Dosa (Rice and Lentil Pancake)

What is Dosa?

Ingredients
Akki (Rice): 4 cups
Uddina BeLe (Black Gram Lentil): 2 cups
Neeru (Water): enough to make a batter
Uppu (Salt): to taste


Method
Soak the rice and lentil separately in water for 4 hours. Drain and grind each separately into a thick smooth paste using little water. Then mix both batters and salt. Cover and leave to ferment (6-8 hrs). 


Heat non-stick tawa (flat pan) and pour a ladle-full of batter on it, making it round and flat. Cover with a lid and cook for 1-2 minutes. 1 tsp of oil can be smeared on top and the dosa can be roasted on the flip side (optional). Serve hot with chutney, sambar, butter/ghee, chutney powder, etc.


Variations: 

• for Manjal Dosa (Yellow Dosa), add turmeric powder to the batter. This dosa is prepared for breakfast on the 1st day of Diwali, which is also called Makkala Habba (Children's festival). Turmeric is added to make it bright and colourful esp. for kids!
• for Kai Dosa (Coconut Dosa), add grated coconut to the batter or sprinkle it on top of the dosa before it cooks.
• for Neerulli Dose (Onion Dosa), add chopped onion to the batter or sprinkle it on top of the dosa before it cooks.
• for Set Dosa (thick Dosa), just pour the batter on tawa, do not make the dosa flat, add 1 tsp of oil onto the dosa before it cooks.
• for Paper Dosa (thin Dosa), make the dosa as flat as possible, smear 1 tsp of oil onto the dosa after it cooks and roast till it is very crisp.
• for Masala Dosa (stuffed Dosa), once dosa is cooked, fill with desired palya (filling) and fold dosa in half. Popular one is Potato+onion filling.

Idli/Kottige (Rice and Lentil Dumpling)

What is Idli?

Ingredients
Akki (Rice): 4 cups
Uddina BeLe (Black Gram Lentil): 2 cups
Neeru (Water): enough to make a batter
Uppu (Salt): to taste


Method
Soak the rice and lentil separately in water for 4 hours. Drain and grind each separately into a thick smooth paste using little water. Then mix both batters and salt. Cover and leave to ferment (6-8 hrs). 

Pour the batter into Idli mold or any greased bowl and steam for 5-6 minutes. Serve hot with Chutney, Sambhar, Butter/Ghee, Chutney Powder, etc.


Variations: 

• for Kottige/Moode, pour the batter into wrappings of banana or jackfruit leaves or greased steel tumbler and steam.
• for Thatte Idli, use greased plate.
  

Ghee Rice

Ingredients
Basmati Akki (Basmati Rice):  2 cups
Neerulli (Onion): 2 (sliced length-wise)
Gerbeeja (Cashewnut): 10 (or more)
ONa Drakshe (Raisins): 10 (or more)
Badami (Almonds): 10 (or more)
Pistha (Pistachio): 10 (or more)
Chakke (Cinnamon): 1 inch piece
Lavanga (Cloves): 2-3
Elakki (Cardamom): 2
KaaLu Menasu (Pepper): to taste
Bay Leaves: 2
Veg Stock: 2 tsp
Neeru (Water): 4 cups
Thuppa (Ghee): 5 tsp
Uppu (Salt): to taste
Sakkare (Sugar): 1 tsp


Method
In a pestle and mortar, crush the spices. In a big saucepan or pressure cooker, saute the onions, nuts and spices in the ghee. When browned, add rice and saute till it turns brown too. Add salt, sugar, veg stock and water, cover and cook (low heat) for 15 minutes or till all the water is absorbed. Serve hot.

Pulao (Vegetable Pilaf Rice)

What is Pulao?


Vegetables usually used are Potato, Carrot, Green Beans, Green Peas, Radish, Cauliflower, Greens, etc in equal portions.


