HOW TO SERVE ONASADYA ON A VAZHAYILA

Most of us are familiar with the popular and delicious Onasadya, the grant feast served on the day of Thiruvonam. This feast is strictly vegetarian which consists of a variety of dishes spread out on a clean banana leaf. All of these dishes are absolutely a tickle to the taste-buds with all flavours included, i.e. salty, spicy, sour and sweet.

The traditional Onasadya consists of about 18 varieties of dishes, but it is rarely seen in this hi-fi generation. But still manage to come up to 14 to 16 varieties. The special about the meal is that it is served in a specific order on the banana leaf. Following is the unique order of serving the dishes. Try it for this onasadhya and share the experience.

1. A clean banana leaf is spread out with the tip towards the left of the person.

2. The pappadam occupies the extreme left-bottom of the leaf.

3. On top of the papadam, a banana is placed along followed by Upperi, Sharkkara Varatti and other fries.

4. Then the top-left side is for a pinch of salt.

5. After this the pickles comes, like of lime and mango, and Inji Curry or Puli Inji.

6. On the right the pickles, comes ‘Thoran’s and ‘Mezhukkuvaratti’s.

7. Next position is of the ‘Pachadi’s and ‘Kichadi’s

8. Then the whole rest of the space is for other varieties of side dishes like Aviyal, Theeyal, Erasseri, Kootu curry, etc.

9. Rice is served after all the side dishes are in place, at the centre when the guest sits down to eat.

10. First round starts with the Parippu Curry along with ghee.

11. Then in the following rounds, Sambar, Pulissery and Rasam is served with rice respectively.

12. Then comes the most awaited section of the sadhya which no one want to miss, the ‘Payasam’s. These are served one by one beginning with the Ada Prathaman.

Happy Onam !!!

EASY PAALADA PRADHAMAN – ONASADHYA SPECIAL SWEET

Since tomorrow is the “Thiruvonam”, the day of big Onasadhya, but unfortunately there is no way to take a leave, so we decided to celebrate it a day before on today. And surely, I was not at all willing to miss the sweets part of it. So I went for the easy one, Paalada Pradhaman.

Ada Pradhaman is a traditional and inevitable sweet serve in Sadhya, especially Onasadhya, prepared out of coconut milk and jaggery. And Paalada Pradhaman is a variant of Ada Pradhaman prepared from Ari Ada, milk and sugar, which saves you from the difficulty of getting the coconut milk and all. Even though it is easy, but not missing the folly and fare of Ada. Ya, it is really Yummy Delicious. Try it and comment.

Ingredients:-

1. Ari / Rice Ada - 1 cup (can get ready-made, and I used that only)

2. Creamy Milk – 4 cups

3. Sugar – 1 cup

4. Cardamom – 3 nos.

5. Cashew nuts – 6 nos.

6. Raisins – 6 nos.

7. Ghee – 1 ½ tsp.

Method:-

1. Wash the ada thoroughly. Soak it in boiled hot water for 30 minutes and wash again for 2-3 times in cold water. (Else ada will stick each other). Drain the water completely and keep it aside.

2. Heat the Ghee in a pan and fry the cashews and raisin till becomes brown. Keep it aside.

3. Boil milk along with a cup of water. As it starts boiling, add the washed ada and cook it in low flame till ada is soft. Stir continuously. (It takes almost 30 minutes)

4. Then add sugar & cardamom and cook for another 5 minutes till the sugar dissolves completely and the colour changes to light cream. Add the ghee in which cashews and raisins are fried. Stir it and take off the flame.

5. Garnish it with the fried cashews and raisins and the Paalada Pradhaman is ready to serve hot or chilled. (I like it chilled)

Enjoy!!!

INJI CURRY (GINGER CURRY)

Inji curry is an inevitable part of the Sadhya, with ginger and tamarind as main ingredients, which gives it a special hot and sour taste. As ginger is good for digestion and it is included in a sadhya to help in digestion after the heavy feast. In Kerala, there is a saying too about Inji Curry, “Inji Curry is equivalent to 101 curries”. There are so many variants of Inji curry you can find from region to region. This recipe is Travancore Style one.

