Satvick

Rajgira Amaranth Gluten free rotis


Rajgira, Amaranth millet, is specifically consumed on fasts and makes an excellent option for preparing various dishes suitable for “Upvas”.  

 A gluten free grain, It is considered as one of the best sources of plant-based protein.  It is high in fibre and has prebiotic effects. Hence excellent for gut health and relieves constipation.

It’s good for diabetics, aids in weight loss, rich in calcium so good for bones, its Vitamin C boosts immunity and is good for the heart due to its cholesterol-lowering properties.

Ragjira rotis

1 cup Rajgira flour

Water, as required for kneading

1/2 tsp. Salt

1 tsp. oil

Ghee as required

Sieve 1 cup Amaranth flour. Add 1/2 tsp salt or to tast. Knead, adding as much water as required, beginning with a small quantity, or the dough may turn sticky.  

Unlike, Jowar and Ragi, Amaranth flour does not require to be pre-cooked prior to making chapatis.

When the flour comes together, add 1 tsp. oil and knead to a soft pliable dough.  Cover and set aside 15 mns.

Then divide into 4 equal portions.  To prepare rotis, take one portion, dust with flour and press into a flat disc while rotating it between your fingers and palm.  Then place on a rolling surface and roll as thin as possible, dusting with flour as required.

Roast on a heated tawa on medium low, till brown spots appear on both sides.  Smear with ghee.  Transfer to a casserole or a steel dabba or any roti box you may be using to keep the chapatis warm, until time to serve.

Rajgira rotis, won’t turn as soft as jowar and ragi as the flour is slightly grainy.  But delicious to eat and easily digested!

Jowar Khichidi Sorghum Khichidi


Jowar is an ancient grain and is now increasingly making a come back due to its high nutritive values and being gluten free. Called Sorghum in english, it is a nutritious food, rich in protein, dietry fibre, B Vitamins and minerals. All sorghums contain mixed polyphenols, such as phenolic acids and flavonoids. Sorghum grains are one of the highest food sources of proanthocyanidins. Source: Wikipedia

Millets Dosa and Idli with Onion Garlic Chutney


Millets Dosa and Idli with Onion Garlic chutney

Ingredients

1.5 cups Sorgum (Jowar)

½ cup Urad dal (Split black gram)

½ cup chana dal (split Bengal gram)

1 tbsp. fenugreek seeds (methi)

¼ cup poha

Salt to taste.

Add all the ingredients from Jowar to fenugreek seeds to a vessel.  Wash well and drain.  Replenish with water and leave to soak for atleast 8 hours.  Drain out the water, put fresh water and add ¼ cup poha.  Grind the ingredients in batches to a thick smooth paste.  Transfer the batter to wide large vessel and leave to ferment overnight.

Once fermented, add salt and mix well.  Set aside for half tone hour, if possible.  Prepare the dosas and idlis.  Heat a griddle to very hot, sprinkle some water to bring doen the temperature a bit, wipe the pan clean and pour 1.5 ladle of batter (depending on the size of the pan) and spread in concentric circles to cover the pan.  Cook on medium heat.  When light brown drizzle some ghee in the center and the sides, fry till golden brown and remove.  Serve crisp and hot with chutney and sambar. 

To make idlis, heat the idli steamer.  Grease the idli molds and fill with batter.  Steam for 15 minutes.  Pierce with a toothpick to check if they cooked.  Remove.

Onion Garlic Chutney

Ingrediens

1 medium Onion, sliced roughly

¼ cup garlic, peeled

1 tbsp. urad dal

1 tbs. chana dal

4 red chillies

Small pc. Tamarind

Salt to taste

Tempering

1 sprig curry leaves

1 tsp. mustard seeds

2 tbsp. oil

Take oil in a pan, when hot add the urad and channa dal and fry till golden.  Then add the onion and garlic and chillies and fry till light brown.  Take off heat and leave to cool.  Then grind to a paste with tamarind and salt.  Remove to a bowl.  Prepare tempering by heating oil, add the mustard seeds, when they splutter add curry leaves and pour over the chutney as garnish.  Serve with Doss and Idlis.

