Maharashtrian Cuisine Archives - Page 6 of 8

Basic Coriander Leaf Chutney

A few doctors say chlorophyll is king and, like all leafy green vegetables, coriander is also full of it. Coriander is full of antioxidants that have immune-boosting, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective effects as well as protect your skin from aging and sun damage. Coriander can help reduce unpleasant digestive symptoms like bloating and discomfort often experienced by people with IBS, and also help boost appetite. And most important of all it’s a delicious accompaniment to any meal.

Coriander Leaf Chutney with Ginger and Cumin

This coriander chutney is so delicious it is a hit with children too. It can be used as an accompaniment, dip or spread. It’s best eaten fresh but can be refrigerated for a couple of days or even frozen for a couple of weeks.

Coriander Leaf Chutney with Ginger-Garlic

Coriander chutney is a very versatile dish and is a great accompaniment to spice up any Indian meal. It’s high content of chlorophyll makes it a great food to have for good health. The coconut in it has a lot of fiber too and gives a feeling of satiety. Children also love this chutney.

Coriander Leaf Chutney with Garlic

This coriander chutney is delicious and filling and very versatile. It can be used as an accompaniment, a dip or a spread. The chutney lasts for a couple of days in the fridge but is bests eaten fresh. It can also be frozen for up to a couple of weeks.

Carrot Raita

Carrots are a great snack — crunchy, full of nutrients, low in calories, and sweet. Carrots are rich in antioxidants like beta-carotene and lutein, which protect the body against damage from free radicals and may reduce the risk of chronic diseases by improving the immune system. The body converts beta-carotene to vitamin A, which is essential for good vision and preventing night blindness. It is also important for growth, development, and immune function. Eating fat (coconut in this recipe) with cooked carrots can help you absorb more of the beta-carotene. Vitamin A and antioxidants also contribute to healthy skin. Carrots are rich in carotenoids, which may help protect against several types of cancers like prostate, colon, and stomach cancers, leukemia, and breast cancer in women. Carrots contain potassium, which helps regulate blood pressure, and fiber, which can lower cholesterol levels. Vitamin K and calcium in carrots contribute to strong bones and may help prevent osteoporosis. The fewer calories and fiber in carrots can help with weight management by promoting fullness and satiety and healthy digestion. The insoluble fibers in carrots may reduce your risk of constipation and promote regular bowel movements. The soluble fiber can also help lower blood sugar levels by slowing down your digestion of sugar and starch. Soluble fibre, like pectin, also feeds the friendly bacteria in your gut, which may lead to improved overall health and decreased risk of disease. Moreover, certain soluble fibres impair the absorption of cholesterol from your digestive tract, helping to lower blood cholesterol. Carrots have a low glycemic index, so they are good for diabetics because they prevent a rapid spike in blood sugar.

Gopal Kala

This dish is usually made on Janmashtami and is served as prasad. This is an extremely easy to make dish and you can add any other fruits you wish to. It’s not only delicious but also filling and requires no cooking. It is highly nutritious because of the combination of vitamins in the fruits and carbohydrates in the poha. It is very soothing on the digestive system as well.

Kakdi Tomato chi Koshimbir (Cucumber and Tomato Salad)

Cucumbers are low in calories but high in many important vitamins and minerals and are a refreshing, nutritious and incredibly versatile addition to any meal. To maximize their nutrient content, cucumbers should be eaten unpeeled. Cucumbers are great eaten raw as a low-calorie snack. They contain antioxidants, including flavonoids and tannins, which prevent the accumulation of harmful free radicals and may reduce the risk of chronic disease. The large amount of water in cucumbers can help keep you hydrated, and the fiber content in them helps prevent constipation and regulate bowel movement. They are also good for bone health because of the Vit K in them. The lignans in them may help prevent osteoporosis, heart disease, and some cancers.

Tomato Raita

Usually red when mature, tomatoes can also be eaten while they are still green, yellow or orange. It’s best to buy locally grown unripened tomatoes and keep them for a few days to allow them to ripen naturally as these taste better. Tomatoes are a good source of insoluble fibre, which is not digested by the body but helps in moving food through the digestive system and thus assisting bowel movement. Tomatoes are rich in antioxidants like Vitamin C, which help protect cells from damage caused by free radicals and improves the immune system. Lycopene, another antioxidant, found in large amounts in tomatoes may help reduce the risk of certain cancers. Beta carotene is another antioxidant found in tomatoes that often gives foods a yellow or orange hue. Beta carotene is converted into vitamin A in our body and is believed to help improve eyesight. Chlorogenic acid in tomatoes is a powerful antioxidant compound, which may lower blood pressure in people with elevated levels. Naringenin is a flavonoid found in tomato skin, which has been shown to decrease inflammation and protect against various diseases. Tomatoes also contain a good amount of potassium, which may help lower blood pressure and reduce the risk of heart disease. Vitamin K1 in tomatoes is important for blood clotting and bone health, and folate is important for normal tissue growth and cell function. Moreover, tomatoes are high in water content, which helps keep you hydrated.

Carrot Koshimbir

Carrots are a great snack — crunchy, full of nutrients, low in calories, and sweet. Carrots are rich in antioxidants like beta-carotene and lutein, which protect the body against damage from free radicals and may reduce the risk of chronic diseases by improving the immune system. The body converts beta-carotene to vitamin A, which is essential for good vision and preventing night blindness. It is also important for growth, development, and immune function. Eating fat (oil used for tempering and walnuts in this recipe) with cooked carrots can help you absorb more of the beta-carotene. Vitamin A and antioxidants also contribute to healthy skin. Carrots are rich in carotenoids, which may help protect against several types of cancers like prostate, colon, and stomach cancers, leukemia, and breast cancer in women. Carrots contain potassium, which helps regulate blood pressure, and fiber, which can lower cholesterol levels. Vitamin K and calcium in carrots contribute to strong bones and may help prevent osteoporosis. The fewer calories and fiber in carrots can help with weight management by promoting fullness and satiety and healthy digestion. The insoluble fibers in carrots may reduce your risk of constipation and promote regular bowel movements. The soluble fiber can also help lower blood sugar levels by slowing down your digestion of sugar and starch. Soluble fibre, like pectin, also feeds the friendly bacteria in your gut, which may lead to improved overall health and decreased risk of disease. Moreover, certain soluble fibres impair the absorption of cholesterol from your digestive tract, helping to lower blood cholesterol. Carrots have a low glycemic index, so they are good for diabetics because they prevent a rapid spike in blood sugar.

Shepuchi Bhaji with Channa Dal (Dill Leaves Bhaaji with Bengal Gram)

A lot of Indians cook a pulse and a vegetable together making the dish more nutritious, delicious, and filling. Channa dal is great to combine with dill leaves, fenugreek leaves, cabbage, capsicum, and bottle gourd, snake gourd, ridge gourd, etc. either in a dry vegetable or curry form. Dill leaves are rich in a variety of nutrients including Vitamin A, C, D, riboflavin, manganese, folate, iron, copper, potassium, magnesium, zinc and dietary fibres. These nutrients and antioxidants, not only protect the cells against free radical damage but also promote healthy vision, augment skin, boost immune functions, treat digestive anomalies, remedy sleep problems, fortify bone health, relieve respiratory infections, regulate hormonal balance, and enhance reproductive health.

Indian Vegan Cookbook

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