Chintachiguru paneer rice (Rice and paneer flavored with chintachiguru)

Chinta chiguru, tender tamarind leaves,is available in South India during early spring. As the name suggests, tender leaves from tamarind tree are sold in Andhra Pradesh and other South Indian states. The leaves have a subtle tart flavor without being overly sour. They increase the nutrient value of the dish and add a nice tangy taste to it. Quite a few dishes are made with the leaves like chinta chiguru chutney, chinta chiguru pulao etc.

 

The leaves are a good source of vitamin C. As any seasonal vegetable, use of the leaves is recommended by nutritionists.

When the leaves are fully grown, they are not easily chewable and are not tasty!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ingredients:

•      2 cups chinta chiguru
•      1 cup paneer cubes
•      1 cup onion chopped
•      2 cups rice cooked
•      3 to 4 green chiles
•      1/2 inch ginger chopped
•      2 to 3 red chiles
•      2 tsp. chana dal
•      1 tsp. urad dal
•      1 tsp. mustard seeds
•      Pinch of hing (Asafetida)
•      Few curry leaves
•      5 Tbsp. oil
•      Salt to taste

Directions:

1.      Place chinta chiguru in a large plate and take the leaves along with stems between the palms and rub well.
2.      Leaves are thus separated from the stems. Stems do not taste good and also are troublesome while eating!! 
3.      Remove the stems and collect the tender leaves.
4.      Wash the leaves and set them aside.
5.      Cut paneer into cubes and set aside.
6.      Cook rice and see that the grains separate when cooked.
7.      In a deep pan, heat oil.
8.      Add red chile and after a few minutes, add chana dal and urad dal.
9.      When dal becomes golden in color, add mustard seeds.
10.      Add green chiles and ginger when mustard seeds splutter.
11.      Add hing and curry leaves.
12.      Add chopped onion and stir well.
13.      When onion pieces are translucent, add chinta chiguru and stir well
14.      After a few minutes of cooking, add paneer pieces.
15.      Keep stirring, so that paneer pieces get a good coating of chinta chiguru.
16.      Add a little salt.
17.      Set aside the mixture for an hour or so, so that paneer pieces are marinated well. 
18.      Heat the mixture again and add cooked rice.
19.      Add salt and mix well.
20.      Cook for 10 to 15 minutes.
21.      Serve after a little while.
22.      Tastes nice with raita.

Avial (Stewed vegetables in yogurt and coconut gravy)

Avial is a very popular preparation from South Indian state Kerala. Almost all vegetables available are used in this dish. The gravy is prepared using fresh curd (yogurt) and fresh coconut. Those who have access to and like coconut oil, garnish avial with coconut oil.

Many recipes of avail are posted from time to time. Everyone has one's own recipe for making avial! I like to use more curd and coconut as the gravy makes it tastier.

Some vegetables like, ash gourd, yam, green banana and drumstick are definitely used. Other vegetables like potato, carrot, beans and cauliflower etc are optional. Whatever vegetables are available can be used. Use of carrots, yam and sweet potato adds color to the dish. Peeling, cutting all the vegetables according to the preferred size is time consuming, but the final product is worth the trouble taken.

As lot of vegetables are used and no deep frying or pan frying is done, it is a very healthy dish. Curd and coconut are also very nutritious.



                                        


Vegetables used:                                                             Drumsticks before cutting:

                                   
               
                                    










Vegetables cut into equal size pieces:              

                                                                               Fresh grated coconut:















Ingredients:

•      Small piece ash gourd (peeled)
•      Green banana (peeled)
•      Drumstick pieces (5 or 6)
•      Small piece of suran/yam
•      Carrot
•      Potato
•      Beans
•      Zucchini
•      Dondakaya/kundru/gherkin

For gravy:

•      1 cup grated coconut (fresh or frozen)
•      1 cup curd/yogurt
•      2 tsp. jeera seeds
•      2 tbsp. rice flour
•      Salt to taste

For seasoning:

•      3 tsp. oil
•      1/2 tsp. jeera seeds
•      1/2 tsp. mustard seeds
•      Pinch of hing (Asafetida)
•      A few curry leaves
•      3 tbsp. coconut oil (optional)

Directions:

1.      Wash and cut all vegetables to about the same size, -- thin long strips (about 2 inches by 1/4th inch)
2.      Boil vegetables in minimal water until cooked.
3.      Grind coconut, jeera and rice flour along with yogurt.
4.      Pour coconut mixture over cooking vegetables and continue to stir.
5.      Add water, if necessary.
6.      Cook for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
7.      Heat oil in a small pan, add jeera and mustard seeds and hing.
8.      Add the seasoning to avial and remove from heat.
9.      Add salt after turning off heat. Add curry leaves.
10.      Add coconut oil and mix well (optional).
11.      Mix well and serve hot.
12.      Good side dish for rice.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gongura pulihora (Gongura rice)

 

 

Gongura, which is a green vegetable, is very popular in Andhra Pradesh. The leaves are very sour. The most common and popular dish is a pickle version known as gongura pacchadi. Gongura can be used to flavor rice and the tanginess enhances the taste!

