Huggi

This is my grandmother's signature dish. I can probably never match the taste with what she prepared during my childhood.

This is very similar to pongal which is prepared in Bangalore/Tamil Nadu with moong dal and rice. A one pot meal. Can be served with tamarind chutney. Thats how I grew up eating and even now its a must for my husband. He will not eat Huggi without the chutney. Tangy taste with a tinge of jaggery makes it drool worthy.

Surnali / Dosa

Surnali is a very simple dosa. With just very few ingredients you can have spongy dosas for breakfast. I feel this is a very versatile batter. We can add jaggery and make sweet dosas or just make regular ones and serve with chutney. You can even add cucumber or magge (mangalore sautekayi) to it. If you are adding cucumber it is better to avoid adding poha. Adding both will make the dosa too soft.

Magge is a special cucumber which is called as Mangalore Sautekayi in Bangalore. I am not sure if this is used across India or if this is a South Indian specific vegetable. I remember my Uncle growing this in his farm. This has a longer shelf life and we use this only in different types of gravy and dosas. We do not eat this raw.

Bamboo Shoot in Coconut Paste/Kirla Sukke

We used to often have bamboo shoot while in Thirthahalli. After I moved to Bangalore it drastically decreased. I don't remember seeing any store which had bamboo shoot. When I saw this in Japanese market I was really very happy and the very thought of eating it was just mouth watering ;). I immediately bought few of them and prepared couple of items. We call it as Kirlu in konkani. Try it out with rice and dalitoy. Simply amazing !

Fresh bamboo shoot are available from late November to May. But canned once are way too handy and is available during anytime of the year and in various sizes and shapes. When I bought fresh ones, I peeled them, cut and store it in a air tight container with salt. But I omit this process when I buy canned. Usually canned vegetables are already pickled, soft and tender. Adjust salt according to which bamboo shoot you use.