Cabbage - Ravva Upma

The first time I ever tasted this upma, was at my sister's house. However, when I tried at my home, it turned out tastier! (We will not tell my sister, though!:-) ) Here is my version of Cabbage Upma!

Ingredients
Cabbage - 2 cups, chopped

Sooji (cream of wheat) - 2 cups, lightly roasted until pale brown

Water - 3 ½ cups

Tomato - 1 medium, finely chopped

Coriander leaves - 3 tbsp, finely chopped

Salt - to taste

Turmeric - 1/4 tsp
Green chillies - 4, slit lengthwise (chop, for more heat)

For seasoning/popu
Urad dal - 1 tbsp
Chana dal - 1 tbsp
Ginger - 1 tbsp, chopped
Mustard seeds - 1/2 tsp
Cumin seeds - 1/2 tsp
Curry leaves - sprig

Oil - 2 tbsp
Ghee - 1 tbsp

Method

1. Heat oil in a wide skillet, add mustard seeds. When they crackle, add rest of the seasoning ingredients. Fry until the dals turn pale brown. Add chopped ginger and let fry for 1/2 a minute 
2. Toss in chopped cabbage, green chillies, salt and turmeric. Saute just until cabbage loses its raw smell
3. Add chopped tomato, cover and cook for a couple of minutes
4. Add water, adjust salt if required. Let the water come to a boil
5. Slowly stir in sooji; keep stirring continuously to avoid any lumps
6. Stir in chopped coriander leaves
7. Keep stirring until the sooji absorbs all liquid. Add a tbsp ghee. Turn the heat off
8. Mix well and serve warm with a sprinkle of fresh lemon juice and any chutney

Cabbage - Green Peas

A quick and easy fry... here is how I make this!

IngredientsCabbage - 1/2 a head, finely chopped
Green peas - 3 tbsp
Onion - 1 small, finely chopped
Green chillies - 3, slit or chopped
Turmeric - 1/4 tsp
Salt - to taste

Coriander, Cumin, Fennel seeds powder - 1 tsp
Cumin seeds - 1/2 tsp
Garlic - 2 cloves, chopped
Curry leaves
Coriander leaves - 3 tbsp, finely chopped

Oil - 1 tbsp

Method

• Heat oil in a wide skillet, add cumin seeeds, garlic and curry leaves
• Immediately add chopped onion, saute until translucent
• Toss in green peas, saute for a couple of minutes and add chopped cabbage, green chillies
• Sprinkle salt and turmeric; saute on medium-high heat until done. When done, cabbage should be slightly crisp
• Add coriander, cumin and fennel seeds powder, mix and saute for just a couple of minutes
• Toss in fresh coriander leaves, turn the heat off

Cabbage curry with mustard seeds powder

Cabbage is considered as one of the best foods - it has less calories, more nutrients and is easy to cook. Mustard seeds powder adds a little zing to the curry. Here is a quick and easy recipe.

Recipe

1/2 a head of medium sized cabbage - chopped

1 big onion - finely chopped

2 dried red chillies - broken into pieces

1/2 tsp urad dal

1/4 tsp each of cumin seeds, turmeric

2 garlic cloves - minced

4 curry leaves

3 green chillies - slit lengthwise

2 tbsp tamarind extract

salt to taste

1/4 tsp of garam masala powder
1 1/2 tsp of mustard seed powder (dry roast, let cool and make powder)

1 tbsp oil

Heat oil in a saucepan, add seasoning of dried red chillies, urad dal, cumin seeds, curry leaves. Add onion & garlic, saute until the onions become soft. Add chopped cabbage, green chillies, salt, turmeric - mix and cook uncovered, for approx. 10-12 minutes - cabbage should be slightly crisp and not completely softened. At this point add garam masala powder, tamarind extract, saute for a couple of minutes until the liquid evaporates, turn the stove off. Add mustard seed powder, mix well. This curry is good with rice.