 

Gongura is available in many parts of India. Most of the Indian stores in USA sell bunches of fresh gongura.

 

The other dishes you can make with gongura are dal and pulusu.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ingredients: 

 

•      1 to 2 cups gongura leaves
•      1 cup rice
•      1 Tsp. turmeric powder
•      Salt to taste
•      3 Tbsp. oil
•      3 or 4 red chiles
•      1 Tbsp. chana dal
•      1 Tbsp. urad dal
•      1 Tsp. mustard seeds
•      2 or 3 green chiles
•      1 inch ginger (finely chopped)
•      A pinch hing (Asafetida)
•      3 Tbsp. peanuts
•      A few curry leaves
•      3 Tbsp. sesame seeds

 

Directions:

 

1.      Cook rice and see that the grains separate.
2.      Set aside.
3.      Remove gongura leaves from stems, wash and dry in a towel.
4.     Chop the leaves.
5.     Heat oil in a thick deep pan. Add red chiles, chana dal, urad dal and mustard seeds.
6.     Add peanuts and cook till peanuts are nicely fried.
7.     When mustard seeds splutter, add hing and curry leaves.
8.     Add gongura leaves and keep stirring till the leaves completely wilt.
9.     When the leaves are cooked, add cooked rice, turmeric powder and salt.
10.     Remove from stove and mix thoroughly.
11.     Roast sesame seeds without oil.
12.     Add a pinch of red chile powder and grind.
13.     Add sesame powder to the mixed rice and mix well.
14.     Let the rice rest for about an hour and serve along with kheera raita or carrot raita.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Urad dal pappu (Maa ki dal) / Black gram dal

In south India, urad dal is used mainly for making idli, dosa, vada etc. It is not very popular as a side dish with rice. But, in North India it is very popular and served as a special dish, when guests are entertained! One reason for this is, urad is a good source of protein and during winter months, in North India, it is a good source of nutrition.

Usually, a few spoons of rajma is added to make the dal tastier. It is common practice to mix two or more varieties of lentils to enhance the taste and improve nutrition.

                                             


Urad and rajma after soaking:


 

                                           


Tomato, onion and garlic after cooking:

                                             


After adding milk to the cooked paste:

                                             


After adding cooked urad to the masala paste:

                                            


Ingredients:

•      1 Cup urad (whole with skin)
•      2 Tbsp. rajma
•      3 or 4 tomatoes
•      1 Medium sized onion (chopped)
•      1 inch ginger
•      3 or 4 pods garlic
•      Fresh cream
•      1/2 cup milk
•      3 to 4 Tbsp. oil
•      2 inch cinnamon stick
•      3 or 4 cardamom
•      2 cloves
•      Bay leaf
•      1 Tsp. turmeric powder
•      3 Tsp. dhania powder
•      2 Tsp. garam masala
•      2 Tsp. chile powder
•      Salt to taste
•     Cilantro for garnish

Directions:

1.      Wash  urad and rajma and soak together overnight in enough water
2.      Cook the dal in a pressure cooker for 4 to 5 whistles.
3.      Clean and grind ginger, garlic and onion into a paste.
4.      Grind tomatoes without adding water.
5.      Heat oil in a thick bottomed vessel.
6.      Add cinnamon, cardamom and cloves.
7.      After a minute, add bay leaf.
8.      Add onion, garlic and ginger paste.
9.      Cook for a minute or two.
10.      Add the tomato paste and cook.
11.      Keep stirring and let it cook till all the fluid is evaporated.
12.      Add milk and cook for 3 to 4 minutes.
13.      Add cooked dal and let it cook.
14.      Add all the powders. Keep stirring so that dal does not burn.
15.      Add some fresh cream and keep cooking.
16.      When the required consistency is reached, turn off the stove.
17.      Garnish with fresh cream and cilantro and serve.

 

Kheera perugu pacchadi (Kheera raita) Cucumber in yogurt

During summer time, even looking at kheera (cucumber) slices, quenches the thirst! Cucumber is very cooling and soothing during hot months. There are a lot of beauty tips using cucumber!

