NEEM FLOWER RAITA, VEMPAMPOO RAITA

You will think that the neem leaves are bitter so as the flower.  yes it is bitter but when you fry them in ghee, you will not feel much of the bitterness.  the flowers are usually available in the month of April during the beginning of the year i.e. New year (Varsha Pirappu) and the cuisines like vepampoo rasam, pachadi and raita are made.  if you cannot get fresh flowers, dried flowers are also available in the market.

neem flower rasam, vepampoo rasam
neem flower pachadi



Let us have look at the recipe:

It is very simple and easy to make.

Ingredients:

1 cup thick curd (fresh)
\salt as required
1 tsp ghee
1 tsp mustard seeds
1 tsp urid dal
1/2 red chilli broken into pieces
a pinch of asafoetida
curry leaves

Method:

Beat the curd with salt and asafoetida and keep aside.
heat ghee and add mustard seeds, urid dal, broken chillies and curry leaves.
when it is done, add to the beaten curd.
in the same kadai, fry the flowers till brown and add that too in the curd.
serve chilled.


If fresh flowers are not available,you can use the dried flowers.  you need not fry the dried flowers.
what i did was after putting the mustard seeds, urid dal, broken chillies and curry leaves before adding to the curd, i added the neem flowers and immediately transferred to the curd so that it does not get burnt.

Neem tree has lot of medicinal properties. few of them are:

Neem leaf is used for leprosy, eye disorders, bloody nose, intestinal worms,stomach upset, loss of appetite, skin ulcers, diseases of the heart and blood vessels (cardiovascular disease), fever, diabetes, gum disease (gingivitis), and liverproblems. The leaf is also used for birth control and to cause abortions.

The bark is used for malaria, stomach and intestinal ulcers, skin diseases, pain, and fever.


Apart from culinary use, the flower is used for reducing bile, controlling phlegm, and treating intestinal worms.  

THANKS FOR VISITING THE BLOG.  YOUR SUGGESTIONS ARE MOST WELCOME.