Badanekai Ennegai (Spicy Coconut Stuffed Aubergine)

What is Ennegai?


Ingredients
Putta Badanekai (Baby Aubergine): 1 kg
Enne (Oil): 3-4 tbsp


for Roasting & Grinding
Thenginakai (Coconut): 1 cup (grated)
Ona Menasu (Dried Red Chillies): 3-4
Kothambari Beeja (Coriander Seeds): 1 tsp
Jeerige (Cumin Seeds): 1 tsp
Menthe (Fenugreek Seeds): 1/2 tsp
Huli (Tamarind): a marble-sized piece
Bella (Jaggary): a small piece
Uppu (Salt): to taste
Enne (Oil): 1 tsp



Method
Make 2 slits on the Aubergines such that it has 4 sections with its stalk still holding it intact. In a wide  pan/wok, roast in oil the ingredients in set 2. Grind them and Fill them into the slits made in the Aubergines. Heat oil again in the wide pan/wok and place the aubergines in it. Shallow fry them in a low flame until they are cooked inside and the outer layer has turned a bit crispy. Serve hot with chapati, rotti or rice.

Variation 

• If baby aubergines are not readily available, use the bigger one, chopped. Saute them in oil and add the ground paste at the end. Saute further 5 mins.
• This recipe can be made with Bendekai (Okra), Green Beans, DoNNE Menasu (Capsicum), etc.
• For Hagalkai (Bitter Gourd) version, boil chopped pieces in water, jaggary and tamarind until all the water has evaporated. This removes the bitterness. Grind rest of the ingredients and follow the same recipe.

Palya (vegetables/greens/legumes dry side-dish)

What is Palya?

Palya is a dry vegetables/greens/legumes side-dish. It can be made with different  vegetables/greens/legumes. Popular ones are: Greeen Beans, Alasande (Long Beans), Aloogadde (Potato), Bendekai (Okra), BaLekai (unripe Plantain), Cabbage, Beetroot, Badanekai (Aubergines), Mangalore Southekai, Nuggekai (Drumsticks), Soppu (Greens), KaaLu (Legumes)


Ingredients
Tharakari/KaLu (Vegetables/Legumes): 2 cups
or Soppu (Greens): 4 cups
Thenginakai (Coconut): 1/4 cup (grated)
Neeru (Water): 1 cup
Uppu (Salt): to taste


for Oggarane/Tempering
Saasive (Mustard Seeds): 1 tsp
Uddina BeLe (Black Gram Lentil): 1 tsp
Kadale BeLe ( Bengal Gram Lentil): 1 tsp
Hasi Menasu (Green Chillies): 2 (slit) or Menasina Pudi (Chilli Powder): 1 tsp or Ona Menasu (Dried Red Chillies)
Arashina (Turmeric Powder): 1 tsp
Karibevu (Curry Leaves): 4-5
Enne (Oil): 2 tsp


Method
Take oil in a wok or a wide pan and add the oggarane ingredients to it. Add vegetables/greens/legumes, water, salt and cook till the water evaporates. Garnish with grated coconut.


Variation: just 1 tsp of cumin seeds, 1 tsp turmeric powder, 1 tsp chilli powder can be used instead of the above Oggarane. Garnish with chopped Coriander Leaves.

Kolambu (Vegetables in Pepper and Coconut Gravy)

Kolumbu is very similar to Sambar, difference is that fry the coconut before grinding. Also, use less chillies/sambar powder and add 1 tsp of pepper while grinding. It can be made with different vegetables (either individually or a combination of few together), popular ones are: Green Beans, Bendekai (Okra), Potato + Tomato, Marrow, Pumpkin, Aubergine, Carrot, Moolangi (Radish), Nuggekai + Bedanekai (Drumsticks + Aubergine), BaLekai (unripe Plantain), etc.

Saasmi (Vegetables/Greens/Fruits in Mustard and Coconut Gravy)

Saasmi means Mustard Seeds in Tulu (my mother tongue), as it is the major ingredient in this recipe. It can be made with many vegetables, Soppu (greens) as well as fruits. The popular ones are: Spinach, Dantina Soppu (Amaranth), Bendekai (Okra), Beetroot, Hagalkai (Bitter Gourd), Mavina Hannu (ripe Mangoes), Ananas (Pineapple), etc.


Ingredients
Tharakari/Hannu (Vegetable/Fruit): 1 cup (chopped)
or Soppu (Greens): 4 cups (chopped)
Hasi Menasu (Green Chillies): 1 (slit)
Mosaru (Yogurt): 1/2 cup
Neeru (Water): 1 cup
Uppu (Salt): to taste


for Grinding
Thenginakai (Coconut): 1/2 cup (grated)
Saasive (Mustard Seeds): 1 tsp
 
Method
Boil the veg/greens/mangoes with green chilli and salt in a saucepan of water. (In case of bitter gourd, soak the pieces in brine before boiling to remove bitterness). Grind the coconut and mustard seeds to a smooth paste with little water. Add this to the Saasmi along with the yogurt. Simmer for few minutes and serve hot.


Variations: Tamarind can be used instead of yogurt for sourness. Add it in the boiling stage of the recipe. Chilli powder can be used instead of Green chillies for a different taste.

Sambar (Vegetables in Spicy Coconut Gravy)

what is sambar?

