a week.

Dal made out of this can be served with rice and chapti, phulka etc.  I like this dal along withe curd rice very much.  I used to make this along with Moongdal, however, my friend makes it with chana dal.  Ofcourse, you can select the dals according to your choice.

Let us look at the recipe now:

DAL PALAK

HORSEGRAM SHARBAT

Today I had cooked the kulith sprouts for making pani poori.  Instead of the normal ragda or moong sprouts or white watana, I tried the kulith sprouts and it tasted good.

After cooking the sprouts, I had 1/4 cup of stock of the same which I did not want to throw away.  So I made sharbat out of it and it tasted good.

Since the summer is on and it is very hot, this drinks is quite good for health.

Horsegram is or kulith or muthira it is called, is  rich in B-complex vitamins,  proteine and  highly nutritious. 
It is  commonly prescribed in ayurvedic medicine for conditions like difficult breathing, cough, gastric problems, ulcers, worm infections and excessive perspiration. Some alternative medicine experts even consider horse gram as a good remedy to control joints pain. It can be also used as a natural health tonic.    It tones up the digestive system and prevents acidity and flatulence. 
People suffering from spleen enlargement, colic and weak liver can also benefit from this plants medicinal properties. People with kidney stones, hypertension, gall stones also benefit from its intake.   


  Let us have a look at the recipe now

 

HORSEGRAM SHARBAT

TAVA PULAO

My daughter wants to eat rice but not with sambhar or dal.  I had some cooked rice with me and thought of making Tava Pulao.  

Tava pulao is very easy to make, tasty and can be served hot with papad, raita.  I prefer, onion raita along with this.  Mostly the vegetables for this are available at home hence it will not be difficult for you to make it. Even if  you have two or three vegetables, it is sufficient enough to make this pulao.  A Mumbai  street food which you must  enjoy when you visit Mumbai.

It is quite filling  and can be served for two persons.

Let us look at the recipe now:

ALOE VERA ALOO SUBZI

Aloe vera has got many medicinal values.  I had already shared a recipe with methi sprouts and tender coconut with www.simpleindianrecipes.com.   I have shared around 100 recipes with her which you can see in User's recipe in Raji Ramakrishnan's recipe.  

 Today I prepared the  aloe vera with aloo and capsicum and was  good with phulka.

Now a days aloe vera is grown in balcony.  So it will not be difficult for you to get the same.  Aloo is always available at home and the onions.  Hence making this subzi is very easy.

Let us look at the recipe now:

PUDINA SHIKANJI

Few minutes back I posted Nimbu Pani  or Nimbu Sharbat which we make very often especially after coming home from hot sun. I added few mint leaves, ginger and subja in it to get more cooling effect as it was very hot today.  

Mint leaves I always have fresh one at home which I grow in my balcony garden.  So whenever I want I pluck it from the pot freshly.  Dried pudina also used for culinary purpose.  We can make paratha, chutney etc with pudina.

Since summer is set now and it is very hot, all are advised to hydrate themselves with lots of water, coconut water, nimbu pani etc.  Ofcourse, do remember to keep a pot of water in the balcony for the birds.

Let us look at the recipe now