Tomato Gojju (Gravy) And Simple Cucumber Salad

This is a simple gojju (gravy) which can be made when you are out of veggies or when you want to make something simple and fast. My mom used to make this along with chapati and we used to crib all the time for eating. I had a big list of only "I don't like this vegetable or pulses". After coming here, I don't say no to any thing :-). This gojju was on my don't like list, but now I make this very often. Ingredients:

ಟೊಮೇಟೊ /Tomato – 4 Big (chopped) ಈರುಳ್ಳಿ / Onion – 1 big (chopped) ಹಸಿಮೆಣಸಿನಕಾಯಿ /Chilies – 3-4 (chopped) ಮೆಂತ್ಯ ಸೊಪ್ಪು /Methi leaves – ¼ cup (optional) ಕಡಲೆ ಬೇಳೆ /Channa Dhal – ½ tsp ಉದ್ದಿನ ಬೇಳೆ /Urad dhal – 1 tsp ಸಾಸಿವೆ /Mustard Seeds – ½ tsp ಕರಿಬೇವು /Curry leaves ಕೊತ್ತಂಬರಿ ಸೊಪ್ಪು /Coriander leaves – 2 Tb spoon ಧನಿಯ ಪುಡಿ /Dhaniya / Coriander powder – ½ tsp ಅರಿಶಿನ ಪುಡಿ /Turmeric powder – ¼ tsp ಎಣ್ಣೆ /Oil – 2 Tb spoon ಉಪ್ಪು /Salt Method:

• Heat oil in a heavy bottomed pan, add mustard seeds and after it splutters add channa dhal and urad dhal.
• After it is lightly brown add onions and fry till golden brown.
• Then add methi leaves, fry for a minute, then add tomatoes, chilies and curry leaves.
• Add Coriander powder, turmeric powder, and salt and mix all together.
• Cover and allow it to cook .If you want little gravy (add little water).
• If the tomatoes are juicy, no need to add water.
• When all the tomatoes has become mushy and nicely blended, remove from stove and sprinkle coriander leaves.
• Serve with chapatti or rice.

PS:

• Methi leaves are optional. I just added this as I had it.
• You can adjust the spice accordingly.
• You can also add veggies to this.

Cucumber Salad:

Ingredients:

Cucumber – 1

Onion – 1 Tb spoon (finely chopped) Fresh Coconut – 1 Tb spoon (optional) Pepper – 1/4 tsp Salt Spring Onion or Coriander Leaves – 1 Tb spoon

Lemon Juice - 1 tsp Method:

• Chop cucumber to small pieces.
• Mix all the above ingredients together.
• Serve either cold or fresh.
• You can add yogurt too if you want.

Cucumber Salad, goes to Neha of "Tasty recipes" who is guest hosting "AFAM-Cucumber", an event started by Maheswari.

Salad goes to Sunita's Think Spice, Think...Pepper.. being hosted this month by Divya of Dil Se….

My tomato gojju goes to Sanghi's Fall in Love(FIL) - Tomato Event.

Green Papaya Subzi (Palya)

This is a simple subzi made from Green Papaya. Other than eating the ripe papaya, I did not know that you can do variety of dishes using the unripe green papaya. I came to know about this thru my hubby's friend. He used to cook everything possible from dosas, varieties of chutneys, desserts etc..This is one of the dishes..When I got this recipe, I immediately tried this subzi and the taste was amazing...It is very simple and healthy too. I served this with instant dosa.

Ingredients: Green Papaya - 1 Urad Dhal - 1 tsp Mustard Seeds – ¼ tsp Cumin Seeds – ½ tsp Red Chilies – 2 Curry Leaves Chili Powder – 1 tsp Turmeric Powder – ¼ tsp Jaggery - 1 tsp Coriander Leaves – 1 Tb spoon Oil – 1 – 2 Tb spoon Salt Method:

• Remove the outer skin and cut papaya into small squares.
• Heat oil in a pan, add mustard seeds, jeera. When it splutters, add urad dhal, split red chilies and curry leaves.
• When urad dhal has turned brown, add papaya pieces.
• Add red chili powder, turmeric, jaggery and salt to it.
• Mix well, cover and allow it to cook on low flame without adding water.
• Cook until done.

• Serve hot with Chapati or as a side with hot rice and dhal.

I would like to send my Green Papaya Subzi to FIC - Orange hosted by Aparna started by Harini.

PS: People who are trying to conceive or who are in their first tri-semesters, please avoid eating papaya, as they say it heats your body and plays a big hand in abortion. Avoid both raw and ripe papaya.

Brinjal - Zucchini Subzi with Dill Chapathi

I was wondering whether it is a Brinjal /Eggplant week or is there something about eggplant or may be just a coincidence that everybody thought of making eggplant this week...as I am seeing so many brinjal varieties ..

Seeing all brinjal yummy dishes, I too made brinjal subzi but included zucchini to it and made dill chapati for the subzi.

Ingredients:

Brinjal / Eggplant (cut to medium cubes) – 1 big Zucchini – 1 medium Onion (chopped) – 1 big Tomato (chopped) – 1 medium Ginger paste – 1 ½ tsp Garlic paste – 1 ½ tsp Garam masala - ½ tsp Chili powder – 1 tsp Dhaniya powder – ½ tsp Turmeric powder – ¼ tsp Mustard seeds – ¼ tsp Cumin seeds – ½ tsp Coriander leaves – 2 Tb spoon Oil – 2 Tb spoon Lemon juice(optional) – 1 Tb spoon Salt Method:

• Heat oil in a pan, add mustard seeds. When it splutters, add cumin.
• Then add onions and fry till golden brown.
• Add chopped tomato along with ginger and garlic paste. Fry till oil leaves.
• Add all the powders (adjust them according to your spice level) and fry for few minutes.
• Then add chopped brinjal and zucchini, add salt, give it a stir, cover and allow it to cook on low flame for few minutes.
• Do not add water, as it will leave water on their own.
• When it is cooked sprinkle coriander leaves on top along with some lemon juice and serve with chapati or rice or Nan.

I have served mine with Dill Chapati. As I had freshly bought dill and had this recipe in mind for a while..so gave it a try with few additions to it. The original recipe is from Maya of Konkan World. You can find the original recipe here. I have made a few variations to the original recipe.

Dill Chapati

Ingredients:

Wheat flour – 2 cups Soya flour – 2 Tb spoon Dill (chopped finely) – 1 cup Ajwain – 1 Tb spoon Turmeric – ¼ tsp Milk – ¼ cup Salt Oil

Method:

• Mix all the above ingredients except oil, add water and knead to form smooth dough.
• I have just chopped Dill and added it without and frying or boiling.
• Keep aside for 30 minutes.
• Then make chapatis.

• Serve hot with subzi and salad.

My Brinjal/Eggplant - Zucchini Subzi with Dill Chapati goes to 'Made For Each Other' event hosted by Asvadha .

PS:

• For the subzi, you can make only brinjal without the zucchini.
• Yellow squash and also Calabaza could be added to it.
• You can add vangibath powder to it instead of garam masala and chili powder.
• I have added milk, more ajwain,turmeric and soya flour to make chapati.
• Soya flour makes the chapati soft and is healthy too.