AMCHI KONKANI DISHES – Spoons of Paradise

Green Mung Bean Idli’s

Green gram also known as Mung beans are a powerhouse of nutrients and rich in protein, vitamins and minerals.

The mung beans have been soaked and sprouted which makes it is even more nutritious and easy on the digestive system .

Also the process soaking and sprouting of the Mung beans reduces the anti-nutrients called phytic acid which blocks the absorption of nutrients in our body.

Moreover it’s diabetic friendly and super plant food…

Ingredients:

Idli Rice rava – 1.5 cups

Green Mung – 3/4 cup sprouted

Urad dal – 3/4 cup

Water to grind the batter

Salt as per taste.

Method:

Soak urad dal and green gram separately for 5-6 hours and grind together to a smooth batter.

Wash idli rava and strain the water.

Add the idli rava to the batter and mix well lightly with the ladle.

Add salt on the top and cover the utensil with a lid and allow the batter to ferment overnight.

The batter should be thick and of pouring consistency.

You may add a little water if it’s too thick.

Next day mix the batter well and grease the moulds with some oil and pour the batter into the moulds and steam them for about fifteen minutes in a steamer or in a cooker(without the weight or the whistle)

Enjoy steaming hot idli’s with coconut chutney.

January 31, 2023January 31, 2023

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Horse-gram Idlies

Horse gram is a legume which is rich in protein and fibre. It’s mostly a native of South East Asia.

In India its mostly used in curries and also as a side dish. It’s rich in antioxidants and when sprouted is very healthy as it reduces the physic acid when it’s soaked overnight and allowed to sprout.

In the coastal region of Karnataka we prepare idlies which are nutritious and healthy too.

Ingredients:

Urad dal – 3/4 cup

Horse gram – 3/4 cup (Sprouted)

Semolina – 1.5 cups

Salt as per taste

Method:

Soak urad dal and horse gram separately for 5-6 hours and grind together to a smooth batter adding very little water.

Wash idli rava and add to the batter and mix well.

Add salt on the top.

Let it ferment overnight.

Next day mix the batter and pour the batter into the greased idli moulds and steam them for about 15 minutes.

Allow them to cool and remould them and enjoy hot steamed idlies with chutney or sambhar.

November 30, 2022December 1, 2022

namithaskitchen

Pumpkin leaves roll/fritters.

Duddhi panna podi/Patrado.

Pumpkin is a creeper plant and is very rich in calcium, iron, protein,Vitamin A and C.

We have so many reasons to include it in our diet on a daily basis as it is available through out the year.

It’s also low in calories and not only healthy but delicious too.

We can have it as a snack or as sides with rice and dal.

Since it’s not easily available I grew them from a pumpkin seed in a pot and made these fritters which in konkani is called Duddhi panna podi or Patrado.

Ingredients:

Pumpkin leaves – 20

Red chillies – 6+8 ( Guntur and bedgi chillies)

Pumpkin leaves rolls/fritters.

Pumpkin is a creeper plant and is very rich in calcium, iron, protein,Vitamin A and C.

We have so many reasons to include it in our diet on a daily basis as it is available through out the year.

It’s also low in calories and not only healthy but delicious too.

We can have it as a snack or as sides with rice and dal.

Since it’s not easily available I grew them from a pumpkin seed in a pot and made these fritters which in konkani is called Duddhi panna podi or Patrado.

Ingredients:

Pumpkin leaves – 20

Red chillies – 6+8 ( Guntur and bedgi chillies)

Tuvar dal – 1/2 cup

Rice – 1 cup

Asafoetida- 1/2 spoon

Methi/fenugreek seeds – 10-12

Coriander seeds – 1 table spoon.

Tamarind – 1 small piece( size of two peas)

Semolina – 1/2 cup.

Salt as per taste

Method:

Wash and clean the Tuvar dal and rice.

Soak the Tuvar dal and rice for two hours.

Grind the above with tamarind, chillies, Methi, Hing and coriander seeds to a fine paste.

