Methi Leaves Lemon Rasam / Vendhaya Keerai Elumichai Rasam

For this week's Organic Kitchen, am going to share an excellent recipe with home grown Methi Leaves and Lemon. Its a very simple Rasam recipe but has huge health benefits. Methi Leaves are easy to grow in even your kitchen in a small container. It is good to include Methi leaves into our diet regularly to keep our system hale and healthy.

Methi / Fenugreek leaves are  used in treating Gastro Intestinal issues, as well as allergies or congestion of the upper respiratory zone.It also has great effect on the blood lipid levels and reduces the risk of atherosclerosis. Also it is well proven that Fenugreek lowers blood sugar levels of Type II diabetics by a huge percentage.It is rich in fibre and also nutrients that promote hair growth.

Here you go for the recipe:

Step By Step 

Happy Cooking :) 

Baby Jackfruit Masala / Palakaai Masala

Palakaai Masala / Baby Jackfruit Masala is a Chettinaad special which I learnt from my mother. Even she does a flavourful Kuzhambu with this. Baby Jackfruit resembles Mutton Pieces in texture and it is called as the Vegetarian's Meat by my Mom :) Happy to share another recipe of her in my space.

Here is the recipe:

Happy Cooking :) 

Spring Onions Rasam

Spring Onions are the young onion plants that are harvested before the bulbs bulges. The Greenish tubular leaves as well as the pearl white bulbs, both are edible and you can see every other Chinese dish will have these Spring Onions. It not only adds a unique flavour to the food but also offers a lot of health benefits.

They are rich in antioxidants and the Vitamin C in abundance helps in reducing blood Cholesterol levels and the Sulphur reduces the risk of Coronary Heart Diseases. It also helps in reducing Blood Sugar Levels. Its a very good appetizer and aids in digestion. It also helps in improving bone density.

Wanted to try Rasam with Spring Onions and it really turned out to be good and quite flavorful. It can be served as Soup as well. A new recipe to my Rasam Series :)

Happy Cooking :) 

  

Special Tomato Rasam / Arachuvitta Thakkali Rasam

Yet another delicacy in my Rasam Series which is little rich when compared to normal Tomato Rasam. The Garlic ground with the Tomato gives a great flavour to this Rasam. Well ripened tomatoes need to be used which gives that tangy effect and it has only a very little of tamarind. If the Tomatoes are very tangy, the tamarind shall be omitted.

Happy Cooking :) 

Idicha Rasam / Hand Pounded Rasam

A quick and easy to make recipe in minutes which my grandma always makes and it tastes heaven with hot rice. There is no need for Rasam Powder or Mixer for making this tasty Rasam. The Masala is hand pounded using a pestle and mortar hence the name Idicha Rasam (Hand pounding in English).

Happy Cooking :)

Cauliflower Lemon Rasam

Cauliflower is one of the Cruciferous Veggie that is rich in Vitamin C and K. It offers a lot of health benefits and it is recommended to include this veggie to our diet at least once in a week. To list out few of the benefits of Cauliflower intake,

1. Rich in antioxidants and Fights Cancer

2. Very good for a Healthy Heart

3. Boost Brain Health

4. Rich in Dietary Fiber and hence aids in better digestion

Cauliflower is normally made into curries or fry or gravy...but once in a while my mom used to make Rasam with Cauliflower which can be consumed as Soup as well as Rasam (with Cinnamon, Coconut Milk, Fennel she used to make). I made here a different version with Moong Dhall and Lemon which is very delicious and light on stomach. A must try recipe when we have some guests for a special meal.

Cleaning the Cauliflower: 

Normally the Cauliflower is highly prone to pest attack and the most prevalent pest would be DIamond Back moth, whose caterpillar and Pupal forms will be found in between the florets which is not easy to remove through naked eye and even a tedious job. In order to remove any worms and pupal cases, Boil three cups of water with little salt and turmeric powder, Cut the florets and add it to boiling water,switch off and cover it and after few minutes remove the florets and wash with cold water.

Would love to hear your feed backs :) 

Drumstick Moongdhall Rasam / Murungaikai Pasiparupu Rasam

Drumstick is not only known for their unique flavour but also for their innumerable health benefits. It has a prominent place in South Indian Cuisine. Be it a Sambar, Masala or Kootu it imparts a great flavor and taste. It has lot of health benefits. It helps in building bones, purifies blood and aids in digestion. It is also known to ease respiratory disorders and lowers blood sugar level too.

I have came across so many blogs with Drumstick Rasam Recipes, and I always wanted to try my own version. I have combined it with Moong Dhall instead Toor Dhall in order to enhance the taste and make it more healthier version. It is very light on stomach and hence people recovering from illness can also take this. It can also be taken as a soup.

