Month: January 2002

This is one of the widely known snacks of Karnataka, perhaps also popular in other parts
of South India. It is fairly easy to prepare, but needs some initial patience and effort. A trial
on a week-end is suggested. KODU means Horn (like that of a cow) and BALE means
Bangle, the best one is made by grand-mother.
Ingredients
Rice flour (slightly coarse, gives more crispy touch)
red chili powder
Jeera (cumin seeds)
Hing (asafetida)
grated coconut
dried & crushed curry leaves
white sesame seeds
butter
salt to taste
Oil to fry
Proportion is for 500 gms of rice flour, put in a handful of each of the other ingredients
(except chili powder, ooh, just a table spoon of that would do).

Method
Mix the rice flour, red chili powder, salt, butter (one quarter piece of the commercially
available pack), and all the above ingredients in the dry form. Knead with hand to ensure
that butter gets uniformly mixed in the dry flour. At this stage some people prefer to put 1
or 2 red chilies in hot oil, take out after 1 minute, cool, powdered by hand and mix with the
dry flour. This gives a traditional flavor to KODUBALE. Also, freshly grated coconut
gives a much better taste than the dry coconut powder available in stores. If using fresh
coconut, save the coconut water, to mix the dough. This enhances the taste.
Frying procedure : The proper method is not to mix water to the flour all at once, but to
sprinkle, enough to make a handful of wet dough at a time, finish that and proceed again.
So, mix water to a portion of the dough (preferably at the centre), mix it to a semi-wet
paste (not as wet as a chappathi/bread dough – remember – rice flour does not have the
stickiness of wheat and stays together more loosely, held by ingredients). Take a lemon
sized ball and start rolling on a cutting board. The consistency should be sufficient to roll,
but not too wet/soggy. If the water is less, the rolled rod breaks. If this happens, add a little
water (coconut water if you have). Remember, do not put too much pressure on the semi-
wet dough, but gently roll to form a smooth natural rod, rolling sideways to get an even
thickness of about the small finger on your hand. When the rolled rod becomes 4 inches
long, slowly turn around the ends, join them to form a circle (like a bangle). The correct
consistency is that at the points of bending, small cracks may appear, but the roll will not
break. Carefully hold it at the circumference and slide it along Wok-edge into hot oil. Use
medium flame to heat the Wok (BaNale or Kadayi). Sunflower oil is preferable to others
since it does not have any odour of its own. Back home, the popular medium is unrefined
groundnut oil (coconut oil is popular in S. Canara dist).
Put in 5 to 6 Kodubale at a time and deep fry slowly till brown. Use the back of stainless
steel spoon or a wooden rod to lift them thro’ the centre hole.To test consistency, break one
after cooling; it must be crispy with crumbs at the center. If the butter is too much, the
KODUBALE breaks into pieces after getting into the hot oil. If the water is too much, the
KODUBALE becomes smooth and soft. Lack of butter makes it pretty hard, which, many
people do like. Adjust your proportion, Khara (chili powder) etc by tasting one, then
proceed with the further batches. It can be kept in bottles for 15 days to a month and eaten
at tea time (all the time – for kids :-), as experienced people will tell you). The right thing
to have on a rainy day; if it is a little on the hotter side (taste-wise) it will go very well
with beer 🙂
If you have a tough time/run out on your patience, beat the lemon sized balls into flat round
pieces like mini pappadums and fry. If you have decided to do this, add roasted groundnut
seeds and Purikadale (bhoonja chana) to bring a distinct taste. This is also called Nippattu
in Kannada (I know the Telugu people have a name for this, but can’t remember).
KODUBALE, KODUBALE, KAASIGONDU KODUBALE (Kodubale – for a penny each)
is a song of the good-old times. May not be as cheap now, but still is sold in all the
bakeries – isn’t it 🙂

