Onion Juice

My first experience with Onion juice was weird and unusual because of it strong and pungent smell. We normally use onions in cooking for its taste and flavor. But I never taught of including raw onion juice in my diet. Recently, I was unwell due to cold, chillness and cough. My mother-in-law made a concoction of raw onion juice with honey and gave 50 ml of this juice for 3 days. I felt a lot better without taking any medications.

It not only helps to reduce chillness, cold and cough but after researching it further , I came to know that prevents graying of hair and has anticancer properties.  You can use any variety of onions to make this juice. Red onions and shallots are quiet spicy. If you cannot take the heat, then you can use white or yellow onions.


For adults 50 ml of this juice can be given and for kids upto 5ml can be given per day.

Ingredients

1 Onion (red/yellow/white), cubed

1 tsp Honey

1/2 cup of Water

Method

• Grind onion into a smooth paste using a blender
• Add water to it and use a strainer to extract juice
• Add honey and well.
• Serve immediately

Note: Do not throw the left over onion after straining. You can use it to make curries or soups

Barley & Horsegram Ganji

A phenomenal traditional protein drink to cleanse the digestive track. Roasted barley and horsegram are  powdered which is mixed with water and finely chopped vegetables. All these ingredients are pressure cooked. The end result is just as mellow and smooth. To add a little heat freshly ground pepper powder is added.

A regular intake of this porridge helps to reduce blood sugar and cholesterol. The horsegram also helps to remove kidney stones and lowers high blood pressure.

Ingredients

For ganji powder-

1 cup Barley

1 cup Horse gram 

For ganji-

2 cups of any kind of vegetables (carrots, onions, tomato, cucumber, radish...)

2 tsp Ganji Powder

Salt

Pepper

4 cups of water

Handful of cilantro, finely chopped

Method

• For ganji powder-
• Roast barley and horse gram separately. After it cools, make a smooth powder
• You can store this powder upto 6 months in an airtight container
• Preparing ganji-
•  Mix all ingredients listed under ganji.  Adjust salt and pepper as per taste
• Pressure cook upto 3 whistles
• Garnish with cilantro and serve immediately

Kathirikai Podimas

An incredible sauteed brinjal recipe made with freshly ground spices. The podi (means "powder") is made from roasted bengal gram, pepper, cumin seeds and red chili. 

This is a slow roasted and time consuming recipe. But its worth  all the time spent on this recipe. The best combo are  when served with curd rice, chapathi and as a side dish with sambar rice. 

Ingredients

1 kg Purple brinjals, diced

1/2 tsp Turmeric powder

Salt

1/2 cup Oil

For podi - 

2 tsp Bengal gram

1/2 tsp Cumin seeds

1/4 tsp Pepper corns

5-8 Byadgi red chilies

Method

• Roast all the ingredients listed under podi together in a pan. Let it cool

• Grind it into a smooth powder

• On a preheated pan, add oil. When it turns smoky, add brinjal and turmeric powder. Saute on medium heat for 20 minutes until it is completely cooked and water is completely evaporates

• Add the freshly prepared podi powder and season it with salt. Mix well and saute on low heat for 5 minutes

• Serve with curd rice, chapathi or sambar rice

Ragi Ganji | Finger Millet Porridge

Ragi Ganji is the most healthiest drink of all due to its immense health benefits. This drink can be given to all age groups. Ragi is a good source of calcium and that's why it is given to toddlers to strengthen bones. 

Ragi ganji is usually served for breakfast. Ragi contains an amino acid called tryptophan, it reduces appetite which is good for weight loss. Ragi is low in glycemic response, which good for diabetic patients.

For me, this is a re-energizing drink after morning workout. Initially, I was skeptical of having this drink, but after my mother-in-law showed me how to prepare this rejuvenating drink; it tasted simply great!!