Ingredients
Basmati Akki (Basmati Rice):  2 cups
Tharakari (Vegetables): 2 cups (chopped)
Chakke (Cinnamon): 1 inch piece
Lavanga (Cloves): 2-3
Elakki (Cardamom): 2
KaaLu Menasu (Pepper): few
Veg Stock: 2 tsp
Neeru (Water): 4 cups
Enne (Oil): 5 tsp
Uppu (Salt): to taste


Method
In a big saucepan or pressure cooker, saute the vegetables and spices in the oil.When browned, add rice and saute till it turns brown too. Add salt, veg stock and water, cover and cook (low heat) for 15 minutes or till all the water is absorbed. Serve hot with salad and raita.

Mosaranna (Spicy Yogurt Rice)

Ingredients
Anna (cooked Rice): 2 cups
Mosaru (Yogurt): 2 cups
Southekai (Cucumber): 1 (chopped)
Carrot: 1 (grated)
Tomato: 2 (chopped)
Apple: 1 (chopped)
Drakshe (Grapes): 1 small bunch (halved)
DaaLimbe (Pomegranate): 1/2 (seeds)
Shunti (Ginger): 1 inch piece (grated)
Kothambari Soppu (Coriander Leaves): few strands (chopped)
Hasi Menasu (Green Chilli): 1 (finely chopped)
Nimbe Rasa (Lemon Juice): of 1/2
Uppu (Salt): to taste


for Oggarane/Tempering
Saasive (Mustard Seeds): 1 tsp
Uddina BeLe (Black Gram Lentil): 1 tsp
Ona Menasu (Dried Red Chillies):  1-2
Karibevu (Curry Leaves): 4-5
Enne (Oil): 2 tsp


Method
In a large bowl, mix together all the ingredients. In a small pan, heat oil and add oggarane ingredients to it. Pour this over the Mosaranna.

Puliyogare (Tamarind Rice)

What is Puliyogare?

Ingredients
Anna (cooked Rice):  2 cups
HuLi (Tamarind): a tennis ball sized piece
Bella (Jaggary): a lemon sized piece
Karibevu (Curry Leaves): 5-6
Kadalekai (Ground Nut): 1 handful
Saasive (Mustard Seeds): 1 tsp
Yellu (Sesame Seeds): 1 tsp
Uddina BeLe (Black Gram Lentil): 1 tsp 
Neeru (Water): 1 cup
Enne (Oil): 1/2 cup
Uppu (Salt): to taste

for Roasting and Powdering
Yellu (Sesame Seeds): 4 tsp
Jeerige (Cumin Seeds): 2 tsp
Saasive (Mustard Seeds): 2 tsp
Kothambari Beeja (Coriander Seeds): 2 tsp
Ona Menasu (Dried Red Chillies):  3-4
Kobbari (Dried Coconut): 1 cup (grated)
Uddina BeLe (Black Gram Lentil): 1 tsp
Kadale BeLe (Bengal Gram Lentil): 1 tsp


Method
Roast (one by one) and powder (together) the ingredients in set 2. In a saucepan/wok, heat oil and add mustard seeds, sesame seeds, lentil, curry leaves, groundnut, and saute till they are golden. Add water, tamarind, jaggary, salt and boil. When dissolved, add the powder and boil till it reduces to a paste. This paste can be stored in a air-tight container for a long time. 

When required, mix some of the paste with the rice and serve hot or cold.

Variation: for an exotic version, add roasted cashewnuts!

Aloo Raita (Potato & Yogurt Sauce)

What is Raita?

Ingredients
Aloogadde (Potatoes): 2 (cooked and mashed)
Mosaru (Yogurt): 1 cup 
Neerulli (Onion): 1 (chopped)
Kothambari Soppu (Coriander Leaves): few strands (chopped)
Uppu (Salt): to taste

Oggarane/Tempering

Saasive (Mustard Seeds): 1 tsp
Uddina BeLe (Black Gram Lentil): 1 tsp
Hasi Menasu (Green Chillies): 2 (slit) or Ona Menasu (Dried Red Chillies): 1 (broken into bits)
Arashina (Turmeric Powder): 1 tsp
Karibevu (Curry Leaves): 4-5
Enne (Oil): 1 tsp

Method
Take oil in a saucepan and add oggarane ingredients to it. Then add mashed potato, yogurt, onion, coriander leaves, salt and mix well. Serve hot or cold.