Ponsache Gariyo Jackfruit Fritters


Ponsache Gariyo – Jackfruit Fritters

Halasina Hannina Mulka

½ cup boiled rice

½ cup basmati rice

2.5 cups jackfruit

¼ cup jaggery or to taste

1/2 cup fresh coconut

¼ tsp. Black pepper

Salt to taste

1 tsp. cardamom seeds

Oil as required for frying

Method

Soak rice for minimum 4 hours.  Grind Alongwith all ingredients to a smooth thick paste.  Drop spoonful of batter in hot oil or use your fingers to scoop up the batter and drop into the oil.  Fry on medium heat to golden brown.  Enjoy as tea-time snack or for breakfast.

How to clean and cook Kandi Pith of Banana Stem


Banana Stem, Plantain “Kandi” Vegetable

How to clean and cook Kandi

Banana stem has a wide range of health benefits and it is advisable to consume this vegetable periodically, where available.  Some of the health benefits include helps prevent constipation, acts a detoxifier, helps with kidney issues, regulates blood pressure, prevents urinary tract infection, prevents diabetes, etc. It is highly beneficial to health especially in summers and is full of fibre.

Ingredients

1 Kg. Kandi

1 Onion sliced

1 tsp. urad dal

1 tbsp. Bafat or any mixed masala to taste

1 tsp. Mustard seeds

1 sprig curry leaves

2 tbsp. tamarind pulp

1 tbsp. jaggery

½ cup fresh grated coconut

Salt to taste

2 tbsp. oil

Method

Kandi is the pith, the innermost tender portion of the banana tree trunk which is used after the tree bears its fruit to full term.  Try to get a very tender kandi. Remove the top and bottom of the trunk, and slice vertically to remove the outer layers to reveal the inner most pith the cylindrical white part which is called the “Kandi”.  Slice the Kandi into thin circles and remove all the fibers and cut the vegetable into small cubes and immediately immerse in water to prevent oxidation.

Rinse the chopped Kandi and boil with 1 tsp. salt and ¼ tsp. turmeric powder  till tender.  In a pan add oil  And when hot add the mustard seeds and allow to splutter.  Then add the curry leaves and sliced onion and fry till soft and translucent.  Add the bafat masala powder, toss and add the boiled kandi and mix well.  Cook 5 to 7 minutes then add the jaggery and tamarind pulp.  Stir well and simmer 5 minutes, then add the grated coconut, mix and let it heat through and simmer 5 minutes.  Serve hot as an accompaniment with any main meal.

Salted Raw Jackfruit Vegetable Stir Fry


Salted raw jackfruit vegetable / Brined raw jackfruit stir fry / Uppad Pachir Aajadina / Salla Upkari / Ghare Sukhe

Ingredients

2 Cups Brined raw jackfruit

1 Onion, sliced

1 tsp. mustard seeds

1 sprig curry leaves

4 flakes garlic, crushed

1 tbsp. bafat masala powder, or to taste

(Alternately use 1 tsp. chilli powder, ½ tsp. coriander powder, ¼ tsp. turmeric powder & ¼ tsp. cumin powder)

¼ cup fresh grated coconut

2 tbsp. Oil

Remove the jackfruit petals from the brine and soak in plain water for an hour or two and rinse in 2 to 3 changes of water to remove excess salt.  Then shred the petals by hand and set aside.

Heat a pan, add oil and when hot add the mustard seeds.  When they splutter add the crushed garlic and curry leave and toss.  Then add the sliced onion and fry till light brown.  Add the chilli, turmeric, coriander & cumin powder and mix well.  Then add the shredded jackfruit and mix well.  Add ¼ cup water, mix and let cook for 5 to 7 minutes.  Then add the grated coconut, mix well and cook 1 minute.  Remove from heat and serve hot as an accompaniment with any meal.  Tastes delicious.

P.S.: How to salt raw jackfruit

500 gms. Jackfruit bulb

3 to 4 tbsp. salt

½ cup boiled and cooled water

Slit the jackfruit bulb and remove the seed and pith.  Wash the jackfruit petals and place a layer of the jackfruit in a glass dish.  Sprinkle a tablespoon of sea salt over the layer.  Cover with another jackfruit layer and add salt.  Repeat till all the jackfruit is used.  Pour the water over the jackfruit, cover the dish and set aside for 2 to 3 month to marinate.  However, after one month, the jackfruit is ready for use.

