KAIRICHI THECHA

 KAIRICHI THECHA

Here in India, we associate the hot summer days with raw mangoes being available in plenty. Raw mangoes are called Kairi in Marathi, Maavinkayi in Kannada, Mamidikayi in Telugu, and Ambuli in my mother tongue, Konkani.

No kid growing up in India would have missed that great experience of eating slices of raw mango dipped liberally in salt and chilli powder! 

As this article explains, raw mangoes have numerous health benefits.

Elsewhere in the blog, you will find recipes for dishes made with raw mangoes, such as:-

• Raw Mango Pachadi
• Maavinkayi Chitranna
• Mamidikaya Menthi Pachadi 

Today's recipe - Kairichi Thecha- is from Maharashtrian cuisine. Raw Mango is called Kairi in Marathi. Thecha is a dry chutney-like popular accompaniment for bhakri and roti. 

Traditionally, thecha is made using a mortar and pestle. These days since most people use mixers, I must mention that the grinding should only be done in the pulse mode to get the coarse texture required for the thecha.

Do try this out and I am sure you will love it! 

Ingredients:- 

• Kairi (Raw Mango), 1 of about 240 grams
• Green Chillies, 10
• Roasted Peanuts, 1/3 cup
• Garlic Cloves, 8
• Cumin Seeds, 1/2 tsp
• Coriander Leaves, 1 handful
• Salt, to taste
• Oil, 1 tsp 

Method:-

Wash the raw mango and wipe it dry. 

Peel and cut the raw mango into cubes and discard the core

Wash the green chillies, remove the stalks, pat them dry and slit them 

Wash, dry and finely chop the coriander leaves

Peel the garlic cloves

Heat 1 tsp of oil in a kadhai and roast the slit green chillies stirring continuously till they get spotted  

Remove from the kadhai and allow them to cool

Transfer to a mixer jar

To the roasted green chillies, add the roasted peanuts, garlic cloves, cumin seeds, coriander leaves and salt to taste. 

Add the raw mango cubes. 

Grind on pulse mode till the ingredients are crushed and blended to get the Kairichi Thecha with a coarse texture

Transfer to serving bowl

Serve as accompaniment to bhakri/roti

BASALE SOPPINA HULI

 BASALE SOPPINA HULI

The Malabar Spinach is a climbing vine much akin to the usual spinach. It is also called Vine Spinach. We call this "Basale Soppu" in Kannada and "Vaali" in my mother tongue, Konkani.

This plant has numerous health benefits. I have this growing in pots at home which comes in handy from time to time. You can easily grow them by planting the firm stem in a pot. 

Elsewhere in this blog, you will find recipes for dishes made with Malabar Spinach such as:-

• Basale Soppina Tambuli
• Malabar Spinach Dal
• Vaali Ambat

Today's dish is popular in my Home State of Karnataka where it is usually served with hot steamed rice. This is an easy to make dish which is both tasty and good for health.  I have adapted this from the  Kannada YouTube video Basale Soppina Huli from Swayam Paaka.

Do try it out and let me know whether you liked it. 

Ingredients:-

• Basale Soppu/ Malabar Spinach, 1 bunch or approximately 3 cups when chopped 
• Thuar dal/ Split Pigeon Peas, 1/2 cup
• Turmeric Powder, 1/4 tsp 
• Fresh Coconut Gratings, 1/4 cup
• Jaggery, small piece
• Tamarind, size of a medium sized lemon 
• Salt, to taste 

To be Roasted and Ground To a Paste:- 

• Oil, 1 tsp
• Urad Dal/Black Gram Dal, 1/2 tsp
• Channa Dal/Bengal Gram Dal, 3/4 tsp
• Byadgi Red Chillies, 8
• Fenugreek/Methi Seeds, 1/4 tsp
• Curry Leaves, a few 
• Hing/Asafoetida, 1/8 tsp
• Mustard Seeds, 1/4 tsp
• Cumin Seeds, 1/2 tsp
• Coriander seeds, 1 tbsp

For Seasoning:

• Mustard Seeds, 1 tsp
• Cumin Seeds, 3/4 tsp
• Asafoetida/Hing, 1/4 tsp
• Oil, 2 tsp

Method:-

Wash the basale soppu in several changes of water. Drain away the water in a colander. Chop the basale soppu and keep aside

Soak the tamarind in water for about 10-15 minutes and extract the juice 

Wash the thuar dal and pressure cook it in a cooker adding 1 and 1/2 cups of water with a little oil and a little turmeric powder

Cook for 3-4 whistles or till the dal gets done. Once the cooker cools, remove the cooked dal, mash the dal  and keep aside.

