Wednesday, August 22, 2007

Chakota Huli



In Karnataka if you ask most people what is their favorite type of sambhar you will get an echo of Chakota Huli as the answer. Most people other than SIs think sambhar is only of one kind, a dal with mixed vegetables. One would be enlightened only if one came to the south or if the SI shared their daily food.

This huli is sometimes found on thali menus in restaraunts too. When I visited Shravanbelagola, Belur and Halebid we were served this sambhar. I liked it so I decided to try it at home and Usha Aunty, my neighbor came to my help.

This is a sambhar with chakota greens and peanuts. Here in karnataka sambhar is called huli which literally means sour. Just like maharashtrian sour dal is called amti yet this one is quite different. This sour dal is balanced with jaggery too. The greens themselves have a slightly sour nutty taste and the nuttiness is further enhanced with peanuts.

I followed Usha Aunty's instructions and the Chakota huli tasted better than the restaraunt version. Wasn't that expected!



Ingredients

2 cups chopped chakota greens
1 cup yellow lentils/ Toor dal
2 teaspoons oil
1/2 teaspoon mustard seeds
2 teaspoon MTR sambhar powder
few curry leaves
1 small lemon sized ball of tamarind
2 teaspoons jaggery powder
2 tablespoons peanuts
4 cups water
salt to taste

In a pressure cooker heat oil and splutter the mustard seeds. Add the curry leaves, lentils, chakota greens in that order. Stir for a while. Then add the sambhar powder, peanuts and water. Close the lid and allow 3-4 whistles. Let the steam subside.

Meanwhile soak the tamarind in warm water and extract the pulp. Keep aside.

Once cooled open the cooker and add the tamarind pulp and jaggery and bring to a rolling boil for 5 mins.

Serve hot with steamed rice. In the platter above you see our humble lunch of rice, Chakota huli with fried preserved chili and rice sandage.

20 comments:

  1. Glad to see you post Anjali. What is chakota in english?

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  2. I dont think I've actually heard of the greens you have used, and I really doubt I'll get it here... but I'm going to try this recipe with whatever greens I get. Maybe it will still taste good! :) Will let you know!

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  3. I have never heard of these greens ;-( do you know any other names for it?

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  4. Seeing the Chakota greens in here makes me cry!!I haven't eaten this in 18yrs!! Great dish to blog and what a timing too.Check for RCI Karnataka announcement today at FH!

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  5. Hey Anjlai,
    Good to see the huli! I'm from bangalore and never heard of chakota! Too bad i did not know about it. Do u know what it is called in english- maybe i can find it somewhere here in the US?
    Huli looks good!

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  6. Anjali, umm chakota huli kelilla. Aadre bahala sogasagi kanistha ide. Very Authentic. You can send this to RCI Karnataka hosted by Asha of Foodies Hope.

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  7. Hey gals

    Thank you for your comments. I don't know what Chakota is called in English. I wasn't even able to name it in my mother tongue Marathi. Shammi is right. Try it with any other greens except spinach it should taste good. Spinach dal is something we make all make so often that would lead to comparisons in taste also spinach dictates the taste.

    Wow so I am bang on! Asha You must share your memories associated with chakota. We'd love to read.

    Lakshmi kanada gotilla, I understand swalpa, swalpa but will ask my friend to translate your comment.

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  8. hi anjali

    what is chakota? this looks like the dal palak made at home, thank u for the recipe

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  9. is it called chakota in English too? looks good just like palak dal.

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  10. chakota is also called chakotana soppu in kannada.it is a seasonal leafy vegetable and is called chakavat in marathi.it is available in mumbai and poona.you can see its picture in indiamart.com.

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  11. Huli turned out goog. Thank you. But I still miss the chokothne soppu. Here is more info on it. http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/cropfactsheets/cassia.html

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    Replies
    1. Hi Pushpa thanks for writing in, it always makes me happy to know that my recipes are appreciated. Thanks for the link will check it out.

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  12. Another greens from Karnataka which I k is same as Chakotanow of is Pundi Palya, I wonder if it is same as chakota.

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  13. Chakota is called mountain spinach in english:)

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    1. There are several amaranth species which are called mountain spinach but those are red colored. Chakota is green so not sure if that too is called by the same name.

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  14. Hello Anjali

    Do we just Use the leaves only to prepare this.
    Can we use the Stems of these leaves also. The stems are quite
    thick and long. But when pressure cooked they become soft
    So can I use it.
    This is called also as Paruppu Keerai in Tamil.
    Thanks
    Raghu

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    Replies
    1. Sorry for delay in replying. Yes you can use the stems n pressure cook.

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  15. Chakotha soppu is called mountain spinach in English. But I have not seen this green in Chennai, Hyderabad or any other place. Seems to be a special from Bengaluru, Mysuru

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