Darshana Muzumdar, Author at Indian Vegan Cookbook

Cauliflower Bhaat (Cauliflower Pulav)

Cauliflower Bhaat (Cauliflower Rice) is a delicious and easy to make dish. Cauliflower ranks among the top 25 powerhouse fruits and vegetables in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Aggregate Nutrient Density Index (ANDI), a scoring method that ranks foods based on their nutrient content per calorie. Cauliflower is a cruciferous vegetable and is a good source of Protein, Thiamin, Riboflavin, Niacin, Magnesium and Phosphorus, and a very good source of Dietary Fiber, Vitamin C, Vitamin K, Vitamin B6, Folate, Pantothenic Acid, Potassium and Manganese.

Uppit (pronounced oo-pit)

In Northern India, coarsely ground wheat is called sooji, and in South India, it is called rava. Semolina as it is called in English is used in many Indian dishes both sweet and savory. Wheat is one of the oldest and most important of all cereal crops globally. Though it is majorly grown in some northern states of India, it is popularly used in making upma or uppit in the South. It is an important source of carbohydrates as well as the leading source of proteins (in the form of gluten) in human food, having a protein content of about 13%. It’s the gluten in wheat flour that gives elasticity and strength to dough. Whole wheat flour, made by grinding the entire wheat kernel, is generally considered healthier than refined wheat flour (maida) because it retains the bran and germ, which are rich in fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Rava or semolina is usually made from whole wheat in India. Many people prefer to use millets instead of wheat to make this dish as wheat is generally higher in gluten content and lower in fibre than most millets. However, compared to rice, wheat has a lower glycemic index and helps slow down digestion as well as aids bowel movement. It is important to note that gluten is a problem only for those who react negatively to it, or test positive for celiac disease. Most people can and have eaten gluten most of their lives, without any adverse side effects. Indian varieties of wheat like Sharbati and MP Shivor Gold have a much higher gluten content than Shivor, and MP Shivor has the least amount of gluten in it. Having shared this information, we think it is best to eat wheat or other cereals in as small quantities as possible and have cooked vegetables, pulses, and salads made with uncooked vegetables and fruit, as the main part of a meal.

Plain Upma/Savoury Rawa (Savoury Semolina)

Lemon-Ginger Rasam Recipe

Recipe credit: Darshana Muzumdar Serves 4 as part of a traditional Indian meal. Ingredients For the Tempering Method For the Whole-Food Plant-Based version:

Bottle Gourd or Cucumber Soup

Bottle gourd, normally known as lauki or doodhi in regional languages is commonly found in almost all parts of India. It is especially used in preparations like sambhar and in sweet dishes on festivals. Bottle gourd is composed of approximately 92% water, which makes it an excellent hydrating food. With its high water content, and minimal fat content, bottle gourd is an ideal choice for people who want to lose weight or maintain a healthy weight. Bottle gourd is a good source of dietary fiber, which assists in bowel movement and slowing down the digestive process as well as giving a feeling of fullness and so aiding in weight management. It contains essential vitamins like vitamin C, vitamin K and a range of minerals including calcium, magnesium, and potassium, which are essential for maintaining healthy bones, muscles, and electrolyte balance. Potassium is especially important as it promotes the relaxation of blood vessels, thereby supporting healthy blood flow and reducing the risk of hypertension. Bottle gourd also contains compounds such as flavonoids, phenolic compounds, and antioxidants that help protect the liver cells from damage caused by oxidative stress and toxins. Antioxidants also support a healthy immune system and help keep away chronic lifestyle diseases. Additionally, bottle gourd is considered a detoxifying vegetable due to its high water content, which aids in flushing out toxins from the body and in turn reducing the burden on the liver. bottle gourd contains good amounts of potassium, a mineral known for its blood pressure-regulating properties. It promotes the relaxation of blood vessels, thereby supporting healthy blood flow and reducing the risk of hypertension. All in all, it’s a great idea to include bottle gourd in our diet.

Tomato Saar (1)

Though tomatoes are rich in fiber and antioxidants, we get more lycopene from cooked tomatoes when compared to raw. Lycopene helps fight depression, heart disease and cancer, and gives tomatoes its bright red color. Adding fat to your meal when eating foods such as tomatoes maximizes the body’s absorption of fat-soluble phytonutrients. So, this saar (soup) with coconut ticks all the boxes. Tomatoes have an anti-inflammatory effect that protects muscles and may help athletes recover after exercise, and also helps reduce asthma. Supplements cannot replace the phytonutrients in tomatoes effectively.

Tomato Saar (2)

Tomato Saar (3)

Indian Spinach Curry (Malabar Spinach)

Indian spinach (Malabar Spinach) is mostly available during the monsoon. It is very easy to clean and cook and tastes more or less like spinach. This green leafy vegetable is rich in all the nutrients in most green leafy vegetables like calcium, potassium, magnesium, iron, and vitamin A. It’s especially good for women and children who have iron deficiency. It is low in calories and high in fiber. This miracle green leafy vegetable originated in Asia but is now grown in most tropical regions. It is usually cooked but can also be used raw in salads as well as in smoothies.

Ragi (Nachni) Porridge (Finger Millet Porridge)

Millets are small-seeded grasses or cereal-grains that have been grown for centuries. They are popular because they grow in many adverse conditions like in arid climates. There are a variety of millets grown around the world as cereal crops or grains for fodder and human food. Ragi or nachni (finger millet) is one of these ancient millets and is mostly grown and consumed in Karnataka, and to a limited extent in Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Odisha, Maharashtra, Uttarakhand and Goa. It has different names in local languages. In India finger millet is commonly called by various names like ragi (in Kannada, Telugu and Hindi), also Mandua/Mangal in Hindi, Kodra (Himachal Pradesh), Mandia (Oriya), Taidalu (in Telangana region), Kezhvaragu in Tamil etc. It is used in a variety of dishes from porridges, rotis, sweet puddings and laddoos to name a few. More recently, it is being used in making puffed ragi grains which is then used as a breakfast cereal or in snacks like chivda, etc.

Millets are gluten free, boasts high protein, fiber, and antioxidant contents and therefore have numerous health benefits, including helping to lower your blood sugar and cholesterol levels. Ragi or nachni is an excellent source of natural calcium which especially helps in strengthening bones for growing children and aging people and in the maintenance of bone health in adults. Regular consumption of finger millet was part of the traditional Indian diet for centuries. It may help keep diseases such as osteoporosis at bay and could reduce the risk of fracture.