BASIL PARATHA

Hot parathas are liked by everyone with a blob of butter on top of it or with spicy mango pickle, curd, sauce etc.  Here I am presenting a healthy herb paratha which is known as basil or ram tulsi.  

Basil, Thai basil, sweet basis is a common name of the culinary herb Ocimum Basilicum.  Basil is originally native to India.  Depending on the species and cultivar, the leaves may taste somewhat like anis with a strong, pungent, often sweet smell.  It is also used in Ayurvedic medicines.  I used to put them in Kadha (Kashayam).  It is used at the last moment for culinary use to preserve the aroma.

It is a rich source of dietary fiber, vitamins and minerals viz. A, B, C, E & K, Calicum, iron, magnesium, manganese, phospherous, potassium, sodium and Zinc.   it provides a wide range of health benefits, from treating nausea to indigestion, diabetes, constipation, respiratory problems and so forth.

The seeds are collected and stored and used for making Falooda.  It is known as subja or tukamaria.

The paratha made out of this was really awesome when it is served hot with Sauce, Mango Pickle and Curd since the leaves were freshly picked from my balcony garden.

Basil leaves paratha

watch youtube: basil paratha

MAYALU SUBZI

Malabar spinach, Vallicheera in Malayalam, Mayalu in Marathi, Pui shaak in Bengali, Poi ni bhaji in Gujarati, basale soppu in Kannada, Valchi Bhaji in Konkani, Poi saaga in Oriya, Bachaali in Telugu and Kodip pasali in Tamil. is high in Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Iron and Calcium.  It is also a rich source of soluble fiber.  It is also mixed with Non veg items.  This vegetable is also used n Chinese cuisine. and used to thicken soups or stri fries with garlic and chilli peppers.

I used to see this leafy vegetable in the market but never bothered to buy it.  Yesterday, I thought of buying Mayalu as well as Gongura or Ambada it is known as.  I was really happy to have the dishes made out this and repented for not trying it earlier.

Mayalu subzi

another varieriety of mayalu subzi watch youtube

AMBADECHI BHAJI, GONGURA SUBZI, GONGURA DAL

Gongura or Ambada it is known as is available in summer.  There are 2 varieties of this one with white stem and other with red. White gongura has a bitte, mildly astringent and have an acidic taste but both of them tastes extremely good.    It is also known as Hibiscus cannabinus aka red sorrel leaves, roselle.  Gongura in Telugu, Pulicha keerai in Tamil, Ambad bhaji, ambada, ambadi in Hindi.

Gongura pickle/pachadi is a popular authentic Andhra recipe.  It is rich in iron, vitamins, folic acid and anti oxidants.  It is highly recommeded for sugar and heart patients to maintain their diet.

It can be made with red and green chillies.  Pickle/thogayal also can be made with this.  It has got a sour taste and the dal made with tuvar dal was excellent with chapati and rice too.

watch youtube: ambadechi bhaji, gongura subzi, gongura dal     ambadechi bhaji, gongura subzi, gongura dal

PEARS KICHADI, PEARS RAITA

Pears kichadi or raita you can call is a very simple dish which goes along with dosa, idli, chapti and rice too.  I had few pears with me which was too soft and over ripe.  I could not cut them so I decided to grate them and make simple dish out of it.

Pears are packed with dietary fiber, anti oxidants, minerals and vitamins which are necessary for good health.  They contain Vitamin C, copper, iron, potassium manganese and magnesium as well as B complex vitamins such as folates, riboflavin and pyridoxine (vitamin B 6).

Pears are also useful in treating colitis, chronic gallbladder disorders, arthritis and gout.

JANGRI PAYASAM, JANGRI KHEER

I had bought one pack of jangri for the New Year yesterday.  Looking at that in the fridge, as no one was eating ( health conscious), thinking what to do with it.  Thought of making kheer out of it.  Tell you it was awesome when served chilled.

Today is Vishu.  Make this kheer and enjoy.

So why are u waiting?  Let us go to the kitchen to try this.

BROWN RICE TENDER COCONUT KHEER

Today is the Tamil New year and tomorrow Vishu.  Wishing all viewers, friends and relatives a Very Happy New Year and Vishu.

Today, I prepared this kheer and was liked by everyone.  I was bored of cooking the normal kheer and want to cook something different.  I had made the Kanji and Venni  today which is made for the Vishu.  I was also having the tender coconut pulp after making the Mango tender coconut drink, so thought of combining these two things and making the kheer out of it.

Today I was having holiday, I thought of making it today itself as I have to hurry up tomorrow and may not be in a position to cook everything.



Enjoy the different variety of kheer.

CLUSTER BEANS WATLI DAL

I have already posted watli dali recipe in my blog.  Watli dal is basically prepared with chana dal, bengal gram, kadala paruppu.  I  had olnly 50 gms of cluster beans with me ( no one eats at home) only I eat, I was thinking what to do with such small quantity.  Hence thought of making it as watli dal.

It goes well with plain rice, chapati.   watch youtube: cluster beans watli dal

STUFFED CHILLI BHAJIA

Since so many days I wanted to post this recipe but some how I could not do it.  My son is very fond of chilli bhaji, as soon as I make it, the plate will be empty.  So I never got a chance to click the photographs and posting the recipe got delayed for want of photograph.

The chillies were lying in the fridge since past one week and yesterday night only, I could make this and clicked the photographs.

After making the same, I also got the chance to click the photograph but also taste it leisurely and I loved it.  The potato filling which I made was awesome as per my judges.

For making this bhajia, we need bhavnagiri mirchi.   The stuffing has to be perfect for the taste of this bhajia and with sweet, green chutney, curd with little sugar, chaat masala, roasted cumin powder makes this more tasty.

 with sev, and chutneys

with sace

MANGO TENDER COCONUT DRINK

The heat is on and want to only drink something cold and not to eat.  that is the way of life now of our children during summer.  I always give them tender coconut right from February to May to keep the body cool through out the summer.

The king of fruit is available during summer plenty raw or ripe.  we make aam ka panha with raw mangoes.  mango milk shake with the ripe mango, ice cream, pachadi etc.  I had tender coconut and mango with me so thought of making a drink our of it.

Serve chilled this, you will love it.

mango tender coconut drink

watch youtube: mango tender coconut drink

VAZHAKA THORAN, RAW BANANA DRY SUBZI, PLANTAIN THORAN

Thoran or poriyal  a dry subzi is made as an accompaniment for sambar rice, rasam rice, morukootan rice etc.  Very simple and easy preparation with any one of the vegetables with some freshly grated coconut is awesome to have it with chapati too.

I have already posted avarakka poriyal.

watch youtube: vazhakai thoran, raw banana dry subzi