Pudina Chutney

Pudina Chutney

Whether you want to use pudina chutney for dosa or pudina chutney for idli, this chutney, also known as mint chutney, is a right choice.  In fact, pudina chutney is an excellent side dish for rava idli.  Thanks to the pudina’s fine aroma and taste.  This side dish also has nutritients.  According to the USDA National Nutrient Database data, mint is rich in, among others, water, calcium, iron, potassium and vitamin A.

Pudina also scores well on the availability point – You can find it in the market, usually, throughout the year.  If you want to make chutney, juice or another cuisine from this green leaves, make sure you buy them fresh.  It is because old pudina leaves may have fewer nutrients.

You can easily grow pudina / mint in your backyard or kitchen garden.  Just plant one of the sprigs, preferably with the root, of the pudina you buy.  Take care of it, and you are sure to get a plenty of yield.

Now, back to the pudina chutney.  It has two variants.  The first variety is prepared without using coconut and is ideal for dishes like samosa. The second type is made with coconut and is good for idlis and dosas.

Do you need any special ingredient to make pudina chutney? Not at all.  In fact, the common items like coriander leaves, coconut and, of course, the pudina leaves, is all you need to make this side dish.

For step-by-step instructions, with photos, on how to make pudina chutney, visit:

http://southindianvegrecipes.com/chutney_recipes/how_to_make_pudina_chutney.html

Raw Beetroot Salad

Beetroot Salad

Do you know that beetroot, also known as beet, helps maintain good health?  Here are just a few of the health benefits of this vegetable:  Research studies indicate that beetroot can lower blood pressure.  Some research indicates that beetroot can be used to control tumor growth.  What is more, there is research evidence that beetroot improves cognitive abilities.  As a rich source of Vitamin A, beetroot is good for eye health.

Beetroot is also a rich source of calcium and Vitamin C and minerals like potassium and sodium.

Here is more good news about this vegetable:  It is available throughout the year.  When you buy beetroot, make sure it is fresh.  Old beetroot usually tastes bitter.

How can you include this wonder-food – beetroot – in your diet? One way is to make a raw beetroot salad.

Here is how to make beetroot salad:

Beetroot salad recipe - Ingredients

Servings: 1

1. Small Beetroot 1
2. Small Onion 1
3. Small Tomato 1
4. Salt
5. Pepper Powder (optional)
6. Lemon Juice (optional)

Beetroot salad recipe -Method

1. Wash the beetroot.
2. Peel its skin.
3. Grate the beetroot.
4. Chop the tomato into small, cube-shape pieces
5. Chop the onion into small, cube-shape pieces.
6. Add salt to taste.
7. Add pepper powder to taste (optional).
8. Add lemon juice to taste (optional).
9. Mix all the ingredients well.

Raw beetroot salad is ready!

TIP: If you do not like to eat just the raw beetroot salad, you can use it as a side dish for chapati or phulka.

Visit southindianvegrecipes.com for recipes for a range of south Indian vegetarian dishes.

Nutrient Data Source / Research Data Source include: USDA National Nutrient Database, ahajournals.org.

Murukku | How to make Murukku

Murukkus and Murukku Machine

Murukku is a south Indian vegetarian snack that has stood the test of times.  It is a food that is popular since many, many years.  Although it is a deep-fried snack, still, generally, everyone likes it.  What is that in murukku that makes it appealing to many?  The tastiness and crunchiness of murukku, perhaps, are the reasons for its fame.

By the way, murukku is also known by such names as chakli and chakkuli.

With coffee or tea, murukku could make a superb evening snack, especially on a cold or rainy day.  Do, however, have a control on how much you eat it, because this is a fried food.

To make murukkus, you need the murukku machine, which is usually available in stores that sell utensils.  These are made from copper, aluminum or steel.  Three or four types of murukku templates are also given to you when you buy the machine.  The templates enable you to make different shape and size murukkus.

Do you need to have any special ingredient to make this snack? Fortunately, no.  The items you use in everyday-cooking are all you should have to make murukku.  Rice flour is the main ingredient of this food.  The other things you need include red chilies, roasted gram dal and red chili powder.

You can store murukkus for many days.  A point you should also keep in mind on how to make murukku is that after you make this snack, you should store it in an air-tight container so the murukkus do not become soft.

For details on how to make murukku, please visit:

http://southindianvegrecipes.com/snacks_recipes/how_to_make_murukku.html

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