More Simple & Easy-to-Cook Onasadhya Special Recipes @

BACHELOR's ONASADHYA

Ingredients:-

1. Ginger – 100 g

2. Tamarind – size of a lemon (soaked in a cup of water and strained)

3. Chili powder – 1 ½ tbsp.

4. Turmeric powder – ¼ tsp.

5. Coriander powder – ½ tsp.

6. Salt – to taste

7. Fenugreek powder – ¼ tsp.

8. Mustard seeds – ½ tsp.

9. Curry leaves – 2 sprigs

10. Oil – 2 tbsp.

Method:-

1. Peel and finely chop the ginger

2. Dry fry the ginger (don’t add oil) till a roasted smell comes and saute it continuously.

3. Then add chili powder, coriander powder, turmeric powder, fenugreek powder and salt and saute for a few seconds. Then turn off the flame.

4. Let the mixture cool down, and then grind it into powder.

5. Heat the oil in a pan and sputter mustard seeds and add curry leaves.

6. Then add the ginger mixture and saute for a minute

7. Pour and mix the strained tamarind water and let it boil.

8. Tasty Inji Curry is ready to be served with rice.

Enjoy!!!

KERALA STYLE RASAM

Rasam is one of the popular dishes of South India, including Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and even Andhra Pradesh, with black pepper and tamarind as main ingredients, while slight changes in other constituents. It is really easy-to-prepare dish. I can be drank it like a soup or can have with Rice. It is very good to have rasam after a heavy meal as it enhances digestion. Today I am sharing a simple and easy kerala style rasam preparation recipe.

More Simple & Easy-to-Cook Onasadhya Special Recipes @

BACHELOR's ONASADHYA

Ingredients:-

1. Tomato – 3 nos., medium juicy

2. Tamarind – a small lemon size

3. Shallots – 5-6 nos., sliced

4. Garlic – 5-6 cloves

5. Green chili – 3 nos.

6. Dry red chili – 2 nos.

7. Curry leaves – 1 sprig

8. Asafoetida (Kaayam) – ½ tsp.

9. Turmeric powder – ½ tsp.

10. Pepper powder – 1 tsp.

11. Mustard seed – 1 tsp.

12. Oil – 2 tbsp.

Method:-

1. Cut the tomatoes into length wise pieces.

2. Crush the shallots, garlic & green chilies separately.

3. Soak tamarind in one cup water and strain it. Keep aside.

4. Heat oil in a pan, and splutter mustard seeds.

5. Add crushed garlic, shallots & green chilies, curry leaves, and red chili. Saute it for a minute.

6. Then add turmeric powder, pepper powder and asafetida and saute it for another minute.

7. Add sliced tomato and mix well. Cook it with lid closed.

8. As Tomato become mushy, add 2-3 cups of water and tamarind water.

9. Mix slowly and when froth appears and starts boiling, put of the flame.

10. Spicy Rasam is ready to be served.

Enjoy!!!

Note:- If needed, you can add some coriander leaves at the end.

INJI / GINGER PACHADI

I have already posted recipe of Vellarikka Pachadi, a variety of Pachadi, the typical Kerala side dish with a main position in Sadhya. As I said, Pachadi is made out of a variety vegetables like Cucumber, Ash Gourd, Bitter Gourd, and even Ginger. This is an easy recipe for Inji Pachadi, made out of Ginger, which is an exact bachelor’s dish.

More Simple & Easy-to-Cook Onasadhya Special Recipes @

BACHELOR's ONASADHYA

Ingredients:-

1. Ginger – 2 inch piece, finely chopped

2. Garlic – 4-5 cloves, finely chopped

3. Shallots – 2 nos., sliced

4. Dry red chili – 2 nos.

5. Curry leaves – 1 sprig

6. Mustard seeds – ½ tsp.

7. Oil – 2 tsp.

8. Salt – to taste

9. Curd – 1 cup

Method:-

1. Heat 3 tbsp. of oil in a pan, and splutter mustard seeds.

2. Add chopped ginger & garlic, sliced shallots, dry red chili, and curry leaves. Saute it for few minutes till it turns light brown in colour.

