A CURRY WITH SUBLIME BLENDS

☝️ From my 👩‍🍳 Cook Book 📖—You can keep this !

Charged with social and religious symbolism, eating /cooking is an important activity in Indian households. Ancient Vedic scriptures (Vedas 2nd millennium

BCE) believed that a sound mind in a sound body is plausible through the right"karma," conduct and action —even in the kitchen.

Mystically, both the method of cooking as well as the process of eating (forms of karma) get a graphic description in the various Indian religious scriptures.

Looking closely, food choice was supposed to affect health and body composition. Proper cooking meant measuring up the food on scales of hot and cold (acidic and alkaline) types.

Here's a quote from Rig Veda that exemplifies this truth.

"For the ways of truth lead to Agni{fire god and/or fiery metabolic energy of digestion) the noble born one; the pleasures of food follow him as a reward. from times immemorial.

Rig Veda 10.5.4°

Note: Mystic fire - Agni is an important entity in Ayurveda texts

👇 The following is a recipe frommy 👩‍🍳 Cook Book 📖—Chambers of Cooking 🧑‍🍳: by Madhu Goteti ….You can keep this ! 😊

AGATHI CURRY

(SESBANIA GRANDIFLORA)

The gentle, inaudible yet noiseless foot of time is knocking at my door again.

There are people who have certainly inspired me from the past. Yes, I am driven by the things they made, what they did, and how they ate.It's history and I know they are not there, but my mind is telling me otherwise. Today, when I notice the "so called," advanced dietary recommendations failing , I am convinced to look back and connect with the basic intuitive wisdom that our forefathers used for their own survival or, better yet sustainability. Eagerly looking for the answers to develop healthy eating habits, I am drawn towards the Ayurvedic term - "Tripti, "which implies satisfaction; a seemingly simple yet uncontrollable state that the modern man finds even more unendurable and difficult to achieve. Moderation in diet has intrigued ancient man and the same Provence of conscious eating has hitherto befallen us. Try this ancient recipe but don't run off to the hills for better life. Do it right here !

COOKING 🧑‍🍳 TIME : 35m

SERVES: 3

1 cup Red Gram Dal ( Pigeon

Pea Lentil)

3-4 cups of Agathi leaves

6 Green chillies ( small sized)

4-5 tsp Fresh grated coconut

2 tsps Black gram dal

2 tsps Bengal gram dal

2 1/2 tsp Tamarind puree

1/2 tsp Mustard seeds

1/4 tsp Turmeric powder

5 tsps Oil

1-2 tsps Salt ( adjust to taste)

1-2 tsps Sugar

Curry /Coriander leaves- A few

Method of Preparation:

Remove tough stalks from Agathi leaves and cook it in 1 cup of water until done. Next, wring out the water from the leaves in a colander.

Similarly cook the red gram dal in 2 cups of water until it gets cooked. Transfer the cooked Agathi leaves and red gram dal in to a pan and set it upon fire. To this, gradually stir in the chopped green chillies, turmeric sugar, grated coconut, tamarind purée.

Allow the mix to simmer; alongside add a little water to smoothen the curry. Now, add the Bengal gram dal, black gram dal, curry leaves and mustard seeds to 1 tsp oil and let it roast to a mild brown color. Now spread this seasoning over the curry. Cover the curry and let it simmer for a few minutes. Serve the curry on steamed rice

Health Benefits of this Recipe:

“Agathi leaves” were used to cure night blindness in the days of yore. Its' anti bacterial property is used to cure indigestion. These leaves are good for the eyes and prevents eye strain. Include this in your meals at least once a month - not more, nor less.

A word of caution: Moderation is the key word with this recipe. Excessive intake of “Agathi leaves”can cause diarrhea.

© ✍️ Madhu Goteti February 12 th , 2025