Podalanga Poriyal A.K.A Snake Gourd Salad with Yogurt Dressing

Keeping the summer heat in mind, I am trying these recipes. Gourd vegetable are very good during summer due to their high water content

Ingredients

1 Snake Gourd - chopped
1 small onion - Diced finely
3 green chillies - chopped
few sprigs of Curry leaves, chopped
Salt to taste
Oil - 1 tbsp
Yoghurt - 1/2 a cup, beaten
1/2 tsp Jeera Seeds
1/2 tsp Mustard seeds

Procedure

1. Add oil , temper Musard and Jeera seeds.
2. Add the onions, chillies and Curry leaves. Saute till onions are soft.
3. Now add the chopped snake gourd. Mix well and cook for 2 minutes. The vegetables should retain some crunch
4. Remove from heat and set aside to cool.

5. Take 1/2 cup of yogurt and add salt and beat well to get a smooth mixture.
6. Add the cooked and cooled vegetables to the yogurt mixture.
7. Chill and serve

Enjoy.

Cheats grated Coconut recipe

As promised my cheat’s recipe for grated coconut for lazies like me. This can be used for any recipe which needs grated coconut

Usually my Mother or Mother-in-law do this for me. I am sharing both their recipes.

Mother's Recipe

Ingredients

• 2 fresh coconuts grated finely
• 5 tbsp Chilli flakes
• 10 cloves of Garlic crushed with skin
• Few sprigs of Curry leaves

Procedure

1.        Grate the coconut using coconut grater.
2.        Dry roast all the ingredients till the coconut is dry and lost most of the moisture
3.        Store in a sterile container in the fridge.
4.        Dry this mixture in the sun every few days to last long. 

     Mother-in-Law's Recipe

Ingredients

• 250 grams dry Coconut or Koparai, Sliced thinly
• 2 tbsp Chilli Powder
• 5 cloves of Garlic crushed 
• 1 tbsp Jeera 

Procedure

• Dry Roast all the ingredients
• Blend it in a mixer
• Store and use as required.

Parupu Keerai A.K.A Green veg with Dal

Hi, In mindful of summer and the dire unavailability of fresh Carrots, beans or "English  Vegetables"  or "Happy vegetables" (Smirk :D) as my husband calls it ,I have to depend on buying "Country Vegetables" or "Sober Vegetables" again coined by the genius mentioned above (Double Smirk :D :D) like all the gourd varieties, pumpkin (White and Red), greens etc.

To bring variety and force these veggies on my husband, I try to mix and match the preparation. Below is  my attempt at Parupu Keerai.

Ingredients

• 1 big bunch of Keerai (Any kind), washed throughly and cut coarsely
• 1 medium onion, diced
• 4 cloves of Garlic
• 1 small tomato, diced
• 1/2 cup boiled split green lentils or "Siru Paruppu"
• Diced Green chillies to taste
• 1 tbsp Oil
• 1/2 tsp Mustard seeds
• 1/2 tsp Jeera 
• Salt to taste

Optional Ingredients

• 1 heap spoon of freshly grated coconut. I have a cheats recipe for this. I will share it tomorrow.

Preparation

• Rinse the greens well and dice them coarsely.
• To hot oil, add and temper Mustard and Jeera seeds.
• Add the onions and saute till soft and translucent.
• Add the garlic ,chillies and fry.
• Now add the cut greens and wait till they wilt and are half cooked.
• Add the pre boiled dal and mix through. Cook throughly.
• Finally just before serving add the diced tomato.

       P.S. I hate squishy, over cooked tomatoes. Those who love that can add earlier and cook for a few minutes

• Serve and enjoy with hot rice and Little Ghee :D

My Summer Cooler

It’s just April and the summer is already almost at its peak. It’s very disheartening to read in the papers that this year will be exceptionally hot (as if every year is not). I remember summers used to be more forgiving when I was younger, not like the fry your brains, pop your eyeballs heat now. Anyhow for those who want to get a little respite from the daunting heat follow the easy recipe below.

Ingredients

• 2 medium sized cucumbers – diced roughly
• ½ cup curd
• ½ cup mint leaves -chopped roughly
• 2 cups cold water
• Salt to taste

Optional ingredients to whiz it up a little more

Small piece of ginger

½ tsp chat masala

Few squeezes of lime

Procedure

• 1.       Wash the cucumbers , peel the skin and dice
• 2.       In a blender, add the all ingredients and blend till smooth mixture
• 3.       Taste and adjust Salt
• 4.       Serve in a tall glass, if in a fancy mood with a sprig of fresh mint.

Enjoy.