Finally the summer is in full swing !! With the high mercury level, the scorching sun has the potential to drain us out completely. By ignoring this, many feel dehydrated during these months and experienced low energy level. So, it is important that we should take extra care during this hot season. From eating right to following certain lifestyle changes, we can beat the hazardous impacts of summer. Apart from drinking lots of water, a special summer diet consisting of light and healthy food would ensure a cool mind as well as a cool body. So there must be a big NO to all oily and junk foods which are not at-all digested easily during these hot days.
In Odisha, the summer season is also bit hectic one. People are used to have Pakhala, a watered rice with curd / some tempering over it during summers. This fermented rice is the perfect dish to beat the heat and give a refreshment to the whole body. Since summer gets started from around mid of the month March, so 20th March is celebrated as Pakhala Dibasa (Universal Pakhala Day) by all Odias to welcome summer season with Odisha’s traditional food. Also some people prefer to have kanji which may be torani kanji or dahi kanji or sukhua kanji etc. This kanji is also a good body coolant during these days.
Ingredients :
Ingredients
|
Measurements
|
Neem bud (fresh / dried)
|
2-3 tbsp
|
Mango (raw) (medium)
|
2 no
|
Potato
|
1 no
|
Colocasia (medium)
|
2 no
|
Badi
|
5-6 no
|
Red chili
|
2 no
|
Cumin seed
|
¼ tsp
|
Mustard seed
|
¼ tsp
|
Turmeric powder
|
¼ tsp
|
Coriander powder
|
½ tsp
|
Mustard oil
|
2 tbsp
|
Salt
|
As needed
|
Water
|
As needed
|
Method :
- First take all the neem buds / nimba kadhi in another bowl and pour some water.
- Thoroughly wash and clean the buds.
- Finally strain the buds using a strainer and keep aside.
- Now heat 1 tbsp mustard oil in a pan, then add washed and clean neem buds.
- Fry over medium heat till crispy texture.
- Take out of the pan and keep aside in a plate.
- Wash and peel colocasia (arbi), potato and cut each into 4 pieces lengthwise. (I have not peeled the potatoes)
- Put all the chopped potato, colocasia in the pressure cooker along with some water and cook for 1 whistle.
- Next wash and peel raw mango and cut into 4 pieces lengthwise. Discard the seeds and keep aside in a bowl.
- Heat rest mustard oil in a pan.
- Shallow fry the badis till golden brown in color.
- Transfer to a bowl and keep aside.
- To the same pan, add cumin seed, mustard seed, red chili and allow to splutter.
- Next add chopped raw mangoes and saute well.
- Sprinkle turmeric powder, coriander powder, salt and give a mix.
- Add 2 tbsp water, mix well and cover for 3-4 minutes over low-medium heat.
- Then add boiled potato, colocasia pieces and 1 cup water. Give a stir.
- Cover and simmer for 5 minutes more.
- Finally add fried badi and turn off heat.
- Serve hot this nimba amba jhola with steamed rice !
Notes :
Mango neem bud curry looks delicious. A completely new and unique flavour. Lovely share.
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Never used neem buds in a curry, sounds interesting and delicious..loved the green color of the dish.
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This is a very unique recipe and I have never heard of neem buds. So good to read about a unique recipe. I am going to look for these ingredients and make this once.
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Lovely share! Like you said if this is perfect for beat the heat I will suggest my mother to make this 🙂
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Lovely share. This is new to me sounds delicious.
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Wow! This is simply delicious.😋 I love the taste.
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Looks delicious and healthy. I have never tried cooking with neem buds.
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Such a prefect dish for summers, lovely recipe must try soon.
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These days we generally run away from traditional dishes. Never heard of neem buds in a dish. Thanks for sharing such a unique dish.
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What a delicious looking sabji Sasmita. I was wondering if the sabji turns out a bit sour because of the raw mango.
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yes di, its bit sour and bitter as well 🙂
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Lovely and unique share. Hope to try it sometime😊
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I am really wondering of the flavors… never knew that neem buds are used in cooking… very interesting post about how summer is handled in Orissa. We too have kanjis in our cooking, made with either beaten rice or wheat…
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Such a perfect and delicious this recipe looks. Cant wait to try this. 🙂
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Mango and neem buds are a known combination in the Ugadi chutney we make for telugu New years day….But, using them in a curry is new to me…Unique recipe…Got to try it sometime…Great share!!
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Very interesting dish, totally new to me! It looks very delicious, thanks for sharing 🙂
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I've heard from my mom how amazing neem is for health but have never tasted a neem dish. Reading your description I'm salivating and feeling very hungry. 😊
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I would actually love to try this a s soon as i catch some neem flowers. will love to see how the flavours develop
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Nice to know about a healthy and unique neem bud curry, thanks for sharing it with us. With all the health benefits we all should try it in our diet.
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I am enjoying learning about Odia cooking from you. This dish must taste so good, tangy, bitter, hearty. Look forward to many more traditional recipes.
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Love these odia recipes here, this is also new to me. It looks so yumm, can have it with hot rice.
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