Koova (Arrow root plant)

Flower of Koova plant.

In Kerala we make 'kurukku' with the powder from this tuber. Its very starchy.

eera pullu

Mullan cheera

A variety of Cheera like pacha cheera with green leaves, but they have thorns in the stem. This leafy vegetable is a medicine to urinary infection.

Velicheera

Cheera

Dried chanakam using as the main manure for cheera

Pachacheera is more nutritious than the red one

'Cheera krishi' from my chitta's house at Changanacherry. They are very tasty. They use only chanakam(cow dung) and gomuthram as the fertilizers and pukayilakazhayam as pesticides. Whenever I buy cheera from shop it will not cook well, may be because of the chemical fertilizers.

Thazhuthama-Pictures from Kochi

Pachacheera -Shots taken from Thammanam

Cheera(spinach) is the widely availabe leafy vegetable in Kerala. Mainly its of two types, pacha cheera(green)and chumanna cheera(purple in colur). This leafy vegetable is rich with vitamins, minerals and anti oxidants. The other cheera varieties are velicheera(mysore cheera), sambar cheera, kuppa cheera, valli cheera, ponnamkanni cheera, agathi cheera, mullan keera, madhura cheera, kozhuppa, thakara and thazhuthama.

Most popular dishes with cheera include cheera avial with chakka kuru, vellarikka and manga.
Cheera thoran is also a tasty and nutritious for children.
Popoye the cartoon character always eats spinach for vigorous attacks. I always tell this to my son to eat some cheera for good health.

Dasha pushpam-Ten sacred flowers will bring health and wealth to our family

Banana-The health tip for all

Padattikkula from my home

Vazhakoombu, vazha chundu
Vazha pindi, stem of banana excellent to fight against cholestrol.

Vazha ela

This may be the most popular fruit in Kerala. Plantain leaves are an essential part in our rituals and for our feast. Vazha pindi(stem of plantain), vazha koombu or chundu(flower of plantain) are also have high medicinal values. Today vazha naru(fibre from the stem of plantian) is used to make beautiful bags. Its used to make garlands in temples.

1. Ethakka kurukku- I used this preparation for my elder son. Peel the banana and slice it as for upperi(chips). Dry this for 2-3 days. After that grind it well. Take one spoon ful and boil it with water and sugar. you may add milk as you like. The water content is also depend on the baby's thirst. You can use kalkandam instead of sugar. Its a healthy and protein rich baby food. This can be used by adults also. This preparation is a medicine for peptic ulcers. This kurukku can be prepared with 'Kannan kaya' also. Daily intake of Ethakka will increase the weight of the baby. It prevents the worm diseases in children




2. Ethakka tholi thoran(Raw plantain skin)- Wash the peel in fresh water and cut it into small pieces. Cook green gram (small quantity) in cooker. Add coconut oil in pan(cheena chatti). Add some rice, mustard and veppila(curry leaves). Grind grated coconut, jeeraka and garlic. After splurting add the sliced peel, salt, turmeric powder, cooked green gram, coconut mix and little water. Cook it for sometime. Serve hot. Its a delicious and money saving dish.

Other dishes we usually make

1. Ethakka mezhukkuperatti


2. Ethakka erisseri


3. Ethakka kalan


4. Ethakka thoran


5. Ethakka upperi


6. Ethakka sharkara peratti

Dishes prepared using banana

Banana fry-Ethakka appam or pazham pori

Pazham payasam

Leaves of the plantain (vazha) vazha ela are used to

• Serve the meals during functions-most hygienic and disposable, nature friendly


• Pack the food during journeys


• To make dishes like 'Ela ada'

My grand mother used to fry the fish in very special way. She will put the fish in a piece of Ela and then it is placed in the pan(cheena chatti). After some time she will cook the other side of the fish in the same way. After the two sides are equally cooked she will pour some oil after removing the elas. This method will save the oil and the fish will be tasty without much oil.

In my nursery days in my lunch box she will place all the side dish covered in these leaves. To pack food we must first cut the leaves in correct shape. Then place it over the flame (vattuka). Otherwise during packing it will break.

Temples have great demand of these leaves

Fruits of Kerala

Tap the hidden energy in you

Kattar vazha