3. Pour it over the curd and add needed salt too. Mix well and Inji Pachadi is ready for serving.

Note: Keep it for an hour, which gives you the best taste out of it. Normally for Sadhya, Pachadi is prepared on previous day due to this property of Pachadi.

EASY EGG FRIED RICE

Feel to have a change from regular rice?? Like to have some Chinese?? Why going out when you can satisfy your craving at home itself?? Egg fried is the best answer, a dish which can be made very quickly at home. This is an Easy version of the Chinese method of preparing egg fried rice. This egg fried rice is very simple which needs minimal ingredients and prepared is a breeze. It is also healthy, filling and delicious. Have it with some ketchup or yummy chicken dish and some salad.

Try & enjoy it and don’t forget to comment.

Ingredients:-

1. Basmati rice – 1 cup

2. Egg – 1 no.

3. Onion – 1 no. (Small), chopped

4. Garlic – 3 cloves, finely chopped

5. Ginger – ½ inch piece, finely chopped

6. Green chili – 1 no., chopped

7. Soya sauce – 1 tsp.

8. Chili sauce – 1 tsp.

9. Pepper powder – a generous pinch

10. Salt - as needed

11. Coriander Leaves – 1 tsp., finely chopped

12. Oil – 3 tbsp.

13. Ghee – 1 tbsp. (optional)

Method:-

1. Wash the rice thoroughly till the water becomes clear. Cook the rice with generous amount of water and ½ tsp. of salt till 90% done. Drain it and spread it in a plate to cool. (N.B: fluff it at intervals to avoid grains from sticking each other)

2. Heat the oil and ghee in a pan, add chopped garlic, ginger and green chili along with onion and saute it for a minute on medium flame. The whole process has to be done on medium flame stirring continuously. (N.B: Don’t burn it)

3. Pour beaten egg into the pan, and add two pinches of salt and a pinch of pepper powder. Scramble it.

4. When half of the egg is cooked, add the cooked rice and mix well.

5. Then add soya and chili sauce and stir well (with caution not to break the rice) till all the grains are well coated uniformly with the sauce.

6. Garnish with chopped coriander leaves and the egg fried rice is ready.

Enjoy!!!

Note:- You can add a pinch of Ajinomoto, if needed, to enhance the taste. But I didn't since it is proved to be carcinogenic.

SPICY TOMATO CHICKEN

A blend of chicken with spicy gravy enriched with juicy tomatoes making it a dish which will be stimulating to the taste buds and enjoyable as different experience on a chicken dish. Try it and your comments are always welcome.

Ingredients:-

1. Chicken – ½ kg, cut into medium sized pieces

2. Tomatoes (Red & Juicy) – 5-6 nos.

3. Onion – 1 no., chopped

4. Ginger – 1 inch piece, finely chopped

5. Garlic – 10-12 cloves, finely chopped

6. Green chilies – 2 nos.

7. Chicken masala – 1 tbsp.

8. Coriander powder – 1 tbsp.

9. Chili powder – 1 tbsp.

10. Pepper powder – ½ tsp.

11. Turmeric powder – ¼ tsp.

12. Lemon juice – 1 tsp. (optional, to soften chicken)

13. Garam masala – 1 tsp.

14. Curry leaves – 1-2 sprig

15. Oil – 2 tbsp.

16. Salt – to taste

Method:-

1. Wash the chicken thoroughly and drain the excess water

2. Grind tomatoes, green chilies, garlic and ginger into a fine paste.

3. Add turmeric powder, pepper powder, chicken masala, salt and lemon juice to the paste and mix well. Marinate the chicken with the mixture and keep it for an hour.

4. Heat oil in a pan and add chopped onion along with curry leaves. Sauté fry till the onion become light brown.

5. Add the chili powder and coriander powder and sauté for a short while till roasted smell releases.

6. Add chicken pieces along with the marinate mixture and mix well. Cook it covered on a low flame for 20 minutes till chicken is done. (N.B: Do not add water)

7. Now open the lid and cook till the gravy becomes thick.

8. Finally sprinkle garam masala over it and take off the flame. Spicy Tomato Chicken is ready to serve hot with Roti or rice.