Aamle ka Murabba


Candied Indian Gooseberry

Aamle Ka Murabba

Aamla (Indian Gooseberry)

These fruits have a rich amount of Vitamin C which not only keeps winter blues away but also helps keep the body cool in summers. 

The amla fruit is eaten raw or cooked into various dishes, such as dal (a lentil preparation) and amle ka murabbah, a sweet dish made by soaking the berries in sugar syrup until they are candied. It is traditionally consumed after meals

In Ayurvedic traditional medicine, dried  and fresh fruits of the plant are used as a common constituent

Ingredients

15 Aamlas (Indian Gooseberry)

Salt

¼ cup water

1/4 kg. Sugar

1 Lemon                                                       

Method of preparation

Wash the Aamla and soak in salted water for 2 days to make the skin firm to avoid rupturing the skin when cooking.  Drain, prick with a fork.  Transfer to a vessel, cover with water and boil for 3-4 minutes.  Drain.

Wash the lemon and cut into quarters.

Boil ½ cup water in a vessel, add sugar and lemon, bring to a boil and remove the scum. Continue to cook until 2 string consistency.  Add the boiled aamla and cook for 2-3 minutes.  Remove and cool. Transfer to a sterilized glass or ceramic jar, cover with a muslin and secure.  Leave to mature for 2 days.  Remove the muslin and cover with a lid.  Enjoy one aamla after lunch and dinner to reap its healthy benefits.

Drumstick Moringa Fruit Pods How to clean, cook and eat them in a simple yet delicious vegetable


Drumstick Vegetable, Sangho Tel Piyav

The healthy, nutritious drumstick (moringa) (sangho) fruit pods

Drumstick pods and leaves are a storehouse of essential nutrients, whereas the leaves are the most nutrient part of the plant and one of the finest sources of calcium, iron, zinc, selenium and magnesium.  Fresh pods and seeds are a great source of oleic acid, a healthy fatty acid which is known to promote heart health. Moringa leaves is unique among all the greens as it is heaped with a good amount of protein about 9.8 gram of protein per 100 grams. Dry powdered leaves are an amazing source of good quality essential amino acids.

The rich culinary tradition of our country has helped us to relish and taste several types of vegetables and fruits thereby derive out the umpteen health benefits. One such amazing vegetable that is greatly valued and earns our interest is drumstick or moringa oleifera.

Moringa obtains its name from the Tamil word, murungai, denotes twisted pod. This humble vegetable is used extensively in Indian culinary dishes for more than a hundred years. Be it delectable sambhar or avail, or any meat curry, soups, pickles etc., drumstick renders its unique flavour to the dishes.

Source: Netmeds.com

Ingredients

  • 6 Drumsticks
  • 5 flakes garlic
  • 1 medium onion
  • 2 tbs. coconut oil
  • 1 tsp. mustard seeds
  • Salt to taste
  • 4 tbsp. fresh coconut

Method

Cut the head and tail of the drumstick and cut into 2 to 4” segments, removing the skin as far as possible keeping the segment intact ensue it does not disintegrate. Discard the head, tail and the skin.  Wash and drain the cleaned drumstick pieces.  Slice the onion and peel and crush the garlic. Heat a pan, add 2 tbsp. coconut oil, when hot add 1 tsp. mustard seed and allow to pop, then add crushed garlic flakes. Saute for a minute and add the sliced onion and fry thill soft and translucent.  Add the drumsticks and toss to cost with oil.  Add a cup of water, ½ tsp. salt or to taste and bring to a boil.  Mix, cover and cook 10 minutes.  Stir in between.  When done, add the coconut, mix well and simmer 5 minutes.  Take off flame and serve hot as a side with any main meal.  To eat, hold the drumstick piece firmly with your teeth and pull with your fingers while extracting and consuming the pulp and the seeds inside the pod.  Chew the skin, if you wish, and discard.  Simply delicious!  The skin should not be ingested, only the pulp and tender seeds inside the pod.

Moringa Leaves Drumstick Leaves Stir Fry Vegetable


The new superfood – Moringa leaves, healthy, nutritious, excellent for gut health and for diabetics.  My mother never had to buy these leaves, they were always available in the home garden or the neighbourhood.  Thankfully these are now available worldwide at Asian stores, albeit at a price!

