Ingredients and Preparation

The ingredients for pyaaz ke pakode are straightforward and likely found in most Indian kitchens. You need:

• 2 large onions, thinly sliced
• 1 cup gram flour (besan)
• 1-2 green chilies, finely chopped
• 1 teaspoon red chili powder
• 1 teaspoon turmeric powder
• 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
• A handful of fresh coriander leaves, chopped
• Salt to taste
• Water as needed
• Oil for deep frying

To prepare pyaaz ke pakode, start by thinly slicing the onions and placing them in a large mixing bowl. Add the green chilies, red chili powder, turmeric powder, cumin seeds, and salt. Mix well to ensure the onions are evenly coated with the spices. Let this mixture sit for about 10 minutes, allowing the onions to release some of their moisture.

Next, add the gram flour to the onions and mix thoroughly. The moisture from the onions will help bind the gram flour to create a batter. If the mixture seems too dry, you can add a few teaspoons of water, but be cautious not to add too much, as the batter should be thick enough to hold its shape when dropped into the hot oil. Finally, fold in the chopped coriander leaves.

Cooking the Pakode

Heat oil in a deep frying pan over medium heat. To test if the oil is ready, drop a small bit of the batter into the oil; if it sizzles and rises to the surface, the oil is hot enough. Using your fingers or a spoon, drop small portions of the batter into the hot oil, taking care not to overcrowd the pan. Fry the pakode until they turn golden brown and crispy, which usually takes about 4-5 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to remove them from the oil and drain on paper towels to remove excess oil.

Serving Suggestions

Pyaaz ke pakode are best enjoyed hot, straight out of the fryer. They are traditionally served with mint chutney or tamarind chutney, which complement the spicy and savory flavors of the pakode perfectly. For a more substantial snack, you can also serve them with a side of yogurt or raita.

These fritters are often enjoyed as an evening snack with a cup of hot masala chai, especially during the monsoon season when the weather calls for something warm and comforting. The crunch of the pakode paired with the soothing warmth of the tea creates a delightful experience.

Variations and Tips

While the classic pyaaz ke pakode are made with just onions, there are numerous variations you can explore. Adding finely chopped spinach or methi (fenugreek) leaves to the batter gives a different flavor and adds a nutritional boost. You can also experiment with adding other vegetables like potatoes, cauliflower, or bell peppers.

For an extra crunch, some recipes suggest adding a tablespoon of rice flour or semolina (sooji) to the batter. This not only enhances the texture but also gives the pakode a beautiful, crispy exterior.

In conclusion, pyaaz ke pakode are more than just a snack; they are a culinary delight that brings people together. Whether enjoyed with family on a rainy day or served to guests as an appetizer, these onion fritters are sure to please. Their simplicity, combined with the burst of flavors they offer, makes pyaaz ke pakode a beloved dish in Indian cuisine.

Pav Bhaji, a popular street food originating from the bustling streets of Mumbai, is a delightful blend of mashed vegetables served with buttery buns (pav). This dish has evolved over the years to become a favorite comfort food across India. Here’s a detailed recipe to bring this iconic dish to your kitchen.

 Ingredients

For the Bhaji:

– 3 medium-sized potatoes, peeled and diced

– 1 cup cauliflower florets

– 1/2 cup green peas

– 1/2 cup finely chopped carrots

– 1/2 cup finely chopped bell peppers (capsicum)

– 2 large onions, finely chopped

– 2 large tomatoes, finely chopped

– 1/4 cup butter

– 1 tablespoon ginger-garlic paste

– 2 green chilies, finely chopped

– 1 tablespoon pav bhaji masala

– 1 teaspoon red chili powder

– 1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder

– Salt to taste

– 1 lemon, cut into wedges

– Fresh coriander leaves, chopped for garnish

For the Pav:

– 8 pav buns

– 1/4 cup butter

– A pinch of pav bhaji masala

 Instructions

Step 1: Prepare the Vegetables

1. In a large pot, add potatoes, cauliflower, green peas, and carrots. Cover them with water and boil until they are soft. This should take about 10-12 minutes. Drain the vegetables and set them aside.

2. Using a potato masher, coarsely mash the boiled vegetables. The texture should be somewhat chunky.

Step 2: Make the Bhaji

1. In a large skillet or kadai, melt 1/4 cup of butter over medium heat. Add the finely chopped onions and sauté until they turn golden brown.