Now transfer the mixture to a bowl and add salt as per ones taste and mix well. Add a little water if needed.

The mixture should be thick.

Now take a washed and cleaned Pumpkin leaf ( the vein side facing up)

With your fingers spread the ground mixture and then keep another leaf over it and apply the masala as earlier.

Follow the same procedure for the rest of the leaves.

You may add the leaves as per the size you wish to make.

Slowly fold the two sides of the edges of the leaf.

Now slowly start rolling the leaves.

Slice them into a centimetre thick slice and lightly flatten them with the help of your palms and fingers.

Roll them on the plate which has the Suji/semolina by covering the slice fully.

Now heat about 1/2 to 3/4 cup of oil and on medium flame fry these pumpkin slices to golden colour and until crisp.

Enjoy them as a snack or with rice and dal as an accompaniment.

Truly delicious and nutritious it is.

August 1, 2021

namithaskitchen

jackfruit fritters(Mulik)

Jackfruit is one fruit which can be enjoyed in different ways.

I love them as is when it’s ripe. The raw jackfruit is also used in curries and in preparation of various delicacies.

Today I made some jackfruit fritters which turned out awesome. The colour, the texture and taste was perfect.

We call it Mulik in konkani.

The whole house was filled with the sweet aroma as I was frying the Muliks.

Ingredients:

Semolina/Suji rava – 1 cup

Grated coconut – 1 cup

jack fruit sliced – 1 cup

Jaggery – 2 table spoons

Salt – as per taste

Method:

Grind the Jackfruit segments , jaggery and grated coconut to paste.

Not coarse nor smooth.

Then mix Suji rava and salt.

Transfer the bowl to the refrigerator.

In about half an hour make small balls and fry until golden in colour.

You may increase the quantity of the jaggery based on sweetness of the jackfruit .

Heat oil for frying the Muliks or fritters.

Keep the heat on medium flame and fry three to four balls at a time until golden brown.

Enjoy them hot or at room temperature.

July 2, 2021

namithaskitchen

Suran Kootu

This is a no heat or cook dish.

Ingredients

Yam – 1 piece

Bedgi chillies-4 to 5

Guntur chilli – 2

Mustard-1/4 spoon

Methi – 6 to 8 seeds

Coriander seeds -1 t spoon

Hing -2-3 pinches

Tamarind – size of a chana.

Coconut -3 table spoons.

Coconut oil -1 small Vati (for frying the suran pieces)

Salt as per taste.

For tempering

Mustard -1/2 spoon

Coconut oil 1 table spoon

Curry leaves – 1 sprig

Method:

Clean the yam and remove the peels.

Now slice it into very thin and small bits

Apply a little salt and keep aside for about 10-15 minutes.

Squeeze out the excess water from the yam and keep aside.

In a small pan heat the oil and fry the suran pieces till golden and crisp.

Drain them on a paper towel.

Now in a spoon of oil roast the mustard, coriander, chillies, methi and Hing until you get a nice aroma.

Now grind all the above roasted ingredients with the grated coconut and tamarind adding about 1/4 glass of water.

Add the ground mixture to the suran and mix well.

You may add salt if needed as the suran has salt.

Mix well and give the tempering of mustard and curry leaves in coconut oil.

April 30, 2021

namithaskitchen

Wild Jackfruit gojju(Chutney)

The wild jackfruit also known as Paach panas (in Konkani)is a fruit available in the forests mostly in southern parts of India. It’s a sweet sour tasting fruit which has segments like the jackfruit but with smaller segments and seeds which are found in a cluster.inside the poky skin.

The fruit is delicious as is.

The raw fruits are plucked before they ripen and the thorny skin is scraped off and then they are brined in salt water for few months until they soften and are ready to be used to make a variety of chutneys, pickle and other dishes.

It’s nutritious as well as appetising.

Ingredients:

Wild Jackfruit – 1/2 piece of the fruit.

Red chilli – 4-5