Ingredients

  • 2 Bunches Drumstick Leaves
  • 1 medium onion
  • 1 tsp. mustard seeds
  • 2 tbsp. coconut oil

Roast and grind to a coarse paste

  • 1 medium onion chopped
  • 2 flakes garlic
  • ¼ tsp. turmeric powder
  • 4 dry red chilies
  • ½ cup fresh or dessicaed coconut
  • Salt to taste
  • 1 to 2 tbsp. coconut oil

Method

Separate the leaves from the stems of the drumsticks and remove as much of the stems as possible although the small tender stems may be retained.  Soak in plenty of water for 10 minutes and rinse thoroughly changing the water atleast twice so that any dust etc. can come off.  Drain and set aside.

Drumstick Leaves Moringa Leaves Stir Fry vegetable

The new superfood – Moringa leaves, healthy, nutritious, excellent for gut health and for diabetics.  My mother never had to buy these leaves, they were always available in the home garden or the neighbourhood.  Thankfully these are now available worldwide at Asian stores, albeit at a price!

Ingredients

2 Bunches Drumstick Leaves

1 medium onion

1 tsp. mustard seeds

2 tbsp. coconut oil

Roast and grind to a coarse paste

1 medium onion chopped

2 flakes garlic

¼ tsp. turmeric powder

4 dry red chilies

½ cup fresh or dessicaed coconut

Salt to taste

1 to 2 tbsp. coconut oil

Method

Separate the leaves from the stems of the drumsticks and remove as much of the stems as possible although the small tender stems may be retained.  Soak in plenty of water for 10 minutes and rinse thoroughly changing the water atleast twice so that any dust etc. can come off.  Drain and set aside.

Heat a pan and add oil.  When hot add the red chilies, garlic and onion.  When light brown add the coconut, turmeric powder and salt and saute for 2 minutes till light brown and you get a nice roasted aroma.  Set aside to cool. Then grind to a coarse paste.

Slice the remaining onion.  Heat a pan and add oil, when hot add the mustard seeds, when they pop add the sliced onion and fry till translucent and soft.  Add the ground masala and saute 2 to 3 minutes adding the rinsed water from the jar. Add the drained drumstick leaves, mix and stir fry for 10 minutes.  Remove to a serving dish and serve hot.  The vegetable will have a slight crunch to it and a slight bitter taste so is very healthy and excellent for diabetics, is very nutritious and good for gut health due to it’s fibre content.  Some may want the leaves to be more tender, in this case add ¼ cup water and cook further 5 minutes.  Serve hot. 

Sweet Potato Khichidi – Ratalayache Kees


Sweet Potato Khichidi – Ratalyache Kees

Promotes gut health, say the health experts!  A dish so full of nutrients yet so simple and easy to make, apart from eating boiled sweet potatoes!

Fasting food!  Upvas recipe. Delicious sweet potatoes, rich in nutrients and fibre and antioxidants that promote the growth of good gut bacteria and contribute to a healthy gut.  Ashadi Ekadashi Special.  This flavourful dish is a combination of spicy, sweet, tart and can be cooked in a jiffy!

Ingredients

  • 2 large or 4 medium Sweet Potatoes
  • 2 green chillies, chopped
  • ½ tsp. cumin seeds
  • 1 sprig curry leaves
  • 2 tbsp. roasted peanut powder
  • 2 tbsp. chopped coriander leaves
  • 2 tbsp. fresh grated coconut
  • 1 tbsp. lemon, or to taste
  • 2 tbsp. ghee
  • 1 tsp. sugar (optional)
  • Salt to taste

Wash and scrub potatoes well.  Not necessary to peel.  Grate and transfer to a bowl of water to prevent oxidation.  Heat a pan and add the ghee.  Reduce flame and add the cumin seeds, when they crackle add curry leaves and green chilli and saute a few seconds.  Add the drained sweet potatoes and mix.  Cover and cook 7-10 minutes on low, stirring occasionally.  Add the peanut powder, salt, sugar and lemon juice and fresh coconut and mix well.  Switch off and let rest 5 minutes, before removing to a serving dish. Garnish with chopped coriander and serve hot.  Enjoy with yogurt and pickle.  An excellent breakfast or snack! Great as an accompaniment to any main meal.  If you have observed, no water is added to the dish and hence the sweet potatoes are likely to stick to the pan. Using a non-stick pan helps.  Nonetheless, the slightly browned part of the Kees that has stuck to the bottom of the pan tastes the best!

