Ondelaga Gotu Kola Butter Milk

Ondelaga/ Gotu Kola is one of the healthy medicinal plant and we do make use of the leaves. We can prepare Tambuli (South Canara /Malenadu Karnataka Special side dish. We can prepare chutney using this leaves. Ondelaga leaves are good for hair, skin and has loads of medicinal properties and good for our health.

Many a times Ondelaga/Timire is called as Brahmi leaves. But they are not. Brahmi leaves are different from Ondelaga leaves.These Ondelaga leaves are known as Gotu Kola leaves.
The other common name is Asiatic Pennywort or Indian Pennywort.

Let us know what do they call Gotu Kola in different regions of India 
In Kannada it is known as Ondelaga or Timire. ( ತಿಮಿರೆ ಸೊಪ್ಪು ). Ondelaga means only one leaf in a stem. In Telugu it is known as Saraswathi Aku, Tamil - Vallari Kirai. Marati : Karivan or Karivana.
Gujarati : Khanda Bramhi and in Hindi : Bengsang.

The benefits of having Ondelaga /Gotu Kola.
It is good for cough, cold and fever. The leaves are good for digestion and it balances pitta ( Bile ) and kapha / mucus or phlegm. They help to produce healthy sperm. Ondelaga is known to improve the good blood circulation to the mind and improves our intelligence. They are good for liver related disorders. Gotu Kola is a good blood purifier. It helps in good sleep, good voice and rejuvenation. It helps in treating of various diseases.
Let us see the recipe Now :
This Ondelaga /Gotu Kola Butter Milk helps to cool your body and mind. Try and enjoy.

Ingredients :

Ondelaga /Timire /Gotu Kola Leaves : One handful : 10 to 15.
Jeera : 1/2 Teaspoon
Ingh / Asafoetida :  A pinch
Pepper Pods : 3 to 4
Salt : As required
Curd : 4 to 5 Tablespoons or little more.

Method :

1. Clean and wash only the leaves. ( Some time the stems are hard to grind and they remain as the stick. So it is better to use only the leaves).

2. Put jeera /cumin seeds. pepper pods, Ondelaga Leaves, salt and curd to a mixi jar.
3. Add 1 Cup of water and grind all the ingredients nicely till everything mixes well.

4. Pour it to a big bowl. Add some more water and mix it  nicely.

5. Shift the ready Ondelaga / Gotu Kola Butter Milk to serving glasses and serve.

6. Adding Ice cubes are optional. ( I have not added ).

Note : 

It is better to remove the stem before grinding. There will be two types of Ondelaga leaves. Natural and hy breed type. Natural Ondelaga leaves stems are soft and high breed leaves stems are bit hard. And they do not get into smooth powder or paste. Remember both have the same type of medicinal values. So which ever you get make use of it. Adding butter milk is better. I have used curd and mixed sufficient water to make it thin. Adding less spice is always good.

Time : 10 Minutes.
Serves : 2.

Carrot - Sweet Potato Avalakki

Avalakki/Beaten Rice/ flattened rice / P0ha /Aval is one of the handy food that can be prepared within a few minutes. I have prepared varieties of Avalakki and here is one more which has sweet potato and carrots. It easy, yummy quick, simple, healthy and energetic.

I have used Thick variety of Avalakki, sweet potato, carrot, lemon and green chilly for mild spicy.

Let us see some benefits of eating " Sweet Potato " in our diet.
Sweet Potatoes are rich in fiber, vitamins and minerals. Sweet potatoes are rich in fiber. They are easy to digest. They are good content of iron, calcium, and B vitamins and Viamin C. They have good source of anti oxidants and good for our eye health.

No Onion or Garlic is used here in this : Carrot - Sweet Potato Avalakki ".
Carrot - Sweet Potato Avalakki is good for kids lunch box, travelling, some special fasting days and even for small gatherings .
I have used thick Avalakki.
Let us see the recipe now :

Ingredients :

Avalakki : 2 Cups
Carrot : 1 ( Medium sized)
Sweet Potato : 1 ( Medium sized )
Green chilly : 2
Ginger : 1 Teaspoon /Grated
Jaggery : 2 Tablespoons
Turmeric powder : A little /1/4 Teaspoon
Coconut : 1/2 Cup
Salt : As required
Coriander leaves : 2 Tablespoons
Oil : 3 to 4 Tablespoons
Mustered Seeds : 1 Teaspoon
Curry Leaves : 8 to 10
Cashews : 5 to 6  /cut into small pieces. ( Optional ).
Lemon : 1 Tablespoon ( 1 lemon extract ).

Method :

1. Clean and wash avalakki and soak in 1/2 glass of water. Add salt, lemon extract, turmeric powder and jaggery. Mix it well and let it get set.

2. Wash and scrape out the peel of sweet potato and carrots. Grate carrots and keep it aside.
3. Cut sweet potato in to very thin pieces and wash it again.
4. Wash and slit green chilly, remove the outer layer of ginger and grate it.
5. Grate coconut and keep it aside. Cut a lemon and extract juice from it.
6. Keep a pan on the fire and heat. Add oil and Mustard seeds. Let it splutter. Add cut cashew nuts.
7. Add slit green chilly and curry leaves. Add sweet potato pieces and fry till they turn soft.
8. Add carrots gratings and mix it well. Add soaked avalakki and mix it slowly. Add 1/2 Cup of water and cook till avalakki turns soft.  Add a tablespoon of ghee and mix it well.

9. Add required salt and mix it well. Add fresh grated coconut and mix it. Add lemon extract and mix it. Add a tablespoon of ghee and mix it well.

10. Shift the ready avalakki to a serving dish. Add cut coriander leaves.

11. Serve with a cup of curd.
12. Serve a banana with " Carrot - Sweet Potato Avalakki ".

Note: 

Use thick avalakki to get good taste. It should be fresh or you get a stale flavour. See that cooked avalakki turns soft. ( Not over cooked ). Use of carrots more or less is optional. More of green chilly is optional. Adding ghee is optional.
Time : 15 Minutes.
Serves : 2 to 3.