Yogurt - A Probiotics Boost For Your Health!

What do Red Mango, Pinkberry, Yoplait GoGurt, General Mills Natural Valley Yogurt Bars, Chobani, Oiko, Fage have in common? 

All of the above are YOGURT based products. 

Here are some reasons why eating yogurt is good for you:

• It is a good source of probiotic cultures, which are good microorganisms that benefit our digestive system, boost immunity and help the absorption of certain minerals like calcium into our system.
• Yogurt is a good source of protein, calcium, riboflavin, vitamin B6, zinc, and vitamin B12.
• If eating plain yogurt doesn't sound pleasing, then give the following recipes a try. They are all healthy and gluten-free: 

Eggplant Raita (yogurt dip)

Other raitas or yogurt dips to try are Eggplant, Beetroot, LongSquash, Spinach, Tomatoes, Tomato and Onion, Bell Peppers, or Cabbage. 

One of my favorite rice dishes to eat as a child was daddojanam or seasoned yogurt rice. When I was 2 or 3 years old, I used to give her a hard time at mealtime. She used to make this dish, make yogurt and rice balls and feed me while I was playing. She used to sneak some veggies too. I was hooked since then...

Spiced Yogurt Rice (Daddojanam)

My husband loves Dahi Vada. I like it too; it is vada soaked in seasoned yogurt. It tastes so good topped with tamarind chutney, coriander chutney and sev. 

Dahi Vada

Buttermilk is a more liquid version of yogurt. We use buttermilk to make Spinach and Potato Kadhi. It's nice to eat on its own or mixed with rice. 

 Do not be afraid to try new things. Try to incorporate yogurt into your diet. It is better for you in the long run.

Let us know how you enjoy eating yogurt. We would love to hear from you. 

Moong Dal Kattu - Green Gram Soup

Moong dal is also known as green gram or mung bean and is widely eaten in Asia.  It is used to make savory (soups and dosas) and sweet dishes (laddu, halwa, Lunar New Year cookies, and sweet soups). 

One of my favorite ways to eat this lentil is kattu or soup.  It is comforting and nutritious. Let's see how to make it...

Ingredients
- 1 cup whole moong dal (green gram)
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 3 cloves of garlic, finely chopped
- 2 to 3 green chilies, finely chopped
- 1 tsp salt (or to taste)
- 1/4 tsp turmeric powder
- 2 to 3 cherry tomatoes (optional)

For seasoning
- 1 Tbsp Vegetable oil
- ½ tsp mustard seeds
- ½ tsp whole cumin
- a pinch of Hing
- 4 to 6 fresh/dry curry leaves, chopped (optional)


Cooking Instructions
1) Place the moong dal into a pressure cooker/ pan and add 2 cups of water, pressure for 6 to 8 minutes or until you get 5 to 6 whistles. (You can also cook the moong dal on low/medium heat with 2-½ cups of water in a small Dutch oven until the dal is cooked to a soft texture.)

2) After the pressure is released, open the cooker and lightly mash the dal. Add more water to the required consistency. Then add salt, turmeric powder, and the seasoning (see instructions for seasoning).

Instructions for Seasoning

• Heat oil in a small skillet on low heat. Hover your palm over the skillet to see if you can feel the heat. When you feel the heat, add mustard and cumin seeds. When the seeds splutter, add Hing and then the chopped onions and garlic. Stir for 1 to 2 minutes until onions are transparent and garlic gives out its flavor. Next, add the curry leaves, stir for another 20 seconds and then transfer the seasoning into the cooked dal to cook them together. 

3) Next, bring the mixture to a boil for 1 minute and turn off the heat. The kattu or soup is ready to be enjoyed.  

Quick Tips:

You can eat the moong dal kattu on its own like lentil soup or like I do with warm Basmati rice. I also munch on fryums while eating it. 

 

The fryums on the left are what they look like in the bag. The fryums on the right are what they look like puffing up in the microwave. We suggest 30 to 60 seconds depending on the number of fryums.