Vazhaithandu Vadai / Plantain Pith / Plantain Stem Vadai

For this week Organic Kitchen, the ingredient is a fiber rich one. Vazhaithandu (Plantain Pith / Plantain Stem in English) is also referred to as Fiber of Health. The Banana stem contains many nutrients that are vital for a healthy body.

Having the Banana stem in our foods will prevent constipation and ulcer, as it contains sufficient fiber for our body.It is a rich source of fibre and helps in weight loss. The high fibre content creates a feeling of satiation and reduces the intake of food and hence a part of diet plans.

 It also helps ease constipation. Banana stem is rich in potassium and vitamin B6 just like the fruit. Vitamin B6 helps in production of hemoglobin and insulin. Also it improves the ability of the body to fight infection. Potassium helps in the proper functioning of muscles, including the cardiac muscles. It also helps prevent high blood pressure, and maintain fluid balance within the body. Banana stem is said to be a diuretic and helps detoxify the body. It is used prevent and treat kidney stones.

Here is a recipe of Vada with this excellent fiber rich ingredient. This recipe is very popular in Chettinad.

Happy Cooking :) 

 

Red Rice Horse gram Adai / Sivaparisi Kollu Adai

Adai..a nutritious and filling food for brekkie or even dinner and this gives out a whole lot of variations to play with. I have already posted here Quinoa Brown Rice Adai  and Idly Batter using Red Rice.

In this recipe I have combined the fiber rich Red Rice along with Healthy Horse Gram. For health benefits of Horse Gram / Kollu check out here. This is a very tasty and healthy adai recipe and served hot with butter and Cane Sugar / Coconut Chutney / Avial.

Happy Cooking :) 

Potato Peanut Murukku / Potato Peanut Chakli

Rainy days are here and kids always wish to munch on some crispy snacks..Isn't it? Wanted to make some Crunchy Muruku at home for my son for evening munches. This version of Murukku made with Potato and Peanuts are really crispy and kids will sure love it. A cup of flour and a potato makes at least 15 medium sized chaklis. Of course, we get a great satisfaction on making something healthy for our kids.

Here is the recipe which is really easy peasy..

Happy Cooking :) 

Urd Dhall Millet Protein Mix / Ulundhu Samai Kanji

Ensuring that the Kid's daily needs of Protein met is always a biggest challenge for all moms. That too if the kids are allergic to lactose and milk based products, it is even more worrying. We have had a lot of excellent health mix being prepared by our grandparents and we have always relished them where there are no commercial health mix products. For this week's Organic Kitchen am going to share an excellent source of Protein keeping the lactose allergic children and those who are looking for vegan protein supplement to meet the daily protein needs. Made a small change to the mix by enhancing it with Millet which is yet another miraculous food. Yes, It is Urd Dhall Millet Protein Mix, made with Urd Dhall and Little Millet. Kids will love to drink this flavourful Organic drink and it would be a best kick starter of the day in busy mornings.

Urd Dhall 

This dal is one of the richest sources of proteins and Vitamin B. Urad dal is also good for women as it has iron, folic acid, calcium, magnesium, potassium which makes it a healthy pulse.For those who do not eat meat or fish, have black gram as it is rich in protein which is much required by the body.
Urad dal, also known as white lentil or black lentil that is mostly used in Southern part of Asia. Urad dal is used as a major ingredient in Indian cuisine for preparing a healthy diet. Urad dal has protein, fat, and carbohydrates which is required by the body.
Urad dal is also good for women as it has iron, folic acid, calcium, magnesium, potassium which makes it a healthy pulse. It is extensively utilized in various culinary preparations such as dosa,papad and vada.

