“Sweet~Spicy Seasoned Pumpkin Khotto (Idly Usli)” … Prepared this delicious dish using the left over pumpkin khotto by crumbling them and seasoning it with karbev~sasam~green chillies to make it slightly spicier and garnished it with some freshly grated coconut ... so, it’s sort of two in one dish … my dinner is set for today … Enjoy ......
** Usli is a dish that is similar to upma as in texture or seasonings etc. Usli is prepared with poha, moong dal etc. and is served as a breakfast dish. Usli is also prepared with leftover Khotto or Idly by crumbling the same and seasoning it after the addition of freshly grated coconut. In olden days, it was a joint family system where sometimes there were more than 20 members in a family. Idly or khotto were prepared in bulk for breakfast as not only family but there were many nearby people or relatives who would often drop by and it lessened the burden in kitchen of the ladies if the same was prepared in excess as all they had to do was serve it with some pickle, chutney or podi/powder etc. However, many a times the same was leftover if it so happened that there were no visitors or so. In olden days a intelligent home maker never wasted food, it would either be given away as charity to the poor or would be recycled.
** A joint family always had many children at home and as we know children are always hungry specially on returning from school in the evening. The mother then lovingly prepared usli out of the khotto or Idly to pacify the child with something new without giving them the same as of breakfast and the children happily ate the same. These were small joys for both mother and child unlike now when children have begun to demand outside ready to eat snacks. A hassled poor mother who herself has come home tired just from her office has no choice but to put up with it to avoid fights. But trust me, if from childhood children are taught to eat homemade food which is healthier and given outside food only once in a way they will become much healthier adults. They will not only learn to love our food but will see to it that they have the same in regular basis and instill the same habit in coming generations.
** Preparation of Khotte / Idly Usli : Just crumble the Idly / khotto into a fine texture in a large bowl, see to it that there are no lumps. Add in required amount of freshly grated coconut and mix well. I always add freshly grated coconut in the ratio of one large tablespoon of it to one cup of crumbled khotto/Idly. You may add a little more or less. However, according to me 1 large tblsp is sufficient and tastes great. Prepare this in required amount, add in pinch of salt as this is a sweet pumpkin khott which does not actually need the same. I have actually not added, Its entirely upto individual. Mix well and keep it ready aside
** I had used about 3-4 cups of the prepared crumbled texture of the same for this recipe.
** Now in a thick bottomed kadai add in 2 tblsp of oil, when hot lower the heat and add in ½ tsp of urad dal and let it fry till the color changes slightly, now add in ½ tsp of mustard seeds and when they begin to splutter add in 5-6 green chillies slit lengthwise or cut into small pieces, 4-6 curry leaves and fry for a few seconds.
** Now add in the crumbled khotto/Idly~coconut crumbled texture and mix well. Keep the heat level minimum. Now cover with a tight lid and cook on low heat for 5-10 mins. Do stir in the mixture gently in between 2-3 times for even heating of the usli. Remove from fire and mix well once again and its ready.
** “Sweet~Spicy Seasoned Pumpkin Khotto (Idly Usli)” is done and ready to be served. Serve this immediately once prepared either for breakfast or tiffin in the evening and enjoy with your family and friends. Though this does not need anything else as an accompaniment, many a times we serve the same with some farsan / chooda. This is a very healthy bf/tiffin variety that can be prepared in a jiffy if you have excess khotto / idly at home.
** Note : I always prepared Khotto/Idly in excess so that I can prepare the same the next day for breakfast as in my home we simply love it. It also cuts down my excess work of preparing breakfast and gives me that much more time to do something new or attend some other unfinished work.
** Note : This Usli is prepared from leftover sweet pumpkin khotto (Idly), so you need to increase a little bit of green chillies to give it a spicy touch which gives a great taste to the usli. Usually we prepare the same with ordinary Khotto / Idly prepared using urad dal-rice, but today for a change I prepared out of pumpkin Idly which I had prepared yesterday.
** I am sharing below the link of preparing khotto for newbies, please check on the same and enjoy preparing this two in one dish, that will not only save you time by half but will also give your family a healthier option of breakfast. I have also added on the link to another usli prepared by me out of Kultih Khotto / Horsegram Idly and also just of normal khotto, do check out on the same, as that one is healthier and tastier too.
** An Earnest Request : There are many more recipes of different types in the blog. For all my Recipes, use the search option or the label section in the Blog. If you are still not able to find it or have a query, please leave a message in comment section or mail me the same. I will try my best to get back to you as soon as possible. Do try out various types of dishes included in the Blog and Enjoy them with your family and friends and do give me a feedback if possible. I have also started a food group for by the name "KONKANI DELICACIES" where in you will find many more recipes by members and you too can share some of your own. The link to the group is posted on the left side of the blog page. Do join us in our culinary journey. I strongly believe in Sharing and always endorse that "Sharing Is Caring" … Thank You ….
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