2. Add the ginger-garlic paste and green chilies, and sauté for another minute until the raw smell disappears.

3. Add the chopped bell peppers and cook for 3-4 minutes until they soften.

4. Stir in the tomatoes and cook until they turn mushy and release their juices, forming a thick gravy base.

5. Mix in the pav bhaji masala, red chili powder, turmeric powder, and salt. Cook for a couple of minutes to allow the spices to blend well.

6. Add the mashed vegetables to the skillet. Mix everything together thoroughly, adding water as needed to reach your desired consistency. Let the bhaji simmer on low heat for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.

7. Taste and adjust the seasoning. Squeeze a few lemon wedges into the bhaji for added tanginess and garnish with fresh coriander leaves.

Step 3: Toast the Pav

1. Slice the pav buns horizontally. Heat a griddle or tawa over medium heat.

2. Melt some butter on the griddle and sprinkle a pinch of pav bhaji masala on it. Place the pav buns on the griddle, cut side down, and toast them until they are golden brown and crisp. Flip and toast the other side briefly.

Step 4: Serve

1. Serve the hot bhaji in a bowl, topped with a dollop of butter and a sprinkle of fresh coriander leaves.

2. Arrange the toasted pav buns around the bhaji. Serve with additional lemon wedges and finely chopped onions on the side. 

Pav Bhaji is best enjoyed hot, with the buttery pav buns soaking up the spicy, tangy, and savory flavors of the bhaji. This delightful dish is perfect for family dinners, gatherings, or any time you crave a hearty, flavorful meal. By following this recipe, you can recreate the magic of Mumbai’s street food in your own home, savoring each bite of this quintessential Indian dish.

The word “Batata” means potato in Marathi, the language spoken in Maharashtra, while “Vada” refers to a fried snack or fritter. Therefore, Batata Vada translates to potato fritters.

Batata Vada is believed to have originated in Mumbai, where it quickly became a staple street food item. It is often served with various chutneys such as green chutney (made with coriander and mint) or tamarind chutney for dipping, adding extra flavor to the already delicious snack.

Over time, Batata Vada has gained popularity throughout India and even internationally, becoming a beloved snack among people of all ages. It’s enjoyed both as a standalone snack and as a filling in various dishes like Vada Pav, another iconic Mumbai street food.

Ingredients:

– 4 medium potatoes, boiled and mashed

– 1 tablespoon oil

– 1 teaspoon mustard seeds

– 1 teaspoon cumin seeds

– 1 tablespoon finely chopped ginger

– 1 tablespoon finely chopped green chilies

– 8-10 curry leaves

– 1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder

– 1 teaspoon red chili powder

– Salt to taste

– 2 tablespoons chopped coriander leaves

– Besan (gram flour) batter (made by mixing besan with water to a thick consistency)

– Oil for deep frying

Instructions:

1. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a pan. Add mustard seeds and let them crackle.

2. Add cumin seeds, chopped ginger, chopped green chilies, and curry leaves. Saute for a minute.

3. Add turmeric powder, red chili powder, and salt. Mix well.

4. Add the mashed potatoes and chopped coriander leaves. Mix everything together and cook for 2-3 minutes. Remove from heat and let it cool.

5. Once the mixture is cool enough to handle, shape it into small balls or patties.

6. Heat oil in a deep frying pan.

7. Dip each ball or patty into the besan batter, ensuring it’s coated evenly.

8. Carefully drop the coated balls or patties into the hot oil and fry until golden brown and crispy.

9. Remove from oil and drain on paper towels to remove excess oil.

10. Serve hot with green chutney or tamarind chutney.

Enjoy your delicious Batata Vada!

Sugar is ubiquitous in modern diets, present in everything from sodas to salad dressings. While it’s often enjoyed for its sweetness, excessive sugar consumption can have detrimental effects on health. 

Firstly, sugar is a major contributor to weight gain and obesity. Consuming sugary foods and beverages can lead to an increase in calorie intake without providing essential nutrients, leading to weight gain over time. Furthermore, excess sugar consumption can contribute to insulin resistance, which is a key factor in the development of type 2 diabetes. 

Moreover, high sugar intake has been linked to various chronic diseases, including heart disease. Excessive sugar consumption can raise blood pressure, increase inflammation, and contribute to unhealthy cholesterol levels, all of which are risk factors for heart disease.

Furthermore, sugar can have negative effects on dental health. Bacteria in the mouth feed on sugar, producing acids that can erode tooth enamel and lead to cavities and gum disease.

