Water Melon white Rind Sabji

Water Melon white Rind Sabji

Do you know that the rind of water melon is edible? The term rind usually refers to the skin or peel of a fruit. 

In watermelon, the rind consists of two parts - the outer green skin and the inner white pulp.The outer green skin of the rind is hard and inedible, so it is discarded. The inner whitish part of the rind is edible, although it has a bland taste when raw and is not as soft as the central red part.

About water melon white rind it is said that is very helpful in relaxing blood vessels and lowering blood  pressure as it has a high dose of cirulline amino acid .Finding a use for it also helps cut down on the amount of garbage you produce, so it’s good for the environment as well.So why to throw it, and try making its sabji. 

It is very simple, tasty and easy to make. It tastes very similar to loki(bottle gourd), cucumber, turai all water based vegetable group.

My Mom use to make it, i remember enjoying it  a lot, hope my version is nearest to hers

Ingredients

1 cup water melon white rind peeled and cut

1medium sized chopped onion

1medium sized chopped tomato

1tbsp finely chopped garlic        

1tsp ginger grated                                   

1 finely chopped green chilli                                     

Salt to taste

½ tsp turmeric powder

½ tsp red chili powder                                                  

1 red chili cut into big pieces

1 tsp. Mango powder

1 tsp cumin seeds

A pinch of asafoetida 

1 tbsp oil

1 tsp lemon juice

1 tbsp chopped coriander leaves

        

                                                                  

Method

Heat the oil in pan on medium high heat.  Add asafetida, cumin seeds and dry red chili, let it splutter till it stops.

Add the grated ginger,garlic chopped onions and saute until it turns transparent. 

Add the chopped tomatoes, peeled and chopped water melon white rind, salt, turmeric powder, red chili powder, mango powder and green chillies.Mix well.

Do not add water because water melon rind is cooked in its own water.

Cover the pan and cook, stirring occasionally, on low flame for 10-12 minutes or till the vegetable is almost done i.e it should be easily pierced with a fork and most of the water  is almost absorbed.

Now remove the cover from the pan and lemon juice.

Water melon white rind sabji is ready.  Garnish with  coriander leaves.

This side dish goes well with the roti, parantha and poori.

Enjoy!

Watermelon the super duper cooler

Watermelon the super duper cooler

It is the season of watermelons. They are best during the summer as they are sweet and juicy.
As the name says it all watermelon is 92% water and only 8%sugar.

Research shows that watermelon cuts the risk of sun related skin damage by 40%. That's because watermelon is nature's richest source of lycopene, an antioxidant that scavenges the UV-induced free radicals that cause sunburn and wrinkling. Lycopene may also help reduce the risks of cancer and other diseases. 

Watermelon can help improve sleep. It is high in vitamin B6 which helps manufacture serotonin and dopamine (mood related chemical) in brain.When levels of serotonin increase at night, the brain is less sensitive to disruptive stimuli (like noise) during sleep.

It helps the body flush out toxins because it contains the organic compound citrulline, which is an amino acid that has been shown to help the liver and kidneys filter and get rid of ammonia. Ammonia comes in external forms, but is also a by-product of the proteins our bodies are burning up constantly for energy, and it’s quite damaging to our cells.Watermelon may also just give the liver an overall boost. 



Watermelons are rich in electrolytes, sodium and potassium which are lost through perspiration. Also its high potassium content helps to control BP.

They are rich in Vitamin A, B and C. What's more, they are low in calories and very nutritious.

Choose the right watermelon. Always choose one that is symmetrical and firm without any cuts and bruises. Turn it over and you will see a yellow colour on one side. The yellow area is a good sign as it shows that the watermelon was rested on the ground while ripening under the sun. It is also an indication that your melon is sweeter and juicer. Slap your melon and if it sounds hollow, then it is ripe.

So, next time you hit a fruit shop, don't forget to shop for a watermelon.

7th APRIL WORLD HEALTH DAY

7^th APRIL WORLD HEALTH DAY

World Health Day 2012: ‘Add life to years, not years to life’ says WHO India

Ageing and health - to which each and every one of us can relate - is the theme of this year's World Health Day

Using the slogan "Good health adds life to years", here is a checklist which will help you in analysizing how healthy you are!!!

1.Climb up to the 2^nd floor of your building and then check your rate of heart beat. 

If your beat is high and you are unable to catch your breath even after 2 minutes of deep breathing, your level of cardiovascular fitness is low.

2. Ask yourself when was the last time you ate a fruit.

 3. Are potatoes the only vegetables in your house???

4. How much alcohol do you drink? Keep an eye on the amount and have a regular kidney check up.

5. If  you have a family history of diabetes a annual blood sugar and insulin check is a must after the age of 26yrs.

6. If you lead a sedentary life regular blood pressure and lipid profile check up is needed.

7. If you are a frequent(>2 times a week) non-veg eater annual uric acid and lipid profile is a must.

8. Menopausal women, make sure you have an annual pap test (for cancer), mammography & bone density test for osteoporosis.

9. For young mother haemoglobin and calcium check ups will help control health problems after delivery.

10. Maintain a food dairy. Check things like how much sugar you consume in a day, how often you eat fried foods.

11. If you are unable to get enough sleep for more than a month, your body will be less able to regenerate itself and you will be more likely to suffer from breakdown

The best way to manage your health is to have a full annual check up done and also pay attention to signals your body sends.