Enjoy!!!

Notes: -

- Can use vinegar instead of lemon juice to make the chicken soft while keeping for marinating.

KNOW BANANAS

Everyone know Banana like a member of the family, and is one of the commonly available and used fruit worldwide. But how many knows some of the facts which are really interesting. And surely after reading this, you'll never look at a banana in the same way again. Bananas contain three natural sugars - sucrose, fructose and glucose combined with fiber, as it gives an instant, sustained and substantial boost of energy. But energy isn't the only advantage of having banana to help us keep fit, but also help in overcoming or preventing a substantial number of illnesses and conditions, making it a must to add to our daily diet.

Here are some facts you may not know about your friend, BANANA

1. Good source of Energy: Bananas contain three natural sugars - sucrose, fructose and glucose combined with fiber, as it gives an instant, sustained and substantial boost of energy. Recent study has proven that even two bananas provide enough of energy for a strenuous 90-minute workout. And do you know that the banana is the number one fruit with the world's leading athletes.

2. Relieves Depression: Since bananas contain tryptophan, an amino acid from which the body produces serotonin which is known for the effect of making you relax, improving your mood and generally making you feel happier. According to a recent survey undertaken by MINDS foundation amongst people suffering from depression, many felt much better after having banana in the diet.

3. Prevents Anemia: High in iron (0.3 mg), a single banana can provide one-third of daily requirement, which stimulate the production of hemoglobin in the blood and hence helps in prevention or management of anemia.

4. Good for Hypertension Patients: As this unique tropical fruit is high in potassium and yet low in salt makes banana a perfect food for persons with high blood pressure. And even more, daily consumption of banana can cut down the risk for stroke by half.

5. Boosts your Brain: Researches has shown that the potassium-packed fruit can assist in boosting the brain and increasing alertness. Give your child a banana and surely see the result by yourself.

6. Relieves Constipation: Being high in fiber, including bananas in the diet can help for normal bowel action, helping to overcome constipation without the help of artificial laxatives.

7. Bid Bye to Hangovers: Get rid of the hangover with a great banana milkshake, sweetened with honey. When the banana calms the stomach and, with the help of the honey, you can builds up depleted blood sugar levels, while the milk soothes and re-hydrates your system.

8. Prevents Heartburn: If you are experiencing heartburns, have a banana which is having a natural antacid effect providing you a soothing relief.

9. Manage Morning Sickness: Having bananas as snack between meals helps to keep blood sugar even, which is one of causes of morning sickness.

10. No More Ulcers: The banana is good to prevent or relieve intestinal disorders due to its soft texture and smoothness. Its antacid property also neutralizes acidity and reduces irritation by coating the lining of the stomach.

11. Cooling Food: Many cultures calls bananas a 'cooling' fruit, which can lower both the physical and emotional temperature.

12. Gets Rid of Itching from Mosquito Bites: It is a fact that those having banana are more prone to mosquito bites. The same banana is giving you a solution to this problem too. Before reaching for the insect bite cream, try rubbing the affected area with the inside of a banana skin. Many people find it amazingly successful at reducing swelling and irritation.

13. Give a shine to your teeth: Rub the inside portion of banana peel rich in minerals and its removes the yellowish discolouration and gives shining to the teeth.

14. Get out of Nicotine with a Banana: Sounds interesting??? Vitamin B6 & B12 and Potassium and Magnesium in banana can aid you in stopping smoking and nicotine withdrawal

DO YOU KNOW???

When you compare it to an apple, it has FIVE TIMES Magnesium (27.0 mg^# v/s 5.0 mg^*), FOUR TIMES the protein (1.2 g^# v/s 0.3 g^*), THRICE the iron (0.3 mg^# v/s 0.1 mg^*), THRICE the Potassium (358 mg^# v/s 107 mg^*), TWICE the carbohydrate (23 g^# vs. 14 g^*), and twice the other vitamins and minerals (^#in 100g Banana, ^*in 100g apple). Above all, it is one of the best value economic food available around. So why don’t we re-phrase the saying to

”A BANANA A DAY KEEPS THE DOCTOR AWAY!!!”

