Ugadi festival is around the corner. This year for Ugadi, I am sharing a Karnataka special delicacy Mavinakayi Chitranna recipe. Its nothing but raw mango rice recipe ( Mangai sadam) prepared in Karnataka style. I learnt this recipe from my School momsfriend Archana.
When I was asking her about Ugadi special recipes of Karnataka other than holige/Obbattu, she told me that they make Mavinakayi chitranna , Mavinakayi chutney, kosambari, obbattu saaru and some palya for the festival. As I had already shared Holige recipe and easy obbattu saaru recipe,I wanted to try Kosambari and mango chitranna this year.
Actually our friend Tara told me another recipe for Mavinakayi chitranna adding onion and roasted methi seeds powder. I will post that version later. I found many variations for this particular recipe on net. As I am sharing a festival recipe, I wanted to make a simple no onion, no garlic green mango rice and I followed my friend's recipe blindly :) So here you go, Ugadi special Karnataka style mango rice recipe – Mavinakayi chitranna with step by step photos and a video !
Cooked rice – 2 cups ( Raw rice or steamed rice – 1/2 cup)
Grated raw mango – 1/2 to 3/4 cup ( Based on sourness of mango)
Grated coconut - 1 tbsp
Turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp
Salt - as needed
To temper
Cooking oil - 2 tbsp
Mustard seeds - 1/2 tsp
Urad dal - 1 tsp
Chana dal - 1.5 tsp
Raw Peanut - 1 tbsp
Green chillies - 3 nos ( Slit)
Curry leaves - Few
Coriander leaves - 1.5 tbsp
METHOD
Wash and pressure cook 1/2 cup of rice ( you can use raw rice or steamed rice) adding 1.25 cups of water and few drops of cooking oil. I used steamed rice/ Boiled rice. I used 1:3 ratio of rice and water. After the rice is cooked, spread it in a plate and add a tsp of oil around. Let it cool down. Measure 1.5 cups of cooked rice and keep aside.
Wash and grated a medium sized raw mango. Taste it to check its sourness. After grating measure 3/4th cup of it and set aside. Pls refer the pic above. Adjust the quantity of raw mango based on its tanginess.
Heat oil in a kadai.Splutter mustard seeds.Add urad dal, chana dal and peanuts. Roast till peanuts are done and dal turns golden brown in color. Roast it in medium flame. Now add the slit green chillies, curry leaves and half of the chopped coriander leaves. Saute for a minute.
Now add the required salt and turmeric powder.Mix well. Some people add raw mango,saute for a minute and then add the rice. But I added the cooked rice first and tossed well for a minute then added the raw mango as the sourness of my mango was less. My friend also told me to do the same. You can saute the raw mango before adding the rice if its too sour. It can be done in either ways.
Lastly add the grated mango and mix well for a minute. Check for taste. If the taste is too sour, add some more cooked rice, some red chilli powder or slit green chillies to balance the sour taste. You can add more rice or grated mango based on your taste. Mix well and cook for a minute.Switch off the flame and garnish with coriander leaves and grated coconut. Serve hot or warm as u wish.
Enjoy !
Note
For variations, you can make the raw mango paste without coconut seperately, refrigerate it for a week and then mix with cooked rice whenever needed.For this, add the grated raw mango after the tempering is done. Allow it to cook for a minute and switch off the flame. Let it cool down and then store in a box. Use clean spoon to handle.
Adjust the quantity of green chillies based on the sourness of mango.
I have used steamed rice ( Puzhungal arisi). Generally raw rice is used. You can add basmati rice as well.
The quantity of rice may vary based on the sourness of raw mango. My mango was not too sour.
It is optional to peel the skin of mango. As we are grating the mango, it is not necessary to peel the skin.
Some recipes call for grinding mango, coconut, green chillies and add to cooked rice. You can try this method for variation.
Do not avoid coriander leaves. It lends a nice flavor to the rice. Add half of the coriander leave while tempering and the remaining to garnish.
Try this simple and yummy raw mango rice at home, enjoy your lunch !