 

Heat 1 tsp oil in a pan. On medium heat add the urad dal and channa dal, Byadgi red chillies, fenugreek/methi seeds, and a few curry leaves and fry for a minute

To this add the asafoetida, cumin seeds, mustard seeds and coriander seeds and fry till the dals change colour and turn golden. Switch off the gas.

Transfer the roasted ingredients to a plate and allow it to cool.

Once they cool, grind the roasted ingredients along with fresh coconut gratings in a mixer jar. Grind to a fine paste adding water as required. Keep aside.

Add the chopped basale soppu to the cooked and mashed dal. Mix well and bring to a boil.  

Now add the ground masala, jaggery, salt to taste and tamarind extract 

Mix well and adjust the consistency by adding water as required and once again bring to a boil

Lower the heat and let it simmer for a couple of minutes

Switch off the gas

Heat oil in a seasoning pan, on medium heat add the mustard seeds and when they splutter add the asafoetida and the cumin seeds. Saute for a few seconds. 

Pour this seasoning on to the Huli.

Transfer the Basale Soppina Huli to a serving bowl

Serve with hot steamed rice

DOUBLE BEANS POTATO CURRY

 DOUBLE BEANS POTATO CURRY

My husband and I are very fond of Double Beans - also known as Lima Beans or Butter Beans. We often make dishes with this ingredient which has numerous health benefits.

These are freshly available during the season and in dry form throughout the year. 

In my experience, the dishes with double beans go great with the chapatis we make almost every day at home.

Elsewhere in this blog, you will find recipes for more recipes made with Double Beans such as:-

• Double Beans Ambat 
• Double Beans Saung
• Double Beans Kurma
• Double Beans Curry

We love this dish with hot chapatis ! I am sure you will enjoy this too! 

Ingredients:-

• Dry Double Beans, 1 cup 
• Potato, 1
• Cinnamon, 1 " piece 
• Cloves, 2
• Onions, 2
• Ginger Garlic Paste, 1/2 tsp
• Tomatoes, medium-sized, 2
• Turmeric Powder, 1/2 tsp
• Kashmiri Chilli Powder, 1 and 1/4 tsp
• Oil, 1 tbsp
• Salt, to taste
• Coriander Leaves, for garnish 

To Be Ground To A Paste:-

• Fresh Coconut Gratings, 1/3 cup
• Poppy Seeds, 1 tsp
• Fennel Seeds, 1/2 tsp
• Cashew Nuts,  6

Method:-

Soak the double beans in adequate water for 8 hours or overnight. You will find the beans would have become bigger in size. Discard the water and keep the soaked double beans aside.

Wash, peel and cube the potato 

Peel and chop the onions 

Wash and chop the tomatoes 

Soak the cashew nuts in a little water

Wash and finely chop the coriander leaves 

Place the soaked double beans and the cubed potato in a vessel adding the required amount of water

Keep this vessel in a pressure cooker and pressure cook for 2 whistles or till the beans get done 

Once the cooker cools remove the double beans and potato. Keep aside

Heat 1 tbsp of oil in a thick bottomed kadhai. Add cinnamon stick and cloves and saute 

Add the chopped onion and saute till the onion turns translucent 

Now add the ginger garlic paste and the chopped tomatoes and a little salt

Mix well and cook till the tomatoes become soft and mushy

To this add the turmeric powder and chilli powder and mix

Add the cooked double beans, potatoes and the water in which they were cooked 

Cook covered on medium heat for about 5 minutes

In a mixer jar, grind together the coconut gratings, poppy seeds, fennel seeds and the soaked cashew nuts to a fine paste adding water as required 

Add this ground paste to the cooked double beans and potatoes in the kadhai

Adjust the consistency by adding water if required and bring to a boil

Check for salt and add if required

Lower the heat and let it simmer for about 4-5 minutes

Switch off the gas and garnish with chopped coriander leaves 

Transfer to a serving bowl and serve hot with chapatis

PAANAK AND KOSAMBARI FOR SRI RAMA NAVAMI

 

PAANAK AND KOSAMBARI FOR SRI RAMA NAVAMI

On April 6, we celebrate -Sri Rama Navami , an important festival for us Hindus in India. This day  celebrates the birth of Sri Rama/Shri Ram, one of our most revered deities. This year the age old festival has attained greater significance. This is because on January, 22, 2024, the idol of Shri Ram was consecrated in the famous Shri Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh.

This festival is celebrated all over India. Each region has its own traditions in celebrating the festival.

One of the items we Gowda Saraswath Brahmins traditionally make is what we call Paanak in my mother tongue, Konkani.  

Another item popular in my Home State of Karnataka is Cucumber and Dal Kosambari. 

In Karnataka, a popular dish made during this season is Maavinkayi Chitranna or Raw Mango Rice. 

Enjoy the joyous celebration of Sri Rama Navami on April 6. Jai Sri Ram !