Healthy Indian Food For Fitness

Indian food is often associated with a lot of oil or ghee. But most Indian recipes are actually very healthy and can keep you fit when consumed every day in moderation. Here are some of the best healthy Indian food items that can help to improve your fitness and lead a more active life.

1.  Brown Rice Idli

Ingredients:

• ½ cup urad dal
• ½ teaspoon methi seeds
• 1 cup brown poha
• 2 cups brown rice
• 2 teaspoons pink salt or rock salt

Method: Wash and soak the urad dal, methi, and brown rice for about 4 hours. Drain the water and then blend to a smooth paste by adding as little water as possible. Make sure to keep the batter thick. Soak the poha in one cup of water and then blend along with the water to a paste. Add it to the batter, add salt to the paste and mix well. Pour the mixture in a vessel, cover it with a cloth and leave to ferment for 6-8 hours. Spoon batter into an idli steamer mould and steam for 6-7 minutes.

Benefits: Idli is part of the healthy Indian diet which is well-known all over the world. No oil is used in the cooking. Brown rice increases the fiber content. The dish, which is a common South Indian breakfast, is eaten with sambar and chutney.

2. Rajma

Ingredients:

• 1 cup rajma
• 2 medium onions
• 4 tomatoes
• ¼ teaspoon hing
• 1 teaspoon chilli powder
• ½ teaspoon cumin powder
• ½ teaspoon coriander powder
• ½ teaspoon turmeric powder
• 1 green chilli
• fresh ginger
• fresh coriander leaves
• 1 tablespoon oil
• salt to taste

Method: Wash the rajma and soak overnight in lots of water. It will double in size. Drain the water and place the rajma in a pressure cooker, add  hing and ½ teaspoon of salt to this. Cover well with water and pressure cook for about 10 minutes on low heat after the first whistle. The rajma should be soft but not mushy after cooking. Chop the onions into 4 quarters each and place in boiling water for a few minutes till they turn translucent. Cool and blend the onions to a paste. Next, blend the tomatoes to a puree. In a vessel, heat the oil and add the onions, fry for a minute and then add the tomato and the spices except the green chilli, ginger, and coriander. Fry till fragrant. Add the rajma and some of the water from the pressure cooker to the spice mixture. Add a little salt and mix well. Let it simmer for five minutes. Slit the green chilli down its length and slice ginger into thin strips and add them to the mix. Chop fresh coriander leaves, turn off the heat and sprinkle on top.

Benefits: Rajma is not only delicious and goes well with both rice and roti, but it is also packed with nutrition. The beans are a good source of protein and also contain potassium, magnesium, iron, vitamin B 6 and vitamin C. Rajma is an excellent source of fiber. As the recipe uses very little oil and is a low-fat Indian nutritious food, it can be an amazing dish to try.

Try these healthy Indian food recipes to make your favourite dishes at home. These foods are delicious and also perfect for anyone who is trying to maintain good health and fitness.

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