RADISH STIRFRY/PORIAL/முள்ளங்கிப் பொரியல்

Red Radishes are loaded with high contents of Vitamins A, B6, C, E and K. They are also the powerhouse of antioxidants, fibres, Zinc, Potassium, phosphorous, magnesium, Copper, Calcium, Iron and Manganese.

Highlights of the health benefits of radish:

• High on fiber contents
• Vitamin C, Folic acid and flavanoids are also High in Radishes.
• Anthocyanins present in Radishes guard our heart.
• Potassium rich Radishes control the blood pressure.
• Vitamin C presents in Radishes boosts our immune system. It supports our blood vessels
•  and controls the Damage of RBCs and increases oxygen supply in the blood stream

                                   

                                                                                                           - Source from Google

This root vegetable is low calorie, non-starchy, low-carbohydrate and having High water content. that comes with the host of health properties.

Here is a simple and easy recipe yet delicious accompaniment of main dishes

Cooking time 25 minutes

Yield 1-2 servings

STEP ONE:

Ingredients:

Radishes 2 pcs(200 gm)

Procedure:

Wash and peel the Radishes

Chop into cubes.

Set ready.

STEP TWO 

Ingredients:

Groundnut oil 1.5 tbsp

Mustard seeds 1/4 tsp

Chana dal 1/2 tsp

Whole Urad Dal 1/2 tsp

Chopped shallots 10 pcs

Curry leaves 10 pcs 

Slit Green chillies 1 pc

Turmeric 1/4 tsp

Asafoetida 1/4 tsp

Radish cubes

Himalayan pink rock salt 1/2 tsp

Water 1/4 cup

Shredded Coconut 1 tbsp

Chopped Coriander greens, a fistful

Procedure:

Heat the pan with Groundnut oil on medium heat.

Add Mustard seeds to crackle

Add Whole Urad Dal and Chana dal.

Once the dals fried golden brown, add Shallots curry leaves and green chilly. 

Add turmeric and Asafoetida 

Let shallots fried transparent, add the radish cubes.

Saute for a while.

Add salt.

Splash water.

Cover and cook on medium heat. (8-10 minutes )

Ensure no water remains

Turn off the heat.

Add shredded Coconut and chopped coriander greens.

Mix to combine.

Ready to serve.

It goes very well with any meal. It is highly recommendable that any vegetable stir fry or porial must be consumed as a starter before meals

BEETROOT KURMA/GRAVY/பீட்ரூட் குருமா/கிரேவி/चुकंदर ग्रेवी

Beetroot is a humble root vegetable, having immense nutritional benefits that promise health, unparalleled flavour and taste, unique ruby red colour. Moreover, it lends itself to the culinary variations to satisfy our taste buds. It is low in calories. It reduces blood pressure, aids in the production of red blood corpuscles and itis a natural blood purifier. It is bundled with rich iron content so that it maintains the haemoglobin levels. It boosts metabolism and strengthens the digestive system.

This recipe is a quick fix accompaniment prepared with beetroot cubes in the coconut masala base.

Ingredients:

Beetroot 250 gm

Shredded Coconut one bowlful

Raw coriander powder 1.5 tsp

Roasted Cumin powder

Fennel seeds 1/2  tsp+1/4 tsp

Turmeric 1/4 tsp+/4 tsp

Garlic 2 pcs

Curry leaves 2 sprigs+10 leaves

Tomato half chopped 

Pepper powder 1/ tsp

Water 1/2 cup+1 cup+rinsed water 1/2 cup

Groundnut Oil 2 tbsp

Mustard seeds/Fennel seeds 1/2 tsp

Bellary onion one chopped

Stone flower a tiny bit

Cloves 2 pcs

Bay leaf one

Green Chilly one pc, slit

Rock salt 1/2 tsp

Coriander greens optional

Star anise one pc

Procedure:

Wash the beetroot thoroughly.

Peel off the skin.

Chop the beet into cute cubes.

In a mixer jar, add shredded Coconut, coriander powder, cumin powder, Fennel seeds

Pepper powder, garlic cloves, curry leaves, turmeric and water 1/2 cup.

