We call fenugreek leaves vendhaya keerai in Tamil and they are called methi leaves in Hindi. Fenugreek leaves like all the other greens are very good for health and if you know how to use fenugreek leaves you will start using it often as it is very easy to incorporate it in our diet. Fenugreek leaves are also one of the easiest to grow, just sprinkle some fenugreek seeds in a pot and within 2 weeks you have fresh fenugreek leaves. This is very important because if we can easily grow our own organic greens at home, I am sure we will use them a lot often. Fenugreek leaves are very nutritious and are rich in iron, calcium, phosphorus and protein. Dried fenugreek leaves are called kasoori methi in Hindi and it goes well with all North Indian gravies. Though you can use dried leaves, the fresh ones are the best. But if you don't get fresh leaves, try using kasoori methi as it is easily available and stores well for months. The number of things you can make with fenugreek leaves are quite long. You can make wonderful healthy dishes with fenugreek leaves and I will try my best to give all the best possible ideas to cook with it. Fenugreek leaves can be used to make hair oil, hair packs and can be used even for skin massage. Always try to use fresh fenugreek leaves both in cooking and for external applications for best results. Fenugreek leaves can be stored in the refrigerator for a few days and the best way to store is wrap the whole bundle with a cheese cloth that is dipped in water and wrung to get the water completely out, this way you can keep the leaves fresh for 2 to 3 days in the refrigerator. Start including fenugreek leaves in your children's diet as early as possible. Don't start by making the whole dish with only fenugreek leaves, they might hate it and once they say no to some food, it will be hard to get them eat it again. Start by adding few leaves while making roti or soups or in dosais and once they get used to the taste start adding more. It will be a great loss if we don't use this wonderful greens so please try to include them both in cooking and beauty preparations. If you have any thoughts on fenugreek leaves, please leave in the comment section below...
5 AMAZING HAIR, SKIN & HEALTH BENEFITS & USES OF FENUGREEK LEAVES | METHI LEAVES | VENDHAYA KEERAI | KASOORI METHI
1. Methi Leaves | Fenugreek Leaves For Diabetes:
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The usage of fenugreek for diabetes is so famous that you will find most of the diabetic patients well aware of the benefits of fenugreek for keeping their blood sugar levels stable. A study done on diabetic rats showed significant reduction in blood sugar levels when they are given fenugreek extract. For diabetic patients a simple dal made with fenugreek leaves will work well. When cooked with dal fenugreek leaves keep us satiated for a long time and is one of the best foods diabetic patients can take. To make the fenugreek leaves dal, first boil 1/4 cup toor dal along with a cup of water, 1/8 tsp of turmeric powder and few drops of castor oil in a cooker for 3 whistles. In a pan heat a tsp of sesame oil and splutter 1/8 tsp of mustard seeds followed by a small piece of asafoetida, a handful of cut shallots, 1 red chilli broken and 2 sprigs of curry leaves. Fry till the shallots are fried completely and add 1/2 cup of chopped fresh fenugreek leaves and fry for few seconds. Add 1/2 cup water, close with a lid and cook till the leaves are almost cooked, now add 1small tomato that is finely chopped, salt and cook till the fenugreek leaves are fully done. Add the boiled dal and let it simmer for 2 to 3 minutes and switch off. This dal tastes good both with rice and roti.
2. Methi Leaves | Fenugreek Leaves For Breast Milk:
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Feeding mothers will greatly benefits from including fenugreek leaves in their diet. Since it is best for breast feeding mothers to include fenugreek leaves often in their diet, try to make fenugreek leaves soup for them. A cup of this fenugreek leaves soup is very filling and very nutritious and can be given to breast feeding mothers often. To make the soup, first pound 1/4 tsp of cumin seeds, 2 pods garlic and 1/ tsp peppercorns coarsely in a mortar and pestle. Heat 1/2 tsp of homemade ghee in a kadai and add the pounded spices to it and fry in low flame. Add 1/4 cup of finely chopped shallots and fry till it turns translucent. Now add 1 cup of chopped fenugreek leaves, fry for few seconds and add boiled toor dhal water (water that is strained after boiling toor dhal with turmeric powder and a bit of castor oil) till the whole mixture is immersed in it. Close with a lid and cook till the fenugreek leaves are fully cooked, don't forget to add salt. Switch off, take a immersion blender and puree the whole soup to the required consistency. You can also add 1/2 a tomato to the mixture while frying.....