Finally, sugar can also have an impact on mental health. While sugar can provide a temporary mood boost, excessive consumption has been linked to an increased risk of depression and anxiety.

Ways to Reduce Sugar Intake:

Read Labels: Start by checking the labels of packaged foods and beverages for added sugars. Ingredients like sucrose, high fructose corn syrup, and dextrose indicate the presence of added sugars.

Choose Whole Foods: Opt for whole foods like fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains, which are naturally lower in sugar and higher in essential nutrients.

Drink Water: Replace sugary beverages like soda, energy drinks, and fruit juices with water or unsweetened beverages like herbal tea or sparkling water.

Limit Processed Foods: Processed foods like cookies, cakes, candies, and sweetened cereals are often high in added sugars. Limit your intake of these foods and opt for healthier alternatives.

Sweeten Naturally: Use natural sweeteners like honey, maple syrup, or stevia in moderation as alternatives to refined sugar.

Be Mindful of Portions: Pay attention to portion sizes when consuming foods that contain added sugars. Even small amounts can add up quickly.

Cook at Home: By preparing meals and snacks at home, you have more control over the ingredients and can choose healthier options with less added sugar.

Plan Ahead: Plan your meals and snacks in advance to avoid impulse purchases of sugary snacks and treats.

Be Patient: Gradually reducing your sugar intake can help your taste buds adjust to less sweetness over time.

By being mindful of your sugar intake and making conscious choices to reduce consumption, you can positively impact your health and well-being in the long run.

A balanced diet is the cornerstone of overall well-being, encompassing physical, mental, and emotional health. It refers to consuming a variety of foods in appropriate proportions to meet the body’s nutritional needs, providing essential nutrients such as carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, and minerals. Understanding the importance of a balanced diet is vital for maintaining optimal health and preventing various diseases and health complications.

Nutritional Balance:

A balanced diet ensures that the body receives all the nutrients it needs in the right amounts. Carbohydrates are the body’s primary source of energy, while proteins are essential for building and repairing tissues. Fats play a crucial role in hormone production and cell function, and vitamins and minerals are necessary for various metabolic processes. By including a variety of foods in the diet, individuals can ensure they obtain all these nutrients in adequate quantities.

Physical Health:

A balanced diet is essential for maintaining physical health and preventing chronic diseases such as obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and certain cancers. Consuming excess calories, saturated fats, and sugars can lead to weight gain and increase the risk of developing obesity-related conditions. On the other hand, a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats provides the body with essential nutrients while promoting weight management and reducing the risk of chronic diseases.

Mental Health:

Nutrition plays a significant role in mental health and cognitive function. Research suggests that deficiencies in certain nutrients, such as omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins B12 and D, and folate, may contribute to mood disorders such as depression and anxiety. A balanced diet that includes nutrient-rich foods supports brain health and may help improve mood, cognitive function, and overall mental well-being.

Energy Levels and Performance:

The foods we eat directly impact our energy levels and physical performance. A diet high in processed foods, sugars, and unhealthy fats can lead to energy crashes and fatigue, impairing productivity and performance. On the other hand, a balanced diet provides sustained energy throughout the day, supporting optimal performance in work, school, sports, and other activities.

Immune Function:

Nutrition plays a critical role in supporting a healthy immune system. Certain nutrients, such as vitamin C, vitamin D, zinc, and antioxidants, help strengthen the immune response and protect the body against infections and diseases. A balanced diet that includes a variety of fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains provides the essential nutrients needed to support immune function and reduce the risk of illness.

Longevity and Quality of Life:

Maintaining a balanced diet is associated with longevity and improved quality of life. By nourishing the body with essential nutrients and minimizing the intake of unhealthy foods, individuals can reduce the risk of chronic diseases and age-related health issues. Additionally, a healthy diet supports overall vitality, allowing individuals to enjoy life to the fullest as they age.

In conclusion, understanding the importance of a balanced diet is essential for promoting overall well-being. By prioritizing nutrient-rich foods and maintaining a varied and balanced diet, individuals can support physical health, mental well-being, energy levels, immune function, and longevity. Making healthy dietary choices is a fundamental step towards achieving and maintaining optimal health and vitality throughout life.

1. Eat fruits grown locally ….. Banana, Grapes, Chikoo, Mangoes. All fruits have FRUCTOSE so it doesn’t matter that you are eating a mango over an Apple. A Mango comes from Konkan and Apple from Kashmir. So Mango is more local to you.

