Kodo Millet (Varagu) Mushroom Pulav

Today I prepared Varagarisi kaalan (Mushroom) pulav and it came out very tasty. In recent years when I looked for alternate food for normal rice, I came to know about the benefits of Siruthaniyam (Millets) like Varagu, Saamai, Kambu, Raagi, Kuthiraivali…. Also I tried many varieties with these millets and started enjoying the taste and the benefits. Atleast three days in a week, I used to prepare millets food which really brought miracles in my day to day life.

Millets are gluten free & rich in calcium,fiber,protein and minerals. It has high nutritional values when compared with rice and wheat. Millets are called as miracle grains or wonder grains. It is a great food for people looking for weight loss, diabetic and cardiac patients.

Varagarisi (Kodo millet) is basically digestion friendly millet. It helps to reduce the body weight which is most needed for obese people.It helps to overcome irregular period problems in women. It reduces nervous disorders especially in eyes and knee & joint pains. Also it is good for diabetic people.

Let us see the preparation of Varagarisi kaalan pulav (Kodo millet, Mushroom Pulav)

Ingredients

Varagarisi (Kodo Millet) – 1 cup

Milk Mushroom (or Button Mushroom) – 1 cup (Cleaned and sliced)

Big onion- 1 (sliced)

Cocnut milk – 2 Cups (thick)

Bay leaf- 1

Cumin Seed (Seeragam) – ¼ tspn

Cardamom (elakkai) – 1

Cinnamon (Pattai) – 1

Cloves (Lavangam) – 1

Oil – as required

Ghee – 2 tbspn

Chopped coriander leaf – 4 tbspn

To crush

Garlic pods – 5

Ginger - ½ inch

Small onion – 5

Green chilli – 2

Pudina (Mint) – handful

Crush all the above ingredients (Don’t grind it into paste)

Preparation

Heat a kadai and add oil. Once the oil get hot add bay leaf (brinji ilai), seeragam (cumin),Pattai , Lavangam, Elakkai. Let the ingredients fry for few seconds and then add chopped onion and fry until it become golden brown.

Then add crushed ingredients and sauté until the raw smell goes off. Add Chopped Mushroom and fry for few seconds then add 1 cup of water and let it boil.

Now add 2cups of coconut milk, salt and let it boil for few mins. Then add the washed Varagarisi and let it cook for 5 min in high flame. Then close the kadai using lid and let the ingredients cook for another 10 mins in slow fire. Then and then mix the ingredients so that it cook well.

Finally add Ghee and chopped coriander and mix it well.

You can add ghee roasted Cashew nuts at the end. (Optional)

Here goes your tasty yummy varagarisi kaalan pulav.

Curry leaves (Karuvepillai)

Today I would like to discuss the benefits of Curry leaves and why should we take it in our daily food. 

Commonly used as seasoning, this leaf adds a special flavor to every dish. However many of us will remove the curry leaf from our food and keep it aside in our plate. Especially kids never like it may be because of the little hardness and time taken to chew it. If we know the complete benefits of curry leaf, I think we don’t throw it out. Every parent should educate their kids about the benefits and uses of curry leaves so that they can enjoy the benefits.

Siddha and Ayurveda tell about the magic of curry leaves in our day to day life. Research proves that Curry leaves hold many medicinal benefits. Recent research shows that the regular intake of curry leaf reduces the risk of Cancer. 

Curry leaves packed with carbohydrates, fiber, calcium, phosphorous, irons and vitamins like vitamin C, vitamin A, vitamin B, vitamin E, curry leaves help your heart function better, fights infections and can enliven your hair and skin with vitality.

Curry leaves help your blood sugar levels by affecting the insulin activity of the body and reduces ones blood sugar levels. Also the type and amount of fiber contained within the leaves play a significant role in lowering blood sugar levels. So, if you suffer from diabetes, a Curry leaf is the best natural method to keeping your blood sugar levels in check.

To help keep your blood sugars under check, you should ideally add curry leaves to all your meals. Alternatively, consuming fresh curry leaves on an empty stomach every day might do the trick as well.

If you suffer from diarrhoea gently crush some Curry leaves into a ball (the size of a Goose berry), and drink it with buttermilk. Do this twice to thrice a day for relief.

Curry leaves has always been known to prevent greying of the hair due to the presence of various nutrients in the body. But it also very effective in treating damaged hair, adding bounce to limp hair, strengthening the shaft of thin hair, hair fall and treats dandruff. The best part about this benefit is that you can either choose to eat the curry leaves to help with your hair woes or apply it to your scalp as a remedy.

To help strengthen your hair and fight dandruff, add the juice of Curry leaves, to 100ml of coconut oil. Heat this oil till it turns blackish and apply it to your scalp regularly

 

So, the next time you see curry leaves in your plate, don’t throw away but eat them to reap their amazing health benefits.