Thandai is a very popular drink in North India that is mainly served during Holi festival and Maha Shivratri. This drink is the best coolant for body with lots of health benefits as it is prepared with the combination of nuts, whole spices and milk. Yesterday my neighbor called me to enquire whether we get readymade thandai masala powder or thandai syrup at shops nearby my house. I browsed for some good brands and told her to get Patanjali or Haldirams Thandai powder as these are the well known names to me. She searched in shops but couldn’t get it. So I thought of preparing homemade thandai masala powder and share with her.
As I had already shared the recipe of thandai from scratch, I know making at home is very easy. I used to make it regularly for every Maha Shivaratri festival along with our South Indian style arisi vella puttu and offer to Lord Shiva. This year I was planning to make the same following my recipe. But now after my neighbor’s suggestion, I wanted to make and store this homemade thandai masala in advance and prepare it quickly on Shivrathri day. I watched some You tube video recipes and adapted this recipe.
I have also watched a video from BBD TV’s travel escapades in which the preparation of thandai with & without bhang from a popular shop in Ujjain was shown.I found it very useful. For this thandai powder recipe, I could see many variations across the web.Some recipes are very simple with just 4 ingredients and some recipes are with bhang as well. But in this recipe, I have not used Bhang. Basically bhang balls are made from hemp seeds and leaves which are washed, cleaned and grinded to a smooth paste. But it should be used in minimum quantity as over dosage induces psychosis, excitement, uncooperativeness and hallucinations.
This is a very simple thandai masala that can be prepared with easily available ingredients. I have used Khus Khus in this recipe. I know its banned in some of the countries. In that case, feel free to skip it.Yesterday I made thandai using this powder and it came out very well. It was refreshing and we loved it a lot. I have passed some of this powder to my neighbor. I hope her family will like it too. Ok, lets see how to make Thandai masala powder at home with step by step pictures.
Dried Rose petals - 1 tbsp or 15 nos OR rose essence - 1 tsp
Pista – 1 tbsp (Optional , I used it)
To make thandai ( For one serving)
Boiled milk – 1 cup ( At room temperature, use full fat milk)
Thandai powder – 1 tbsp ( Adjust)
Ice cubes – few ( 2 nos)
HOW TO MAKE THANDAI POWDER - METHOD
Take all the ingredients for thandai masala and keep it ready. Grind them to a fine powder using a mixie. Sieve it and again grind the coarse ones. Use the remaining leftovers for making fresh thandai or lassi. Mix the powder well with a spoon and store in a box. Thandai masala powder is ready !
This powder can be stored for 2 months in an air tight box. Use clean spoon to handle.
To make Thandai : Boil thick, full cream milk and let it cool down to room temperature. In a wide bowl, put few ice cubes, add 2 cups of milk and 1 tbsp ( i.e 5-6 tsp) thandai powder. Mix well. Check for taste and add more sugar or thandai powder if needed.
Strain it using a cloth strainer( Tea strainer) and serve it. If you want to serve later, refrigerate it till use. It tastes the best only when served chilled. The more the standing time, the more tasty it would be!
Straining is more important.Do not forget to strain the milk after adding thandai powder.
Enjoy !
Note
There is no hard and fast rule in the quantity of ingredients for masala. You can reduce or increase it as per your like.
I felt pistachios are not needed as it was not mentioned in the Ujjain video.Still I had used just 1/2 tbsp of it. Do not add more. It would dominate the other ingredients in flavor.
Do not add more pepper corns. The color of thandai is usually sandal in color if its made without bhang. It looks green when bhang is added.
Adjust the amount of cardamom and fennel as they are the flavoring ingredients for thandai.
Straining is more important. Do not forget to strain the milk after adding thandai powder.
Try this Thandai powder at home and enjoy this refreshing drink instantly at your will !
