RECIPES: Muringa is the vegetable Viagra

The Vegetable Viagra

Ingredients for a nutritious meal. Submitted photo

JOSE MADAPPILLY
VANCOUVER DESI

Moringa or Muringa, or Drumstick as it’s commonly called in India, is ridiculously fibrous, unbelievably nutritious and a highly aphrodisiac vegetable. This is the king of vegetables with none comparable. At least for knowledge sake, check out these YouTube videos. It is a plant undergoing major research and is called the miracle tree:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJeVT434J7c
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-cgcdF1kUtU
I first noticed this vegetable because of its aphrodisiac properties. From personal experience there is nothing better for human well being.  In some form or other one should include this in your diet twice a week. I buy fresh Moringa from Jeya Brothers, a small grocery store on 757 E Broadway. Most ingredients I list here for my dish are available there.

Muringa thenga thairu curry (Drumstick in a coconut curd curry)

Ingredients
Coconut oil  3 tbsp (canola oil or sunflower oil also can be used)
Mustard Seed 1/3 tsp
Fenugreek Seed 1/3 tsp
Cumin Seed 1/3 tsp
Shallots sliced 8 no’s
Ginger chopped 2 tsp
Garlic chopped 2 tsp
Green Chilli chopped 2 tsp
Curry Leaves 1 sprig
Dried whole red chillies 4
Turmeric Powder 1 tsp
Corriander Powder 2 tsp
Red Chilli Powder 1 tsp
Salt to taste
Hing 1 tsp
Grated Coconut 1/2 cup
Beaten Curd 1/4 cup (If you want to make this a vegan dish, substitute with coconut milk and add 1 tsp of tamarind pulp for tanginess)
Drumsticks, a.k.a. Muringa, cut into 2 inch pieces 2 cups
Chopped Cilantro 2 tsp
Method
  1. Heat oil in a saucepan on low or medium flame.
  2. Add Mustard, Fenugreek and Cumin seeds and stir gently.
  3. When the seeds are almost cracked add shallots, ginger, garlic and green chilli and stir.
  4. When shallots turn golden brown add curry leaves and whole red chillies and stir for a minute.
  5. Add turmeric, corriander, red chilli and hing powder and stir for a minute.
  6. Add salt and grated coconut and stir for 2 minutes.
  7. Add the drumsticks and stir well turning the ingredients from the bottom to top for 2 minutes.
  8. Add yogurt and mix well for a minute.
  9. Add 2 cups of water, stir, cover the pan and simmer for 15 minutes stirring occasionally.
  10. Check salt, remove from flame add cilantro and leave aside for 15 minutes for the flavours to sink in.
  11. Serve hot with rice. It’s finger-licking good.

Jose Madappilly is the chef at Salam Bombay Restaurant. He can be emailed at madappilly@gmail.com

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