F - Fenugreek leaves stir fry

Today we are cooking a very healthy stir fry. Fenugreek leaves are very abundant in the season of summer. I love the ones which come in very small bundle. Especially when I am cooking only for myself only. This stir fry is very easy to make and can go with rasam, dal or even curd rice. 

On to the recipe and the things needed to make it

Ingredients

Fenugreek leaves - 2 cups

Small onions - 3 

Red Chilli- 1

Coconut Scrappings - 2 tbsp ( optional )

Salt to taste

Oil and Mustard seeds for tempering

Method

Clean the fenugreek leaves thoroughly three to four times
Its very important to clean it well as there are chances that mud might stay between the leaves
Peel the onions and chop them into fine pieces
Cut the red chilli into two piece and keep them aside
In a frying pan add a little oil
Once the oil is heated add mustard seeds and red chilli
Followed by the chopped small onions
Saute them over small flame and add salt to this.
Add fenugreek leaves and saute further.
Just drizzle water over the leaves and mix well.
Cook over low flame for about ten minutes and your stir fry is done
If you want add coconut scrapping towards the end and mix well

Check out the Blogging Marathon page for the other Blogging Marathoners doing BM# 63

An InLinkz Link-up

A- Arakeerai masiyal

The month of April is always time for marathon of cooking and blogging. This month we have chosen one cuisine to blog about and and at the same time follow a pattern of A-Z. I am super excited because this is the very first time that I was ready with all my dishes before the D-Day.

Throughout this month I will present to you simple day to day dishes, that has been in my household for a long time. All these dishes are very special since I have learnt them from my grandmother and mother. Cooking at my home is dominated by the flavors and aroma from Tirunelveli District. This is a small district towards the south most tip of India. I have my roots from this place, It is a place where my grandparents lived and my parents grew up. 

Today I bring to your plates, a very simple side dish made from the greens available near our homes. It is called Arakeerai Masiyal. Very simple to make and at the same time, loaded with Vitamin A. This can be mixed with rice or eaten along with sambhar rice. This masiyal tastes the best with kara Kulambu. Ooh.. delicious. 

Now on to the recipe, of the very easy Arakeerai Masiyal 

Ingredients 

Arakeerai - 2 cups

Garlic pods - 2

Green Chillies - 2 

For tempering - oil, mustard seeds and red chilies

Salt to taste

Method

Clean the greens and boil them along with garlic pods and green chillies

Let it cool down completely

Take the cooked greens in a blender and add salt to it

Make a smooth paste from the greens 

In a seperate pan, add a little oil and mustard seeds

Add the red chillies and wait till they sputter.

Pour this tempered mixture over the smooth paste of greens 

Serve this with sambhar or eat it as such with rice.

I had it with pepper potato and papad with steamed rice. 

Check out the Blogging Marathon page for the other Blogging Marathoners doing BM# 63


Check out the Blogging Marathon page for the other Blogging Marathoners doing BM# 63

An InLinkz Link-up

Keerai Saaru - BM#4

Diabetes and diet tip#1: Be smart about sweets
Eating for diabetes doesn’t mean eliminating sugar. But in order to get the most enjoyment out of sweets, it is best to save them for special occasions. After all, they are called treats for a reason. If you have diabetes, you can still enjoy a small serving of your favorite dessert now and then. The key is moderation.
How to include sweets in a diabetes-friendly diet
Eating sweets at a meal adds extra carbohydrates. Because of this it is best to cut back on the other carb-containing foods at the same meal. Carbohydrate-rich foods include all flour products (i.e. bread, tortillas, crackers), rice, cereal, fruit, juice, potatoes, corn, etc. This will help you keep your blood glucose levels on track. Just keep in mind that these carbohydrate-rich foods have many nutrients your body needs, so don’t substitute too often.
Tricks for cutting down on sugar
There are many ways to reduce your sugar consumption. Here are a few suggestions:
1. Make healthy substitutions. Substitute sparkling water for soda, a bowl of frozen fruit instead of ice cream, one slice of your favorite cheese instead of cake, a piece of fruit instead of pie.
2. Clear your kitchen of sweets and don't purchase them. Instead, you can enjoy a dessert when you are away from home.
3. Split dessert with a friend when out and enjoying a treat.
4. Slowly savor each bite when you do eat a treat.
5. Reduce or eliminate the amount of sugar called for in recipes.

As your eating habits become healthier, and you eat fewer sweets, your taste buds may shift. Foods that you used to love may seem too sweet. Instead healthier foods may become what you crave.

My recipe for the day is a healthy Keerai Saaru /Spinach extract. This can be had along with rice with papad as the side dish. This is one my Muthulakshmi paati's signature dishes.

