Murungai elai verumarisi adai

Murungai elai or Drumstick leaves or Moringa leaves are very rich sources of iron and vitamins. These leaves are also used in traditional medicines to cure a number of diseases. 
Nutritional analysis shows that these leaves are very high in protein and contain all of the essential amino acids, including two amino acids that are especially important for children's diets.

The only problem with murungai elai is that it is a time consuming task to remove the leaves alone for cooking. But definitely worth the effort.

Verumarisi in tamil means only rice. In this recipe we make a dosa batter with rice and make an adai. Hence the name.


Ingredients:
Dosa rice - 250 grams
Drumstick leaves - 50 grams
salt - to taste
Oil - to grease

Method:

• Soak the rice for about 4 hours.
• Grind the rice into a fine paste by adding as little water as possible.
• The rice batter should be very thick.
• Add salt and the drumstick leaves. Mix well so that the leaves are spread evenly.
• Heat a dosa tava. Grease with a little oil.
• Take a handful of the batter. Place it on the tava. Pat it with hand and make a round adai.
• The adai would be a thick one with about 0.5 cm thickness.
• Dip your hand in water and pat the adai so as to avoid the heat.
• Pour oil on the sides.
• Cook the adai on both sides.

Serve hot with chutney of your choice. 
I served with puli inji.

Tip:
To make the adai more interesting for kids, we can add little onion and carrots in the adai.

Wheat Rava Pulav

Wheat rava or broken wheat is a cereal grain. Its very rich in nutrients. We are generally used to having chapathis or parathas using wheat flour. Off late broken wheat is promoted by doctors so that it can help in reducing diabetes. I also use semolina or wheat rava or broken wheat in my kitchen as frequently as possible.

Here is one recipe to make pulav using broken wheat. I have tried to make this with as little oil as possible. So this would be an ideal recipe for weight watchers.

Ingredients:
Wheat rava - 1 cup (150 grams)
Onions - 50 grams
Vegetables - 2 cup (300 grams)
Water - 2 cups
Green chillies - 10 grams

Ginger/Garlic - 10 grams
Oil/Ghee - 25 grams
Garam masala powder - 15 grams
Turmeric and Salt - to taste

Method:

Finely chop the onions, green chillies, ginger and garlic.

In a kadai pour oil. Add the ginger/garlic, green chillies and the onions.

Saute until the onions turn brown. Add the vegetables.

Add salt, turmeric powder and garam masala powder.

Add the wheat rava. Fry for about a minute.

Add 2 cups of water. Cover and cook until the water is completely absorbed and the wheat is cooked.

Garnish with coriander leaves.

Wheat rava pulav is ready! Serve with raitha of your choice.

Linking this to Nivedhan's syf-hws-ginger who is hosting syf-cook-with-spices-series

Payar Mezhukkupuratti

HAPPY NEW YEAR to all my fellow bloggers. I am looking forward to more innovative recipes this year.

Payar or Achinga payar or long beans is a regular visitor to our kitchen. I love this mezhukkupuratti so much that I end up eating it with plain rice. Long beans is a very healthy item... Long beans is low in fat and offer an excellent source of protein, fiber, folic acid and complex carbohydrates.



Ingredients:
Pacha payar - 250 grams
Onions - 100 grams

Crushed Red chilly flakes - 1 tsp 
Turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp
Curry leaves - 1 sprig
Green chillies - 2 slit
Mustard seeds - 1/2 tsp
Coconut oil - 2 tbsp
Salt to taste

Method:

• Chop the payar/long beans into 1" long pieces.
• Chop the onions into thin long pieces.
• Heat oil in a frying pan,add mustard seeds,when it splutters add the chopped onions,green chillies,curry leaves and saute till it turns to lightly brown in colour.
• Add crushed chilly flakes,turmeric powder and saute until raw smell is gone.
• Add the chopped payar/long beans and salt and mix well.
• Sprinkle some water; cover and cook until beans is cooked.
• Open the lid and stir fry until slightly browned.

Serve with rice and Enjoy!

Linking this post to favorite-recipes-event-lentil.