Methi Daliya Pulao

Day 5 of the Daliya challenge !! So, finally we have reached the last day and I am feeling quite exhilarated. I can see a visible difference and I am keen to take up this challenge next week too ( coz it is tough to keep temptation at bay during the weekends ).

Read on for the recipe -

Preparation Time - 15 mins

Ingredients -

• 1/3 cup daliya
• 1/2 cup methi leaves (tightly packed)
• 1 small onion
• 1 small potato
• 1/4 tsp cumin seeds
• a pinch of fennel seeds
• a pinch of coriander powder
• 1-2 tbsp tomato puree (optional)
• a pinch of garam masala
• 1-2 green chili
• 1 tsp oil
• salt to taste

Preparation - Wash and drain the fenugreek leaves to remove excess water. Roughly chop it up. 

Wash and peel the potato. Chop into small bits.

Dry roast the daliya to a light brown and till it gives off a fragrance.

Cooking -  Heat the oil in a pressure cooker. Add the green chili along with cumin and fennel seeds.

Once they stop spluttering, add the onion. Fry till translucent.

Add the fenugreek leaves and potato pieces and fry for 2 mins. Add the coriander powder and garam masala. Fry for 1 min.

Add the washed daliya along with 1 cup water and salt to taste. Cook for 3-4 whistles.

Keep aside till steam escapes. Open the lid and give a gentle mix.

Serve hot with raita.

Naturally beautiful !!!

Beautiful and flawless skin is something that everyone aspires for, gender being no bar. This concern is usually highlighted during the teenage years when one is more prone to pimples. But nevertheless people of all ages want to possess radiant skin that is free from any kind of imperfections. And a regular skin care regimen is the only way to achieve this goal.

I am all for a skin routine that focuses on natural products and especially Ayurveda. Unlike chemical based formulations that may show instant results but are detrimental to the skin in the long run, cosmetics that rely on the goodness of Ayurveda improve the skin health and appearance over a period of use. And this conclusion is based on the reasoning that while most of the chemical based cosmetic brands promote their product as clinically tested or approved, they would have been in existence for a few years only. But Ayurveda is based on the centuries old wisdom of our predecessors and hence definitely more reliable.

Even when I am not using Ayurvedic products, I rely on simple home remedies to keep my skin clean and glowing. If nothing else, it turns out to be very economical and effective. Some of the common remedies that I use are -

1. Cleanser - Homemade besan or chickpeas mixed with turmeric and a few drops of yogurt is a very good cleanser that one can make at home. One can use this along with water boiled with neem leaves which can be splashed onto a face a few times in a day. Both turmeric and neem have proven anti-bacterial properties that keeps the imperfections at bay.

2. Scrub - Oatmeal mixed with a few drops of milk and almond meal works wonders as a scrub. This scrub also lightens the skin if used regularly. For a bull body scrub, mix 3 tbsp granulated sugar with 1 tbsp olive oil and 1 tbsp honey. This scrub is also effective on stubborn areas like the knees, elbows and ankles.

3. Moisturizer - Aloe vera gel is one of the most potent moisturizers that I have come across. Apply a thin layer on clean face at night and wake to a beautifully soft and nourished skin in the morning. And it has absolutely no side effects. I also keep a small tub of the gel in the fridge that I like to apply onto the skin after a period of sun exposure. It immediately soothes the skin and one feels very refreshed.

4. De-tan - Freshly squeezed tomato juice is very effective in treating sunburn and tanning.

5. Instant brightening face pack - There are days when we all need that extra glow on our face. Mix 1 tablespoon honey with a few drops of lemon juice. Apply all over the face and leave it to dry. Wash off with lots of water. This instantly gives a clean and clear skin that is a few shades lighter .

Hope you like the skincare tips using all natural products !!


This post is written for VICOO Turmeric Cream . Check their wow video -

Welcoming Raja Festival 2015 !!!

Raja or the advent of monsoon is a big festival in Odisha. This year it is being celebrated from 14th to 16th of June. It is time to don the chef's hat and indulge in making some of Odisha's glorious 'Pithas'. Apart from the regulation Poda pitha, karara and chunchipatra pitha, there are lots of delectable pithas that one can sample from. Check below -

Check out the recipes HERE.

Mango Daliya ( with a wicked hint of Chilis )

Day 4 of the daliya challenge. I am feeling great and the bloating has also reduced after I substituted the cracked wheat dishes for rice and dal. The 30 mins brisk walking/cycling/climbing stairs is also helping me feeling active and energetic.

