Kadali Manja Raee ( Plantain Stem Curry )

Kadali Manja or banana stem happens to be one of those delicious vegetables that are extremely low in calories and also loaded with fibers. It is highly recommended to those suffering from kidney/gall bladder stones, diabetes, hyper acidity and constipation. For ladies, who are usually prone to infections of the urinary tract, banana stem juice is considered to be an excellent home remedy.

Kadali Manja also happens to feature regularly in most odia meals. In the earlier days, almost every household had a few banana plants growing in their garden. Once the plant bore fruit and the plantain bunch was plucked, the plant was cut down and the tender portion of the stem extracted for consumption. Since, it is only the inner core of the stem that happens to be fit for consumption, the protective outer layers (more like a sheath) need to be discarded.

It is a rather cumbersome process yet the ladies in those days put in that extra bit of effort to ensure good health for the family. Given today's busy lifestyle, I have adapted the original recipe to reduce the cooking time as one cannot take any shortcuts with the prepping process.

Read on for the recipe -

Cooking Time Required: 15-20 mins ( Take it to be 45 mins including preparation )

Ingredients:

• 7-8 inches long Banana Stem
• 1 medium sized tomato
• 2-3 nos green chillis 
• 2 tsp thick mustard paste
• 6-7 nos garlic flakes (crushed)
• 1/4 tsp turmeric
• salt to taste
• 2 tsp mustard oil for cooking
• 1 tbsp cut coriander leaves
• 1/2 tsp mustard oil for garnishing

Preparation: This is the most time consuming process. Clean and cut the banana stem into thin circles.

After slicing off one circle, one can feel the fibres when it tries to separate it from the remaining stem. Move you fingers in a circular motion and remove as much of the fibres as you can.

Cut the circles into small pieces. Add salt and turmeric and keep aside for half an hour.

After half an hour, squeeze out all the water from the banana stem pieces using both hands.

Cut the tomato into big chunks while removing the seeds.

Cooking: Take all the ingredients (except coriander leaves) into a pressure cooker. Add 1/4 cup water and close the lid. Cook for 1-2 whistles on medium flame.

Remove and keep aside till the steam escapes. Open lid and add the chopped coriander and 1/2 tsp raw mustard oil.

Note: Cook the banana stem immediately. If not then immerse in a bowl of warm water to which salt and turmeric has been added.

Muga Dali-Panasa Tarkari

Cooking Time Required: 30-40 mins
Cost of Preparation: 30-35 mins

Ingredients: raw jackfruit ( 1 no., small ), moong dal ( 1 cup), onion ( 1 no., medium ), tomato ( 1 no., small ), potato ( 1 no., medium ), garlic flakes ( 7-8 nos ), cinnamon ( 1 inch long ), cardamon ( 2 nos ), cloves ( 2-3 nos ), ginger-garlic paste ( 1 tbs ), cumin seeds ( 1 tsp ), coriander seeds ( 1 tsp ), red chilli ( 1/2 tsp ), whole red chillis ( 4-5 nos), pancha phutana ( 1/3 tsp ), salt, turmeric, oil, bay leaves ( 2-3 nos).

Preparation: Peel and cut the onion into cubes. Grind the onion cubes, garlic, red
chillis, coriander seeds, cumin seeds, cardamon, cloves and cinnamon into a smooth
paste.

Cut the potato into long slices.

Cooking: Boil the moong dal with just sufficient for 1 whistle. Release the steam
immediately and cool it.

Cut the jackfruit into small cubes. Add to the half cooked moong dal with 1/3 cup water, salt and turmeric.
















Cook for 1 whistle or till the jackfruit softens.

Heat a wok. Add 6-7 tsp oil . Add turmeric, bay leaves and cumin seeds. When the seeds start spluttering, add the paste along with the sliced potatoes and chilli powder. Stir fry for 5-6 mins.

Add the ginger-garlic paste along with salt. Cook the paste till the oil separates .
















Add the boiled jackfruit and moong dal . Stir for about 5-6 mins.
















Add 2 cups of water. Bring to a boil and allow to simmer till the potatoes are cooked.

Remove from the stove.

Serve hot with rice or rotis.