Scientifically - Vigna mungo
English - Black Gram
Hindi - Urad dhuli, Urad chilka, Urad sabut , Urad saboot,Kali dal 
Tamil - Ulundu Paruppu 
Telugu - Minappappu
Malayalam - Uzhunnu Parrippu 

It has lots of health benefits
- Excellent Energy Booster
- Rich source of Protein
- Anti inflammatory
- Improves Digestion
- Loaded with magnesium and folate that prevent damage to the arterial walls. In addition, magnesium boosts cardiovascular health through enhancing blood circulation
- Anti Ageing Properties

Little Millet / Samai 

Scientifically - Panicum sumatrense 

Hindi - Moraiyo, Kutki, Shavan
Bengali - Sama
Tamil- Samai
Gujarati - Gajro, Kuri
Telugu - Samalu
Marathi - Sava, Halvi, Vari
Oriya - Suan
Kannada - Saame

It is a miraculous millet which is suitable for all age groups.It prevents constipation & heals stomach related ailments.It improves fertility in both men and women.It also helps for women with irregular periods problems.Its high fiber helps to reduce the fat depositions in the body.In general millet is gluten-free and non-allergenic. A great grain for sensitive individuals.

Here you go for the recipe :

Have a Healthy Week :) Welcome your feed backs :) 

Malpuas - A Delicacy to Relish

Today being my 14th weeding anniversary, I made these traditional Malpuas which are nothing but deep fried yet softy Pancakes drenched in sugar syrup and served warm garnished with nuts and saffron. It is a North Indian Sweet and is a offered to Lord Jagannath as mornining neivedhyam. This is also a popular sweet made during Holi Festival. I have shared here my own version of Thinai Malpua (Foxtail Millet Malpua) here with Rabdi. Today I am sharing the recipe of traditional Malpua made with Refined Flour.

Happy Cooking :) 

Vizham Pazha Pachadi / Wood Apple Sweet Pachadi

For this week Organic Kitchen, I am going to share a long forgotten grandma recipe which we can make only during the Vinayagar Chathurthi Season...Guess what? It is a recipe with a very healthy fruit that is considered to be one of the most favourite of Lord Ganesha..Yes, It is none other than our own Vizham Pazham or Wood Apple. 

Scientifically - Limonia acidissima 

Also known as - Elephant apple, monkey fruit, vilampazham, Belada Hannu, Bael fruit, Kath bel

It is indigenous to South India. It is also cultivated in. tropical Asia.

Wood apple, also called as Elephant apple as it is the favourite of elephants.Hence this fruit is offered to Elephant-headed God, Lord Vinayaka, on Ganesh Chathurthi.

The thick rind must be cracked with a hammer and the pulp is scooped out along with the soft seeds that are embedded which is eaten raw or with palm sugar.The pulp of an unripe fruit is sour in taste.

It is rich in  mineral and vitamin, like calcium, phosphorus, iron, carotene, thiamine, riboflavin, niacin and also has abundance of oxalic, malic citric acid and a concentrated tannic acid.

It is an antidote for poisons and also helps in curing sore throat. 100 gms of this fruit pulp provides 140 calories and is therefore, a good energy booster.The ripe fruit is refreshing, aromatic, digestive and a tonic. It is useful in preventing and curing scurvy(a vitamin C deficiency). It is also useful in preventing cancer of the breast and uterus and helps cure sterility due to a deficiency of the hormone progesterone.

Am going to share a very simple recipe made with this wood apple.

Step By Step Illustration

Happy cooking :) 

Thudhuvalai Podi / Thudhuvalai Rice Mix

Thudhuvalai is called Purple Fruited Pea Egg Plant and it has lot of medicinal benefits. I have already shared a flavourful Rasam Recipe in my page here. Its Botanically called Solanum trilobatum as it has three lobed leaves and belongs to the family of Brinjal. It is used in many Ayurvedic and Siddha preparations to cure Asthma and Tuberculosis, and prolonged cold and cough. It is also known to have antimitotic properties (preventing cell division in tumerous cells) and hence acts as anticancerous agent as well. It has well pronounced anti bacterial and anti fungal properties too.

For this week's Organic Kitchen, I am sharing a very easy yet healthy rice mix using this medicinal leaves. This can be taken with hot steamed rice as well as with Idly and Dosa. This can be sprinkled in any of your curries to get the benefits of this leaves.

Step By Step Pictures

Happy Cooking :)