Peanut ladoo recipe with skin adding jaggery / sugar. Last year I tried Kadalai urundai( Kadalai mittai/Peanut chikki) for Karthigai deepam festival. But it wasn’t up to the mark.When I was telling about this to my friend Shalini, she suggested me to try this easy peanut ladoo which was her favorite childhood snack. She shared her recipe with me and told it is called as “Palli laddu / Verusenega pappu ladoo” in Telugu. In other languages, it is Nilakadalai/Verkadalai laddu or kadalai podi urundai in Tamil, Kadalekai unde in Kannada, Shengdana ladoo in Hindi (Marathi).This is an easy ladoo recipe with just 2 ingredients and amazing health benefits.If you have roasted peanuts in hand, you can prepare this ladoo in the next 5 minutes.Ghee is not used in this recipe. So its a low calorie ladoo when compared with other ladoo varieties. Roasted peanuts with Jaggery is a good source of protein & iron. Kids would love this very much. It can be packed for their school snack box. If your kids don't like jaggery, you can add sugar too. Generally this laddu is made by removing the skin of roasted peanuts but I ground the peanuts with skin. So my job has become even more easy. I din’t find much difference in taste or flavor. Sendhil is a big fan of peanut recipes. So he loved this ladoo very much. The same procedure can be used to make till ladoo/Sesame seeds laddu( ellu urundai) as well. Do try this easy, healthy peanut ladoo for your husband and kids evening snacks, reap its health benefits during this winter season.Ok, Lets see how to make easy peanut laddu with step by step photos !
Thiruvathirai also called as Arudra darshan is one of the most important festivals celebrated in Tamil Nadu and Kerala. In most of the Tamil houses, Kali / Rice kali will be prepared and offered to Lord Shiva on this festival day. In my family, my mom has the practice of making thiruvathira kali alone whereas my MIL makes Thiruvadirai kali, 7 kai kootu in pressure cooker and thiruvathirai sweet adai, sambar/thalagam, thayir pachadi along with cooked rice as well. So I follow that every year.
Long back, I had shared a post for Thiruvathirai adai, kali, kooturecipes. This year, I made a detailed video and wanted to have a separate post in my blog. Thiruvathirai kali is prepared with raw rice and moong dal roasted and ground to a coarse flour, pressure cooked and then mixed with jaggery syrup flavored with cardamom powder, grated coconut and ghee. I always pressure cook rice and dal mixture to make my job easy and to save time. It is one of the tastiest rice kali recipes. My family loves it a lot.
Basically we make this kali with a fluffy texture but I saw many recipes with kali in Pongal/halwa texture. It purely depends on how we powder the rice+dal. If you want fluffy kali, powder it coarsely else powder it nicely like fine rava. Whatever be the texture, this kali tastes absolutely yummy. Now lets see how to make Thiruvathirai kali recipe with step by step photos and video !!
In a kadai, dry roast moong dal till it turns golden brown in color. Stay nearby and keep roasting patiently. Transfer to a plate. In the same kadai, dry roast rice till it becomes puffy and slightly golden in color. Do it in medium flame. When the vapor starts to come from the kadai while roasting, roasting is done. Rice takes nearly 4-6 minutes for roasting. Transfer to the plate and let them cool down.
Grind the rice+ dal to a coarse rava. Pulse it 4 or 5 times using inch button for few seconds. Transfer it to a cooker base. Add 1.5 cups of water ( 1:3) and pressure cook in very low flame for 2 whistles. Open the lid after the steam is released. Mix well and set aside.
In a kadai, take the powdered jaggery. Melt it by adding 1/4 cup of water. Strain the impurities in a wire mesh. Again pour the syrup to the washed kadai and boil it. Add grated coconut & cardamom powder.
When the syrup starts to roll boil, simmer the flame to low and add the cooked rice+dal mixture. Break all the lumps with a ladle and keep mixing. Rice absorbs all the syrup and becomes thick and smooth. Switch off the flame. Roast cashews in 2 tbsp ghee till golden in color. Add this to the kali, mix well and serve hot !
Enjoy !
Note
Do not burn the dal or rice while roasting. It spoils the entire flavor of kali. So do it patiently in medium flame.