Variation: Use cumin seeds instead of mustard seeds and lentils for tempering.

Usli (Sprouts Salad)

Ingredients
MoLake banda KaaLugalu (Mixed Sprouts) or BeLe (Lentils): 2 cups (soaked in water overnight)
Neerulli (Onion): 1 (chopped)
Tomato: 1 (chopped)
Shunti (Ginger): 1 tsp (grated)
Jeerige (Cumin Seeds): 1 tsp
Hasi Menasu (Green Chillies): 2 (slit) or Ona Menasu (Dried Red Chillies): 1 (broken into bits)
Arashina (Turmeric Powder): 1 tsp
Kothambari Soppu (Coriander Leaves): few strands (chopped)
Thenginakai (Coconut): 1/4 cup (grated)
Nimbe Rasa (Lemon Juice): 2 tsp

Enne (Oil): 1 tsp
Uppu (Salt): to taste

Method
Boil the sprouts and drain. Heat oil in a wide pan and add cumin seeds, (green or dried red) chillies, turmeric powder, ginger and onion to it. When onion turns pink, add sprouts, tomato, grated coconut, lemon juice, coriander leaves, salt and mix well. Serve hot or cold.

Variation: Usli can be made of individual sprouts or lentils too.

Kosambari (Salad)

What is Kosambari?

Ingredients
Hesaru/Kadale BeLe (Green Gram/Bengal Gram Lentil): 1/4 cup(soaked in water for 1 hr and drained)
Southekai (Cucumber): 1 (peeled and finely chopped)
Thenginakai (Coconut): 1/4 cup (grated)
Kothambari Soppu (Coriander Leaves): few strands (chopped)
Nimbe Rasa (Lemon Juice): 1 tsp
Shunti (Ginger): 1 tsp (grated)
Uppu (Salt): to taste


for Oggarane/Tempering
Saasive (Mustard Seeds): 1 tsp
Hasi Menasu (Green Chillies): 2 (slit) or Ona Menasu (Dried Red Chillies): 1 (broken into bits)
Hingu (Asafoetida): a pinch
Enne (Oil): 1 tsp


Method
Mix the above ingredients in a bowl. Heat oil in a small pan and add the oggarane ingredients to it. Pour this over the Kosambari and mix well. Serve cold.

Variation: grated Carrot can be added instead of Cucumber.

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.

Thovve (Ginger-Lentil Soup)

Thovve is a very tasty, nutritious and slightly spicy Lentil Soup. Thovve can be made from Togari BeLe or Hesaru BeLe or Kempu BeLe (Yellow or Green Gram or Red Lentils).

Ingredients
BeLe (Lentil): 1 cup
Hasi Menasu (Green Chillis): 2 (slit)
Shunti (Ginger): 1 inch piece (chopped)
Neerulli (Onion): 1 (chopped)
Coconut Milk or (grated & ground): 1/4 cup (optional) 
Arashina (Turmeric Powder): 1 tsp
Neeru (Water): 1 cup
Uppu (Salt): to taste


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


Method
Cook the Lentils in a pressure cooker (3-4 whistles) or in a saucepan (for 30 mins) along with onion, ginger, green chillies, turmeric powder and water. Once the Lentils are cooked well, mash it and add salt and coconut milk/paste (optional). Heat the oil in a small pan and add oggarane ingredients to it. Pour this over the Thovve and serve hot.

Sambar (Vegetable in Lentil Gravy)

what is sambar?

Sambar 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, Drumsticks + Aubergine, Carrot, Radish, Cabbage, Baby Onion,  BaLekai (unripe Plantain), Mangalore Southekai, Thondekai (Ivy Gourd), Mixed Veg, etc.

Ingredients
Togari BeLe (Yellow Lentil): 1 handful
Tharakari (Vegetable): whichever you fancy (chopped into large chunks)
Neerulli (Onion): 1 (sliced length-wise)
Huli (Tamarind): a marble-sized piece
Sambar Pudi (Sambar Powder): 2 tsp
Neeru (Water): 1 cup
Uppu (Salt): to taste

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

Method
Boil the above ingredients in a pressure cooker (3 whistles) or simmer in a saucepan for 30 mins. Heat 1 tsp oil/ghee in a small pan and add oggarane ingredients to it. Pour this over the Sambar just before serving.