This is one of the most common items, often bought from stores. It is also easy to make at
home, though a bit slow. For those who need the *homely* taste and also those who have
kids etc here is the recipe which *does not* use oil and can give the Khaara
(hot/eravu/teekha) to your taste.
Cut 25 fresh limes (must be semi-ripe at best, but preferably on the green side)and put them
in a large mouthed jar/vessel which has a cover. It is necessary to wash and dry lime and
also this jar/vessel thoroughly, before starting. While putting the cut pieces, sprinkle salt as
you put the pieces layer by layer. Also, after putting salt on each layer, cut a lemon,
squeeze its juice uniformly. For about 25 limes the juice of 5 limes must be sufficient. After
a day, turn itaround with a clean spoon (it is better this turn-around is done daily).
The next day, cut pieces of Haagalakaayi (Karela, pavakkai), to almost 1 cm squares and
put them along. You can also cut and put Maavinakai shunti (mango flavoured ginger),
green chilies cut to 1cm length, or chopped green-beans if you wish. Remember to trun it
around daily, add a small pinch of turmeric (arishina/haldi). The turmeric added must be
really minimum, but is necessary as a preservative. Remember to sprinkle a little salt after
putting vegetables. It must be mentioned that the whole of this paragraph is an option, many
do not like adding anything to the lime pickles, which in its own right, has fine taste.
After 15 days, take a handful of Menthya (methi seeds) dry fry them along with a small
teaspoon-ful of mustard and hing. After it is cooled, grind them well in a dry grinder and
add red chili powder to taste. Then mix it and add these to the well turned, salted limes
(with/without vegetables etc). Turn it around.
After another week of turning around, the pickle will be ready for use. Now take it out and
put it into bottles of convenient size. Any additional salt, hing, chili powder etc., can be
added before bottling them. After bottling, ensure that it settles, leaving the red pasty layer
on top (i.e the cut pieces should stay submerged). The juice squeezed in initially, decides
the amount of pasty layer. For those who like the uppinakaayi rasa (this pasty-tasty part) a
liberal amount of squeezed juice is advised, but it will also need a proportionally
additional amount of salt to taste. While using, ensure that you use a dry spoon, remember
to keep the mouth of the bottle clean and closed after use. It is not necessary to refrigerate
the pickles but these days most people do, more as a precautionary step.
It is important to wash and clean and dry everything thoroughly. Any trace of water reduces
the shelf life, so it better to take extra care in doing the whole process in a clean,
systematic way. Once done, the pickles easily last well over an year. For children and
those who need less of chili, the chili proportion can be reduced. A favourite with curd
rice, the lime pickle goes equally well with dose’ (dosa), idli, bread toast or for that matter
anything that needs a spicy-tasty side-dish.
P.S: For a good reddish colour the powder from Byadagi menashinakayi (red chili from
Byaadagi, North Karnataka), is used. This may not always be available. It is good to
remember that Byadagi chili gives good colour but has less khara (teekha/eravu). Any chili
powder basically does the job, colour is just a matter of aesthetics and has very little to do
with the taste of the pickle.

Saaru is the most common delicacy of Karnataka. Its nearest equivalent is the Rasam of the neighbouring state of Tamil Nadu. Although these two are considered somewhat similar, there are considerable differences, which makes them taste similar yet different!

The process of making saaru consists of two distinct phases.

1. Making the powder (which is done once in several months)
2. Making Saaru using this powder (which is a daily routine, simpler too)

Making the powder

Saarina pudi (the Saaru powder) has three separate groups of ingredients which are fried and powdered separately, later mixed together.

1. Kothumbari beeja (dhaniya, coriander seeds) and red chilies in equal quantities by volume. Take 200 gms each of the two and fry them in a BaNale’ (kadayi, wok) with a few drops of oil. Use two long spoons at diagonally opposite ends, lift and drop the ingredients at regular intervals. Use both spoons/ladles to turn around the ingredients regularly. Use low fire and fry slowly until there is a distinct smell with the red chilies turn very shiny.  Stop just as it starts to smoke. Takeout and put in a plate for cooling.
2. Two teaspoons each of Saasuve’ (mustard seeds, Kadagu), Menthya (methi seeds, Uluva), MeNasu (kura MoLagu, whole black pepper), Jeerige (Jeera, cumin seeds), Gasagase’ (Kuskus, white poppy seeds).  Fry these with a teaspoon of oil, on slow fire. Continue till the mustard seeds and Jeera start to split and turn brown.Take out and put in a plate for cooling.
3. Two handfuls of Kari-bevina soppu (KariVepalai, curry leaves), one-two small pieces of Dalchinni chekke (pattai, cinnamon), a marble sized Hingu or half a teaspoonof its powder (Hing, Kayam, Asafetida) half teaspoon of Arishina (Manjal, haldi, turmeric powder). Wash and dry the Karibevina soppu and put it at the end; turn around for a minute or two and switch off. Put the Arishina after switching off and allow it to cool in the BaNale’ itself.

Using a dry grinder, powder ingredients of 1), then take out the powder. Powder the ingredients of 3) and then put the powder from 1). Turn in the grinder for a few minutes for them to mix.

Take out the ingredients. Powder the ingredients of 2), put the mixed powder from 3) and 1), continue to turn till the whole mixture mixes uniformly. The final powder will have a deep maroon (blackish brick red) colour and a fine flavour. Remember that in the first one-two days the hotness (khara, teekha, chili hot ) of the mixture is felt, but will mellow down
within a week. Therefore, wait before you make minor changes to the powder (adding fried red chilies to increase or add fried dhaniya seeds to decrease the “khara”).

The powder can be stored in a glass jar for about an year. With time the flavour reduces, so it is recommended normally for 6 month storage.

