Aratikaaya Mudda Kura and Khatti Dal

The good old raw banana. When you look at the list of ailments a person has and the list of things they like there will be a direct correlation between the two. if you can tell me what you like, I can tell you what you go to doctor for.
     People who like potato-diabetic
     People who like Plantain-High Cholestrol
     People with a sweet tooth-Obviously Diabetic
     People who don't like drinking plain old water-Kidney Problems (believe me there are such people)

And the list goes on. Anyway I made this particular Plantain curry or fry which is one of my husband's Fav currys'. Now you know what he goes to the doctor for. Anyway, I made khatti dal or my house version of sambar.

Aratikaaya Mudda Kura (Simple Raw banana fry)

Mauz ka tallan

Ingredients:

1. 2 raw banana (plantain, burro banana) peeled and chopped into pieces
2. 2 tablespoons oil
3. 2cloves of garlic chopped fine
4. 1/2 teaspoon each of cumin, mustard seeds, urad dal, soaked chana dal, turmeric, salt
5. 2 red chillies broken
6. 1 green chilly chopped
7. Few curry leaves
8. Cilantro for garnishing

In a pressure cooker cook the raw banana pieces with turmeric and 1/4 cup of water for 2 whistles. In a pan heat oil in a pan and fry Num #4 items in the oil for a couple of minutes. Add green chilly and red chilly and curry leaves and garlic and fry for 3-4 minutes. Mash the cooked banana a little bit and add salt to it and add it to the pan. Cover and fry for 5 minutes. Stir well and fry for 5 more minutes. Garnish with cilantro and enjoy

Khatti Dal (Lentils with vegetables in Tamarind juice)

Khatti Dal (Sambar)

Ingredients:

1. 1 cup toor dal
2. vegetables of your choice (my choice of veggies are few okra, 1 tomato, 1 indian eggplant, 1/4 chopped onions,1 medium carrot chopped)
3. 3 cups juice from a tamarind the size of a medium sized lemon
4. 1 tablespoon oil
5. 1/4 teaspoon each of cumin, mustard seeds
6. 2 red chillies broken
7. 1 green chilly chopped
8. 1 garlic clove chopped fine (optional)
9. few curry leaves
10. Cilantro for garnishing
11. 1/2 teaspoon turmeric
12. 1/2-3/4 teaspoon salt

In a pressure cooker cook the dal for 3-4 whistles with 11/2-2 cups of water and turmeric and chopped tomato. After the steam escapes open the cooker and mash the dal. Add salt and all the vegetables and tamarind juice and bring to a boil. Boil for 5 minutes. In a pan heat the oil and fry the cumin, mustard seeds and dried red chilly, garlic if using and curry leaves till they start to splutter. Cut the heat and add the dal to the pan or the tempering to the dal. Bring to boil again and boil for further 5-8 minutes. Garnish with cilantro and check if all the vegetables are cooked else simmer covered for a little bit more. Enjoy with plain rice and any kind of fry