Urad dal is also known as Split black lentils and Black gram dal. Split urad dal retains the skin and also has a strong flavour. Skinned and split urad dal is creamy white and somewhat bland. When boiled, the dal has an unusual mucilaginous texture.
Urad dal is a good source of proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, iron, and calcium. In addition, whole urad has dietary fibre, whereas urad dal (split urad) does not contain fibre. Among the phytochemicals, prominent phytochemicals present in urad dal are flavonoids and phenolic compounds.
The Masoor Dal lentils can be split or whole, and both types are used in Indian cuisine. The split and husked red lentils are called Dhuli Masoor Dal in Hindi. Split and husked lentils have an orange-pink color. However, the whole Masoor Dal with the husks have a dark brown color and thus called Brown Lentils.
Masoor dal (Lens culinaris), also called red lentil, is a staple food in every Indian household. It is widely cultivated in warm, tropical and temperate zones for its edible and nutritious seeds. In addition, it is an important source of protein for the vegetarian population in developing countries.
In addition to fiber, popcorn also is a good source of polyphenols,
Millets are a group a small, round whole grains grown in India, Nigeria, and other Asian and African countries. Considered an ancient grain, they are used both for human consumption and livestock and bird feed (4, 5 ). They have multiple advantages over other crops, including drought and pest resistance.
Green Millet
Barley is high in fiber, especially beta-glucan, which may reduce cholesterol and blood sugar levels. It may also aid weight loss and improve digestion. Whole-grain, hulled barley is more nutritious than refined, pearled barley. It can be substituted for any whole grain and easily added to your diet.
Flaxseeds
Sunflower seeds are rich in oleic and linoleic acid and low in saturated fats and sodium. They also contain magnesium, potassium and fibre. They help to lower blood pressure and serum cholesterol levels.
Fiber in chia seeds is mainly soluble fiber and mucilage, the substance responsible for the gluey texture of moistened chia seeds. These fibers may help to lower LDL cholesterol and slow down digestion, which can prevent blood sugar spikes after eating a meal and promote a feeling of fullness.
Cumin (jeera) can be identified by its distinct ridged brown seeds and intense fragrance. Cumin is used to add a distinct smoky note and a robust flavour to most Indian curries. So, it is often used as a whole, to flavour rice, stuffed vegetables, curries and many savoury dishes, and as a powder for puddings and buttermilk.
White pepper retains the full pungency of black pepper, it tastes different due to partial loss of aroma. White pepper is used in white sauces, pasta, salads, seafood dishes, etc.
Star Anise is famed for its strong and distinct flavour. As goes its name, this star-shaped, reddish-brown pod consists of 6-8 carpels arranged in a coil. The carpel is 10 mm, boat-shaped and hard and wrinkled containing a seed. It is used as a condiment to flavour curries, confectionaries.
Saffron (Kesar) is the most expensive spice and it is a colour too. Saffron has a very subtle flavour and aroma. It is used as a culinary seasoning for chicken and meat, biriyani, pulao, etc. It adds taste, colour, and aroma to Indian sweets like Rasmalai, Kesar Pista etc. and flavours kheer, badam milk, saffron milk, etc.
While nutmeg is a shelled dried seed of a plant, mace is a dried netlike covering of the shell of the seed. While nutmeg has a distinctive pungent fragrance and a warm slightly sweet taste, mace has a more delicate flavour and gives a saffron-like hue to dishes. Both are used as a condiment for sweet products such as baked items, custards, puddings, jellies, etc.
Commonly known as Methi, fenugreek seeds are hot in nature, with a bitter, nutty taste. It is a common condiment in spice blends in Indian cuisine over a variety of dishes like gravies, curries, parathas, beverages, etc. Fenugreek seeds have been used to enhance the sensory quality of food.
A sweet-tasting spice with a warm and woody aroma, cinnamon chips are rough non-peelable barks scraped off from the thicker stems. Cinnamon is a wonderful spice with a pleasant taste that makes it a great ingredient to be used in cakes and desserts. It is widely used in Hyderabadi Biriyani, gravies and curry dishes in India.
Pleasantly aromatic, the Bay leaf/ tejpata has a clove-like taste and a faint pepper-like odour. The glossy, dark-green Bay leaf is oval, pointed and smooth, 2.5 â?? 8 cm (1 to 3 inches) long. Bay leaves give off a pleasing and sweet aroma that makes it a great flavouring condiment for soups, sauces, stews and pickles.
Chew a spoonful of raw Ajwain seeds every day in the morning. Maintain a gap of half an hour between eating Ajwain and having your breakfast. If you have these seeds the first thing in the morning, they help your body release digestive juices which can make digestion better.
