Rajasthani Bendi Masala Fry (Delicious Lady Finger/Bendakaya/Bendikai/Okra Fry)

This 'Bendi Masala' is a traditional Rajasthani Dish,special for its chatpata taste. In this we use lady finger/bendakaya/bendikai/okra in combination with tomatoes,chat masala powder and amchur/dry mango powder to satisfy the needs of our tastebuds. There are several health benefits of lady finger,I am discussing few benefits here.

Health Benefits Of Lady Finger/bendakaya/bendikai/okra : It is another vegetable having very less calories,it contains less than 30 calories per 100 gm. It is rich in both soluble and insoluble fiber content,which is very important in preventing constipation.The mucilaginous content also helps in relieving constipation. It also  contains Vitamin -A and C, Vitamin-A,which is required for proper vision and Vitamin-C which is required for increasing immunity in the body and also for healthy skin.It contain good amount of Vitamin-K which is a co-factor for blood clotting enzymes.It is the green vegetable having highest amount of anti oxidants like beta carotenes,Xanthin and lutein. It mainly contain high amount of folates which helps in preventing neural-tube defects on new born babies,hence this is highly recommended for women during pre-conception and pregnancy period. it also contain minerals like calcium,Iron,Manganese and Magnesium.

Preparation time : 10 mins

Cooking time : 20 mins

Yield : 2

Ingredients :

Lady Finger/bendakaya/bendikai/okra : 1/4 kg

Onion pieces : 1/2 cup

Ginger-garlic paste : 1 tbsp

Tomato pieces : 1/2 cup

Mustard seeds/sasive/avallu : 1 tsp

Curry leaves/karivebina soppu/karivepaku : few

Turmeric/arishana pudi/pasupu : a pinch

Red chili powder/ona menasina kayi pudi/karam : 1 tbsp

Salt : to taste

Amchur powder/dry ginger powder : 1 tsp

Chat masala powder : 1 tsp

Coriander leaves/kothumbari soppu/kothmir : fistful

Oil : 2 tbsp + 1 tsp

Method of Preparation :

1. Cut lady finger/bendakaya/bendikai/okra into long  thin pieces. Heat 2 tbsp of oil in a kadai and fry lady finger pieces till they slightly change their color. They should look like this (see below picture).


2. 
   
   [caption id="attachment_245" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Fried bendi pieces[/caption]


3. Heat 1 tsp of oil in another kadai, add mustard seeds and saute till they splutter, then add curry leaves,onion pieces and saute till the onions turn transparent.


4. Then add turmeric powder,ginger-garlic paste and saute till the raw smell goes off. Add tomato pieces and cook till they turn soft.


5. Add fried lady finger pieces/bendakaya/bendikai pieces ,salt,red chili powder and mix well,cook for 2-3 minutes.


6. Finally add Amchur powder,chat masala powder,coriander leaves,cook for 1 minute and dish out. It goes well with rice.

[caption id="attachment_248" align="aligncenter" width="300"]      Rajasthani Bendi Masala Fry[/caption]

 

Note : You can even deep fry lady finger pieces instead of shallow fry in step 1.

 

Kadai Chole

'Kadai Chole' is a famous Punjabi dish,which is a combination of Chole/Chickpeas/Garbanzo beans/Kabuli chana/Kabuli senagalu/Kadale kalu with  tomatoes and spices. The name of the dish 'Kadai  Chole' indicates that this dish is made in a kadai/karahi/wok. I have made few changes to the original dish, but it taste as good as original dish. This dish is a great combination for parathas,rotis,chapathi etc.,

Nutritional Benefits of Chickpeas : Chickpeas/chole contains both soluble and insoluble fiber which helps in preventing constipation and digestive disorders. These also contain good amount of proteins,if consumed along with eggs/whole wheat protein gives the daily requirement of proteins to the body. It contain rich amount of iron,which is especially required for pregnant and lactating women and also for growing kids. these also help in stabilizing blood sugar levels.These contain phyto chemicals called Saponins which acts as antioxidants which help in decreasing the risk of breast cancer in women. These aid in weight loss as these are high in fiber and low in sugars.

Preparation time : 30 mins

Soaking time : overnight

Cooking time : 30 mins

Yield : 2

Ingredients :

Chickpeas/chole/Kabuli senagalu/kadale kalu : 2 cups

Tomatoes : 5-6

onions : 2

Green chilies : 5-6

Ginger-garlic paste : 1 tbsp

Red chili powder/karam/ona menasina kayi pudi : 1 tbsp

Turmeric powder/pasupu/arisina pudi : a pinch

Coriander powder/dhaniya pudi : 1 tsp

Curry leaves/karivepaku/karibevina soppu : fistful

Chole masala : 1 tbsp

Water and salt : as per required.

oil : 1 tbsp

 

Method of Preparation :

1. Soak Chole/chickpeas overnight  in required amount of water and in the morning boil them in a pressure cooker until 3 vissils. Grind half cup of these boiled chole into paste and set aside.


2. Chop onions and tomatoes into small pieces.Chop green chilies into slices.


3. Heat oil in a kadai and add onion pieces and saute till they turn transparent,then add green chili slices, curry leaves, saute for 30 seconds.Then add ginger garlic paste and saute till the raw smell goes off.


4. Add tomato pieces,turmeric powder,salt,red chili powder and cook till the tomatoes become soft.


5. Add boiled chick peas and saute for 1 minute,then add half cup of water,coriander powder, close the lid and cook for 5-10 minutes.