This is a different version of Sambar made with Coconut instead of Lentils. It can be made with different vegetables (either individually or a combination of few together), popular ones are: Green Beans, Okra, Potato + Tomato, Marrow, Pumpkin, Aubergine, Carrot, Radish, Kudane/Kustikai (mini Aubergines), etc.

Ingredients
Tharakari (Vegetable): whichever you fancy (chopped into large chunks)
Neerulli (Onion): 1 (sliced length-wise)
Huli (Tamarind): a marble-sized piece
Neeru (Water): 1 cup
Uppu (Salt): to taste

for Grinding
Thenginakai (Coconut): 1 cup (grated)
Sambar Pudi (Sambar powder): 2 tsp


for Oggarane/Tempering
Saasive (Mustard Seeds): 1 tsp
Karibevu (Curry Leaves):4-5
Enne (Oil): 1 tsp

Method
Boil the above ingredients in a saucepan for 10 mins. Grind the coconut and Sambar Pudi to a smooth paste and add it to the Sambar. Heat 1 tsp oil/ghee in a small pan and add oggarane ingredients to it. Pour this over the Sambar just before serving.

Koddel (Vegetables in Sweet, Sour and Spicy Coconut Gravy)

Koddel is Vegetables in Sweet, Sour and Spicy Coconut Gravy. Koddel can be made with different vegetables, popular ones are: Kumblakai (Pumpkin), Hagalkai (Bitter Gourd), BaLekai (unripe Plantain), Green Beans, Badanekai (Aubergines), Bendekai (Okra), Mangalore Southekai, Kudane/Kustikai (mini Aubergines), etc. 

Ingredients
Tharakari (Vegetable): 1 cup (chopped)
Huli (Tamarind): a marble-sized piece
Bella (Jaggary): a small piece
Water: 1 cup
Salt: to taste

for Roasting & Grinding
Tenginakai (Coconut): 1 cup (grated)
Ona Menasu (Dried Red Chillies): 3-4
Kothambari Beeja (Coriander Seeds): 1 tsp
Jeerige (Cumin Seeds): 1 tsp
Uddina BeLe (Black Lentils): 1 tsp
Menthe (Fenugreek Seeds): 1/2 tsp
Enne (Oil): 1 tsp

for Oggarane/Tempering
Saasive (Mustard Seeds): 1 tsp
Karibevu (Curry Leaves): 4-5
Enne (Oil): 1 tsp

Method
Boil the vegetable pieces jaggary, tamarind and salt in a saucepan of water till the water dries up. In a  small pan, roast in oil the ingredients in set 2. Grind them and add it to the Koddel adding more water to desired consistency and simmer for 10 mins. Heat oil again in the small pan and add oggarane ingredients to it. Pour this over the Koddel just before serving.

Puli Kajipu (Vegetables in Coconut and Yogurt Gravy)

Puli means Sour and Kajipu means gravy in also known as, Majjige Huli in Kannada (language of Karnataka, India). Puli Kajipu can be made with different vegetables, popular ones are: Green Beans, Marrow, Budu Kumbalakai (Ash Gourd), Badanekai (Aubergine), Bendekai (Okra), Capcicum, BaLekai (Plantain), Alasande (Long Beans), Mangalore Southekai, Hagalkai (Bitter Gourd), Thondekai (Ivy Gourd), Suvarna Gedde (Yam), etc. For the latter two, stir fry them in oil rather than boil in water to avoid stickiness.

Ingredients
Tharakari (Vegetable): whichever you fancy (chopped into large chunks)
Thenginakai (Coconut): 1 cup (grated)
Arashina (Turmeric powder): 1 tsp
Hasi Menasu (Green Chillies): 2 (slit)
Mosaru (Yogurt): 1/2 cup
Neeru (Water): 1 cup
Uppu (Salt): to taste

for Oggarane/Tempering
Jeerige (Cumin Seeds): 1 tsp
Karibevu (Curry Leaves):4-5
Thuppa (Ghee): 1 tsp

Method
Boil the vegetable pieces, green chillies, turmeric and salt in a saucepan of water for 10 mins. Grind the coconut with some water and add it to the Puli Kajipu along with the mosaru and simmer for 5 mins. Heat the ghee in a small pan and add oggarane ingredients to it. Pour this over the Puli Kajipu just before serving.

Tharakari Bol Saaru (Vegetable Clear Soup)

What is Saaru?

Bol Saaru is vegetables in a clear soup. Popular ones are: Boodu Kumblakai (Ash Gourd), Bendekai (Ladies Finger/Okra), Beetroot, Kombasure (any other Gourd), etc.


Ingredients
Tharakari (Vegetables): 1 cup (chopped)
Huli (Tamarind): a marble sized piece
Menasina Pudi (Chilli powder): 1 tsp
Arashina (Turmeric powder): 1 tsp
Kothambari Soppu (Coriander leaves): few strands (chopped)
Neeru (Water): 2 cups
Uppu (Salt): to taste

for Oggarane/Tempering
Saasive (Mustard Seeds): 1 tsp
Hingu (Asafoetida): 2 pinches
Karibevu (Curry Leaves): 4-5
Bellulli (Garlic): 2 cloves
Enne/Thuppa (Oil/Ghee): 1 tsp

Method
Boil the above ingredients in a saucepan for 15 mins. Heat the oil/ghee in a small pan and add oggarane ingredients to it. Pour this over the saaru just before serving.