Kadale Saaru (Black Chick Peas Soup)

What is Saaru?


Ingredients
Kadale (Black Chick Peas): 1 cup (or can)
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 30 mins (10 mins if using canned beans). Heat the oil/ghee in a small pan and add oggarane ingredients to it. Pour this over the saaru just before serving.

Variations: This recipe can be used to make Saaru of any KaaLu (Legumes). 

Huli Saaru (Tamarind Soup)

What is Saaru?

Ingredients
Huli (Tamarind): a marble sized piece
Hasi Menasu (Green Chilli): 2 (sliced)
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
Enne/Thuppa (Oil/Ghee): 1 tsp


 Method
Boil the above ingredients in a saucepan for 10 mins. Heat the oil/ghee in a small pan and add oggarane ingredients to it. Pour this over the saaru just before serving.

Nimbe Saaru (Spicy Lemon and Lentil Soup)

What is Saaru?

Ingredients
Togari BeLe (Yellow Lentil): 1 handful

Arashina (Turmeric powder): 1 tsp
Kothambari Soppu (Coriander leaves): few strands (chopped)
Nimbe Rasa (Lemon Juice): from 1/2 lemon
Neeru (Water): 2 cups
Uppu (Salt): to taste


for Oggarane/Tempering
Jeerige (Cumin Seeds): 1tsp
Ona Menasu (Dried Red Chilli): 1 (broken into bits)
Enne/Thuppa (Oil/Ghee): 1tsp 

 Method
Boil the lentils, turmeric powder & water in a pressure cooker (3 whistles) or simmer in a saucepan for 30 mins. Mash the lentils, add lemon juice, salt, coriander leaves and stir. Add more water if thin consistency is desired. Heat 1 tsp oil/ghee in a small pan and add oggarane ingredients to it. Pour this over the saaru just before serving.

Tomato BeLe Saaru (Spicy Tomato and Lentil soup)

What is Saaru?

Ingredients
Tomato: 2 (chopped)
Togari BeLe (Yellow Lentil): 1 handful
Saarina Pudi (Saaru Powder): 1 tsp
Bella (Jaggary): a small piece or Sugar: 1tsp

Kothambari Soppu (Coriander leaves): few strands (chopped)
Huli (Tamarind): a marble-sized piece
Neeru (Water): 2 cups
Uppu (Salt): to taste

for Oggarane/Tempering
Saasive (Mustard Seeds): 1 tsp
Jeerige (Cumin Seeds): 1 tsp
Hingu (Asafoetida): 1 pinch
Karibevu (Curry Leaves): 4-5
Enne/Thuppa (Oil/Ghee): 1tsp


 Method
Boil the above ingredients in a pressure cooker (3 whistles) or simmer in a saucepan for 30 mins. Heat oil/ghee in a small pan and add oggarane ingredients to it. Pour this over the saaru just before serving.

Ganji (Rice Porridge)

What is Ganji?


Ingredients
Akki (Rice): 1 cup
Neeru (Water): 6 cups


Method
Add the rice and water into the rice cooker and switch it on!
If cooking in a saucepan, cover and simmer for 40 minutes or until the rice is very well cooked.
If using pressure cooker, cook until it whistles 5-6 times. Then take it off the hob and wait 10 minutes before serving.

Variations: green chillies, ginger, grated coconut, curry leaves, coriander leaves, yogurt, salt, etc can be added while the rice is cooking to enhance flavour.

Anna (White Rice)

Ingredients

Basmati Akki (Basmati Rice): 1 cup

Neeru (Water): 2 cups

Method

Add the rice and water into the rice cooker and switch it on!

If cooking in a saucepan, cover and simmer for 20 minutes or until the water is absorbed.

If using pressure cooker, cook until it whistles 2 times. Then take it off the hob and wait 10 minutes before serving.