6. Then add the boiled chickpeas paste,mix thoroughly and cook for 2 minutes.


7. Finally add Chole masala powder and dish out.

[caption id="attachment_237" align="aligncenter" width="300"]                        Kadai Chole[/caption]

Vegetable Pulao (Pressure cooker method)

I am sharing a simple method to prepare vegetable pulao. This is also like chicken pulao, which I shared earlier is prepared in a prepared cooker. This is very basic pulao recipe with little spices and lots of vegetables. It is simple to make but very tasty,do try it  once.

 

Preparation Time : 20 mins

Cooking Time : 45-50 mins

Yield : 2

 

Ingredients :

Basmati/Long grain rice :  2 cups

Cloves/lavangam : 5-6

Elachi/cardamom/elakullu : 3

Cinnamon stick/dalchina chekka/dalchini : 2 (1 inch sticks)

Star anise : 2

Bay leaf/biryani aku/paththa : 2

Marati moggu/capers : 2

Mace/japatri/jayi patre : small piece

Nutmeg powder/jajji kayya pudi/ : 1/4 tsp

Onion pieces : 1 cup

Slitted Green chilies : 3-4 no.

Tomato pieces : 2

Carrots : 2

potato/aloo/alu gedde : 2

Fresh/frozen Green peas : 1/2 cup

Meal maker/soy chunks : 1/2 cup

Salt : as per required

Ginger-garlic Paste : 1 tbsp

Garam masala Powder : 1 tbsp

Ghee : 1 tbsp

Oil : 3 tbsp

Water : 4 1/2 cups

 

Method of Preparation :

1. Chop Carrots,potatoes,tomatoes into small pieces. Soak green peas in water for 15 mins. Soak meal maker/soy chunks in hot water for 5 mins, squeeze them and set aside.


2. Heat the pressure cooker and add 3 tbsp of oil and allow it to get heated, then add Elachi, nutmeg powder,bay leaves,Mace,capers and saute for 30 seconds.


3. Then add onion pieces and slitted green chilies and saute till onions turn transparent.Then add ginger garlic paste and saute until raw smell goes off.


4. Then add carrot pieces,potato pieces, tomato pieces, saute for 3 minutes, then add green peas, squeezed soy chunks/meal maker,stir and cook for 10 minutes on a high flame,then reduce the flame to medium.


5. Then add washed and strained  basmati/long grain rice and stir thoroughly, then add 4 1/2 cups of water,required amount of salt,garam masala powder and stir once again, then close the lid and cook on a medium flame till 2 vissils.


6. Let it cool down,then remove the lid, add 1 tbsp of ghee and mix once again.


7. Dish out and serve with raita or any curry.

[caption id="attachment_219" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Vegetable pulao[/caption]

 Note : Can add other vegetables of your choice.

 

Spicy Ridge gourd Curry/Birakaya-Vulli karam/Heeraikai-eerulli curry

Ridge gourd is one of the vegetable having high nutritious value,it contains less calories and is rich in Vitamin C,iron,dietary fiber,riboflavin,zinc and also magnesium.Let us know about its nutritional benefits in detail here.

Nutritional Benefits of Ridge Gourd : Ridge gourd contains lots of water and is low in saturated fats,which makes it beneficial during weight loss. It acts as an excellent natural body cleanser,eliminating harmful pollutants from the body.It also helps in decreasing the alcohol intoxication by boosting the liver functioning. As it is rich in dietary fiber,it acts as best remedy for constipation and is even used to cure piles. It also helps in Diabetes,by reducing the sugar level both in blood and urine.It also helps in fortifying the immune system.

Preparation Time : 10 mins

Cooking Time : 15 mins

Yield : 2

Ingredients :

Ridge gourd/Birakaya/Heeraikai : 1/4 kg

Onions : 2 (medium size)

Red chilies/endu mirchi/ona menasina kayi : 5-6

Jeera/cumin seeds/jeerige : 1 tbsp + 1tsp

Split black gram/minapappu/uddhina bele : 1 tsp

Bengal gram/pachi senaga pappu/kadale bele : 1 tsp

Mustard seeds/avallu/sasive : 1 tsp

Garlic : 3-4 crushed

Turmeric powder/pasupu/arishana pudi : a pinch

Curry Leaves/karivepaku/karibevina soppu : few

Salt : as per required

Oil : 1 tbsp

Method Of Preparation :

1. Chop ridge gourd(/birakaya/heeraikai) into small pieces. Grind onions+red chilies+1 tbsp of jeera/cumin seeds/jeerige into paste.


2. Heat a kadai and add 1 tbsp of oil and heat it,then add Bengal gram(/pachi senaga pappu/kadale bele),mustard seeds (/avallu/sassive),split black gram(/minapappu/udhina bele),cumin seeds (/jeera/jeerige) and saute for few seconds.


3. Then add crushed garlic, curry leaves (/karivepaku/karibevina soppu),turmeric powder(/pasupu/arishana pudi),salt and onion paste which we prepared,saute for 5 minutes.


4. Then add ridge gourd (/birkaya/heeraikai)pieces and cook for 5 minutes by closing the lid.Then add little water,cook for 5 more minutes.


5. Dish out and serve along with roti/plain rice.

[caption id="attachment_165" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Ridge gourd/birkaya/heeraikai curry[/caption]