Saturday, July 07, 2012

Aloe Vera subzi / Gwarpatha Ki Subzi

A very healthy and nutritious stir fry made with Aloe Vera

Aloe Vera is also known as - Gwarpatha, Kwar gandal and Ghrit Kumari. The Aloe Vera plant has many cosmetic and medicinal properties. It is full of antibiotics which will fight off infections. It cures ulcers , prevents constipation, cures bacterial infections inside the stomach, reduces cholesterol, regulates blood sugar, soothens joint inflammation especially arthritis related swelling and much more. I had always heard of Aloe Vera being had in the form of a juice, or the gel being used as an ointment, so I tried making a curry out of it, and I must say I was very surprised on how good the results turned out to be! INGREDIENTS preparation time-10 min

cooking time-5 min serve-6 Aloe Vera Leaves - 350 gms (4 cup chopped) Raisins - 3 tbls Salt - 1 tsp Turmeric - 1/2 t.s Red chilli powder - 1 tsp Mango powder - 3/4 tsp Refined oil - 3 tbls Cumin seeds - 1/2 tsp Asafoetida - 1/4 tsp Sugar - 1/2 tsp Curd - 1.5 tbls

PROCEDURE1. Wash and peel the sides of aloe vera steam to remove the thorns. 2. Chop into thin slices and pressure cook for 2 whistles with 1 glass of water. 3. Wash with cold water( the water in which you have boiled the aloe vera can be used for making chappati dough ) 4. Heat oil in a pan then add cumin and asafotida. 5. When seeds start crackling, add turmeric and boiled aloe vera and saute for one minute 6. Now add curd ,raisins and all the spices and stir fry for approx.2 minutes

7. Take out in a bowl and serve hot or cold.(around 2-3 tbls subzi at a time) Serving Suggestions - Serve with Roti, Rice or as a side dish.

Aloe vera ka Halwa - by Vidya Kaithwas

Cooking Time : 90 Minutes. Ingredients: 1/2 kg Aloe Vera(Washed and peeled, without the outer skin, only the inner flesh) 750gm Sugar 750 ml Milk 1/2 kg Khowa (Mava) 1/2 kg ghee (Clarrified Butter) 70gm Almond 70 gm Cashew nut 70 gm Unsalted Pista(Pistachio) 70 gm Makhana (Foxnut) 1 tsp Kamarkas( Gum of Bengal Kino ) 70 gm Gum 4 Elaichi (Green Cardamom) 2 Pinches of Nutmeg Powder(Jaifal Powder) 2 Pinches of Jyavitri Powder(Mace) 1/2 tsp Orange Color 100 gm Char Magaj

Method: 1) Take the fresh Aloe Vera and peel off it's skin so as to get the inner transparent flesh. 2) Chop it into tiny pieces. 3) Heat ghee in a kadhai and deep fry the Makhana in it and keep it aside. 4) Crush the Gum into small pieces and deep fry it in ghee and keep it aside. 4) Also deep fry Kamarkas and keep it aside. Note: Deep fry Kamarkas in Low Flame so that it won't get burnt. 5) Now fry the chopped ALoe Vera ina Gahee untill it gets golden brown in color.(In Low Flame) 6) Once it gets the golden brown color, add milk in the kadhai(The milk will change its form into Paneer, So Don;t Panic)(In High Flame) 7) Cook the mixture untill the milk dries off leaving the residue behind in the kadhai, that is the Aloe Vera and he Paneer. 8) When the ghee begins to leave the mixture in the kadhai, add the crushed khowa into the Kadhai.(In Medium or Low Flame) 9) Cook the mixture untill the khowa melts completely. 10) Now add sugar to the mixture and cook it untill the sugar melts. Now add the dry fruits and mix well.

11) Add the crushed kamarkas and gum and mix it well. 12) Add Nutmeg Powder, Cardamom Powder, Jyavitry Powder and orange color into the mixture and mix it well. 13) Now your halwa s complete.

Note: The Halwa should be soft in texture. If it looks tough, then you can add 1 or 1/2 cup of milk in the mixture and cook it well.