Making the Saaru

First boil 2-3 tablespoons of Togari BeLe’ (tovar daal, tora paripu, Tovar lentil) which is best done in a pressure cooker. In India, the best variety of Togari BeLe’ (Tovar dal) is grown in Amaravathi dist, Maharashtra. It can also be done quickly by adding more water and putting it in a rice cooker for 20-30 minutes.

After this is done, the BeLe’ (dal) is well cooked and can be mashed (some prefer it unmashed). Add 1/2 to 3/4 of salt (to taste), add 1-2 glasses of water and stir well. Add 1/2 to 3/4 teaspoon of the Saarina pudi (powder). At this point, it is common to cut a tomato and add (though not essential). Allow it to boil on low fire for at least 10 minutes.

Take a small marble sized HuNise’ HaNNu (PuLi, tamarind) and soak it in water for 5-10 minutes. Then squeeze it well, take out the waste (pith) and pour in the brownish solution to saaru. Put in a whole stem (8-10 leaves) of fresh Karibena soppu (karivepalai, curry leaves).

For oggaraNe’ (tarka, phodni, bagaar) put a spoon of ghee into a steel soutu (ladle) heat on low fire, put in 1/2 teaspoon of mustard and wait till they split. Put in a pinch of Hing (kayam or asafetida) or one or two pieces of Garlic peeled. Put in the oggaraNe and also put in freshly chopped Kothumbari soppu (Kothumalli, Hara Dhaniya, green coriander leaves).

The Saaru is normally the first item to go with rice. The rice must be a little soft to mix well with Saaru. A spoon of Thuppa (ghee or melted butter) It is also common to drink the top watery part of Saaru (thiLi), with meals. Its fine flavour is enhanced if it is hot and just a drop of ghee is put in before drinking. A great favourite among children is Saaru-Anna
(Saaru+rice) which is mild yet quite nutrious due to the BeLe’ (daal, Lentil) which provides protein.

Instead of tomato, it is common to use finely cut onions. Also used are green beans (HuraLi Kaayi) broken into three-four pieces. However, quite a few KaLugalu (KaLdhanya, whole unbroken lentils) go well with saaru. The most common of these is Avare’ KaaLu (Lilva) which is a raging favourite in Karnataka (Jan-March is its season). Also HuruLi (horse gram which is a flat bean and is brick red in colour) goes well with saaru and is a great favourite in the rainy season.

Another popular item is soppina saaru (spinach saaru) which uses either menthyada soppu (green methi leaves) or some typical varieties of greens such as Dantina soppu, Honagone’soppu (sorry equivalents in other languages not known). Any vegetable or whole grain needs to be cooked in saaru before the tamarind water is put in. The acidic nature of tamarind slows down the cooking rate. Not many vegetables go well with Saaru, which on its own right is a very nice dish both as a soup and as something to go with rice. If only needed as a soup, there is no need to put Tuvar daal, simply cook a tomato and follow rest of the procedure (this is also called MoLag-TaNNi or in English “Mulaugtawni”).

ENJOY WHAT MANY SOUTH INDIANS EAT AS THE FIRST COURSE OF THEIR MEAL.

Courtesy: K. Raghunandana

Ragi Mudde is indeed one of the simplest things to prepare. Take a large mouthed vessel, add a glass of water to it. Heat till the water boils, add salt to taste. Take a glass of ragi flour and mix it in a glass of cold water. Add the dissolved solution slowly to the boiling water, stirring it with a strong ladle (back end). Back home a strong wooden stick is used.

Keep whisking till the mudde (flour dough) becomes smooth and soft without gantu (lumps). Reduce the flame, cover with a lid and cook for 5 minutes. The consistency must be semi solid like the wheat dough. When serving, wet your hand take out and make a ball and put it in the middle of a plate. Pour some sambar around it. Add a spoon of ghee/butter if you wish.

Make it into small marble sized balls, roll it in the sambar liquid and just gulp. Ragi mudde is not eaten by biting since the ragi tends to stick to the teeth. But some like it this way.

This is a very healthy dish both for the physically hard working as well as those with diabetes. It is indeed very healthy for children. It is high in protein, but very low in carbohydrates. Therefore, unlike rice or wheat, it is best for those with sugar complaints.

Eaten by farmers for long, its virtue has been known in recent years, by all in the state of Karnataka. It is almost synonymous with the best of traditional foods, simple, tasty, nutritious and wholesome.

Enjoy the nice, soft ragi mudde – loved by the young and the old.

‘P.S: It is not essential that the ragi flour be first dissolved in coldwater. The flour can be directly put it boiling water. But this needspractice and skill. It can be done by those familiar with the process. Otherwise, gantu (lumps) will emerge in the dough. Inside the lumps, raw flour will be left uncooked. It is essential to avoid this.

