Monday, January 21, 2008

Simple Konkani Jovan !!


Its over 3 weeks since the new year began & i have been not blogging at all. Just too many things going on... first the new year hangover :-), then my dad visiting us, plus my dad & daughter's birthday - yes they share their b'days !!

All of a sudden we decided on a vacation & off we flew to Cancun, Mexico. Oh! man its so beautiful, peaceful, laidback & relaxing.. most importantly - WARM!!! I hated coming back to St.Louis.. its so cold....:-(

So after 8 days of vacation & all junk food - lived on chips & salsas - the best salsas i've ever had.. tried in lot of different places... from posh restaurants to road side small cafes....the cafes make the best i feel! Their spice levels are so high.. its amazing...but irresistable too & one goes on & on..... crunch crunch!! With a nice drink on hand, beach, ocean ..... what more to ask for.

Finally back to base & we are craving for a simple hpome cooked meal. So today its basic konkani food...Rice, Dali Thoy, Thendle upkari & Avalla Gojju.
Sending this to Meeta's Monthly Mingle - http://whatsforlunchhoney.blogspot.com/
This months theme is - COMFORT FOODS. Thanks Meeta for hosting a lovely event.

DALI THOY:
A staple in Konkani cuisine, its made from Toor dhal. Very easy & simple, but tasty.. a must for any festival & loved & hated by many!

Ingredients:

Toor dhal - 1 cup
Green chillies - 4
Red chillies - 1
Curry leaves - few
Hing - 1/4 tsp
Oil - 2 tsps
Mustard Seed - 1/2 tsp
Salt - to taste.

Method:

1. Pressure cook the toor dhal very well. Mash it & add water till u get a desired consistency - not too thin!

2. Now add to it salt, green chillies & bring it to a boil.

3. Season it with mustard seeds , curry leaves, hing & red chillies.

Your Dali Thoy is all ready to be served!!
THENDLE UPKARI: (TINDORA CURRY)
Thendle is also made quite often in konkani cuisine & there are few varieties we make out of it, most popular being Thendle Thalasan. Will post recipe for it soon.. todays its an upkari or dry curry.

Ingredients:

Tindora- 1/2 pound
Coconut - 3 tbspn
Oil - 2 tsps
Mustard seeds- 1/2 tsp
Jeera - 1/4 tsp
Channa dhal - 2 tbspn
Green Chillies - 4 (finely chopped)
Curry leaves - few
Salt - to taste

Method:

1. Wash the tindora & cop it lenth wise into strips.

2. In a pan add oil & once it heats up add mustard seeds, jeera, chopped green chillies & curry leaves & saute for a minute. Then add the channa dhal & saute for 2-3 minutes, till it changes colour.

3. Now add the tindora & mix everything well. Add required salt. Sprinkle water & allow to cook slowly. It will take some time - check in between & sprinkle more water if necessary.

4. Finely add coconut when its almost done, mix well & serve.

AVALA GOJJU :( GOOSEBERRY CHUTNEY)
This is a simple one & as long as you can find or have on hand salted gooseberrys in brine water, its easy to make. People in India, usually in the gooseberry season, but it & soak it in brine solution. It lasts for years....But here its difficult to find gooseberry.But i recently found it in the Indian store - PERIYAR brand sells gooseberry in brine solution. The minute my eyes were on it, i knew i had to have it as we love this gojju!!

Ingredients:

Gooseberry - 5 no
Green Chillies - 4
Coconut - 2 tsp
Curds - 1/2 cup
Salt - if u need
Oil - 1 tsp
Garlic - 1

Method:

1. Drain the gooseberry from the liquid & chop it, throwing away the pit. Add to this green chillies & coconut & grind to a fine paste.

2. Transfer to a vessel & add to it curds. Mix well. Check & see if u need salt. Remember the gooseberrys were soaked in salt solution.. it might be too salty too!! So be careful!!

3. Heat oil in a pan & add to it chopped garlic. Saute till its slightly brown in colour. Pour it on top of the gojju, mix & serve.

Enjoy a simple & delicious meal !!

26 comments:

FH said...

Simple food is always the best! Looks delicious. Comfort food, you can send it Meeta!:))

Seema said...