Sure you will find it tasty and filling too :) 

Manithakkali Keerai /Black Night Shade Tomato Kootu

Manithakkali Keerai which is called Black Night Shade is a miraculous green with in numerous health and medicinal benefits. It has anti inflammatory properties and are a rich store of antioxidants. It is found to have a great use in curing mouth ulcers. It is a store house of Vitamin C and it also has lot of minerals. Due to their huge medicinal qualities they occupy an important place in Indian Medicine. It revitalizes the body and give energy to our system to work tireless all through the day. It also serve as an excellent appetizer.

We have this grown in our Kitchen Garden at my native and the organically grown healthy greens are delicious when made into Sambar or Kootu. Here's one simple recipe of kootu which combines the Moong Dhall and the Manithakkali greens which is very good for ulcer patients and people who are recovering from long term illness.

Horse Gram / Kollu Rasam

The Miracle Pulse they say..Yes its none other than the Horse Gram...Have you ever wondered why this name to this Pulse...It is fed to Race Horses to have a control on weight and to give more stamina and hence the name.

The health benefits of this Pulse is in numerous...It is proven to have anti bacterial, anti fungal, anti oxidant properties.It is rich in protein, iron and calcium. It aids in Weight Loss and a great cure for cough and cold. It has less Lipid and Sodium content which is ideal for Obesity and Diabetic patients. By including this in our diet we can keep us Young and Vibrant (Isha Sadhguru says it)

Here's an interesting recipe which can be consumed as soup or taken with hot rice as Rasam and it is one healthy and tasty soup, good for sore throat.

It tastes really good as Soup especially when you have Cold and Fever.. :) 

Neem Flower / Vepampoo Rasam

Neem Tree is a miracle tree and every part of it offers in numerous health benefits. Neem Flowers are used in alternative medicine to treat various ailments in India. It can be used both in fresh and dried form. The flowers can be dried when they are available in plenty during the season and can be used to treat digestive disorders. It also proven that it improves eye sight and helps in treating intestinal worms in kids. Neem flower oil makes your hair healthy, detoxifies the blood, improves liver health and balances the blood sugar level in the body.Here's an amazing Rasam recipe with this miraculous flowers that is loaded with medicinal values.

Love to hear your valuable feed backs..:)

Kadigara Rasam

In my Rasam Series, this is yet another interesting recipe from my grandma and the name itself shows that..Isn't it ? As a child, I always loved to hear her cooking stories that she tells every day to make me sleep..She tells a lot of Rasam Varieties and this name when she says every time, I laugh like anything..and hence this remains evergreen in my mind... I never had that curiosity to ask her the reason behind this name...
Yes...Its Kadigara Rasam my Grandma calls it...

Not only it has unique name but it has unique taste too..Its nothing but the rice washed water that we call Kazhuneer which imparts a unique color and taste to this Rasam..

Try this one and you will definitely have a special liking for it :)

Tangy Pineapple Lemon Rasam

Pineapple is my all time favorite  and I just love the flavor. This Rasam is one which is usually served in marriages and the richness is unbeatable. Normally it is done with tomatoes but I tried here with Lemon which imparts a unique taste to it. You can opt for this recipe when you are cooking for your guests or at any special occasions...

You can also add a teaspoon of Rasam Powder if you want it to be more spicy..

Love to hear from you :)

Mixed Veggies Kuruma Kuzhambu

This is one recipe which is my Mom's signature recipe I would say and for the flavor and aroma that will appetize everyone at home whenever she makes this...The best part is we get the nutritive value of all the veggies in a more tastier way..Goes well with hot rice and even Idly, Dosa, Chapathi and Pooris. And its the best recipe to make when you have one or two of all veggies where we always end up in Avial,Kootu or even Kadhamba Sambar.

Thanks to Mom for such a great recipe which is most liked by all at home..

Try it and you will sure enjoy it :) I personally love this as side dish for creamy curd rice :)

Spicy Onion Rasam / Vengaya Rasam

In my Rasam Series, its yet another authentic and flavourful Rasam which is very close to my heart as this being the first Rasam Variety that my grandma taught me. A recipe which can be made in a jiffy and its flavour will simply mesmerize..and its very appetizing too. It goes well with Hot Rice and Coconut Mango Thogayal.

Try out and you will agree with me..I am a great fan of this particular recipe..

Purple Fruited Pea Eggplant / Thuduvalai Rasam

Purple Fruited Pea Eggplant / Thuduvalai is a miracle medicinal plant referred to as Kayakalpam in Siddha Medicine. Its a thorny bush variety which is loaded with medicinal properties. Dried leaves are powdered and used in Siddha Formulations to cure Asthma and Flu. It also increases blood circulation in body. Fresh Leaves can be consumed as Chutney or Rasam.

Thuduvalai Rasam is a flavorful and delicious one which is good for people suffering from cold and rhinitis. This one can also be consumed as soup. Must try recipe :)