Okra Raita - ಬೆಂಡೆಕಾಯಿ ರಾಯಿತಾ

Preparation time: 15 minutes

Serves: 4 people

You will need:

1. Okra / ಬೆಂಡೆಕಾಯಿ: 1 cup - diced into small pieces
2. Green chilies: 2 nos
3. Coriander
4. Curry Leaves: 2 nos
5. Coconut: wet - 1 tbsp
6. Salt: according to taste
7. Yogurt: 4 cups
8. Peanut powder: 2 tbsp - optional
9. Cooking Oil: 1 tbsp 

Okra Raita

 To cook:

• Heat oil in a pan and add the diced okra and saute until they are cooked. Keep this aside.
• In a blender, add green chillies, coriander, curry leaves, coconut and salt and blend into a paste (chutney)
• In a bowl, add yogurt, the above paste and the cooked okra and mix well. Peanut powder can also be added for some extra taste
• Serve it with rice or chapatis!

Cluster Beans Rice - ಗೋರಿಕಾಯಿ ಭಾತ್

 Preparation time: 15-20 minutes

Serves: 4 people

You will need:

1. Cluster Beans / ಗೋರಿಕಾಯಿ: 2 cups - diced into 1 inch pieces
2. Green peas: 1/2 cup
3. Cooked Rice: 4 cups
4. Cooking Oil: 1 tbsp
5. Hing/Asafoetida: 1 pinch
6. Chana Dal: 1/2 tspn
7. Urad Dal: 1/2 tspn
8. Turmeric powder: 1/2 tspn
9. Curry Leaves: 3-4 nos.
10. Sambhar powder: 2 tspn
11. Lime Juice: 1 tbsp
12. Grated coconut: 1/4 cup
13. Salt: according to taste

Gorikayi Bhaath

To cook:

• Heat oil in a pan and ad hing and then splutter the mustard seeds
• Add chana dal, urad dal, curry leaves and turmeric powder
• Now add the cluster beans and green peas and saute until the beans are cooked
• Once the beans are done, add sambhar powder and salt
• Now add the cooked rice, lime juice and the grated coconut and mix well
• Serve it hot with raita!

Corn and Carrot Kosambri

Preparation time: 5 minutes

Serves: 2 people

You will need:

1. Sweet Corn: 1.5 cups
2. Carrot: 1 cup - grated
3. Salt: according to taste
4. Lime Juice
5. Cooking
6. Mustard seeds: 1/2 tsp
7. Curry leaves: 2-3 nos

 Corn Carrot Kosambri

To cook:

• Mix the sweet corn and grated carrot in a bowl
• Add salt and lime juice
• Temper it with mustard seeds and curry leaves
• Goes well as a side dish or salad!

Baby Lentils - Masoor dal

Preparation time: 20 minutes

Serves: 2 people

You will need:

1. Baby Lentils/Whole Masoor dal: 1 cup
2. Tomato: 1 no.
3. Onions: 1 no.
4. Ginger: 1/2 inch - finely chopped
5. Garlic cloves: 2 nos. - finely chopped
6. Garam Masala: 1/2 tspn
7. Coriander/Dhaniya powder:1/2 tspn
8. Cumin/Jeera powder: 1/2 tspn
9. Yogurt: 2-3 tbsp
10. Cooking Oil: 1 tbsp
11. Salt: according to taste

 

To cook:

• Pressure cook the masoor dal for a couple of whistles. Do not overcook, else it will become mushy.
• In a blender, puree the onions and tomatoes and keep the paste aside.
• Heat oil in a pan and add the ginger and garlic and saute until you get a nice aroma.
• Then add the onion-tomato puree and keep stirring until the raw smell disappears. 
• Now add the cooked masoor dal and give it a quick stir.
• To this, add the garam masala and dhaniya-jeera powder.
• Then add about 1 cup of water and salt and bring to boil.
• Turn off the heat and add the yogurt and mix well. Do not boil the gravy once the yogurt is added.
• Garnish with coriander and serve it hot with rice or chapatis!