Pudina (Mint) Chicken

Cooking Time Required: 14-15 mins
Cost of Preparation: 50-60 Rupees

Ingredients: Boneless chicken ( 250 gm ), white onions ( 1 no, large ), red chillis ( 4-5 nos ), garlic flakes ( 4-5 nos ), ginger garlic paste ( 1 tsp ), finely cut mint leaves ( 5 tbs ), finely cut coriander leaves ( 2 tbs ), yogurt ( 2 tsp ), cooking butter ( 3 tsp ), garam masala ( 1/3 tsp ), turmeric ( 1 pinch ), salt.

Preparation: Cut the onion into big chunks.

Heat 1 tsp cooking butter in a wok. Add the onion, 2 red chillis and garlic flakes. Saute till onion turns translucent.

Transfer to a grinder, add 3 tbs mint leaves and 2 tbs coriander leaves and make a fine paste.

Clean the chicken and transfer to mixing bowl. Add the onion paste, ginger garlic paste, yogurt, turmeric and salt. Marinate for 2-3 hours.

Cooking: Heat the remaining butter in a pressure cooker. Add red chillis followed by the marianted chicken. Fry for 3-4 mins.

Add the remaining mint leaves, garam masala along with 1/2 cup water. Close the lid and cook for 8-10 mins.

Remove from stove and check if done. If not, repeat for 4-5 mins.

Serve hot with roti/rice.

Kabuli Chana Palau ( Chickpeas Pulao )

Cooking Time Required : 20-25 mins
Cost of Preparation: 50-55 Rupees


Ingredients: Basmati rice ( 2 cups ), red chillis ( 3 nos ), onion ( 1 medium ),
chickpeas ( 1 cup ), cinnamon stick ( 2 inch long ), star anise ( 2-3 nos), javitri ( 1 flower ), cardamon ( 3-4 nos ), cloves ( 4-5 nos ), bay leaf ( 1-2 nos ), ghee ( 3 tsp ), salt .

Preparation: wash the rice and drain away all the water. Spread on a plate and allow to dry natuarally ( or under a fan ) for 30 mins.

Cut the Onion into thin pieces.

Cooking: Boil the soaked chick peas for 2 whistles and keep aside to cool. Drain away the water.

Heat ghee in a pressure cooker. Add the onion and saute till translucent. Add red chillis and whole spices at this stage. Saute for 30 secs.

Add the washed and dried rice. Stir fry for 2- mins. Add the boiled chick peas and stir fry for 1 min.

Add 2 1/2 cups of water. Close the lid and cook for 10 mins.

Allow steam to escape, open the lid and keep aside for 5-6 mins ( this will prevent the rice from breaking when it is very hot ).

Serve with raita and a vegetarian side dish.

Note: This can also be preapared without onion. One can add a few coriander stems instead.

Thank You Soumya & Harika !!!

Got up on a Saturday Morning to find an award waiting for me!!! Had to pinch myself....M I dreaming...refreshed the page..Yipee....its still there!!!!

Feels wonderful...you made my day guys!!

Thank you Soumya ( http://entepachakalokam.com/blog/) & Harika (http://harikaskitchen.blogspot.com/) for passing this award to me!!! Please do visit then for some very innovative and drool worthy recipes!!

I am passing this award to my fellow food bloggers :

Ayeesha of http://tasteofpearlcity.blogspot.com/

Priya of http://priyaeasyntastyrecipes.blogspot.com/
Reshmi of http://funwidfud.blogspot.com/
Jay of http://tastyappetite.blogspot.com/
Kalpana of http://lifewithspices.blogspot.com/
Aipi of http://usmasala.blogspot.com/

Happy blogging guys!!!

Methi Moong Dal

Cooking Time Required: 20-25 min
Cost of preparation: 35-40 Rupees

Ingredients: Moong dal ( 1 cup ), methi/fenugreek leaves ( 2-3 cups ), tomato (1 large), boiled arbi chunks ( 3/4 cup ), fennel seeds ( 1 tsp ), red chillis ( 3-4 nos ), salt, turmeric, oil ( 1 tsp ), ghee ( 1/2 tsp).

Preparation: Dry roast the moong dal in a pan till it gives off a fragrance.

Wash and transfer to a pressure cooker. Add salt and turmeric and boil for two whistles.
Keep aside to let off the steam.

Deseed and cut the tomato into chunks.

Cooking: Heat 1 tsp of oil in a pan. Add the fennel seeds and red chillis.

