Karkitaka month falls between mid July and mid August. This is the monsoon season in Kerala and they have the practice of consuming Karkitaka Kanji also known as Marunnu Kanji or Oushdha Kanji. During this period, it is ideal to do Ayurvedic treatments and massages, and having the Karkidaka Kanji brings out an even better experience.The dish not only becomes a source of food but because of its beneficial impacts on the body, it is also considered to be a medicine. it is consumed as a 'course' for 7/14/21 days for its health benefits. Generally Navara rice is used for this kanji. There are many variations in preparation. Roasted onion or coconut milk can be added to the porridge before serving or it can be a plain kanji.
My friend Ash Ananth shared this porridge recipe and I followed hers by replacing rice with millet. The kanji was very filling, yet light. Thanks Ash for this wonderful recipe.
Dal Dhokli a traditional dish of Guajarati cuisine generally prepared with dals (lentils) and wheat flour as base ingredients. It has soft textured dhokli submerged in semi thick dal like lentil gravy and has mild sweet and spicy taste of aromatic spices and crunchy peanuts. Apart from being easy to prepare, healthy and stomach filling, this dal dhokli can be served as a one dish meal. I have used ragi flour for making dhoklis for this recipe and it turned out so yummy.
Enjoy Dal Dhokli with the goodness of ragi.
Coconut and coconut milk is widely used in Indian cuisine for ages. Vegetable brinji is a delicious one-pot vegan dish made with spices, coconut milk, rice and mix veggies. I have replaced rice with Barnyard Millet. This recipe is from Tamil Nadu. Coconut Milk strengthens immune system, promotes hair grown and its fat helps to retain the moisture of the skin. It is a healthy substitute for individuals who are lactose intolerant. It has anti inflammatory properties and antioxidants.
Kokum is a summer fruit which is power-packed with so much nourishment.It eases acidity and improves digestion. It has anti oxidants which helps in controlling diabetes and weight loss. It cools the body and prevents dehydration. Kokum is packed with many essential vitamins such as vitamin A, vitamin B3, vitamin C and minerals such as calcium, iron, manganese, potassium and zinc. Try this simple puliyohara recipe and enjoy its health benefits.
During winter season, we get a lot of fresh beans in India. One such beans is Lilva beans also known as Surti Papdi, Vaal or fresh Tuvar which is used in many dishes especially in Undhiyu or just spiced up Lilva tastes good with masala roti or poori. This recipe is a perfect blend of protein from Lilva, micro nutrients and fibre from other veggies, complex carbs from millets and fats from oil. Try and enjoy this simple pulav recipe during this winter season.