Grind to a fine paste.

Set ready.

Heat the pan on medium heat.

Add fennel seeds to fry.

Add bellary onion 🌰 slit green chilly🌶 and curry leaves.

Saute for a while until onion fried translucent.

Add beet-cubes and chopped half tomato.

Saute for a while.

Add a tiny stone flower, cloves and star anise.

Add turmeric.

Saute for a while on medium heat.

Transfer the ground masal paste.

Saute for five seconds until the raw smell goes off.

Add one cup water along with rinsed water.

Add rock salt.

Let cooking for 15 minutes on low-medium heat until the beets cooked soft.

Garnish with coriander greens.

A very good accompamiment to chapatis, Pooris, Rotis and nans.

Ready to serve

Cooking time 30 minutes.

Yield: 2 persons.

 

MORINGA GREENS THOKKU/DRUMSTICK LEAVES THOKKU/முருங்கைக் கீரை தொக்கு

Thokku calls for a somewhat specific method to work out with herbs like moringa or murungai keerai, curry leaves Coriander greens or methi or fenugreek leaves in generous addition of Sesame oil and Tamarind to restore the considerable shelf life. Lesser the water added, more the shelf life is. We add tamarind, jaggery powder, salt and a generous amount of sesame oil to increase its shelflife. If it is mixed with hot steamed rice, have it with any tiffin like chappathi, Puri, Idlies and Dosas, We will get addicted to its divine taste.

In other words, the six tastes blend in perfect proportion in much more concentrated gravy or dry gravy.

Let's make this yummy thokku using the Moringa greens or murungai greens which are well known for its richness of iron and other important nutrients..

Ingredients we need:

Murungai greens one bunch

Jaggery powder 2 tsps

Coco rinds or Kudampuli or tamarind 3 pcs

Himalayan rock salt 1/2 tsp

Water 50 ml

Mustard seeds 1/2 tsp

Dry roasted fenugreek powder 3/4 tsp

Grated garlic 1 tsp

Turmeric 1/2 tsp

Red chilly flakes 1/2 tsp

Sesame oil 4 tbsps

Groundnut oil 1 tbsp

Asafoetida 2 pinches

Dried red chillies 3-4 pcs

Procedure:

Pluck the murungai leaves along with its tender stems.

Place them in a mixer jar up to 3/4 th level'

Add red chillies, kudam puli, Jaggery powder, Himalayan rock salt and 5o ml water.

Grind at high speed to a coarse paste.

Now heat the heavy bottomed vessel with one tbsp groundnut oil.

Add mustard seeds to crackle.

Once they start to crackle, add Grated garlic, Turmeric and red chilly flakes and saute on low flame.

Turn off the heat and add greens paste.

Saute on medium heat for one or two minutes until the greens changed its colour.

Add asafoetida and fenugreek powder.

Mix to combine.

Add sesame oil 2 tbsps little by little on keeping the flame on a low level.

Mix to combine.

Add another two tbsps of Sesame oil at the final stage and mix to combine well.

Murungai greens thokku is ready to be consumed.

Thokku means pounded herb or vegetable with specific spices sauteed in sesame oil.

GLOSSY PUMPKIN STIRFRY/PORIAL

Pumpkins are back in Thai/January 2018 season. 
This is the pumpkin season as far as we were concerned with this Pongal celebrations 2018. 

How to choose the perfect pumpkin for culinary purpose?

Ripe Pumpkins always make a hollow sound. It is very hard to touch and feels heavy. A ripe pumpkin hs a firm shell and it cannot be scratched easily.
Using a sharp knife, cut into wedges. Remove the hard skin carefully. Scoop out the seeds and stringy fibres. Place the wedge flat to remove the hard skin.

Cooking is very easy. We can cook this veggie in a jiffy. Cooked with cane sugar and usual seasoning tricks make this curry absolutely delicious.

Just follow the steps shown in the video!

The glossy Pumpkin Stirfry/Porial -Video tutorials are now on Youtube channel "Kongu Traditional Recipes"