Follow with the arbi and tomato chunks . Once the tomato softens, add the methi leaves with a bit of salt and cook till done.

Add the contents of the pan to the boiled moong in the pressure cooker. Boil for 2-3 mins. Add the ghee and remove from fire.

Serve hot with rice or rotis.

Note: The arbi can be substituted with potato if one does not prefer the former.

Egg Paratha

Cooking Time Required: 10 mins
Required Preparation Time : 10-12 rupees

Ingredients: flour(atta) ( 1.5 cups, sufficient for 2 large rotis), onion (1 medium), capsicum ( 1 no, small ), green chilli (2 nos), cumin powder (1/5 tsp), coriander powder (1/5 tsp), chilli powder (1/4 tsp), 2 eggs, garam masala ( 1/4 tsp,optional ), tomato sauce ( 1 tsp ), tabasco sauce ( few drops, optional ), oil, salt to taste.


Preparation: Add a pinch of salt to the flour. Mix well, add water and knead into a firm dough. Keep aside.

Break the eggs into a bowl. Add salt and beat well.

Cut the onion, capsicum and green chilli into small pieces. Keep aside.

Cooking: Heat a non-stick frypan. Put about 1/ tsp oil on it . Pour most of the beaten egg onto the pan, leaving aside 3-4 tsp. Make bhurji out the egg.

Add onions, capsicum, coriander powder, cumin powder, chilli powder, garam masala to the egg bhurji and fry for 1 min. Remove from the pan.
















Divide the dough into two equal parts. Roll each half into a large roti. Put on the pan. Allow to cook on one side and then flip it over.

Put 2 tsp of beaten egg on the roti and spread well. Add the egg bhujia, green chilli, tomato sauce and tabasco sauce .
















Fold into half (add some more beaten egg on the sides of the roti to close the paratha). Add 2 tsp oil to the pan and allow the paratha to cook .
















Eat it hot with tomato ketchup. (Perfectly filling food for a lazy weekend....)

Note: One can omit the powdered spices if it seems too heavy for breakfast. Add fresh coriander leaves and mint leaves instead.

Chilli Chicken

Cooking Time Required: 20-25 mins
Cost of Preparation: 45-50 Rupees

Ingredients:
For marinate : Boneless chicken pieces ( 250 gm ), egg ( 1 no ), cornflour ( 1 tsp ), maida ( 1 tsp ), soya sauce ( 1 tsp ), ajinomoto ( 1/5 tsp ), finely cut garlic ( 1 tsp, heaped ), salt.

For the saute : Capsicum ( 1 large ), white onion ( 1 large ), red chillis ( 5-6 nos ), chilli vinegar ( 1 tsp ), soya sauce ( 1 tsp ), finely cut garlic ( 1 tsp ), pepper powder ( 1/4 tsp), salt, tomato sauce ( 1 tsp ), oil ( 3-4 tsp ).

For deep frying : oil .

Preparation: Mix all the ingredients for marination in a large bowl. Keep aside for 2 hours.

Cut the capsicum and onion into medium/big sized chunks.

Cooking: Heat sufficient oil in wok for deep frying the chicken.

Add the chicken pieces in small batches. Lower the flame. Fry for 3-4 mins.
Remove from wok and keep aside.

Heat 3-4 tsp of oil in a wok. Add the garlic pieces and red chillis . Saute for 30 secs.

Add the fried chicken, capsicum and onion. Fry on high flame for 2 mins.

Sprinkle chilli vinegar, soya sauce, tomato sauce, pepper powder and a pinch of salt. Toss it well. (Add a few teaspoons of water if it is too dry or sticking to the pan )

Serve hot as an appetizer or even a side dish.

Chinguri Sukhua -Piaja Patra Bhajja

Cooking Time Required: 12-15 mins
Cost of Preparation: 25-30 Rupees

Ingredients: Dried shrimps ( really small ones, 1 cup ), Spring onion, red chillis ( 2 nos ), garlic flakes ( 3-4 nos ), salt, turmeric, mustard oil.

Preparation: Separate the spring onion greens from the bulbs ( we will be using the greens only ). Cut the greens into inch long pieces.

Wash the shrimps and drain away all the water.

Cooking: Heat 1 tsp oil in a frying pan. Add a pinch of turmeric . Follow with the
shrimps. Fry till crispy.

Taste the shrimps and add salt if required ( dried shrimps will be having some amount of salt ). Keep aside.

