Manatakali/Kakkesappu-1

On this pleasant day, I  would like to mention about a magic keerai/leafy vegetable known as manathakkali(sukkuti keerai) Its English names are ‘black nightshade’, ‘sunberry’ and ‘wonder cherry’. The botanical name is Solanum nigrum.

It is called as Manathakkali in Malayalam, Kamanchi Chettu in Telugu, Makoy in Hindi, Kakkesappu in Kannada, and Black Nightshade in English.

Manathakkali is a wonder plant and has many nutritional and health benefits but the sad part is nowadays children and adults do not recognize this plant which grows in abundance and does not require much of water and soil fertility. These berries have been seen to work wonders with people who are suffering from ulcers either in the stomach or in the mouth and the pain is reduced immensely and slowly the ulcer gets healed. It is difficult to acquire these leaves, raw, and ripe berries at all times of the year as they are reasonable.

The health benefits of eating the green berries, and then the lushy turned-black berries raw is immense.

Manathakkali fruit pooli kozhambu.

 

Procedure:

Ingredients:

Green Manathakkali fruit : 2 cups

Small onions: Handful

Tomatoes: 2 medium

Garlic .: .handful

Tamarind: big lemon sized soaked in water.

Turmeric powder: 1/4 teaspoon

Chilly powder. : 2 teaspoon

Cumin powder. : 1 teaspoon

Coriander powder: 1 teaspoon

Process:

1)Heat oil, fry the fruits and keep aside.

2) Fry the onions,garlic,tomatoes till they turn mushy.

3) Add all powders,salt and tamarind extract.Add 2 cups of water and let it boil.

4)Now add the cooked Manathakkali fruit.

5) Add some pepper powder if you want a bit spicy.

6) Have it with hot rice.

Ofcourse with the leaves keerai poriyal,keerai kootu,keerai kadiyal can be prepared and with the green raw fruit a delicious gravy, flavored with tamarind.

Today I had prepared keerai kadiyal.

Procedure for kadiyal:

Onion.   : .1 big

Tomatoes .: 2 medium

Garlic: .6-7

Tamarind.  :. Lemon sized

Red chilies.   : 3

Manthakalli leaves: 1 bunch

For seasoning:

Mustards.  : 1 teaspoon

Oil .    :. 2 teaspoon

Process .:

1. Heat the oil, fry onions, Chillies, garlic, tomatoes and finally tamarind.

2. Let the onions turn brown and tomatoes mushy.

3. Grind all the ingredients, adding sufficient salt and water.

4. Season it with mustard seeds in hot oil.

5. It might feel a bit rough on your tongue but tastes delicious with hot rice as well as a healthy recipe.

I would share one more recipe of these leaves in my next blog