Cucumber raita is easy to prepare and is an uncooked food, except for seasoning!  Refrigerated raita is very soothing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ingredients:

•      2 large or 3 or 4 small cucumbers
•      1 1/2 cups yogurt
•      Salt to taste
•      2 green chiles
•      1 inch ginger (chopped fine)
•      1 Tsp. mustard seeds
•      1 Tsp. jeera seeds
•      1 Tsp. oil
•      A pinch of hing (Asafetida)
•      A few curry leaves
•      Cilantro for garnish

Directions:

1.      Peel and grate cucumber.
2.      Beat curd without adding water.
3.      Squeeze fluid out of grated cucumber (optional) and add it to curd.
4.      Add salt.
5.      Mix well.
6.      Heat oil and add mustard and jeera seeds.
7.      When mustard seeds splutter, add hing.
8.      Add green chile and ginger. Cook for a minute.
9.      Add curry leaves.
10.      Add seasoning to curd mixture.
11.      Garnish with cilantro and let it cool.
12.      Serve it after refrigerated.

Nice side dish for pulihora or parathas.

Papaya salad

Papaya is native to the tropics and easily available in the tropics of Americas, Central America, Mexico and is widely grown in India, Australia, the Philippines, Hawaii etc.

Ripe papaya is usually eaten raw without skin or seeds.  Papaya fruit is a significant source of vitamin C and folate.  Papayas have a high amount of pectin.

In traditional medicine, it is believed that papaya can raise the platelet levels and so papaya is used as a medicine in Dengue fever. Papaya leaves are believed to be useful in treatment of malaria.

The unripe green fruit can be eaten cooked in many subzis and stews. In Thai cuisine, Green papaya salad is very popular. Som tam, the Thai variation was listed in World's 50 most delicious foods compiled by CNN in 2011!

 Salad without peanut powder:

  

Salad with peanut powder:

                                                                                               

 

Ingredients:

•      2  Cups Green Papaya (Grated)
•      1  Capsicum (Grated)
•      1  Tomato (Grated)
•      1 or 2 green chiles (Finely chopped)
•      3 Tbsp. roasted peanuts (Coarsely powdered) (Optional)
•      Salt to taste
•      2 Tsp. lemon juice
•      1 Tbsp. oil
•      Cilantro for garnish

Directions:

1.      Peel and grate green papaya.
2.      Grate or finely chop capsicum.
3.      Grate or finely chop tomato
4.      Finely chop green chile.
5.      Mix all the ingredients in a bowl.
6.      Add salt and lemon juice.
7.      Add oil and mix well. 
8.      Sprinkle peanut powder and mix well.
9.      Chill for an hour and serve.





Chinta chiguru pappu (Tender tamarind leaves in dal)

Chinta chiguru, tender tamarind leaves is available in South India during early spring. As the name suggests, tender leaves from tamarind tree are sold in Andhra Pradesh and other South Indian states. The leaves have a subtle tart flavor without being overly sour. They increase the nutrient value of the dish and add a nice tangy taste to it. Quite a few dishes are made with the leaves like chinta chiguru chutney, chinta chiguru pulao etc.

The leaves are a good source of vitamin C. As any seasonal vegetable, use of the leaves is recommended by nutritionists.

I found some bottled leaves in the Indian stores in USA. If you look around, you may be able to find the leaves in some Asian stores.

Part of a tamarind tree:

Tender leaves with stems:                                                         Stems removed from leaves:

 

Cooked dal:

Leaves being cooked along with seasoning:

Ingredients:s

•      1 cup chinta chiguru (Tamarind leaves)
•      1 cup cooked moong dal
•      Salt to  taste
•      1/4 Tsp. turmeric powder
•      2 or 3 green chiles
•      A few curry leaves

Seasoning:

•      2 Tbsp. oil
•      2 Red chiles
•      1/2 Tsp. urad dal
•      1/2 Tsp. mustard seeds
•      1/2 tsp. jeera seeds
•      A pinch hing (Asafetida)
•      A few garlic pods

Directions:

1.      Place chinta chiguru in a large plate and take the leaves along with stems between the palms and rub well.
2.      Leaves are thus separated from the stems. Stems do not taste good and also are troublesome while eating!! 
3.      Remove the stems and collect the tender leaves.
4.      Wash the leaves and set them aside.
5.      Peel garlic pods.
6.      Cook moong dal (either with skin or without) in a pressure cooker.
7.      In a deep thick pot, heat oil.
8.      Add red chile and urad dal.
9.      After a minute, add mustard seeds and jeera seeds.
10.      When mustard seeds splutter, add hing.
11.      Add half cup of water.
12.      Add chinta chiguru and green chile.
13.      Cook for 3 to 4 minutes.
14.      Add cooked dal.
15.      Add salt, turmeric powder and cook for about 10 minutes.
16.      Keep stirring.
17.      Add curry leaves and remove from heat.
18.      Heat oil in a small pan, add garlic pods and fry.
19.      When garlic pods are golden in color, add to the cooked dal.
20.      Transfer to a serving bowl and serve.

Any other dal like toor dal or masoor dal also can be used.
Chinta chiguru dal can be served along with rice or roti.


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