Spices and curries

Spices have a definite role in improving health.

It is not just a flavor when you add spices to food.

I will give a rundown of different spices and their health benefits.

Creating a curry is usually a mix of different spices,mostly fresh ground then mixed with water,or lemon or lime juice,or coconut milk or yogurt or sour cream or tomato sauce or a mix of tomato paste and tomato sauce or with a sautéed mix of yellow onion,fresh garlic, ginger and green chilies.I still remember my mom grinding various spices and the fragrance of fresh ground spices still is in my memory.I remember my mom and my brother making a huge pot of mixed vegetables as an offering and remembering Mother Goddess.Now,this mixed vegetable was not just the mixed vegetable packets we see in the stores.It included all vegetables that were harvested for that season and included root vegetables like potato,sweet potato,Suran,Ratalu,peas,green beans,onion,garlic,eggplant,cauliflower,spinach and more .The spices are sautéed in oil or Ghee and then the vegetables that are cut in medium size pieces are added and pressure cooked.Did u know they also used dried pomegranate kernels that were dried and ground to a powder and Aamchur,which is powdered dried mango.

Oh! Do I remember the tender baby eggplants being cooked with all spices but no garlic or onion.It reminds me of visiting the Swaminarayan BAPS temple in Houston and Watching the holy saints follow the tradition of Lord Swaminarayan of cooking tender baby eggplants.I follow some well known Dietitions like Rebecca Katz ,chef AJ,or nutmeg notebook couple or the Minimalist Baker,our own physician colleague and Chef John La PumaMD.           .

These are just a few to name but everybody has added more to my desire to write and share it with my patients.