ZUCCHINI-CARROT ADAI

Delicious Zucchini-Carrot Adais are my entry to Nupur from "One Hot Stove" blog's "A to Z Indian Vegetables" event.This week's letter is "Z", thanks for hosting Nupur!:)

Zucchinis:

Zucchini is European in origin,it was brought over by Italian immigrants, and probably got its start in California.The zucchini is low in calories, contains useful amounts of folate, Potassium and vitamin A.The zucchini has a delicate flavor and can use in quick cooking with butter or olive oil, with or without fresh herbs.There is no need to remove the skin.They are best undercooked.

Adai: Adai is a delicious and easy to make savory pancakes made with different kind of dals/pulses and rice.I use Brown rice to even more nutritions.Added with grated vegetables,they make a great breakfast,lunch or dinner.

Zucchini Adai with red Coconut chutney:

Adai is my favorite dish.Not only you don't need to ferment the batter, it is also chockful of protein with all the dals/Pulses we add to it.You can even enhance the taste and nutrients by adding many grated vegetables in the batter like I did here.Enjoy.

You need:

For batter: 1 cup Brown or white rice,1/2 Tuar dal,1/4 cup channa dal and 1/8 cup Urad dal,1 tsp cumin seeds,2 red dry chillies,salt and 2 tbsp yogurt.Pinch of baking soda as an option.
Vegetables: 1 cup grated Zucchini,1 Carrot grated, 1/2 small onion finely chopped,1 green chilly chopped(optional),1'2" grated ginger, 2 tbsp Cilantro,1 tbsp Mint leaves,1 Tomato finely chopped(optional).




Save 1/4 of zucchini for slicing to top the Adai.Slice the Zucchini into very thin slices,squeeze a little lemon juice on them and keep aside.


How to make them:



Soak the batter ingredients with just enough water to top the rice ,spices and dals for 2-3hrs. Add to the blender and grind everything together in batches until you get a coarse semolina/cream of wheat like paste.It should of thickish pouring consistency like dosa batter,may be little thicker than that.Now add all the chopped vegetables to the batter and now it's ready to make Adai.Adjust the salt,add soda if you like and mix.





Heat a non-stick pan until hot and turn down the heat slightly.Pour a ladle full of batter,spread to thick 6-7" circles.Immediately place 3 slices of Zucchini on top and press a little while batter is still soft on top.Drizzle some oil on top and the sides. When the bottom is golden,flip carefully and cook the other side until firm but not too long since Zucchinis will get too cooked.



Take it out on a plate and serve hot as soon as possible with red Coconut chutney.

Red Coconut chutney:
This is a relatively easy chutney most of you probably know already.I will give you my version anyway.It tastes great with Adais or any dosa or idlis.

You need: 1 cup fresh coconut, 3 tbsp Chana dal, 2 dry or fresh red chillies, 1 tsp Coriander seeds,2 tsp Urad dal,1 tsp Mustard seeds,3 tbsp plain yogurt,1/2" ginger, 1 garlic,salt and few Cilantro stems.(not cilantro leaves which makes the chutney green or skip it to be safe!;D)
How to make it:
1. Stir fry chana dal and Urad dal first in 1 tsp oil,then Mustard seeds,chillies and Coriander seeds in a pan until they are slightly reddish in color.
2. Add all the above ingredients including fried spices in a blender along with Yogurt and grind to a smooth paste.You can add little water if it's too thick to grind.
3. Take it out in a bowl,adjust the salt and serve.

That's it! Enjoy and have a great week!:))