Arai Keerai Kadanjadhu | Arai Keerai Masiyal | Spleen Amaranth Mash

In childhood, we go crazy for keerai urundai(greens balls) that amma drops in the centre of the palm and we carefully drop into the mouth without breaking the ball and happily chew mouthful 🙂 The taste of araikeerai with sesame oil is divine ! Nilaa eats this as green laddoos.. Happy to pass on the healthy habit !!

It is specially recommended for pregnant ladies as it increases RBC count in the blood and prevents Anemia. Arai keerai is given as a postpartum medicinal food from the third day of delivery. It increases milk secretion. This is one of the best foods recommended by Sidha(rs) to dads-to-be.

Amaranthus Dubius/Spleen Amaranth/Arai Keerai increases immunity and strengthens nervous system. It also cures cold, fever, constipation and gastric troubles.

Just buy a seed packet(Rs.10) from any Agro food shop, sow in 2 to 3 pots with a gap of one week each. Keep harvesting for 3 months!!

Preparation

1.Buy arai keerai from organic shop or cut out each stem(leaving the root to grow again) from homegrown greens.2.Discard/Throw away the below shown bud-like flowers and worms-crept leaves. Separate good leaves from the stems.3.Wash leaves well. If bought from shop, click here to see how to wash? Drain the water and keep other ingredients ready.4.In a pressure cooker, add small onions, garlic cloves, dry red chilli, chopped tomato, cumin seeds(jeera) and lil water.5.Pressure cook in medium high flame for 1 whistle. Cool down in a plate.6.Add to mixie jar and grind along with required salt.     Mix with hot rice and sesame oil(or ghee) .. Yummmm….

Tips/Tricks

• You shall avoid pressure cooker and cook in stove-top in a closed vessel.
• You shall avoid mixie and just mash well using mathu. In such case, add salt in the last minutes of cooking.
• You shall increase or decrease red chilli according to the required spice level.
• Add only little water just required for cooking. Do not drain excess water, if any.
• Do not skip or replace pearl onions as they enhance the taste.