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.

THAKKALI CHORU/தக்காளிச் சோறு

How to make Thakkali choru

There are so many traditional one-pot meals in Kongu Cuisine. Out of these, the so-called Thakkali choru is stunningly delicious. Whenever we get busily engaged with works, we make one of these various one pot-meals that cover the whole day meals.

Thakkali choru is quite easy to make.

Ingredients:

Medium size tomatoes 4 pcs
Boiled Ponni rice (old) 200 gms
Chopped Shallots 20 pcs
Dried Red Chillies 2 pcs
Groundnut oil 3 tbsp
Mustard seeds 1/2 tsp
Garlic cloves grated 5 pcs
Curry leaves 20-25 pcs
Turmeric powder 1/2 tsp
Asafoetida one pinch
Cinnamon sticks 6 pcs
Cloves 6 pcs
Rock salt 3/4 tsp
Water 650 ml
A few Coriander greens

Procedure:

Wash and soak the old and boiled Ponni Rice for 1/2 an hour.
Drain the excess water and add 650ml water
Heat the pressure cooker with groundnut Oil on medium heat.
Add mustard seeds to splutter.
Once they start to splutter fast, add shallots, slit red chillies and curry leaves.
Saute for a while until the shallots turn soft and transparent, add turmeric and grated garlic.
Saute to combine.
Sprinkle one pinch of asafoetida.
Transfer the rice along with water.
Allow boiling on medium heat.
Add rock salt and stir to combine well.
Return its lid and place the weight.
Pressure cook up to 2 whistles and simmer for five minutes.
Turn off the heat and set aside to cool down.
Open the cooker and add some coriander greens.
Fold gently to infuse the flavour of coriander greens.
Mild tangy Thakkali choru is ready to be served.
Onion Raita and chips or papads  go very well with this one-pot meal


Time of cooking: 45minutes
Yield: 2 servings

LADY'S FINGERS COCONUT STEW

A Refreshing Stew to lighten up any meal!

Cooking Time: 20 minutes
             Yields: two servings

Ingredients:

Lady's fingers 4 g chopped as chunks 2-3 cm long
Shallots or onion chopped 2 g
Green Chillies 2 slit longitudinally
Curry leaves 20 
Garlic Cloves 4 pcs
Cumin seeds one tbsp
Shredded coconut 3 g
Fennel seeds 1 tsp
Groundnut oil 1 tbsp
Mustard seeds 1/2 tsp
Cloves 3-4 optional
Turmeric 1/2 tsp
Salt 1 tsp
Coriander leaves 2 g chopped
Tomatoes chopped 4 pcs
Water needed 300 ml


Procedure:

Grind the coconut, cumin and garlic using 20 ml of water to a coarse texture.
Set aside.
Heat the frying pan with oil. (medium heat)
Add mustard seeds
Once it starts crackling, add fennel seeds and cloves to fry.
Add shallots, curry leaves and green chillies.
Add turmeric. Saute until the shallots turn translucent.
Add Veggie chunks and saute on low flame. (for 2 minutes)
Add tomatoes
Saute for a few seconds.
Transfer the coarsely ground contents.
Add 300 ml water to adjust the consistency.
Add salt.
Allow bubbling until the veggies get softness.
Garnish with coriander leaves chopped

Ready.
Turn off the heat.
Serve hot with hot steamed rice!

This is an authentic Kongu Cuisine

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Quick fix methods
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