3. Methi Leaves | Fenugreek Leaves For Weight Loss:
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If you are in a calorie restricted diet, the best bet is to look for dishes that are low in calories, full of nutrients and keep us satiated for a long time. Fenugreek leaves does exactly that, it is very filling, very nutritious and keep us satiated for a very long time. One of the best ways to consume fenugreek leaves is to make roti with it. We make methi roti often at home and is one of the easiest recipes that you can make with fenugreek leaves. To make the methi roti, mix 1 cup flour, 1/8 tsp cumin seeds, 1/8 tsp red chilli powder, 1/8 tsp turmeric powder, 1/4 tsp gram masala powder, salt and mix well. Now add 1 onion, 1 cup of fenugreek leaves and 1 green chilli that are very finely chopped and mix well, now add required amount of water to make a smooth dough. Rest for 10 minutes and make rotis out of this dough. Cook on both sides using very minimal oil, a wonderful healthy nutritious meal that will keep us full for at least 3 to 4 hours is ready! Usually you don't need any side dish with this roti and can be had as such.....
4. Methi Leaves | Fenugreek Leaves For Skin:
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Fenugreek leaves are good for external application too. The juice of fresh fenugreek leaves combined with pure honey can be applied on the skin to get rid of black spots and blemishes. To collect the fenugreek leaves juice, wash the fenugreek leaves in water well and add little boiled water to it and grind to a smooth paste in a blender. Squeeze the paste to extract the juice, strain the juice to get a smooth mixture and add few drops of honey. For a tbsp of juice add around a tsp of honey, mix well and massage this mixture in the skin and leave it to dry on the skin. This mixture also can be safely used on acne prone skin too. You can also mix fenugreek leaves juice with rice flour and use it as a scrub to get rid of black heads on the face.
5. Methi Leaves | Fenugreek Leaves For Hair:
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Fenugreek leaves can be used for making hair oil just like henna oil, use the same recipe but substitute the henna leaves with fenugreek leaves. This oil will condition the hair, cool the body well and is ideal for using it during hot summer months. You can also use fenugreek leaves and yogurt for making a hair mask. This mask will treat dandruff, prevent scalp itching and strengthen the hair roots. To make the mask, grind fresh fenugreek leaves with homemade yogurt to get a thick paste and use it as a hair mask. To use, apply all over the scalp, wait for it to dry completely and then have hair wash with a mild shampoo followed by a conditioner. You will find your hair super smooth and glossy after using the pack.
1. Methi Leaves | Fenugreek Leaves For Diabetes:
The usage of fenugreek for diabetes is so famous that you will find most of the diabetic patients well aware of the benefits of fenugreek for keeping their blood sugar levels stable. A study done on diabetic rats showed significant reduction in blood sugar levels when they are given fenugreek extract. For diabetic patients a simple dal made with fenugreek leaves will work well. When cooked with dal fenugreek leaves keep us satiated for a long time and is one of the best foods diabetic patients can take. To make the fenugreek leaves dal, first boil 1/4 cup toor dal along with a cup of water, 1/8 tsp of turmeric powder and few drops of castor oil in a cooker for 3 whistles. In a pan heat a tsp of sesame oil and splutter 1/8 tsp of mustard seeds followed by a small piece of asafoetida, a handful of cut shallots, 1 red chilli broken and 2 sprigs of curry leaves. Fry till the shallots are fried completely and add 1/2 cup of chopped fresh fenugreek leaves and fry for few seconds. Add 1/2 cup water, close with a lid and cook till the leaves are almost cooked, now add 1small tomato that is finely chopped, salt and cook till the fenugreek leaves are fully done. Add the boiled dal and let it simmer for 2 to 3 minutes and switch off. This dal tastes good both with rice and roti.