Instant Quinoa Idlis


Quinoa Idli – No fermentation required!

Makes 12 Idlis

Quinoa is rich in protein, dietry fibre, B vitamins and dietary minerals in amounts greater than in many grains.  Cooked quinoa provides energy and is a rich source of manganese and phosphorus and a moderate source of dietary fiber, folate, and the dietary minerals iron, zinc and magnesium.  Quinoa is gluten-free with a high concentration of protein.

Ingredients

  • 1 Cup White quinoa
  • 1 Cup Oats
  • 2 green chillies
  • 1 tsp. cumin seeds
  • 1 tsp. mustard seeds
  • ¼ cup green peas
  • 4 tbsp. grated carrot
  • ¼ cup who cashewnuts
  • 1 tsp. salt, or to taste
  • 2 tbsp. oil
  • 1 ½ cup Water, approx.

Powder the quinoa and oats in a grinder and add to a bowl.  Mix with 1 cup water.  Then add additional water a little at a time, as required to make a thick smooth batter or dropping consistency.  Batter should not be too watery. Add, salt, chillies and cumin seeds.  Mix.  Then add carrots, peas (preferably frozen peas as they cook faster).  Temper the mustard seed in the oil and add to the batter.  Add cashewnuts and mix well and keep aside.  Keep the steamer with some water to heat.  Grease the idli molds.  When the water starts boiling, fill the idli molds with approx. ¼ cup of batter in each mold.  Place the idli stand in the steamer, place the lid and steam for 15 to 20 minutes.  Pierce a toothpick, if it comes out clean the idlis are done.  Serve with coconut chutney.

Sheviyo Idiyappam String Hoppers


Sheviyo or Shevigo also known as Idiyappam or string hopper is made with ground rice steamed and then pressed into a hand held sev mould or a typical stand alone shevigo equipment.  In Kerala, Tamil Nadu etc Idiyappam is made of rice flour mixed with hot water 2:1 proportion with salt and little oil and kneaded to a soft dough.  The dough balls are then put in the sev mould and pressed onto idli trays and steamed.

I have illustrated the Mangalorean and Goan style of making the Sheviyo i.e. soaking rice, grind to a paste then steaming the batter as a rice cake which is then cut into pieces and pressed as string hoppers with a sev mould.

It can be eaten as a sweet dish for breakfast or a teatime snack garnish with chunn i.e. a jaggery coconut filling or with sweet ros i.e. coconut milk and jaggery mixture.

As a savoury dish serve them with any coconut milk (Roce) curry like chicken or mutton or vegetable stew.

Ingredients

  • 2 cups boiled rice or 1 cup basmati and one cup boiled mixed
  • 1 tsp. salt or to taste

Coconut Jaggery (Chunn) filling

  • 1 cup fresh grated coconut
  • ½ cup jaggery grated
  • ¼ tsp. cardamom powder

Coconut Jaggery Milk

  • 2 cups coconut milk
  • ½ cup jaggery or to taste
  • ¼ tsp. cardamom powder

Wash and soak the rice for atleast 6 hours.  Gridn to a smooth paste, add salt, mix and transfer to a cake tin to steam.  Set the steamer and when the water boils place the dish with the rice batter on the steamer and steam for 20 to 25 minutes on medium high.  To check if done, pierce a knife and should come out clean.  Cut the rice cake into large pieces and press the pieces through a sevio or sev (ghatia/chakli) mould using the plate with large holes (if you prefer thinner strands, use the plate with smaller holes) and press like noodles into small circular heaps. 

To make the chunn – heat a pan and add the grated jaggery, add a little water to speed up melting and cook till fully dissolved.  Add the coconut and cook for a minute, then add the cardamom powder and keep aside till required.

To make the sweet milk – Heat the coconut milk till it reaches boiling point and then add the jaggery and simmer till dissolved.  Add cardamom powder, mix and take off heat.

Serve with coconut jaggery filling or sweet coconut milk for breakfast or as teatime snack and with chicken or mutton curry or vegetable stew for lunch or dinner.