Pressure cook rice & water in the ratio of 1:3 else rice will not be cooked well and kali tastes hard and chewy.
Do not add less jaggery, kali tastes bland. Rice & jaggery ratio is 1:1.5
Cardamom powder and grated coconut is a must for kali. It adds flavor.
Adding ghee & roasted cashews makes the kali rich. So do add it.
Try this easy, yummy kali at home on this Thiruvathirai festival and Enjoy !!
Its been my long time wish to try North Indian style Sooji ka halwa/ Rava sheera. So I tried it for New year celebration yesterday. In North India, Suji ka halwa is one of the most popular and easy halwa recipes that is made in all houses for all the festivals & occasions and is served in most of the temples as Prasad. This halwa is served along with Poori and Chole for breakfast. Halwa poori chole is one of the most popular breakfast combo in North India and Pakistan.
In Karnataka, people call this sooji halwa as Kesari bath. Rava/sooji, Sugar and ghee forms the basic ingredients for this sweet recipe. But Rava kesari, suji ka halwa and kesari bath has its own variations in the quantity of ingredients, method of preparation, taste, color and texture. I watched few You tube videos and followed Food viva for the recipe.
Though it tastes mildly sweeter than the South Indian rava kesari, it was dripping with ghee and finger licking good. We loved it very much. Its taste reminded me of the banana sheera I had in my friend’s house Satya Narayana pooja. Its very easy to prepare for special occasions and to treat your surprise guests. For variations, you can use milk instead of water. Lets see how to make North Indian special suji ka halwa/ Sooji halwa/Rava sheera recipe with step by step photos and a detailed video !!
Suji Ka Halwa Recipe
Suji Ka Halwa - North Indian version of Rava kesari
Bombay Rava/ Sooji /semolina - 1/2 cup ( Do not use chiroti rava)
Ghee - 1/3 cup + 1 tbsp
Sugar - 1/2 cup
Water - 1.5 cups
Cardamom powder - 1/2 tsp or 2 pods crushed
Saffron threads - few
Milk - 1 tbsp ( to soak saffron thread)
Chopped cashews, badam and few raisins/dry grapes
METHOD - HOW TO MAKE SOOJI HALWA
Soak saffron threads in 1 tbsp hot milk.I din’t use saffron in this recipe. I used cardamom powder alone.
Heat 1/3 cup of ghee in a kadai.Roast the dry grapes, cashews and almonds till dry grapes bloat and nuts turns golden. Add rava and roast well for 4-5 minutes in medium flame. Rava turns light golden brown in color.
Add 1.5 cups of water to the rava and mix well till 3/4 th of the water is absorbed by the rava and becomes semi thick.Keep the flame low and cover the kadai with a lid. Cook the rava for 2-3 minutes.
Open the lid and add sugar, cardamom powder and saffron milk ( if using). Mix well without lumps.Sugar melts and the mixture will become watery. Keep the flame medium and mix well.
Halwa turns thick and starts to leave the sides of pan. Immediately add 1tbsp of ghee, mix well quickly and transfer the halwa to a bowl. Do not wait for the halwa to thicken completely. Remove it as soon as it becomes semi thick because this suji ka halwa becomes dry and hard when it cools down. So remove it at the right time. Garnish with few nuts and serve warm.
Enjoy !
Note
Add more sugar ( Say 3/4 cup of sugar) if you need more sweetness.
You can use milk instead of water but cook the rava for more time if using milk.
Do not reduce the quantity of ghee. It helps to keep the halwa soft.
If you don’t want to add more ghee, use half the quantity of oil.
Try this easy, yummy Suji Ka halwa/Rava sheera at home and enjoy !!
Karthigai deepam festival 2020 is nearing. It falls on 29th November, Sunday. Every year on Karthigai Deepam festival day, we make pori urundai, appam, payasam and maa vilakku and offer God. Both MOM & MIL has the same practice.In Tamil nadu, during Karthigai deepam festival, we get a special mixture of aval pori ( Puffed Poha), pottukadalai( fried gram dal), Ellu ( roasted sesame seeds) in small packets.
