Bhaja Santula From Odiya Cuisine: A Diabetes-Friendly Recipe

If you are looking for a diabetes-friendly recipe for regular meal planning, then read this post further.

Presenting before you my diabetic MIL's special mix vegetable recipe for diabetics. However, I have tried to standardize it as per technique this time. This is my one pot one shot bhaja santula. Enjoy lovely flavors, beautiful colors, and healthy greens right in one pot one shot.

bhajja santula - a recipe for diabetics sans potato

As you know, I was in Odisha recently. Yes, it is my sasural (in-law's place). The best thing about Odisha is the mesmerizing naturescape that I miss here in Delhi, where concrete structures abound. I do miss the green landscape that decks the coastal state of Odisha - with tall coconut trees flanking my in-law's home and enhancing its beauty. Nature is so beautiful :) I badly miss it here!

Another thing that captivates me in Odisha is its abundance of green vegetables that we usually do not get here in north India. I must say Odiyas are big time foodies and love food above everything else. There is so much diversity in the food there that any foodie would instantly fall for it.

Of course, I am not a foodie, but I love the food cooked by my mother in law. Yes, I have told you earlier that she is an awesome cook - she has been cooking since childhood. She was married when she was 16 and had a difficult MIL. But my MIL remained patient and focused on looking after her MIL all the time. She took utmost care of her MIL when the latter was in her last stages and suffering from cancer. This was the time when the latter regretted for having tormented the former.
Anyway, cutting my long story short, let's come back to the bhaja santula recipe of my talented MIL.

diabetic friendly recipe

Santula is a healthy blend of vegetables - it primarily uses green veggies that most fussy eaters refuse to eat. But if you try my MIL's bhajja santula, I am sure your difficult-to-please family will fall for the healthiest of vegetables - that's a promise.

I recently learned this recipe from my MIL, who is a diabetic and makes this recipe often, sans potato.

Ingredients

santula odiya cuisine

Brinjal- 1 (green brinjal is in abundance in Odisha - it's locally grown there - I did not add since hubby is allergic)
Raw papaya
1 plaintain (raw banana)
1 potato (when making a diabetes-friendly recipe, omit potato)
5-6 parwal
1-2 turai/tori (ridge gourd)
3 onions
8-10 garlic cloves
1/2 tsp- rai (black mustard)
salt to taste, haldi, and red chilly powder
3 tsp- mustard oil (my MIL adds little more)
garan masala (optional)

How to MAKE instant bhaja santula:

Take a 3-liter pressure cooker.
Add 2 tbsp of water.
Top it with 2tsp of oil.
Add minced garlic. Top it with sliced onions.
Add one batch of parwal. Then keep another batch of papaya in its side. Another batch of ridge gourd, and one small pocket of French beans. Layer raw banana slices on top. I did n't use brinjal or eggplant this time because A is allergic to it. But if you are using, you may place it as one batch.
Layer all the veggies this way. I placed small pockets of each.
For potatoes, I used a pot. Add 1 tsp of oil and drop in thinly sliced and marinated potatoes. Use salt and turmeric alone for marination.
Add salt and turmeric on top of the veggies. Then keep the potato pot on top of it.
Pressure cook for 5 minutes. Release pressure. Open, mix everything together, and serve.
If you wish to temper bhaja santula, use mustard seeds and whole red chilly.




Bhaja Santula Procedure

1. Slice all veggies lengthwise - the thinner the better.  Sprinkle haldi and red cilly powder on these sliced veggies.
2. Slice onions. Keep aside.
3. Heat oil in a pan.
4. Add mustard seeds. When they splutter, add garlic cloves. You may mince garlic first. My MIL adds the whole cloves.
5. Next add sliced onions. Sprinkle some salt for faster cooking and cook them until they get browned.
6. Now add all the sliced veggies.
7. Add salt as required and stir fry for 2-3 minutes
8. Cover & cook on a slow flame for 7-8 minutes.
9. Now open the lid and stir well.
10. Next keep the lid open and flame low. We do not want to cover the veggies now and will stir fry. This will prevent them from sticking together (advice given by my sasu ma).
11. Enjoy bhajja santula with steamed rice or roti. This is full of nutrition and vitamins. Your family cannot reject this healthy recipe - trust me!
12. If you like Odiya cuisine, you may want to try dalma - a healthy & delectable blend of lentils and veggies. Easy to make and tastes divine.
13. This diabetes friendly recipe is a keeper. Do try and share feedback.