Courtesy: K. Raghunanadana

A simple, refreshing drink, synonymous with Karnataka is Badam Milk. It simply denotes a
good drink at any time of the day/night, whether hot or cold.
Take 2 Badami (almonds), soak them in water.
Take 1 elakki (elachi, cardamom) crush the seeds well.
Take 2 strands of Kesari (saffron, Zaffran), powder it along with the elakki.
After the Badami has soaked for at least 10-15 minutes, slowly peel off the brown outer skin. Crush the white seeds well. Take a glass (or a mug) of milk, heat it to near boiling point (but not actually boiling). Put the crushed Badami (almond), elakki (elachi, cardamom), and Kesari (saffron, Zaffran) into the hot milk. Add 1 tea spoon of sugar, stir well.

Your favourite drink is ready. If you prefer it cold, chill it and then drink. In some stores, powdered almond or peeled almond is available. This will make the job easier. Also powdered elakki (elachi, cardamom) is available. This makes it easier to prepare Badam milk. It is often served in marriages and other functions, with sweet dishes such as Chiroti, Pheni etc.

There are some extremely good medicinal properties attributed to this drink. Taken before bedtime, it provides very peaceful, nice sleep. It also helps to heal boils in the mouth or throat area. For those who have acidity or ulcers in the stomach, if taken regularly it helps to provide the healing touch. It is also very helpful in reducing dry cough. In pregnant women, the saffron has good effect in preventing and checking the spread of infection. The list is long, and is simply positive. It is hardly surprising that the drink has become so
popular that every other corner store in Bangalore sells it.

ENJOY, ANYTIME, ANYWHERE, THE DRINK FOR ALL AGES AND AT ALL TIMES

Perhaps the most popular SALAD from Karnataka, the Kosumbari is easy to prepare, is very high in protein and is a tasty snack in its own right. Called KOSUMBIR in Maharashtra it is synonymous with festivity, and is offered as Prasada in most temples. It is really very popular as a starter in most festival foods (marriages, major festival lunch etc.)
Ingredients
Hesaru beLe’ (payar paripu, moong dal, green gram split)
Kadale’ beLe (kadala paripu, chana dal, bengal gram)
4-5 green chilies
Kothumbari soppu (kothumalli, coriander leaves, dhaniya leaves)
freshly grated coconut
Fresh cucumber and carrot (optional)
Lime
Mustard for oggarane’ (tarka, vagar).

Method
Soak 50 gms each of Hesaru beLe’ and Kadale’ beLe’ separately for one hour. Grate the coconut to provide one handful of turi (grated material). Drain the water from hesaru beLe’ and kadale’ beLe’. Peel one cucumber and cut it into small pieces of the size of a pea (optional) Chop two green chili.

Keep one spoon of oil in a banale’ (wok, kadai) warm it and put mustard. Wait till they split, then put the chopped green chilies, turn around and put
a pinch of hing (kayam, asafetida). Put the entire thing onto the bele’. Add salt to taste and then squeeze the juice of half a lime (green variety). Turn around and then put the grated coconut.

Adding cucumber or the carrot is purely optional and is not in any way necessary. It does alter the taste slightly. Cucumber makes the kosumbari a little watery and therefore it must be consumed rather quickly (half to one hour). Salt tends to bring out a lot of water from cucumber. Adding either of these two is popular when it is consumed as a snack or prasada. It is not common when served as a starter during festivals along with lunch.

Traditionally both the hesaru beLe’ and kadale’ beLe’ kosumbari are prepared together. Sometimes the Kadale’ beLe’ kosumbari alone is prepared.

ENJOY THIS TRADITIONAL SALAD FROM KARNATAKA. EASY TO PREPARE,
VERY LOW FAT AND VERY HIGH IN PROTEIN. CHILDREN LOVE IT, THE NOT-
SO-YOUNG RELISH IT.

This is a local Karnataka specialty.
Ingredients
1 Ready to use pastry roll (Pepperidge farms)
Mixed Vegetables (potatoes, peas may be added) to taste
Masala
Green Chilies to taste
Salt

Method
Cook a vegetable mix with potatoes, peas, green chilies and lots of Masala. Check for salt, before you stuff it in the pastry roll; no way to rectify it later.

Thaw the roll for about 10 minutes before unfolding.

After the pastry roll has thawed, open it out on a flat sheet and roll it with a pin to make it a little thinner. The pastry sheet would now be about 12″ x 12″.

Cut the sheet into 6 pieces.

Place about 2-3 Tbsp of the cooked vegetable onto the sheet and fold it around it. Seal all the corners, by pressing the sheets together and applying a little water.

Stick it into a pre-heated oven (350 F) for about 20-30 minutes or until it browns. Make sure that you flip it around every 5-10 minutes.