Vallarai Keerai Kollu Podi / Brahmi Leaves Powder / Vallarai Keerai Idly Podi

" Vallarai Keerai" in Tamil  called as "Brahmi" leaves in Hindi is widely used in Ayurveda Medicine. This green leaf is used to fight against Alzheimer's disease, improving memory, fight against ADHD ( Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder )  and as a general tonic to reduce stress and promote good human health.

Using these rich green leaves, I made an aromatic and flavourful Herbal Green Leaf Powder / Podi which can be enjoyed with hot rice and little ghee on top. It can also be enjoyed with Idli / Dosas too. I made it more nutritious by adding horsegram / kollu to this powder.

You can customize this mixture by substituting Kollu / Horsegram with Toor dal. Add garlic to this powder if you like that taste of it. But its purely optional.

Ingredients

Vallarai Keerai - 2 Big Bunch Bunch

Curry Leaves - 3 Sticks

Horsegram // Kollu / Ulavu -  1/2 cup

Urad Dal / Ulutham Paruppu - 2 tbsp

Cumin Seeds / Jeera - 1 tsp

Dry Red Chillies - 6 or 7

Asafoetida - 1 Dash

Salt - To Taste

Method

Wash the Brahmi Leaves and dry them on a thin muslin cloth or paper for  6-8 hours till they get dried completely. Dry Roast the brahmi leaves and curry leaves together on medium heat in a pan or kadai. Allow them to cool completely.

Dry roast all other ingredients except salt in the same pan till golden brown. Cool them completely.

Grind all together in a mixer grinder / blender to a fine smooth powder. Add required amount of salt and asafoetida and grind once again for 2 seconds to mix them.

Store it in an airtight container and enjoy. 

Tips /Suggestions

As its a dry powder, add a tsp of ghee while serving this with hot rice. If you are using this as a gun powder for Idly / Dosas, add few tsps of Sesame oil and serve. It enhances the taste for sure.

You can make vallarai keerai vadai, vallarai keerai adai, Vallarai keerai kootu / Paruppu too.

Happy Birthday Amma

Its been a long time since I published posts in my food blog.  Ever since I lost my wonderful mother, I got uninterested in many things that I enjoyed doing earlier. Life after amma's death is difficult at times, making me realize the importance of everyday life. No one is going to pamper us the same way as amma does. I felt as if my mom came in front asking me to start writing posts again. She was an incredible cook commented on my food recipes in her own sarcastic funny way which i loved to hear..Missing my amma so much..

When i make any kind of sweet dishes, memories of my mom occupies my mind totally. All sweet memories of her. My time with my mom is incomplete, yes, it is. I never had a proper "Good Bye" from her, was not fortunate to see her face and the kindness on her eyes at the end. I paid the price for staying far away from her.

During her birthday week, I made an elaborate south indian thali and enjoyed with family and friends.

Amma's Tribute --  All learnt from her

This post is my hearty tribute to my dear mother who really inspired me to achieve many more things in my life. Love you Amma...as always till I live in this world.

If God can give me a single wish, I would really love to see you atleast once again for few minutes, talk with you.