Kathirika Kadalai Kootu~Eggplant Garbanzo Kootu

Ingredients for making Kathirikai Kondakadalai Kootu ( Brinjal/Eggplant and Garbanzo/Chickpeas Kootu):

• 1 cup - Garbanzo beans (canned or pre-soaked in water for 3 hrs)
• 1 cup brinjal, 3 to 4 (cut in to small pieces)
• Sambar powder - 1 Teaspoon
• Tamarind Paste - 1 Teaspoon or a small lemon sized tamarind
• Turmeric Powder - a small pinch
• Red Chili powder - a small pinch (according to spiciness)
• Red Gram Dal - 1/2 cup (cooked)
• Mustard seeds - 1 teaspoon
• Split Black Gram Dal - 1 Teaspoon
• Red Chili - 1
• Salt - according to taste
• Cooking Oil - 1 teaspoon

Method for making Kathirikai Kondaikadalai Kootu:

Step 1: Cook the Garbanzo Beans and Red Gram Dal for 15 minutes or until cooked. Let it cool - keep it aside.( i normally pressure cook both of them together for 2 whistles - approx., 15 minutes)

Step 2: Wash and cut the Brinjals/Eggplants in to small pieces and keep it immersed in water if u are not planning to cook them immediately (preventing it from turning out black in color)

Step 3: Pre-heat a deep pan with 1 teaspoon of cooking oil ,add mustard seeds, red chili, black gram Dal, curry leaves, cut eggplant/brinjals and stir it for 2 minutes.

Step 4: Add Turmeric Powder, Chili Powder, Sambar Powder and stir nicely till nice aroma comes out...

Step 5: Add the tamarind paste with 2 cups of water and salt ,stir in nicely.

Step 6: Let it boil till raw smell of tamarind goes and the eggplant cooks...out .

Step 7: Add the cooked Garbanzo Beans, Red Gram Dal and mix nicely adjust by adding water ...according to the desired quantity.

Step 8: Let everything boil nicely... approx.. 5 minutes in reduced heat.

Can garnish this with kootu vadam and Cilantro (kothamali leaves)

Remove and let it cool..ready to serve...

This is a great side dish for Steamed White rice....or can eat this just as is...(healthy)

I served this dish with steamed white rice with little clarrified butter, Pappad, Simple Oni0n Pachadi...

Flat Beans and Cabbage Parrupu Usili

Ingredients for making Beans Cabbage Paruppu Usili:

• Beans - handful washed and cut in to small pieces
• Half Cabbage - washed and cut to small pieces
• Bengal Gram Dal - 1/2 cup
• Red Chili -2
• Asafoetida - a small pinch
• Salt (according to taste)
• 1/2 tsp Split Gram Dal
• 1/2 tsp Musturd Seeds
• Curry Leaves few (optional)

Method for making Beans Cabbage Parrupu Usili:

Step1: Soak the Bengal Gram Dal in water for at least 2 hrs.

Step 2: In a blender add the soaked Bengal Gram Dal,Salt, Asafoetida, 2 Red chili and grind them coarsely by adding as minimum water as possible.

Step 3: Remove the grounded paste to a steaming vessel and steam them for about 20 minutes. Once steamed remove it and set aside to cool.

Step 4: Wash ans Cut the beans and Cabbage and Cook the beabs alone.I microwaved it.

Step 5: Drained the excess water from the cooked Vegetables.

Step 6: Scramble the steamed Usili paste.

Step 7: Meantime heat a pan and add 1 tablespoon of oil and then add 1/2 tsp mustard seeds, when it starts spluttering add the split gram Dal, curry leaves(optional) and the cut cabbage and then cooked beans and fry them approx 5 -10 minutes, or till it becomes dry. Add salt just for the beans and cabbage and then add the scrambled Usili paste.

Keep stirring the Beans Cabbage Usili for about 5 minutes. Then remove to a serving dish and this is ready to be served with any kozhambu for rice...

Chole

The main ingredient for this recipe is Garbanzo Beans/ Chick Peas. They are a member of Pea family. Also known as ceci (Italy),Egyptian Pea, Gram, Kichererbse (Germany) and revithia (Greece). This is the most widely consumed legume in the world. This was originated in Middle East. They have a flavour in between Chestnuts and Walnuts.

Garbanzo Beans are pale in Yellow Color. In India there are Red, Brown, Black coloured Garbanzo Beans too.

1 cup of Garbanzo Beans has 361 Calories and is rich in Carbohydrates, Proteins, Phosphorus, Calcium and Iron. Since it has such nice properties, why not include this to our food diet.

This is how i make the recipe Chole using Garbanzo Beans.

Ingredients for making Chole :

• Garbanzo Beans/ Chick Peas - 1 cup ( soak in 3 cups of waters for approx 6 hrs)


• Onion - 1 medium ( peel and cut in to small pieces)
  
• Tomato - 2 medium ( cut in to small pieces)
  
• Ginger - 1 inch piece ( peel and cut in to small pieces)
  
• Coriander seeds - 1 Tablespoon
  
• 2 Dried Red Chili or 1/2 Teaspoon Chili powder( adjust according to the desired spiciness)


• Cardamom - 1
  
• Cloves - 2

Cinnamon - a small stick

• Cumin Seeds - 1 Teaspoon
  
• Anise Seeds - 1 Teaspoon
  
• Salt - to taste
  
• Cilantro a little (to Garnish)

Method for making Chole:

Step 1: Pressure cook the pre-soaked Garbanzo Beans for 20 minutes or until cooked. (such that it retains it shape).

Step 2: Cut the Onions and Tomatoes.

Step 3: In a pan add 2 Teaspoons of Oil and Add the cut Onions and Fry till they become transparent then add ginger and then cut tomatoes to it and cook till they become mushy. To that add the other spices -cumin seeds, coriander seeds, anise seeds, cardamom, Cinnamon, cloves. Fry for a minute or till a nice aroma comes. Remove from heat and let it cool.

Step 4: Grind the ingredients in the pan to a smooth paste.

Step 4: In the pan, add 1 Tablespoon of oil heat it, then to that add the grounded ingredients then add the cooked Garbanzo Beans add little water to adjust the consistency (the end result should be thick consistency)

Step 5: Add salt according to taste. Mix well. Let it boil for 10 minutes in medium heat.

Chole is Ready to Serve. This can be served as Main Dish garnished with fresh Onions and Cilantro Leaves and a piece of Fresh Lemon or as Side dish with Naan,Chapathi, or with Breads.

Yesterday i cooked Chole for dinner and i served this as a Side dish for Hamburgers Bun