Friday, November 20, 2009

Vallarai keerai (Vallarai chutney) Thogayal

Vallarai keerai (Vallarai chutney) Thogayal - preparation time 15 to 20 mins
We make thogayal using karuveppilai (curry leaves) or kothamalli (coriander leaves). One day i bought vallaikeerai from our regular green vendor. She told to buy this as it was very fresh. I told her that i havent tried any recipe using this. Any way i bought it and tried below recipe. It came out well. My friend came that day for lunch so, i served vallarai thugayal to him along with white rice. He liked it very much and told that he will ask his wife to make this and give to kids. I felt very happy. So you can also try out and provide your feedback.

Health benefits/tips: Vallarai keerai is very good for memory power. This can be given to kids frequently to improve the memory. If you prepare thogayal using vallarai keerai as specified below then your kids will like to eat. It is best medicine for memory power improvement in siddha. Vallarai chocolates or syrups are available in licensed siddha medical stores.


Ingredients:-
Vallarai keerai - 1 bunch or 1 cup leaves (clean and drain the water)
Grated coconut - 4 tbsp
Roasted red chili - 3 or 4 (you can add according to your spice level)
Roasted urad dhal - 2 tbsp
Mustard - ¼ tsp
Urad dhal - 2 tsp
Sesame oil - 2 tsp
Tamarind - ¼ tsp
Salt to taste
Water - required amount


Preparation method:-
Roast 2 tsp of urad dhal in 1 tsp of oil till it becomes light brown. Add the chili till it becomes deep red. Let it cool.
Fry vallarai keerai & salt in little oil.
In a mixer add grated coconut, vallarai keerai, chili, urad dhal, tamarind and little water (Add water which is required to grind).
In a tawa add 1 tsp oil, mustard, urad dhal and fry till dhal is light brown. Add this to chutney and take vallarai keerai thogayal with white rice and roasted papad.

Split Mung dal Sundal

Split Mung dal Sundal preparation time 25 to 30 mins
Very nutritional and simple sundal. Easy to digest when soaked and cooked properly. Might contain gas so we have to add a pinch of asafoetida

Ingredients:-
Split Mung dhal - 2 cup (without skin)
Oil - 1 tsp
Mustard seed - ½ tsp
Urad dhal - 1 tsp
Curry leaves - 4 or 5 (finely chopped)
Asafoetida - a pinch
Coriander leaves - few (finely chopped)
Green or red chili - 2 (cut into 2 or 3 pieces each)
Coconut -½ cup (finely chopped. this is optional)
Salt to taste or ½ tsp Asafoetida - ¼ tsp

Preparation method:-
Wash and boil split mung dhal in a vessel(Dont boil in pressure pan it will become like a paste).
Take few cooked dhal and see whether it is cooked well by pressing in fingers( it will be soft when cooked).
If cooked drain the water (if any) and cool it.
In a frying pan add oil, mustard (it has to splutter), urad dhal, chili, curry leaves if roasted add asafetida , boiled mung dhal, salt and coriander leaves and mix carefully (or it will become paste). Serve it hot. It is very healthy