Heat 1 tsp of mustard oil in another pan ( or the same one if feeling lazy ). Add the
crushed garlic flakes and red chillis. Fry for 15-20 seconds. Add the spring onion greens with a pinch of salt. Stir fry till they are just wilted. Do not overdo as it needs to remain juicy.

Add the fried shrimps to the pan and stir on high flame for 30 secs to 1 min. Remove from the pan at this point.

Serve immediately so that the shrimps retain their crispiness. ( Gives an awesome
effect, the crunchy shrimps are offset by the juicy greens )

Note: This can be served with any rice dish. I enjoyed it with a bowl of lemon 'Pakhala' and fried fish. This dish tastes even more amazing with fresh shrimps. But the really small shrimps are tough to find.

For the lemon pakhala: Cook rice till its softer than usual. Drain away all the water. Fill with fresh water and allow to stand for 4-5 hours. Add mint leaves, coriander leaves, lemon slices, slit green chillis, spring onions and salt.












Spring Onion



Shrimp

Panasa Bhaja ( Jackfruit fries )

Cooking Time Required: 20-25 mins
Cost of preparation: 30-35 rupees

Ingredients: Panasa pieces ( jackfruit , 2-3 cups ), cornflour (4-5 tbs), onion paste ( 1 1/2 tsp ), ginger garlic paste ( 1 1/2 tsp ), red chilli powder ( 1/3 tsp ), jeera-lanka ( cumin-chilli) powder 1/3 tsp ), coriander powder (1/2 tsp), garam msasala ( 1/4 tsp ), salt, turmeric, oil for frying.

Preparation: The jackfruit should be cut into slices of 5-6 mm thickness.

Mix all the remaining ingredients ( except for the salt, turmeric and oil) into a thick paste with little amount of water. Add a pinch of salt .

Cooking: Boil the pieces in a pressure cooker with salt and turmeric. Allow for one whistle or till the jackfruit is 3/4 th cooked.

Keep aside till the steam escapes and drain out the water.

Heat 5-6 tsp oil in a frying pan. Dip the boiled jackfruit pieces into the cornflour paste. Add the jackfruit to the frying pan. Cook on both sides till reddish brown. (Takes about 5-6 mins)

Serve with rice and dal.

Kadali Manja Tarkari ( Banana Stem Curry )

Cooking Time Required: 25-30 mins ( Take it to be 1 hour including preparation )
Cost of preparation: 50-55 Rupees

Ingredients: Banana Stem ( 8 inch long ), potato ( 1 no., medium ), onion ( 1 no., medium ), pancha phutana ( 1/3 tsp ), dry red chillis ( 3 nos ), coriander seeds ( 1 tsp ), cumin seeds ( 1/2 tsp ), cardamon ( 2 nos ), cinnamon stick ( 1 inch ), ginger-garlic paste ( 1 tsp ), garlic flakes ( 5 nos ), bay leaf ( 2 nos), turmeric, salt, oil for cooking ( 5 tsp ).

Preparation: This is the most time consuming process. Clean and cut the banana stem into thin circles.
















After cutting one circle, one can feel the fibres when it tries to separate it from the remaining stem. Move you fingers in a circlar motion and remove as much of the fibres as you can.

Cut the circles into small pieces. Add salt and turmeric and keep aside for half an hour.
















After half an hour, squeeze out all the water from the banana stem pieces using both hands.
















Cut the onions into thin and small pieces . Cut the potato ito small cubes.

Grind the garlic cloves, cardamon , cinnamon, cumin and coriander into a smooth paste along with two of the red chillis.

Cooking: Heat 5 tsp oil in a wok. Add the pancha phutana, bay leaves and one red chilli. Follow with the onion pieces and fry till it turns brownish.

Add the masala paste with ginger-garlic paste and turmeric and fry till the raw smell goes off. Add the potato cubes and stir fry for 5 mins.
















Add the squeezed out banana stem pieces and stir fry till it is almost cooked. Time taken will depend on the tenderness of the banana stem. If its very tender it will take about 8-9 mins but if it a not so tender this time may increase to 15-17 mins.

Add 1/2 cup of water and cover with a tight lid. Cook for 5 mins.

Remove from fire. Serve hot with rice.

I am sending this to A.W.E.D. - Indian Cuisine - hosted by Ayeesha.