Ingredients

1 cup Ragi Flour
1/2 cup Milk
1 tsp Sugar
Pinch of Salt
3-4 cups of water

Method

• Mix ragi flour and water in a pot and bring it boil while stirring frequently. As it starts to thicken, add sugar, salt and water to adjust the level of thickness. About 10 minutes on medium heat
• The ragi flour color starts to deepen while it cooks. Add milk and stir well. Boil for another 2-3 minutes
• Serve hot with chopped nuts on top

Oats Ganji |Oats Porridge

Start your day with Oats porridge. Enjoy this hearty low calorie breakfast which helps to reduce blood sugar level, reduces risk of diabetes, removes bad cholesterol; and protects against heart disease and cancer.

Ingredients

1 Cup Oats

500 ml Water

1/2 tsp Salt

Method

• Mix together water and oats. Bring it to boil while stirring occasionally. Adjust  the thickness by adding water

• Season it with salt

• Serve hot

Vankaya Pulusu | Tangy Brinjal Curry

Vankaya Pulusu -  truly and Andhra delight !! 
Spicy and tangy brinjal curry is infused with bold flavors of pepper, tamarind pulp, onions and garlic  which is cooked with brinjals and tomatoes.  This is a good home cooking recipe made in just 35 minutes

I really enjoyed this tasty dish. My in-laws are in town for a vacation and everyday my mother-in-law is teaching me a new recipe. I adore my in-law' s cooking techniques and usage of spices which are freshly prepared. Vankaya pulusu is new to me, I just relished its magnificent flavors of both spicy and tangy.  


Prep Time- 10 minutes
Cooking time - 30 minutes

Ingredients

1/2 kg Purple Brinjals, cubed

1 Tomato, finely chopped

1 tsp Chili-Coriander powder

1/4 tsp Turmeric powder

1/2 cup of Tamarind extract

Salt

For Spice powder

2 tsp Bengal gram

1/2 tsp Pepper

For Masala

1 Onion, cubed

4 Garlic cloves

For seasoning

4 tsp Oil

1/2 tsp Mustard seeds

1/4 tsp Fenugreek seeds

1/2 tsp Cumin seeds

Method

• Roast bengal gram and pepper. After it cools, make a smooth powder (Spice powder)

• Make a coarse paste of onion and garlic
• Heat oil in a pan, add all the ingredients listed under seasoning

• When oil starts to sizzle, add brinjal and onion-garlic paste. Saute for 5-10 minutes 

• Add tamarind pulp, tomato, chili-coriander powder and turmeric powder. Add water to adjust thickness. Simmer for 5-10 minutes
• Add the freshly prepared spice powder and cook for another 5 minutes

• Serve hot with steamed rice

Mushroom Thokku

Thokku is a  typical South Indian semi gravy recipe which involves slow cooking of vegetables until they are completely cooked and oil separates out from rest of the ingredients. 

Mushroom thokku is a delicious and a wonderful combination of mushrooms and tomatoes cooked with fennel, chili powder and garlic. This delicacy served with hot rice or chapathi. 

Cooking+ Preptime : 30 min

Ingredients

250 gms Mushrooms, cubed

1 Onion, finely chopped

1 Tomato, finely chopped

1 tsp Ginger-garlic paste

4 tsp Oil

1 tsp Mustard seeds

1/2 tsp fennel seeds

1/4 tsp Turmeric powder

1 tsp Chili powder 

1/4 tsp Coriander powder 

Salt

Handful of cilantro

Method

• Heat oil in a pan until smoky. Add mustard seeds and fennel seeds. When it starts to crackle, add onions until it turns transparent

• Then add mushrooms and mix well. Cook for 5 min

• Next add tomatoes and cook for 5 minutes

• Next, add ginger-garlic paste, turmeric powder, coriander powder, chili powder. Stir for few seconds 

• Season it with salt , cook until thokku thickens and oil separates out from rest of the ingredients in about 5 minutes. Top it with cilantro and serve hot