And don’t forget how good they taste too! I Think banana diet must be the reason for monkeys to be so happy all the time!!!

HOW TO BREW A PERFECT CUP OF GREEN TEA

Making the perfect cup of green tea is little of a tricky process. If not handled properly, those same polyphenols that provide health benefits can ruin the flavor, making the tea taste "grassy" and awkward. It's particularly important not to over brew green tea.

While it's best to follow the manufacturer's instructions for each variety of green tea, here are some general instructions:

- Use one tea bag, or 1-2 tsp. of tea, per cup.

- After boiling, allow water to stand for up to 2 minutes.

- Pour the heated water over the tea bag or tea, and allow it to steep for up to 2-3 minutes. If using a tea bag, then dip it for 8-10 times after steeping and remove the bag.

- Allow the tea to cool for another one more minute before enjoying it.

N.B: If you feel discomfortable with the bitter taste, added few drops of lemon.

*** Check out for 21 Reasons to Make Drinking Green Tea A Habit ***

21 REASONS TO MAKE DRINKING GREEN TEA A HABIT

Green tea, a trending drink among health conscious population, originated in China and also associated with many cultures throughout Asia. Nadine Taylor (author of Green Tea: The Natural Secret for a Healthier Life) states that green tea has been used as a medicine in China for at least 4,000 years. Green tea has recently become more widespread and a very popular drink worldwide because of its immensely powerful health benefits. Green tea is made from the leaves from Camellia sinensis that have undergone minimal oxidation during processing makes it a good source of antioxidants.

Over the last few decades green tea has been subjected to many scientific and medical studies to determine the extent of its long-purported health benefits, which includes lowering risk of heart disease and certain types of cancer, and in weight management. The average amount of flavonoids, a group of phytochemicals present in plant products with health effects such as anti-oxidative and anti-carcinogenic functions, is higher in a cup of green tea (approximately 80 - 100 mg of polyphenols in a cup) than that in other food and drink items  like fresh fruits, vegetable juices or wine of the same quantity or volume.

It is extraordinarily amazing what green tea can do for your health. And if you're making a habit of drinking three to four cups of green tea a day, then definitely you're doing a big favor to your health.

Here are the 21 reasons why you should start drinking green tea right now:

1. Green tea and cancer: Green tea helps reduce the risk of cancer [Link], as Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCg) in green tea is found to be 100 times more effective than vitamin C and 24 times better than vitamin E, which helps body at protecting cells from damage, believed to be a leading cause for cancer.

2. Green tea and heart disease: Green tea helps prevent heart disease [Link], especially stroke as it help in lowering the level of cholesterol. Even after the heart attack, it is found to prevent cell deaths and speeds up the recovery of heart cells.

3. Green tea and Anti-aging: An antioxidant known as polyphenols present in green tea fights against free radicals to slow down aging process and promotes longevity.

4. Green tea and weight loss: Green tea helps with your body weight management [Link]. Don’t mistake that it is a medicine for immediate weight loss since green tea does not raise the metabolic rate enough to produce such an immediate effect, but a green tea extract containing polyphenols and caffeine has been found to induce thermogenesis and stimulate fat oxidation, boosting the metabolic rate 4% without increasing the heart rate, helping you to burn up to 70 calories in a day, which means up to 3 kg in an year.

5. Green tea and skin: The antioxidant in green tea protects the skin from the effects of free radicals that cause wrinkling and aging effects on skin. It also helps fight against skin cancer as we already discussed.

6. Green tea and arthritis: Green tea can help prevent and reduce the risk of rheumatoid arthritis. University of Michigan scientists found that compound Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCg) present in green tea may reduce inflammation and joint damage in rheumatoid arthritis [Link]. It also protects the cartilage from wear and tear by blocking the enzyme that destroys it.

7. Green tea and bones: Green tea improves bone health [Link] as it contains EGCg, which is found to increase the activity of enzymes that promote bone growth and help to strengthen bones. EGCg also helps in preventing bone deterioration by inhibiting certain cells that weaken bones. The researchers hope green tea to be developed as future treatments for osteoporosis and other bone maladies.

