Cabbage Bhanola
Ingredients: 200 gm cabbage, 2 large onions, 3 cups besan, ½ tsp salt, 1 tsp red chilli powder, ½ tsp haldi, ½ tsp asafoetida or hing, ½ tsp baking soda, 10 raisins (kismis), juice of a lime.
To grind: ½ cup coconut, ½ tsp jeera, 4 cloves garlic, ½ tsp coriander seeds, 1 small piece of cinnamon, 3 cloves, water as required.
Directions: Wash, chop and mix the cabbage and onions. Grind the ingredients as per the ‘to grind’ list and set aside. Make a batter with the ingredients to grind, besan and the remaining ingredients and add the lime juice. It should look like a cake batter. Bake this at 1800C in the oven for 45 minutes. Allow it to cool in the oven and then cut it into squares. These can be had as is or lightly tossed on both sides in a pan with minimal oil.
Significance: Cabbage is low in calories and has a low glycemic index. Its fibre content aids digestion.
Contrary to popular belief, coconut does not contain cholesterol. It does have saturated fat so if used in moderation, it can be included in your diet. It has medium-chain fatty acids, which are associated with fat burning. It also has manganese, which is important for the bones. Lauric acid in coconut has antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal properties.
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Dr Manisha Talim