JFI:Going Bananas!!

When the JFI was announced for this month I almost went Bananas…hehe!! Yup this month’s Jhiva for Ingredients is Bananas. The following are my entries to this month’s JFI started by Indira of Mahanandi and hosted by Mandira of Ahaar

Rasayanna:

This is a typical and traditional Banana sweet dish that can be made in a flash and I mean in a flash. Three ingredients and the banana and you are done! This is also made on auspicious occasions like festivals and for poojas. It is also served as prasada.

You will need:

2 large ripe bananas or 4 baby bananas
2 tbsp Grated fresh coconut
3 tsps Sugar
½ tsp Cardamom powder

Slice the banana into medium sized slices. Add the coconut, sugar and cardamom powder. Mix well and let sit for a minute. Serve immediately. If you want this cold, then chill the bananas before slicing.

Banana Mashe

Ok that is one name I had to make up because we simply call this Pachki!! Pachki because the banana is mashed up ..hehe

You will need:

2 large ripe bananas
1 cup Milk
2 tbsps Sugar
Cashews and Raisins
A pinch cardamom powder

roughly mash the bananas in a bowl with the help of a fork. Add the milk and sugar. Stir to make a gravy like consistency. Add more milk if required. Add the cashews, raisins and cardamom powder. Mix well and serve. Chill the milk and banana before using, that way the end result is cold. Serve before bananas turn black!!

Bananas with Custard

This is from one of my previous posts. Banana with Custard is a delicious dessert that will have your guests wanting more :)

Idli Upma and Dill Rice

There’s many a time when we have a fridge full of left overs and don’t know where to begin clearing it. After the Ganesha habba I was left with a lot of Idli batter. I know it keeps for a long time and I can make idlis whenever but I already had some left over from before too so that makes a lot of batter in the fridge! Moreover I've had idlis so many times now I just want to stop for a while!!I had to finish the batter so I went ahead and made the idlis but it didn’t stop there. I made Idli upma from it, unless you tell someone what the upma is they wouldn’t guess its from Idlis…hehe

So Idli Upma is my entry to the event Weekend Breakfast Blogging (WBB), hosted by Nandita of Saffron Trail. This time the theme is Breakfast with Leftovers.

Idli Upma

You will need:

10-15 steamed idlis (powdered)
2 tbsps Oil
1 onion chopped
1 tsp Mustard seeds
1 tsp Urad dal
½ tsp Chana dal
6 Green chillies
Few curry leaves
½ tsp Turmeric powder
½ tsp Lime juice
Chopped coriander
Salt to taste

Break up the idlis with your hands or with the help of fork. Heat oil in a pan. Add the mustard seeds, urad dal and chana dal. Saute for a minute. Add the curry leaves and green chillies. Add the chopped onions anf fry till soft. Add the turmeric powder and sauté for a minute. Add the idli powder and mix well. Add salt to taste and lime juice. Garnish with chopped coriander and serve.

Dill Rice

Dill is a strong herb which is used a lot in our cooking back home. We call it Sabakshi soppu in Kannada and I had no idea what it was called in English till I came to the US :-D When I first bought it in Kroger, since it’s a ‘herb’ it was being sold in small boxes, probably a few sprigs for around $4..I sighed and finally bought it because it looked very familiar and I had a recipe to use it in. I got home and when I tasted it I laughed so hard at the fact that I had bought a few sprigs of Sabakshi for $4 when I can get around 2 big bunches of the same at an Indian grocery store!! J Well now I know what ‘Dill’ is and definitely buy it at an Indian store…he he!

Dill Rice or Sabakshi Rice not only brings out the best flavour of Dill but it is a quick recipe for an instant meal.

You will need

Steamed Rice
2 tbsps Oil
1 onion chopped
1 tsp Mustard seeds
1 tsp Urad dal
½ tsp Chana dal
6 Green chillies
½ bunch Dill (about ¾ cup chopped)
Salt to taste

Heat oil in a pan. Add the mustard seeds, urad dal and the chana dal. Add the slit green chillies. Saute for a minute and then add the chopped onions. Fry till soft and onions are translucent. Add the chopped Sabakshi (Dill) and fry for a couple of minutes till the raw smell of the Dill is gone. Add the steamed rice and salt. Mix well and serve hot.