When I was young, I used to buy them from a small Chettiyar shop nearby my house. My mom used to roast them in ghee and add it to the boiled jaggery syrup. It tastes crispy and stays good for weeks together. But in my MIL’s place, getting readymade aval pori is difficult. So she used to roast the thick poha until puffy and follows the same. Both of them do not make balls with aval pori (aval pori urundai )instead they just mix the roasted aval pori in jaggery syrup and keep it as such.
Today, I have followed my MIL’s method and prepared this Karthigai pori using thick poha. In Bangalore, puffed rice( arisi pori in Tamil, Mandakki In Kannada) is mostly available in all the shops whereas puffed poha ( Aval pori) is not easy to get. For people like me, this recipe would be useful.
Generally, beginners may feel difficult to make balls from the hot aval pori mixture. Do not worry, this post is specially for you. Here you do not have to shape balls. Its just a mix and serve method. But the only difficulty in this recipe is poha should be roasted patiently in batches. It takes nearly 15 –20 minutes for roasting.
But this Karthigai aval pori tastes super crispy than the ready made aval pori you buy from the market. So the time you put in this recipe is worthwhile. Do try this method of making Karthigai pori, I am sure you will be very happy with the results. So lets see how to make Karthigai pori recipe with step by step pictures and a video !
Please check out my other Karthigai Deepam Recipes HERE
Take a kadai and heat 1 tsp of ghee. Add 1/3 cup of poha ( Poha should be roasted only in batches). Roast in medium flame till it becomes puffy and slightly turns golden in color.it takes nearly 5 minutes to finish roasting one batch of poha. Remove in a plate. Repeat the same for the remaining poha and collect everything in a plate. Let it cool down. You have roast 1 cup of poha in 3 batches ( 1/3 cup per batch). Stay nearby and roast them patiently.
In the same kadai, dry roast the black sesame seeds till it crackles. It takes nearly 2-3 minutes. Remove them to the poha plate. In the hot kadai, put the fried gram dal and switch off the flame. It will become crispy in the heat of kadai. If your gram dal is fresh and crispy, you do not have to roast it, You can directly it mix with the roasted poha.
Chop coconut into small pieces.Heat 1 tsp of ghee and roast the coconut bits till golden in color. Stay nearby and roast till done. Remove in a separate bowl.
In a kadai, take 1/2 cup of jaggery and add 1/4 cup of water. Boil till the jaggery melts. Switch off the flame and strain the jaggery syrup using a metal strainer. Wash the kadai and add the strained syrup to it. Boil again till frothy and thick. Add cardamom powder( I used cardamom essence) and dry ginger powder( if using).
Keep the flame low to medium when the syrup starts to thicken. Now take little water in a small plate. Put few drops of jaggery syrup and try to gather them with your fingers. Syrup should not dissolve in water and you should be able to collect them and make a small ball with it. This is called soft ball consistency. Refer Video for clear understanding.
NOTE : You cannot shape balls/urundai in this consistency. For making balls, you should boil jaggery syrup till it reaches hard ball consistency.
Once the consistency is reached, switch off the flame and add the roasted poha mixture, roasted coconut. Mix well and set aside. Initially the mixture may look sticky. But when it cools down, it will look separate and tastes crunchy. Offer God & Enjoy !
You can store this in an air tight box and enjoy for weeks.
Note
For me, 1/2 cup of jaggery was enough for 1 cup of aval/ Poha. If you need more sweetness, you can add 3/4 cup of jaggery,
The consistency of jaggery syrup is very important else the pori will stick to each other and becomes soggy after few hours.
Hard ball consistency is needed to shape balls. For soft ball, balls cannot be made.
Black sesame seeds gives nice flavor. You can use white sesame seeds as well but flavor must be missing.
If you like, you can add 1/4 tsp of dry ginger powder/Sukku podi.
Try this easy method of Karthigai pori for this festival and enjoy !
Mavinakayi chitranna recipe - Raw mango rice recipe - Karnataka style 
