Mooli Ki Sabzi (Radish Stir Fry)

mooli ki sabzi

Radish recipes? Until a few years back, I would not have believed that radish could be used as a vegetable other than in raw form - salad!

Usually mooli or raddish is eaten in salad form, while it's greens are thrown away. I had never thought of using mooli greens until I was introduced to this lip-smacking stir fry at a friend's place. We had gone to his place to send him a formal invitation to our marriage. Memories there!! It was then that I learned how to drape a saree from his wife - after all, I was going to be an Odiya bahu (daughter in law)!!

Now coming back to radish recipes, you won;t believe that this humblest of salad vegetables, which is not so popular with the younger generation, can make a delightfully tasty stir fry and even curries!

Yes, mooli sambar tastes awesome. Check the recipe here.

The root vegetable is widely grown during winters and savored in salad form. It could be white or purple. The purple one is little more pungent than the white one.I like the white one.

According to Dietburrp.com, raddish benefits are aplenty. It is a rich source of vitamins, minerals, and fiber.

The Radish-Cancer Connection
One study done by Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University claims that  radish root is rich in Vitamin C, Isothiocyanates and Anthocyanins, which may help kill cancer cells. Further, the study claims that this could also help prevent free radical damage to DNA.

Food for thought for those who hate radish! It could be your key to fighting or preventing cancer.

Radish for Diabetics
Whether you enjoy radish recipes or salad, it supplies your body with a good amount of fiber and phytonutrients. Since it belongs to the root vegetable family, radish is enriched with antioxidants and low in carb.

According to a Japanese clinical study performed on diabetic rats, radish sprouts have blood glucose lowering properties, though more research is required to prove the same benefits for humans. However, since radish has low glycemic index, it is considered healthier salad vegetable for diabetics., which does not increase blood sugar levels.

Of course, raddish benefits diabetics and non-diabetics.

Radish for Better Renal Function
Being diuretic in nature, radish helps kidney functioning, helping remove toxins from the body.  For those suffering from kidney disorders, radish could prove to be a blessing. Especially if you are suffering from kidney failure and experiencing reduced urine output, radish can help filter out waste products and toxins, besides helping improve urine output.

Radish as Blood Purifier
Again for those with kidney disorders, radish can help remove toxins and purify blood. Because of kidney damage, their bodies are not able to eliminate waste and toxin buildup from the blood. As a blood cleaner, radish removes toxins and waste products, helping kidney disease patients manage their health better. Research even claims that some components in radish have anti-inflammatory properties.

A WORD OF CAUTION FOR KIDNEY PATIENTS
Given the aforementioned radish benefits, you need not take this as medical advice. Especially if you are taking renal medications, it is best to consult your doctor before starting on any alternative healing therapy. It is feared that radish can lower the curative effect of some medications.

Radish benefits for blood pressure, hypertension patients

Research studies claim that radish has blood pressure lowering properties, especially its greens. A report published in the Nutrition Research and Practice journal stated that radish leaves substantially help lower blood pressure.

Besides, radish has high potassium and low sodium, which helps balance sodium potassium levels in a hypertensive patient, preventing pressure from from spiking beyond normal levels.

You may have radish in salad form or try any of radish recipes to derive benefits from this seasonal vegetable.

Other radish benefits include:

• Help jaundice patients due to its detoxification properties
• Fight constipation due to high fiber and water content
• Help fight cough and cold symptoms by improving immunity
• Is a weight loss remedy
• Is helpful in asthma due to its de-congestive properties
• Helps gastric and piles patients due to its rich fiber content that aids in digestion
• Improves skin health by hydrating skin cells. thanks to its antioxidant properties
• Slows down the ageing process by removing toxins and improving cell regeneration (learn more about skin ageing here)

Okay enough of radish benefits, let's come to our mooli ki sabzi, which seems to have lost in recounting the immense benefits of this root vegetable.

radish recipes mooli bhajiya

Ingredients

Raddish greens

1 raddish

1 potato (optional)

Garlic pods (as many as you like - 10-12)

1 onion

1 tsp- mustard oil

salt, haldi

pinch of sugar

kalonji (nigella seeds)

pinch of hing

1 green chilly (optional)

Procedure

1. Wash the greens thoroughly and pat them dry. I kept them for drying for 2-3 hours.
2. Chop raddish and potatoes - the smaller the better!
3. Crush garlic cloves. Keep them aside.
4. Chop onion.
5. Heat oil in a pan.
6. Add hing.
7. Drop nigella seeds in the heated oil.
8. Turn the flame to low.
9. Add garlic cloves. Enjoy the rustic garlic aroma. 
10. Add green chilly and sliced onions and saute them until they turn brown.
11. Add salt, sugar, and haldi.
12. Next, add chopped radish and potatoes.
13. Saute them for a couple of minutes.
14. Now mix the greens.
15. Mix well and cover & cook for 10 minutes on medium flame.
16. Check after 10 minutes and cook more until the water dries up and the vegetables are cooked up.
17. Enjoy mooli sabzi with rice or roti. I had it with both.