SANKRANTI / PONGAL SPECIAL
HITUKU BELE SPECIALITIES
Hituku Bele is a delicacy which is enjoyed through out the Kaalu season. Hituku Bele blends beautifully with any given dish, yet retains the distinct flavour and taste of its own. Field beans are first soaked in water for a long time.Then they are squeezed or pinched ( the process is called Hitukodu in Kannada ) one at a time so that the Bele / lentil jumps out of the skin! The process is laborious but the outcome is delicious. Now a days Hituku Bele is readily available in the market during the season.
Here I present Hituku Bele in three delicious avataars especially for Sankranti / Pongal.
HITUKU BELE HUGGI / SAKKARAI PONGAL
(SWEET VERSION)
INGREDIENTS
Rice - 1 cup
Fresh field beans lentil / Hituku bele - 1 cup
Powdered jaggery - 1 1/2 cups
Milk - 1 cup
Ghee - 4 tbsps
Cardamom powder - 1 pinch
Fresh Coconut gratings - 4 tbsps
Cashew nuts - as required
Raisins - as required
METHOD
1. Wash and pressure cook rice with milk and two cups of water until three whistles.
2. Dissolve jaggery in three cups of warm water and filter.
3. Cook Hituku Bele in jaggery water adding the fresh coconut gratings to it.
4. When the Hituku Bele is just done add the cooked rice and blend well taking care not to mash up the Hituku Bele.
5. Add half of the ghee and cardamom powder and switch off flame when the Huggi/ Sakkarai Pongal thickens and emanates a very pleasant aroma.
6. Heat the remaining ghee and fry the cashew nuts and raisins and garnish the Sweet Hituku Bele Huggi / Sakkarai Pongal.
Offer the sweet Hituku Bele Huggi / Sakkarai Pongal to the Sun God on Sankranti and enjoy the delicious Prasaadam.
HITUKU BELE HUGGI / VEN PONGAL
(SAVOURY VERSION)
INGREDIENTS
Rice - 1 cup
Fresh Field Bean Lentil / Hituku Bele - 1 cup
Turmeric powder - 1 pinch
Salt - 1 tsp
Milk - 1 cup
Fresh coconut gratings - 4 tbsps
Coarsely crushed pepper - 3/4 tsp
Cumin seeds - 3/4 tsp
Finely chopped green chillies - 3/4 tsp
Finely chopped fresh ginger - 3/4 tsp
Curry leaves - a few
Sesame oil - 2 tbsps
Ghee - 2 tbsps
Cashew nuts - as required
METHOD
1. Wash and pressure cook rice with milk, turmeric powder and salt adding 2 cups of water until three whistles.
2. Heat sesame oil in a heavy bottomed pan and add the pepper and cumin seeds.
3. When the pepper and cumin seeds pop add chopped ginger and green chillies, followed by asafoetida and curry leaves.
4. Add three cups of water to the seasoning.
5. When the water starts to boil add the coconut gratings and the Hituku Bele and cook till the bele is just done.
6. Blend in the cooked rice without mashing up the Hituku Bele.
7. Cook till the Huggi / Ven Pongal emanates a very pleasant aroma and let the consistency be slightly loose like a porridge.
8. Heat ghee in a ladle and fry the cashew nuts till golden in colour and garnish.
Offer the flavoursome Hituku Bele Huggi /Ven Pongal to the Sun God on Sankranti and relish the prasaadam with a tangy gojju.
HITUKU BELE VADAE
INGREDIENTS
Split black gram dal - 1 cup
Fresh Field Bean Lentil/ Hituku Bele - 1 cup
Salt - 3/4 tsp
Fresh ginger ( Peeled ) - 1'' piece
Coarsely crushed pepper - 1/2 tsp
Cumin seeds - 1/2 tsp
Chopped green chillies - 1/2 tsp
Curry leaves - a few
Fresh coconut gratings - 2 tbsps
Oil - for frying
METHOD
1. Soak Black gram dal for one hour and drain.
2. Grind the soaked and drained dal with ginger and salt into a smooth and thick batter without adding water.
3. Mix crushed pepper, cumin seeds, green chillies, curry leaves, fresh coconut gratings and the Hituku Bele with the batter.
4. Heat oil in a kadai.
5. Wash your hands and place a ball of batter on your palm and pat it using the other palm, into a Vadae.
6. Make a hole in the center using a finger and gently slide the Vadae into the hot oil.
7. Cook the Vadae on medium flame till it is golden brown on both sides.
8. Remove it using a perforated ladle and drain on a paper towel.
9. The Vadaes can be cooked in batches. But do not forget to wash and keep your hands wet before patting each Vadae, so that the batter does not stick to your palm while sliding it into the oil.
Enjoy the Hituku Bele Vadae with Savoury Huggi after thanking Sun God for the bounty on Sankranti.
WISH YOU A VERY HAPPY AND PROSPEROUS SANKRANTI.