Zucchini Fry


The zucchini, courgette or baby marrow  is a summer squash, a vining herbaceous plant whose fruit are harvested when their immature seeds and epicarp (rind) are still soft and edible.

Ordinary zucchini fruit are any shade of green, though the golden zucchini is a deep yellow or orange.  At maturity, they can grow to nearly 1 metre (3 feet) in length, but they are normally harvested at about 15–25 cm (6–10 in).

In botany, the zucchini’s fruit is a pepo, a berry (the swollen ovary of the zucchini flower) with a hardened epicarp. In cookery, it is a vegetable, usually cooked and eaten as a savory dish or accompaniment.

Source – wikipedia

Ingredients

(I am using 12 zucchinis approx. in the video recipe, so the ingredients used are proportionately more)

  • 4 to 6 Zucchini
  • ½ tsp ginger garlic paste
  • 1 to 2 tbsp. Vinegar or Lemon juice, or to taste
  • ½ tsp. turmeric powder
  • 1 tsp. chilli powder or to taste
  • ½ tp. Cumin powder
  • ½ tsp. coriander powder
  • 3 to 4 tbsp. rice flour
  • 2 tbsp. corn flour
  • Salt to taste
  • Oil for frying

Method

  • Wash and drain the zucchinis.  Trim the head and tail and cut vertically into ¼” thin slices.  If the zucchinis are tender and unblemished the skin can be retained.  Sprinkle 1 tsp. salt and set aside for 10 minutes. Then drain the water which is released from the zucchinis. Mix the ginger garlic paste, chilli powder, cumin and coriander powder, rice flour, corn flour, vinegar and salt (if required because the zucchinis are already salted) and make a thick paste using as much water as required.  Mix the slices with the batter.  A;ternatively you can dip each slice in the batter to coat before frying, in which case more batter will be required.  Heat oil for deep frying, when hot reduce flame and fry in small batches till crisp and golden.  Drain on kitchen towel.  Serve immediately when still crisp as a side with a main meal or with tomato ketchup as a snack or appetizer.

P.S.: The same batter can be used to fry arbi, egg plant, raw banana, bread fruit, potatoes, yam, mushrooms, etc.

Amla Rice


Ingredients

  • 3 cups cooked rice, cooled or leftover rice
  • 8 to 10 amlas
  • 1 small raw mango (optional)
  • 6 green chillies, slit
  • 1 tbsp. chana dal (split chick peas)
  • 1 tbsp. urad dal (split black gram)
  • 10 to 12 cashewnuts or groundnuts
  • 1 tsp. mustard seeds
  • 2 sprig curry leaves
  • ½ tsp. turmeric powder
  • 2 tbsp. ghee
  • 1 tsp. Salt or to taste

Slit the green chillies and grate the amlas.  Discard the seed.  Heat a pan and add ghee, when hot, add the mustard seeds.  When they crackle, add the channa dal, urad dal, cashewnuts and fry till light golden.  Add the green chillies and curry leaves and saute for a minute.  Add the grated amla and (raw mango if using) and fry for a minute.  Add turmeric powder and salt and stir and mix well.  Cook the mixture on low heat for 5 minutes, mix and check seasoning.  Add the cooked rice, mix well and heat through.    

Steamed Cabbage


Ready in minutes, makes an instant addition to a dinner table and a great side or accompaniment to any meal. Smaller the cabbage, the better! Steam just before serving. You can adjust the amount of butter required and make sure to use salted butter for extra flavor.

Steamed Cabbage

Ingredients

  • 1 medium cabbage or 2 small cabbages
  • 6 to 8 cubes butter (size as per choice) preferably salted
  • Pepper and salt, to taste

Clean the whole cabbage by removing the outer leaves if they have any blemishes and look stale.  Trim the stem and cut the cabbage into wedges but keeping  the stem intact. Place the cabbage in a vessel to compactly arrange.  Put the butter cubes in between two wedges of the cabbage and sprinkle some water.  Cover and cook on medium flame for 10 minutes or till tender, but not overcooked.  The cabbage should be tender but still have the crunch.  Serve hot, sprinkled with salt and pepper.   It’s best to steam the cabbage just before serving.