Recipe: Tasty dish with superfood moringa aka drumstick

Moringa oleifera, more commonly known as drumstick, is a common vegetable in India. It is mainly used to make very tasty sambar and in other preparations like avial, another dish popular in the southern parts of India. The leaves can also be used for making side dishes.

Drumstick and its leaves is undoubtedly a superfood, thanks to the immense health benefits we can get from it. In fact, moringa has been used in ayurvedic medicine for thousands of years.

Here are a few health benefits of moringa:

Blood sugar control: Consumed on a regular basis, it contains nutrients that can lower blood sugar levels. It is known to improve the functioning of the gall bladder and heart too.

Bone strengthening: Being rich in iron and calcium, it enhances bone health. Good bone health means could help in preventing osteoporosis. Secondly, it has anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties that can help arthritis patients.

Blood purification: There is common belief that moringa has blood-purification properties, particularly the leaves. It also has antibiotic properties.

Rich in vitamins: It is rich in vitamin A, B and C. Nutrients like thiamine, niacin and riboflavin are good for the skin and hair. Vitamin A is good for the eyes.

It is also good for digestion as niacin, viboflavin and vitamin B12 are good for the health of the digestive system. The fibre content in moringa is an added benefit for preventing constipation.

Fights respiratory infections: The vitamin C in moringa is good for fighting allergies of the respiratory tract. This could prevent infections in the respiratory tract. This is particularly good in cold weather, when there is a tendency to develop cough and cold.

Drumstick. Picture credit: pixabay.com/ svibhandik

Recipe with moringa leaves:

Ingredients:

Bunch of moringa leaves

One handful of cooked tur dal

One teaspoon oil

Half a teaspoon of mustard seeds

A pinch of asafoetida

Half a teaspoon of urad dal

Green and red chillies, according to taste

Salt according to taste

Garlic (optional)

Preparation:

Wash the leaves well, but remove the stems. The leaves have to be finely cut.

Put a teaspoon of oil in a kadai.

Put the mustard and asafoetida in.

At this point, a bit of chopped garlic can be added. This is optional.

Add the urad dal and saute a little.

Green and dry red chillies (to taste) can be added. A bit of turmeric can be added as well

Once all the ingredients are cooked a little and begin to emit a nice smell, the leaves can be added.

Add half a cup of water and move it around occasionally till the leaves are cooked.

Add the cooked tur dal, but one needs to ensure excess water is removed from the dal.

Add salt to taste and mix well.

This preparation can be eaten with rice or chapati.

If one is in the mood for soup, there are plenty of recipes available online. Just like the recipe above, this is going to be low on calories and can be great to drink too.