HASI GOJJU (Cucumber and Onion)

Healthy, crunchy, cool, light to dark green colour thin skin, filled with fibre , a range of minerals, moisture filled flesh, rich in vitamins and folic acid, slight sweet taste, soothingly super food for overall health…catch hold of this Cool Cucumber…team it with this verily versatile veggie Onions…get into action right away and see the magic that unfolds!

Dish Type: South Indian Side Dish (gravy)        Cucumber Onion Hasi Gojju copy     

Preparation Time: 10 min

Cooking time: 10 min

Serves: 5 persons

Ingredients

Onion                          2 nos.

Cucumber                   2 nos.

Salt to taste                 ½ tsp approx.

For grinding

Raw grated coconut    ½ of a coconut

Red chillies                  5 to 6 nos.

Coriander seeds          1 tsp

Mustard seeds                        ¼ tsp

Asafoetida                   A pinch

For seasoning:

Oil                               1 tsp

Mustard seeds             1 tsp

Curry leaves                1 small sprig

Asafoetida                   A pinch

Directions Chop onions into fine pieces after peeling the skin. Transfer them to a bowl. Wash cucumber, curry leaves and coriander leaves in salt water. Transfer them to a colander to drain the water. Chop cucumber into fine pieces along with the skin. Transfer to the bowl. Grind all ingredients listed under “For grinding”. Transfer the ground mixture also into the bowl. Add salt. Mix them thoroughly. Now season it. For this, Heat oil in a small skillet. Add mustard seeds. When they crackle, add curry leaves. Switch off the flame. Add asafoetida and immediately pour on to the bowl. Garnish with finely chopped coriander leaves. Cucumber Onion Hasi Gojju is now ready. Note:Hasiis a kannada word which means “raw”

Tiny tip for “No Tears” with onions Chill the onions for 15 to 30 min. before cutting. This mitigates the activity of the enzyme that is responsible for the tears, which is produced when the ruptured cells of onions are exposed to air.

LIME JUICE GOJJU

Yup…feeling lost without vegetables at home? Yet you wish to dole out a dish in a jiffy.

Smile if you can spot some limes and lo! here it is…instant “Solution” to your problem!

Sweet n sour, spicy, zesty, gorgeous looking Lime Juice Gojju is utterly simple to make, pleasantly piquant to the palate and hoarded with benefits that heal your health in more ways than one.

This cool cuisine is a classic Karnataka delicacy, relished along with hot steamed rice, idlis, dosas, khara pongal etc. Bonds well with bread too! Bow to this beauty…..

 

Dish Type: South Indian side dish (gravy)       Lime Juice gojju 2014-12-11 12.08.29

Preparation Time: 10 min

Cooking time: 10 min

Serves: 5 persons

Ingredients

Lime                4 nos.

Jaggery            50 gms

Gojju powder  4 tsps

Water              500 ml

Salt to taste     2 tsps approx.

For seasoning:

Oil                               1 tsp

Mustard seeds                        1 tsp

Red chillies                  2 nos.

Curry leaves                1 small sprig

Asafoetida                   A pinch

Directions

Wash lime in water. Drain the water. Cut each lime into half. Extract juice from them. Keep it aside in a bowl.

(Do not throw away the lime peels. Instead slice them into pieces. Use them for making “5 Tastes Lime Pickle”)

Take a small bowl. Put gojju powder in it. Keep adding small quantities of water and mix them thoroughly till you get a slightly dilute yet flowing consistency. Add salt and jaggery to this mixture.

Boil it in a vessel. When the bubbles start appearing, switch off the flame. Add lime juice.

Now you can season it.

Heat oil in a small skillet. Put mustard seeds. When they crackle, add red chillies and curry leaves. Switch off the flame. Add asafoetida and immediately pour it on to the gojju.

Lime Juice Gojju is now ready.

Health Tip:

Place whole lemon in the freezer overnight. Grate and use it for meal next day. This enhances the taste of food, helps one live longer and healthier. Consuming a whole lemon is far more enriching than just the juice.