Aloo Methi (Konkani: Batato ani Methi Bhaji)

Time Required: 25 Minutes
Servings: 4
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Ingredients:

• 2 big Potatoes
• 3 cups Methi Leaves
• 1 Onion
• 1 Red Chili
• 6-7 Garlic Cloves
• 1 tbsp Cumin
• 1 tbsp Red Chili Powder
• ½ tbsp Turmeric Powder
• ¼ tbsp Coriander Powder (Optional)
• 2 tbsp Oil
• Water
• Salt according to your taste

Method:

1. Wash and peel Potatoes. Chop them into big pieces.
2. Wash Methi Leaves and chop them finely.
3. Chop onion into small pieces.
4. Pour Oil in a Kadai.
5. Put Garlic Cloves in the Oil. Fry it till it turns Golden Brown.
6. Break the Red Chili and add it in the Oil. Add Cumin. Allow these to fry for 2 minutes.
   
7. Add sauted Onions and Turmeric Powder.
8. Cook Potatoes. When Potatoes are half cooked, add Methi Leaves.
   
9. Add the cooked Potatoes and Methi leaves. And then add Red Chili Powder, Coriander Powder (Optional), and Salt. Mix it well.
   
10. Yummy Aloo Methi (Konkani: Batato ani Methi Bhaji) is ready. You can serve it with Chapati/Phulkas.
    

Sweet Idli (Konkani: Goda Appe)

Time Required: 20 Minutes
Servings: 4
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Ingredients:

• 1 cup of Dosa Rice
• 1/2 cup grated coconut
• Jaggery according to your taste (1/2 cup)
• 1/2 cup thin beaten rice (Povu)
• 1 tsp Fenugreek Seeds
• Pinch of Turmeric Powder
• Ghee
• Water
• Salt according to your taste

Method:

1. Soak Dosa Rice and Fenugreek seeds separately for 5-6 hrs.
2. Add the soaked Rice, Fenugreek seeds, grated Coconut in the mixer and grind it using very little water.
   
3. Wash beaten Rice and add it into the mixer. Add Turmeric powder.
   
4. Grind it once again.
5. Pour the thick batter in a vessel and add Jaggery and mix it well.
   
6. Add little salt and allow the batter to ferment overnight.
   
7. Make Sweet Idli (Konkani: Goda Appe) in the morning. Serve it hot with Ghee.
   

Benefits of Turmeric

Turmeric powder is used as a culinary spice in Indian / Konkani cooking, be it for the flavor or the color. But what ever reason it may be used, it has got lot of health benefits too. Turmeric has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antibacterial effects. It also soothes stomach and has liver and heart protecting effects.

Turmeric

• Helps digest fats by stimulating the flow of bile. Traditionally it is used as a digestive aid.
• Natural liver detoxifier.
• Natural painkiller.
• Aids in fat metabolism and helps in weight management.
• A natural antiseptic and antibacterial agent. You can use it to disinfect cuts and burns.
• Speeds up wound healing and assists in remodeling of damaged skin.
• Reduces cough when consumed along with hot milk.

Some interesting fact for the ladies would be-Turmeric is a natural beauty product to be used on regular basis to get a healthy glowing skin. Mix some gram flour with little turmeric. Add water, make a paste and apply to your skin. keep it for some time and then wash. You will notice the difference in few days 😉

Benefits of Urad Daal

Urad dal is a healthy, and nutritious pulse. It is a rich protein source, aids digestion and provides energy.

It has following health benefits

• It has low glycemic index and therefore it is very good for diabetic patients
• It is rich in Protein and B vitamins and therefore its good for your hair and skin
• It increases immunity
• It is also beneficial for people with liver problems

Bread Kheer (Konkani: Bread Payas)

Time Required: 20 Minutes
Servings: 4
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Ingredients:

• 2 Bread slices
• 1 cup milk (you can add more based on the consistency)
• Sugar or according to your taste
• 1 tbsp Ghee
• Dry Fruits – Raisins, Cashews, and Almonds
• 1/2 tsp Cardamom Powder

Method:

1. Pour Ghee in the pan and heat it. Add dry fruits and fry them.
   
2. Powder Bread slices in the mixer.
3. Add bread crumbs in the pan and fry it for 2 minutes.
   
4. Pour Milk in the pan and add Sugar.
   
5. Bring it to boil. Add cardamom powder.
   
6. Hot and tasty Bread Kheer (Bread Payas) is ready to be served. Serve it hot or refrigerate it to serve it cold.
   

Sankashti Chaturti Calender for 2012

Sankashti Chaturti Calender for 2012 are listed below:

January 12, Thursday
February 11, Saturday
March 11, Sunday
April 9, Monday
May 9, Wednesday
June 7, Thursday
July 6, Friday
August 5, Sunday
September 4, Tuesday – Angariaka Sankashti Chaturti
October 3, Wednesday
November 2, Friday
December 2, Sunday

Cucumber Dosa (Konkani: Taushe Bhakri)

Time Required: 15 Minutes
Servings: 3
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Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 Cucumber
• 1 cup grated Coconut
• 1 cup Chiroti Rava
• 1/2 cup Curd
• Few Coriander and Curry leaves
• 2 green Chilies
• Oil/Ghee
• 2 spoon Jaggery/ Sugar
• Salt according your taste
• Water

Method:

1. Grate Cucumber in a vessel.
2. Add grated Coconut, Jaggery/Sugar, Salt, Curd, finely chopped Coriander and Curry leaves, green Chilies and Chiroti Rava.
   
3. Mix it well. Add Water and make a thick batter.
   
4. Take small portion of the mixture and start spreading it on tawa with your hand. If the mixture sticks to your hand, then dip your hand in little water and then again spread it.
   
5. Cook on both the sides.
   
6. Cucumber Dosa (Konkani: Taushe Bhakri) is ready! Have it with Ghee/Butter.
   Tip: You can add any greens such as Methi leaves, Pudina leaves and so on to the batter.