Saturday, January 3, 2009

A Healthy beginning ~ Mooga Daali Usli/Bette

Another year passed... leaving behind its wonderful memories.. 2008 was a special year for me. I quit my job, travelled places, pursued my hobbies,tried new cuisines, spent quality time with my hubby, created my blog and in the process new friends .. All said it was a wonderful year with very few mishaps.. The year flew by in rapid speed and without us realising we were ready to welcome 2009. We celebrated with friend's, Watched the Fire crackers show when the countdown ended, wished all our loved one's and missed them. Hope the year ahead will be wonderful and peaceful.
On the blogging front, I have been "Missing in Action". First started with New year cleaning.. Well if you have not heard of New year cleaning then this is a new one! Then it was bidding good bye to a dear friend of mine who shifted to Pune for good. This did not mean that I did not cook. I did, but was not able to click pics.
I have been thinking of blogging about the places that we have visited in China this year as a record. Let me know what you think about it.
Starting this year's cooking post with a healthy breakfast/dinner item "Moogadaali Usli/Bette". This is very much similar to Pongal with minor changes. Moong Dal is rich in protein and easily digestible. This is comfort food for us and can be fixed easily with no much fuss! 
Here is what's needed:
1 cup Moong Dal
1/4 cup Basmati Rice
1 tsp Mustard seeds
5-6 Curry leaves
1/2 tsp Jeera
2-3 green Chilly - slit
a small piece of Ginger finely chopped
2-3 crushed black pepper
Oil
Salt to taste
2 tbsp grated Coconut grated
Water 3-1/2 cup
Procedure:
1) Heat Oil. Add mustard seeds, when they splutter add jeera and sauté till golden. Add curry leaves, crushed pepper, slit green chillies and sauté for few seconds. 
2) Add water and bring it to a good boil.
3) Add washed moong dal and washed rice. Add salt to taste and ginger pieces. Cook on medium flame until done. (i.e The dal is fully cooked but still holds it's shape. If it is not cooked you can add little hot water and let it cook). 
4) Garnish with grated coconut and serve hot.
Harini is hosting FIC-Yellow at her blog, this is my first entry to this event. For more details visit her blog. Harini, This is for you :)


27 comments:

Mahimaa's kitchen said...

very comforting bowl of rice. looks yummy.

Aparna Balasubramanian said...

True, its sounds and looks Pongal. Not only comfort food but very comforting on a cold day!

Happy New Year.

Gita Jaishankar said...

A very healthy dish to start the New Year with :)

Preety said...

your recipe is very similar to my moms kichdi recipe..i love to eat this with some desi ghee on top..yummm..love the pic

Preety said...

thanks for stopping by and HAPPY NEW YEAR

Sunshinemom said...

This is another nice version of khichdi:) Thank you for the comfort food - with the change in season there are many here who require it. I have been on this for two days - without the coconut, of course!

Sanghi said...

Delicious and apt entry too..! Do check my new blog at http://www.sanghi-worldfoodtreat.blogspot.com and leave ur comments.

anudivya said...

It is amazing how we share a lot of common food, but with different names in each region... this is almost like pongal. And I love it.

Unknown said...

yes..we call thi pongal..looks delicious..

Divya Kudua said...

Happy new year Uj..this one's new to me..sounds like pongal to me.I make mooga dali usli in a similar manner withhout the rice..looks good!!

Deepthi Shankar said...

i love this dish, we call this huggi or pongal in kannada .. & thanks for trying the cauliflower recipe girl, Iam glad you liked it

Deepthi Shankar said...

i love this dish, we call this huggi or pongal in kannada .. & thanks for trying the cauliflower recipe girl, Iam glad you liked it

Namrata Kini said...

My mil makes this in a similar fashion and calls it bete/mooga daali usli but for amma these are two different things. Bete has rice and dal whereas her mooga usli has only mooga dal and no rice and she makes it like an upkari.
I think its a gr8 idea to blog about the places u've visited. Ur experiences may help someone planning to visit it.

FH said...

Very healthy start for 2009 indeed, looks yum.
It was a good year for me too until the Mumbai attack, made me sad but life goes on! :)

Enjoy the new year.

Ashwini said...

Hosa Varushada shubhashayagalu..
Thumba khushi Ayithu, nevu kannadadhalli comment madidhake. Nanu try maduthahidhini...
Moong Daali resembles the way my mom makes Khichidi. I love what she makes. It is good to eat any time of the day. Now I am feeling like eating ...

Finla said...

It looks healthy and delicious.
Love the colour.

CurryLeaf said...

Very comforting.I add many vegetables and make it a dinner item.Healthy and perfect entry to the event.

Swathy said...

hey ujwal,
i remmeber my gannny making this for breakfast while i was young..
2 questions..
one:is the rice pre-cooked?
two: how much water do we need to add for all this 2 cook..

Vijitha said...

A perfect comfort food Uj. Looks lovely and apt entry for Harini's event.

Jaishree Iyer said...

Healthy & comfort food Uj. Looks lovely.. pic looks great!

Indranee Batabyal said...

Nice filling recipe! Thanks for visiting my blog and happy new year to you!

Sabitha said...

reminds me of Bhajan sessions & Astami. Waiting for your blog on places.
Regards,
Sabitha

lubnakarim06 said...

Wow comforting food... Looks yummy.

Sharmi said...

something similar to pongal right! looks delish.

Uj said...

Mahimaa,
Thanks

Aparna,
It really warms up our cold days.

Gita,
Yes it is.

Preety,
I have seen a lot of people adding ghee and eating this. Must be tasting great!Wish you the same dear

Harini,
There are so many versions of this humble dish. Will post the other version too

Sanghi,
Thanks. Going there now.

Divya,
Yes there are lot of dishes that are common across regions with just minor substitutions:)

Uj said...

Sowmya,
yes this can also be called Pongal

Divya,
Thanks dear. Wish you the same.

Deesha,
Thanks :)

Namrata,
Yes dear.. Its the same at my mom's place too..Though my MIL uses t interchangeably :) Thanks for mentioning about that.. Will do soon :)

Asha,
Its so good to see you back. I have been missing your blog posts so much!The blast shook us a lot..but as you say life goes on!

Ashwini,
Dhanyavaadagalu. The khichidi I make is slightly different. Will make a post on that too..

Happy Cook,
Thanks

CL,
Adding veggies is a good option. Will make it this way next time.

Swathy,
Rice is not precooked dear.. I just wash moong dal and rice together and add them. 3 and 1/2 to 4 cups of water is usually required for this. I usually boil 4 cups of water. First add 3 and 1/2 cup and then if required I add the remaining 1/2 cup. My MIL makes it in pressure cooker. May be next time I can give you that recipe.

Vij,
Thanks.

Jaishree,
Thank you dear

Indranee,
It is indeed filling and the plus point is that it is healthy too.

Sabithakka,
Will blog about that soon.

KF,
Thanks dear.

Sharmi,
Yes very similar to Pongal.

Swathy said...

thanks ujwal..will try it sometime soon and tell u!
meanwhile, I have to try your sweetcorn soup too..