2. Methi Leaves | Fenugreek Leaves For Breast Milk:
Feeding mothers will greatly benefits from including fenugreek leaves in their diet. Since it is best for breast feeding mothers to include fenugreek leaves often in their diet, try to make fenugreek leaves soup for them. A cup of this fenugreek leaves soup is very filling and very nutritious and can be given to breast feeding mothers often. To make the soup, first pound 1/4 tsp of cumin seeds, 2 pods garlic and 1/ tsp peppercorns coarsely in a mortar and pestle. Heat 1/2 tsp of homemade ghee in a kadai and add the pounded spices to it and fry in low flame. Add 1/4 cup of finely chopped shallots and fry till it turns translucent. Now add 1 cup of chopped fenugreek leaves, fry for few seconds and add boiled toor dhal water (water that is strained after boiling toor dhal with turmeric powder and a bit of castor oil) till the whole mixture is immersed in it. Close with a lid and cook till the fenugreek leaves are fully cooked, don't forget to add salt. Switch off, take a immersion blender and puree the whole soup to the required consistency. You can also add 1/2 a tomato to the mixture while frying.....
3. Methi Leaves | Fenugreek Leaves For Weight Loss:
If you are in a calorie restricted diet, the best bet is to look for dishes that are low in calories, full of nutrients and keep us satiated for a long time. Fenugreek leaves does exactly that, it is very filling, very nutritious and keep us satiated for a very long time. One of the best ways to consume fenugreek leaves is to make roti with it. We make methi roti often at home and is one of the easiest recipes that you can make with fenugreek leaves. To make the methi roti, mix 1 cup flour, 1/8 tsp cumin seeds, 1/8 tsp red chilli powder, 1/8 tsp turmeric powder, 1/4 tsp gram masala powder, salt and mix well. Now add 1 onion, 1 cup of fenugreek leaves and 1 green chilli that are very finely chopped and mix well, now add required amount of water to make a smooth dough. Rest for 10 minutes and make rotis out of this dough. Cook on both sides using very minimal oil, a wonderful healthy nutritious meal that will keep us full for at least 3 to 4 hours is ready! Usually you don't need any side dish with this roti and can be had as such.....
4. Methi Leaves | Fenugreek Leaves For Skin:
Fenugreek leaves are good for external application too. The juice of fresh fenugreek leaves combined with pure honey can be applied on the skin to get rid of black spots and blemishes. To collect the fenugreek leaves juice, wash the fenugreek leaves in water well and add little boiled water to it and grind to a smooth paste in a blender. Squeeze the paste to extract the juice, strain the juice to get a smooth mixture and add few drops of honey. For a tbsp of juice add around a tsp of honey, mix well and massage this mixture in the skin and leave it to dry on the skin. This mixture also can be safely used on acne prone skin too. You can also mix fenugreek leaves juice with rice flour and use it as a scrub to get rid of black heads on the face.
5. Methi Leaves | Fenugreek Leaves For Hair:
Fenugreek leaves can be used for making hair oil just like henna oil, use the same recipe but substitute the henna leaves with fenugreek leaves. This oil will condition the hair, cool the body well and is ideal for using it during hot summer months. You can also use fenugreek leaves and yogurt for making a hair mask. This mask will treat dandruff, prevent scalp itching and strengthen the hair roots. To make the mask, grind fresh fenugreek leaves with homemade yogurt to get a thick paste and use it as a hair mask. To use, apply all over the scalp, wait for it to dry completely and then have hair wash with a mild shampoo followed by a conditioner. You will find your hair super smooth and glossy after using the pack.
