Upma Kozhukattai or Pidi Kozhukattai

Ingredients:
1 cup idli rava or cream of rice lightly roasted
1/4 cup toor dal
1 tablespoon channa dal
1 tablespoon urad dal
2 tablespoon oil
1/2 teaspoon mustard seeds
1 teaspoon urad dal
a pinch of asafoetida
2 small chopped green chilis or to taste
a few curry leaves
1/4 cup shredded coconut
2 cups water

Preparation:  Rinse and soak toor dal, channa dal and urad dal for 1 to 1 1/2 hours before grinding.  After 1 hour grind the dals with very little water to a coarse paste.

Heat 2 tablespoon of oil.  To it add mustard seeds and urad dal.  When the mustard seeds pop add the chopped green chili, curry leaves, asafoetida and saute for few seconds add water cover and let the water come to a boil.  When the water has come to a boil add the grated coconut and the ground dal and cook for about 3 to 4 minutes after which add the lightly roasted idli rava or cream of rice.  Stir and cook until the mixture pulls away from the side of the pan and forms a mass in the center.  Cover and allow the mass to cool.  After it is cool make small oval shaped dumplings as shown in the video (if needed lightly grease your palms with a little oil)  and steam the kozukattai for a total of 4 minutes in a microwaveable steamer, in between the cooking turn the kozukattai over once to cook on the other side.  Do not over cook or it will become hard.

If you like you can cook it in a regular steamer.

Serve with sambar or chutney.  Makes 12 to 16 kozukattai.  Serves 4.  Serve as a snack or for breakfast. 

Bean Sprouts and Kidney Beans

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups bean sprouts roughly cut into half
1 can (15 oz) organic Kidney beans rinsed and drained (1 1/2 cups cooked  kidney beans)
3 tablespoon oil
2 green chilies or to taste
1 teaspoon grated ginger
1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder
1/2 teaspoon coriander powder
1 teaspoon curry powder
1 cup chopped tomato
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon fresh squeezed lemon juice

Preparation:  To a pan on medium heat, add the green chilies and ginger and saute it for 30 seconds, add the turmeric powder and coriander powder and saute it for 10 seconds.  Add the chopped tomato, cover and cook for 5 minutes or until the tomatoes are cooked.  To the cooked tomatoes add curry powder saute, add the sprouted beans, mix, add the kidney beans, salt, mix cover and cook for 5 minutes add lemon juice.  Turn the heat off and serve.  Serves 2.

Kidney beans are called rajma in Hindi.  Serve this dish as a side dish with chapati or any grain.