8. Green tea and cholesterol: Green tea can help lower cholesterol level [Link]. It also improves the ratio of good cholesterol to bad cholesterol, by reducing bad cholesterol level.

9. Green tea and obesity: Green tea prevents obesity [Link] by stopping the movement of glucose in fat cells. If you are on a healthy diet, exercise regularly and drink green tea, it is unlikely you'll be obese.

10. Green tea and diabetes: Green Tea has been shown to inhibit the enzyme amylase produced and secreted by the salivary glands and pancreas for the digestion of starches.  This slows the rate at which the sugar contained in starches is metabolized and released into the bloodstream, prevents sharp increases in blood sugar level and balances your metabolism rate. [Link]

11. Green tea and Alzheimer’s disease: EGCg in green tea appears to protect the brain from the accumulation of amyloid plaques that believes to cause the brain deterioration associated with Alzheimer’s disease. [Link]

12. Green tea and Parkinson's disease: Polyphenols in the green tea has antioxidant actions, free radical scavenging, and iron-chelating properties which helps in preventing cell damage in the brain which could cause Parkinson's disease [Link]. People drinking green tea also are less likely to progress with Parkinson's.

13. Green tea and liver disease: Green tea helps prevent transplant failure in people with liver failure. Researches showed that green tea destroys harmful free radicals in fatty livers.

14. Green tea and high blood pressure: Green tea helps prevent high blood pressure. Drinking green tea helps keep your blood pressure down by repressing angiotensin, which leads to high blood pressure.

15. Green tea and food poisoning: Catechin found in green tea can kill bacteria which causes food poisoning and kills the toxins produced by those bacteria.

16. Green tea and immunity: Polyphenols and flavonoids found in green tea help boost your immune system, making your health stronger in fighting against infections.

17. Green tea and cold and flu: Green tea prevents you from getting a cold or flu. Vitamin C in green tea helps you treat the flu and the common cold.

18. Green tea and asthma: Green tea serves as a treatment for asthma. Green tea includes a compound named theophylline, which helps to relax as well as support your bronchial tubes. Regularly drinking green tea will result in fewer & less severe attacks.

19. Green tea and tooth decay: Green tea destroys bacteria and viruses that cause many dental diseases. It also slows the growth of bacteria which leads to bad breath.

20. Green tea and stress: L-theanine, a kind of amino acids in green tea, exerts anti-stress effects which help in relieving stress and anxiety.

21. Green tea and allergies: EGCg found in green tea relieves allergies [Link]. So if you have allergies, you should really consider drinking green tea.

*** Check out How to brew a Perfect Cup of Green Tea ***

EASY LEMON YOGURT CHICKEN

It is a chicken curry deliciously cooked in the gravy blended with the creamy yogurt and lemon along with Indian spices. It will be a real stimulation for your taste-buds for sure. Try it and comment.

Ingredients:-

1. Chicken – ½ kg, medium size pieces

2. Garlic cloves – 10 nos.

3. Ginger – 1 inch piece

4. Onion – 1 no., medium

5. Red chilies – 5 nos.

6. Garam masala powder – 1 tsp.

7. Turmeric powder – ¼ tsp.

8. Red chili powder – 1 tsp.

9. Lemon juice – of a full lemon

10. Yogurt – 1 cup

11. Salt – to taste

12. Coriander leaves – a handful, finely chopped

Method:-

1. Grind onions, garlic, ginger, and red chilies using a mixer grinder into a fine smooth paste.

2. Add powders, yogurt, salt, and lemon juice to the made paste and mix well.

3. Marinate the chicken with the mixture and keep it for an hour.

4. Heat 4 tbsp. of oil in a pan. Add the marinated chicken along with the marinate mixture. Stir cook it on high flame for 2 minutes.

5. Lower the flame and cook it covered for 15-20 minutes.

6. Remove the lid, cook it on medium flame till gravy gets the required consistency

7. Garnish it with the chopped coriander leaves and serve hot.

Done!!!