Ingredients:

• Spinach - 2 cups ( cleaned, washed and cut into small pieces)


• Red chillies - 4


• Tamarind paste - 1/4 cup


• Tempering - oil, mustard seeds and curry leaves

To grind:

• Coconut - 3/4 cup


• Jeera ( Cumin Seeds )- 1/2 spoon

Method:

• Clean the spinach and wash it three or four times ( this is to ensure that we get rid of minute mud particles)


• Pressure cook the spinach for 3 whistles


• In the meanwhile grind the coconut and jeera in a blender to make a smooth paste


• Extract tamarind paste for 1/2 cup and keep aside


• In a heavy bottom kadai heat a little oil


• Add mustard seeds followed by curry leaves


• Now add the steamed spinach to it along with the tamarind paste


• Let it boil for 2 minutes and then add the coconut paste


• Adjust salt and let the mixture boil


• Serve hot with rice, kadalai chutney & papad

Im yet to check my fellow bloggers kitchen for their latest creations. My first work during the weekend is to do blog hopping.

• Diabetes Diet/Management: Kamalika, Smitha, Suma


• Kid Friendly Recipes: Anusha, Cool Lassi(e)


• Seven Days of Soup: Priya Suresh


• Seven Days of Indian Bread: Jayasree, Pavani


• Seven Days of Cakes: Priya Vasu


• Seven Days of Preserves: Gayathri Kumar, Vaishali


• 30 Minutes Meals: Priya Mahadevan, Srivalli

Greens Stir Fry - BM#4

Eating right is a key step to preventing and controlling diabetes. Fortunately, whether you’re trying to reduce your risk of diabetes or manage a pre-existing problem, you can still enjoy your favorite foods and take pleasure from your meals. Your nutritional needs are the same as everyone else—no special foods or complicated diets are necessary. But if the way you eat has been less than healthy, you may need to learn some better eating habits. The key to a diabetes diet is eating in moderation, sticking to regular mealtimes, and eating a variety of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.

What you need to know about diabetes and diet

Diabetes is on the rise, yet most cases of diabetes are preventable with healthy lifestyle changes. Some can even be reversed. The bottom line is that you have more control over your health than you think. If you’re concerned about diabetes, you can make a difference by eating a healthy diet, keeping your weight in check, and getting exercise.

Eating right for diabetes comes down to three things:

1. What you eat. Your diet makes a huge difference!! You should eat mostly plant foods, cut back on refined carbs and sugary drinks, and choose healthy fats over unhealthy fats.

2. When you eat. Diet is part of it, but keeping regular meal and snack times also affects your blood sugar levels and will help to keep them more constant.

3. How much you eat. Portion sizes matter. Even if you eat very healthy meals, if you eat too much you will gain weight, which is a factor in diabetes.

You do not need to eat special foods, but instead simply emphasize vegetables, fruits, and whole grains. A diabetes diet is simply a healthy eating plan that is high in nutrients, low in fat, and moderate in calories. It is a healthy diet for anyone! More on the posts this week on Diabetic food management. Keep watching. My recipe for today is a simple green poriyal/stir fry.

Ingredients:

• Greens - 3 cups , cleaned and cut into small pieces


• Red chillies - 3


• Onion - 1 cut into small pieces


• Coconut scraping - 2 tsps(optional)


• Salt to taste


• Tempering - Oil & Mustard Seeds

Method :

• Clean and cut the greens into small pieces


• Wash the greens as many times as possible to eradicate minute particles of mud


• Heat oil in a non stick pan and add mustard seeds


• To this add the red chillies and onions


• Saute for 3 minutes


• To this add the washed greens and keep stirring


• The water in greens is enough for it to cook


• If you feel a little more water is required please add


• Ensure that you keep stirring to avoid greens getting burned


• Add salt and keep stirring


• After some 15 minutes , you will see that the water has evaporated and greens are done


• At this stage switch of the fire and add coconut scrapings. This is purely optional.


• Serve with hot sambhar rice or curd rice


• Having greens everyday is helpful to keep cholesterol at bay and at the same time the required vitamins required on a daily basis is fulfilled

Check out my Blogging Marathoners doing Group 3 BM#4 along with me

• Diabetes Diet/Management: Kamalika, Smitha, Suma


• Kid Friendly Recipes: Anusha, Cool Lassi(e)


• Seven Days of Soup: Priya Suresh


• Seven Days of Indian Bread: Jayasree, Pavani


• Seven Days of Cakes: Priya Vasu


• Seven Days of Preserves: Gayathri Kumar, Vaishali


• 30 Minutes Meals: Priya Mahadevan, Srivalli