After the savory dishes I wanted something a bit sweet.  Hence this really simple daliya pudding with mango and just a hint of chili. Read on for the recipe -

Preparation Time - 20 mins

Ingredients -

• 1/3 cup daliya
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1 tsp honey
• 2 tsp finely chopped ripe mango
• 3-4 tbsp ripe mango chunks 
• 1/2 of a red chili
• mint for garnishing

Preparation  - Dry roast the daliya or cracked wheat till it gives off a sweet smell.

Slit and deseed the red chili. Chop it up into very fine pieces.

Cooking - Cook the daliya with 1 1/4 cup water in a pressure cooker for 3-4 whistles. Keep aside till steam escapes.

Pour 1/2 cup milk into the same pressure cooker and put it back on the flame. Let it simmer for 3-4 mins.

Transfer it to a mixing bowl. Add the honey, chopped red chili and the finely chopped mango. Mix.

Pour into the serving dish. Garnish with mango chunks and mint.

Serve immediately or chill for 10 mins before serving.

Daliya Salsa Salad

Day 3 !! Still sticking to the Daliya challenge. So, made this interesting salad for lunch. With boiled daliya and loads of veggies, it becomes a tasty one-pot meal that is easy to prepare and refreshingly light.

Read on for the recipe -

Preparation Time - 15 mins

Ingredients -

• 1/2 cup daliya
• 1-2 tomatoes
• 1 small cucumber
• 1/4 cup shredded lettuce
• 1-2 green chilis
• 1 tsp chopped cilantro
• 1 tsp chopped mint 
• 1/2 tsp EVOO
• 2 pinch ground pepper
• salt to taste

Preparation - Dry roast the daliya or cracked wheat till it gives off a sweet smell.

Chop all the vegetables and chilis into small bits.

Cooking - Cook the daliya with 1 1/2 cup water, turmeric and salt in a pressure cooker for 3-4 whistles. Keep aside till steam escapes.

Transfer it to a mixing bowl. Allow to cool down completely. Throw in the chopped veggies and the rest of the ingredients. Toss well.

Serve immediately.

Pesto Daliya Upma

Yes, I am on a 5 day 'Daliya' challenge this week. And it calls for trying out a new recipe each time that is simple and low on calories. This is a really easy and tasty recipe that I created using some boiled daliya, homemade pesto sauce, lime juice and a bit of tempering.

Read on for the recipe -

Preparation Time - 20 mins

Ingredients -

• 1/2 cup daliya
• 2 tsp pesto sauce
• 1 sprig curry leaves
• 1/5 tsp mustard seeds
• a pinch of asafoetida
• 1 dry red chili
• 1/2 tsp oil
• salt to taste
• 1/2 tsp lime juice

Preparation - Dry roast the daliya or cracked wheat till it gives off a sweet smell.

Cooking - Cook the daliya with 1 cup water and salt in a pressure cooker for 3-4 whistles. Keep aside till steam escapes. Transfer to a mixing bowl.

Heat the oil in a wok. Add the mustard seeds followed by the asafoetida, curry leaves and dry red chili.

Pour this tempering over the cooked daliya. Add pesto sauce and lime juice. Mix well.

Serve immediately.

Tomato Daliya

An easy daliya recipe to help one lose weight while eating healthy and starving oneself. Tried substituting cracked wheat for rice in the Andhra Tomato rice recipe. This one can be adapted to suit those kiddie tastebuds by skipping/reducing the quantity of chillis used and adding a tiny bit of sugar.

The proportion of water can be varied to give it a porridge or fluffy consistency. Read on for the recipe -

Preparation Time - 20 mins

Ingredients -

• 1/2 cup daliya
• 2 tomatoes
• 1 sprig curry leaves
• 1/5 tsp mustard seeds
• a pinch of asafoetida
• a pinch of turmeric
• 1-2 green chilis
• 2-3 garlic flakes
• 1/2 tsp oil
• 2 tsp roasted peanuts
• salt to taste

Preparation - Dry roast the daliya or cracked wheat till it gives off a sweet smell.

Cooking - Cook the daliya with 1 1/2 cup water, turmeric and salt in a pressure cooker for 3-4 whistles.

Heat the oil in a wok. Add the mustard seeds folowed by the asafoetida, curry leaves, green chilis and peanuts.
Once the peanuts are done popping, add the garlic and fry to golden .

Add the chopped tomatoes and sprinkle a little salt over them. Cook till mushy.

Add the cooked daliya and mix in. Stir for 2 mins.

Remove from the flame and garnish with fresh cilantro.

Serve hot.

Note - I had some already roasted and crushed peanuts which I added at the end to retain their crunch.