Beetroot palya (sabzi)

Anything with beetroot in it, makes the item delicious, but my personal favorite is this simple palya. For nursing moms, this is a great source of iron too.

Ingredients:
Beetroot-----------2 medium sized

Ghee----1tsp (clarified butter )

Cummin- seeds ------------1/2 tsp

Fenugreek seeds-------1/4 tsp

Aniseed (sonfh)----1/4 tsp

Mustard- seeds ----------1/4 tsp

Turmeric-powder-------1/4 tsp

Red chillies-------2 whole

Salt to taste

Method:
1.Dice the beetroot and keep aside.
2. Prepare a seasoning of cumin seeds, fenugreek  seeds, aniseed, mustard, turmeric, red chillies in ghee, then add the chopped beetroot and pressure cook
3. Once it cools down add salt and serve with rice or rotis.

Bottle gourd (doodhi) sabji

Bottle gourd is one of the miracle vegetables for a lactating mom. It is easy to digest, has a lot of fiber in it and is also a great lactation aid. This palya is very simple to make, takes little time and can be a great dish with rotis or rice and lentils.

The same procedure can be followed to make palyas with all other vegetables described in the 40 day diet post.
Ingredients for one serving: 

Bottle gourd----- 1 cup(chopped)

Ghee -----1 tsp

Jeera (whole cummin)—1/2 tsp

Pepper –2to 3 (crushed)

Cumin powder---1/4 tsp

Coriander powder---1/4 tsp

Turmeric powder----1/4 tsp
Raw groundnuts------8 to 10 (optional )

Salt to taste.

Method :
Dice the bottle and keep aside.
Take a pan, prepare a seasoning of jeera with ghee, add turmeric and then chopped vegetable and raw groundnuts.
 Cook for 10 minutes with 1/2 cup of water. After it softens and the water evaporates, add salt, pepper cumin powder , coriander powder and salt to taste.

Kootu

This is a curry dish which can pass for a nearly perfect meal when eaten with rice or rotis.

KOOTU Ingredients:

Red chillies--- 2

Pepper corn--- 2 to 3

Coriander seeds ---1 tsp

Urad dal ---1/2 tsp

Coconut powder ----2 tbsp

Salt to taste

Tamarind----1/2 tsp paste

Groundnuts----1 tbsp

Ghee--1tsp

Jeera---1/2 tsp

Tur dal---1/2 cup

Turmeric --- ¼ tsp
Curry leaves ---few

Vegetables ---any greens or carrots or beans or mixed vegetables.

Method :
Chop the choice of your vegetable and cook with tur dal and turmeric , keep aside.
Roast red chillies , pepper ,coriander seeds , urad dal , with little ghee and make a paste in the mixie with coconut powder .
Then add this  paste to the cooked vegetable and tur dal .
Cook for 2 miniutes then add tamarind paste, salt and groundnuts to it and  continue cooking  for 5 more minutes.

Finally season with jeera and curry leaves .

Hunse saaru

This is one which needs no introduction to people who like their foods tangy. Tamarind is rich in many vitamins and for recovering mothers, this is a nutrition packed delight

HUNSE SARU  ( tamarind rasam )

Tamarind paste ---1 tsp

Rasam powder ===1/2 tsp

Jaggery ----1 tsp

Salt to taste,

Curry leaves --- few,

Ghee 1tsp

Cumin seeds –1/2 tsp
Hing (aesophatida )-- a pinch

Method :
Dilute tamarind paste with 1/2 cup of water and boil,
Add rasam powder, salt, jaggery and continue to boil .
Then prepare a seasoning of ghee, cumin seeds, curry leaves and hing and add to it.

Serve with rice.