Eat all the above fruits in DIABETES as the FRUCTOSE will eventually manage your SUGAR

2. Choose Seed oils than Veggie oils. Like choose ground nut, mustard, coconut & til. Don’t choose chakachak packing oils, like olive, rice bran etc
   Go for kachchi ghani oils than refined oils
3. Eat GHEE daily. How much GHEE we should eat depends on food. Few foods need more GHEE then eat more and vice versa. Eat ample GHEE. It REDUCES cholesterol.
4. Include COCONUT. Either scraped coconut over food like poha, khandvi or chutney with idli and dosa
   Coconut has ZERO CHOLESTEROL and it makes your WAIST SLIM
5. Don’t eat oats, cereals for breakfast. They are packaged food and we don’t need them. Also they are tasteless and boring and our day shouldn’t start with boring stuff.
   Breakfast should be poha, upma, idli, dosa, paratha
6. Farhaan Akhtar’s New ad of biscuits – fibre in every bite… Even ghar ka kachara has fibre, likewise oats have fibre. Don’t chose them for fibre. Instead of oats, eat poha, upma, idli, dosa
7. No JUICES till you have teeth in your mouth to chew veggies and fruits
8. SUGARCANE is the real DETOX . Drink the juice fresh or eat the SUGARCANE
9. For pcos, thyroid – do strength training and weight training and avoid all packaged food
10. RICE – eat regular WHITE RICE. NO NEED of Brown rice. Brown rice needs 5-6 whistles to cook and when it tires your pressure cooker, then why do you want to tire your tummy.

A white rice is hand pounded simple rice

Rice is not high is GI INDEX. Rice has mediun GI index and by eating it with daal / dahi / kadhi we bring its GI index further down
If we take ghee over this daal chawal then the GI INDEX is brought further down.
B. Rice has some rich minerals and you can eat it even three times a day

11. How much should we eat – eat more if you are more hungry, let your stomach be your guide and vice versa
12. We can eat rice and chapati together or only rice if you wish. It depends on your hunger. Eat RICE in ALL THREE MEALS without any fear.
13. Food shouldn’t make you scared like eating rice and ghee. Food should make you FEEL GOOD
14. NEVER look at CALORIES. Look at NUTRIENTS
15. No bread, biscuits, cakes, pizza, pasta
16. Ask yourself is this the food my Nani & Dadi ate? If yes then eat without fear.
17. Eat as per your season. Eat pakoda, fafda, jalebi in monsoon. Your hunger is as per season. Few seasons we need fried food so eat them.
18. When not to have chai – tea – don’t drink tea as the first thing in morning or when you are hungry. Rest you can have it 2-3 times a day and with sugar
19. NO GREEN tea please. No green, yellow, purple, blue tea.
20. Eat ALL of your TRADITIONAL foods.
21. Strictly NO to packaged foods / drinks.
22. Exercise / Walk
    to digest & stay healthy.

The immune system is the body’s way to protect itself from various infections and diseases. Our immune system is influenced by various factors. Different types of vaccines help build immunity against various diseases. One can strengthen their immunity by eating well, exercising regularly, drinking water at regular intervals, maintaining a healthy weight, not smoking or drinking alcohol, sleeping well, and de-stressing. A healthy lifestyle will always help one lead a life without diseases like cancer, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and other chronic diseases. 

Ways to boost immunity 

1. Eat well.Eating well means having a diet full of fruits and vegetables. It also includes meals filled with protein, grains, and milk products. Eating well also means having less added sugar and less saturated fat. Eating well provides nutrients that boost the immune system. 

2. Exercise regularly.Exercise regularly, as it helps to de-stress and reduce anxiety. It also makes a person feel better and helps build a good immune system. 

3. Drink water at regular intervals.Water plays a very important role in your body. One should drink enough water and keep oneself hydrated. It helps the immune system. 

4. Don’t smoke and don’t drink alcohol.Drinking alcohol and smoking increase the chances of developing immune system diseases. It becomes less successful to fight diseases. It weakens the immune system. 

5. Sleep well.Sleep plays an important role in life. Sleep is important for immune function. It’s important to know how much sleep is required for your body. It’s always advisable to get 7 to 8 hours of sleep. 

6. De-stress Stress is different for everyone, and how it is relieved is also different. Given the effect it can have on your health, it’s important to know how to identify stress and relieve it. One can relieve it through deep breathing, meditation, exercise, or prayer.

 Immunity is our body’s defense against foreign organisms. Taking care of yourself will help your immune system take care of you.