A refreshing end to any heavy meal.
Seasoned buttermilk or "Phana Thaak" as its popularly called, is easy to make too.
Buttermilk is originally the liquid left behind after churning butter out of cream.
But since most people buy ready made butter, we normally do not get buttermilk at home.
So the next easiest option would be to use curds.
Here is a Classic Raw Cashewnut Spicy curry called "Bibbe Song" which is sure to make your taste buds sing.
Cashew nuts are significant sources of iron (essential for red blood cell function and enzyme activity), magnesium (promotes energy release and bone growth), phosphorus (builds bones and teeth), zinc (essential to digestion and metabolism) and selenium (has important antioxidant properties, thus protecting the body from cancer).
To reduce sodium and added fats in the diet, avoid salted, oil-roasted cashew nuts.
The healthiest form would be raw cashew nuts or dry roasted cashew nuts.
"Song" has no specific meaning in Konkani, but this dish definitely makes your taste buds sing. As this curry dates back to the time when India was ruled by the British, I guess the educated English speaking Konkanis called this kind of dish as "Song".
This dish goes well with Puri's, Shevai (Indian rice noodles), chapatis and even rice and dal.
This dish is served in almost all weddings in the Coastal region of Karnataka during summer.
"Puri and Bibbe Song" or "Shevai and Bibbe Song" (Indian rice noodles), is a classic combination not to be missed.
Green chillies contains six times the amount of vitamin C as a single orange. They also have high amounts of the antioxidant beta-carotene, which supports the cardiovascular system, as well as helps maintain the health of the skin, eyes and immune system. Green chilies are a good source of iron and potassium.
Green tomato benefits include three times the amount of calcium as the red tomato. They also contain slightly more vitamin C than the red tomato.
Here is a simple side dish made of green tomatoes and Green chillies which is sure to tickle your palate to the maximum. Can be eaten with rice and dal, Curd rice or even with Dosas.
I learnt this dish from my Mom and Aunt.
Fish and seafood are rich in heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids, and eating fish and seafood is linked to lower rates of heart disease. Even though crabs are low in total fat, they are still a good source of omega-3 fatty acids. A three-ounce portion of cooked crab has about 300-500 milligrams of the healthy fats. That's about the daily amount recommended for healthy people. Crabs are also a lean protein source. And although they do contain cholesterol, crabs are very low in saturated fat, which is more important than cholesterol for maintaining healthy blood lipids.
Here is a dish made using blue crabs, which I learnt from my Mom and aunt.
A favourite among all of us especially kids.
Use the non-spicy red chilli powder if required, and a point to note, since crab meat is sweet and so are the red onions, the dish will not be as spicy as it looks.
"Madgane'" or "Chana dal payasam" is a dessert made of Split Chickpeas and Jaggery.
A traditional Konkani dessert made on almost all festivals and functions.
Chana dal or Split Bengal grams, is baby chickpeas that have been split and polished. They look and taste like small kernels of sweet corn and work well in soups, salads, and rice dishes.
Chana dal is high in fiber and help to lower cholesterol.
· Apart from having a great taste, it also has a very low glycemic index, which is important for those with diabetes.
· Chickpeas are a helpful source of zinc, folate, calcium and protein
· Chickpeas are low in fat and most of it is polyunsaturated.
I learnt this dessert from my Mom, who is an expert in making this.
I have however simplified it by using readymade "Coconut milk" as compared to my Mom who makes coconut milk at home, which is a slightly tedious process.
Here is a good drink for summer evenings using Muskmelon.
The muskmelon or cantaloupe, is a perfect summer fruit. It's high water content can help take care of the fluid loss that our bodies go through due to perspiration in this season. It also helps to combat the heat in the body and thus, prevents heat-related disorders during summer.
If you are someone who is constantly counting calories then you should go the muskmelon way. This fruit is good for people who want to lose weight because it isn't high in calories or sugar, and can work as a great snack for those in-between-mealtimes when hunger pulls you towards unhealthy food items.
This drink, made from Muskmelon and Honey is as healthy as it can get. Honey we all know is very good for our health and a healthy replacement for sugar.
My daughter and I created this drink and its my daughter who combined the names "Melon" and "Honey" and called it "Meloney".
Here is a another dish from the Ugadi menu, 'Chickpeas and Butterfruit simmered in Roasted Coconut gravy'.
Breadfruit is low in Saturated Fat, Cholesterol and Sodium and very high in Vitamin C, Dietary Fiber and Potassium. The nutritional value of breadfruit helps you to maintain optimum health.
They are a very good source of folic acid, fiber, and manganese.They are also a good source of protein, as well as minerals such as iron, copper, zinc, and magnesium. They are good source of fiber, and can help lower cholesterol and improve blood sugar levels. This makes them a great food especially for diabetics and insulin-resistant individuals.
This dish has both Chickpeas and Breadfruit, simmered in Roasted coconut gravy and made on special days like festivals and functions.
