SAMBARAM or LABAN DRINK or BUTTER MILK DRINK:

SAMBARAM or LABAN DRINK or BUTTER MILK DRINK: This is a very refreshing natural drink. This is one drink I am sure every Keralite would have had some time or the other. A drink that cools the body during the summer seasons and that existed even before the soft drinks came about. And a 100% healthy option. The aroma and taste it carries is truly amazing. It is salty and lightly spicy. It is seen as a must for any sadhya or the lavish South Indian thali. It is said to improve digestion.

INGREDIENTS:

Butter Milk or Moru – 1 Cup

Curry Leaves – 3 to 4 leaves

Green Chilli – ½ to 1 slit

Ginger – a very small piece

Salt

METHOD:

Add all the ingredients to the blender and mix. Pour in a glass and have. Simple, right?????????

OR

Take the butter milk in a bowl, add the sliced green chilli, ginger, salt and slightly crushed or slit curry leaves and mix well using a spoon. Serve with rice after 5 minutes or so.

RED SPINACH STIR FRY or CHEERA MEZHUKKUPURATTI

RED SPINACH STIR FRY or CHEERA MEZHUKKUPURATTI  : Red Spinach is one of the vegetables I hated as a child. My mom used to make only thoran out of it and I truly hated it. I discovered this one at my in laws place. A simple and good recipe. It tastes better than thoran though. I find this as a better option, even though thoran is a healthier option. I guess you can try it too, if you are a person who finds it hard to eat leafy vegetables. You may even try it with green Palak. Red Palak or Cheera as it is known in Kerala is more popular and available in abundance there.

The health benefits related to red spinach are plenty. Due to its high Fibre content, helps in bowel movement. Helps in boosting the Kidney Function. Good for anaemic patients as it is rich in iron.  Improves eyes sight and strengthens the hair. 

INGREDIENTS:

Red Spinach – a bunch

Dried Red chilly sliced – 2

Or

Green Chilly sliced – 2

Red Onion – 1 big

Salt to taste

Oil – 1 tablespoon or less

Mustard seeds – a pinch

Urad Dhal or uzhunnu parippu or white lentil split – a pinch (optional)

METHOD:

Slice the onions, chillies, and red spinach separately. Take a pan and add oil. Splutter the mustard seeds and add Urad dal till it turns golden brown. Add chillies and sauté for few seconds. Add onions and sweat them. Add the cut spinach and salt and mix well.  Cover the pan with a lid and cook on medium flame. 

Once the spinach is cooked for few minutes, you may turn off the stove. If you do not like the crunch of the leaves, then cook till it becomes really tender. It is advisable to cook till it is lightly tender and yet crunchy.