Thank you Asha! Yes soimple food is the best :-) We were craving for it after our vacation.
Also, thanks for letting me know about Meeta's event. I just sent her the mail with all details too.

remya said...

simple and comfort thali...love them

Laavanya said...

That looks great Seema and that must've been a great meal to come back to after your fabulous vacation. I remember tasting the Tindora curry at your place... you had made it with cashews - yummy.
The Gooseberry chutney is a great idea.

Pravs said...

Love simple meals.. always the best. so is mexican food spicier than indian food ?

Red Chillies said...

Seema, haav tugele ghara etta. What a comforting food though the Avala Gojju is little bit new to me. So glad that you had a wonderful vacation and good to know that your daughter and dad share birthdays.

Seema said...

Remya- Thanks!!

Laavanya- Oh! yes a meal we looked forward too. Glad u still remember the tindora cashew curry - its another of our typical preparations.

Pravs - ThankS1 Mexican food as such spicy.. more than Indian - i think yes. But Cancun a tourist place, so mild food, but if u ask for spicy.. its blazing fire! Their salsas are spicy or mild.. no inbetween version.

Red Chillies - Yo Yo, Likke jovan vadtha ! I will more than happy!

TBC said...

There's nothing like a simple and wholesome home-cooked meal after a junk food filled vacation.:)

EC said...

Thats a nice and simple meal

Sia said...

mexico??? wow...
seema, did u use goosberries in brine or fresh ones for gooseberry gojju?

Seema said...

TBC - Your so right :-)

Easycrafts - Thanks.

Sia - I used Gooseberrys is brine.

DEEPA said...

simple and awesome meal seema ..I think the one we had y'day was also awesome ..excellent one ...

Mansi said...

I've never cooked konkani food before...loved your platter:)

btw, I' hosting a Game Night event too this month, and would like to invite you to send in a quick entry:) details here:

http://funnfud.blogspot.com/2008/01/announcing-event-game-night-party.html

Thanks! hope you can participate:)

-Mansi

Pooja said...

you have nice blog here, keep blogging baout wonderful dishes you cook :) .
that thali reminds me of our traditional Khana :) , enought to make me feel hungry anytime :))

Ramya's Mane Adige said...

lovely konkani spread!

Rachel said...

Home-cooked food is something that you can get enough of....that is a lovely thali there..simple and nice...

Seema said...

Deepa- Thank you!

Manasi - Thanks! Will participate in game night. Entry will come Mon.

Pooja - Thank you.. Hungry - join me for lunch then :-)

Ramya - Thank you.

Rachel - Homecooked food is always good right?

Vanamala Hebbar said...

Seema

First time here :) Nice varities.

vimmi said...

After a vacation, especially outside India, the first thing we crave for when we get home is dal chawal. Love salsas. Its good taht u ad wonderful time

Meera said...

Mexico? How wonderful...Your Konkani platter looks so inviting that I feel like coming over, right now....Ultimate Comfort food!!

Sagari said...

thats a most satisfying meal seema after all those vacation food

Nupur said...

Seema, sorry about the off-topic comment but I did not see an e-mail address where I could reach you. The St. Louis food bloggers occasionally get together for events. If you would like to know more/ be part of this group, feel free to drop me an e-mail and I'll tell you more. Just in case you are interested!

Mishmash ! said...

Gooseberry chutney is one of fav's.....i crave for some now after seeing your post :)and feel like going to mexico as well :)

Seema said...

Vanamala - Thanks, hope u stop by more often now onwards!

Vimmi- So right you are.. after vacation Dhal Chawal is what all desire for. Yes had a great trip - thanks!

Meera - Come over anytime, my pleasure.

Sagari - yes, home cooked simple food after junk & oily food at vacation.

Nupur - No probs on off topic comment. Sent u mail. Hope u got it.

Mishmash - Glad u like gooseberry chutney!! I can send u a bottle of gooseberry in brine if u dont find one... let me know. Its no prob for me. As for Mexico -Take your next vacation there.

Anonymous said...

This looks lovely. Homemade and soothing!

Divya Kudua said...

Great thali Seema..Looks ready to be gobbled up!!!