The delicious world of spicy stuffing

Stuffed food is a delight to have on the menu. You just start with the coating which is crunchy or bit harder and as you get to the core you find the most amazing succulent stuffing which you devour with relish. Not necessarily the outer layering would always be crispy but the inner stuffing being a spice laden soft surprise is a guarantee. The stuffing is usually prepared with special spices. As you go beyond the outer layer you start enjoying the beautiful combination of myriad spices. The stuffing is usually prepared with more delicacy and care as this holds the key to taste.

Indian cuisine have some of the most amazing stuffed food items. We should start with a popular item that is not only appealing to vegetarians but would also be appreciated by the non vegetarians for the wonderful taste. You must sample at least one helping of bharwa bhindi. The preparation is done with ladies finger. You need big size for it as you need to fit in the stuffing while making sure that the bhindis retain their shape. This preparation is quite intriguing as you have to stuff a blend of spices within the bhindis. The bhindis need to be slit, and then dried mango powder, cumin powder, coriander powder, turmeric powder, chilli powder would go in, but they have to be mixed together nicely. Once the stuffing with spices is done, you have cook the bhindi. Prepare it and enjoy the lovely aroma and flavor.

Your love for the bharwa recipes would increase after this and you would definitely be looking for some more bharwa dishes to try. Our next dish would be equally delightful to you, it is the bharwa mirchi that is a hugely popular dish. Interestingly in this dish you need to have big green chillies. These are not hot so do not worry. Now comes the stuffing part, it need besan that has to be cooked with spices. Now the spices that would flavor the besan are dry mango powder, chilli powder, turmeric powder, garam masala powder, coriander powder. After you get rid of the seeds you should fill the chillies with these stuffing.

It is time to try out some other stuffed food. We have been discussing dishes that would sit beside the staple rice or bread dish and should be enjoyed with any of the two. What if we stuff the staple dish with something spicy? The Indian bread has some intriguing variations to make the meals more special and more enjoyable. Our parathas are very popular, but we have used different stuffing to make these parathas even more lovable. One famed stuffed paratha variation is gobi ka paratha. Here the paratha is made with a delectable spicy cauliflower stuffing. Here after preparing the dough, you have to make the stuffing with cauliflower that is cut into small florets and cook it with cumin seeds, onion which has to be chopped, green chillies, coriander leaves, garam masala. The stuffing has to be cooked and then you need to make little dough balls and then put the stuffing in and make the paratha. Eat it with a nice chutney.

Stuffed food has a different charm altogether, prepare it for a special surprise.

 

Indian spices – delicious yet beneficial

A lot of controversy surrounds spices. On one hand it is hard to find people who do not relish a spicy dish but on the other hand you simply can not ignore the tips, the suggestions section in the health blogs and magazines that continue to pour us with the same warning over and over again, avoid spicy food. But you still find it difficult to resist the urge for a spicy dish every time delicious spicy smell wafts your way. So while you are busy solving this dilemma, learn about the elaborate spice platter of India.

Welcome to the land of spices, Indian kitchen, here from north to south, from east to west every kitchen is loaded with little spice containers. Each containing a different spice meant for a different use. Typically the food here are cooked in a rich concoction of spices. It is hard to guess the name and the amount of spices in each dish. Fact of the matter is we are basically foodies and we do not mind the spices at all. Without the familiar dash of spice the food seems so boring.

When you first delve deep into spice container for more information you somehow feel puzzled and mostly awed. The number and diversity of spices that we put in the kadhai is myriad. But we could assure you that your are not going to be bored or apprehensive as for that matter. Diversity rules the very core of this nation. So when you are getting surprised by the tangy flavor of the south be prepared for another one as your put the first spoon of dal makhni in your mouth, the bold and rich Punjabi flavor would indeed blow your mind away. May be you are looking for something in between, something spicy yet offbeat , Bengali cuisine should be your choice. Feeling full already? Wait, other regions are waiting in the line with their respective platters.

But we do take care of our health too. Just because our foods are spicy, it does not mean that it is unhealthy. The spices take care of our health too. Consumption of garlic, onion could help you keep certain cancers away from you. We use these spices in large amounts in our gravies and other dishes. We rush to the kitchen to make a hot cup of adrak chai(ginger tea) every time we have sore throat and runny nose and start coughing. Ginger is amazing for cold. You could use it in a simple way, just add a bit of crushed ginger while making tea, the taste as well as the benefit of the tea increases. Clove and cumin could help you digest.

Already feeling enthusiastic, then the next set of benefits these spices offer are going to blow your mind, especially if you happen to be an woman. Turmeric, the commonest spice to be found in kitchen is vital for you for that glow in your complexion. Cinnamon, black pepper are your weapons against your war on acne. Yes these spices are good for your beautiful look also.

So stay happy, healthy and beautiful with Indian spices.