Green is better than red

                             Green is better than red

An apple a day:

Can it really keep the doctor away?

                 YES

  People who eat apples frequently are less likely to have heart attacks or stroke or to develop several kinds of cancer. Apples are naturally packed with a variety of nutrients such as proteins,vitamins(C,A,E,Riboflavin),minerals(iron,Ca,Mg,K,),antioxidants (flavonoid&polyphenol).Apples are known for its excellent source of pectin, a soluble fiber found beneath the skin is responsible for the regulation of cholesterol.

There are varieties of apple, yellow, green and the most popular one is the red.

Did you know that green apples are far better in terms of health benefits?

Green apples provide many health as well as cosmetic benefits like improvement of skin texture and hair growth. It contains a lot of fiber, which helps in the regulation of bowel movements. It stabilizes blood sugar and cholesterol. Green apples contain less amount of fructose than red, which can be consumed by diabetic patients. (Glycemic index for apple is 38).The best way is to consume it as a whole fruit usually eaten raw, so that it retains all the nutrients. But they are also used in various recipes.

Here are some different south Indian style recipes:

Apple pachadi-

Ingredients:

Apple-3(cut into small pieces without skin)

Jaggery syrup -2 tbsp

Turmeric powder-1/4 tsp

Red chilli powder-1/4 tsp

Cardamom powder-1/4 tsp

Ghee/Oil- 1tsp

Salt-as required

To season: mustard seeds, Black gram dhal, Red chilli-1

Method: Heat a teaspoon of oil in a pan season with mustard seeds, black gram dhal&red chilli. Add apple pieces, turmeric powder, chilli powder and salt.Stir gently for few seconds. Add ¼ cup of water and cook for 2 mts.when apples become tender add jiggery syrup .Before removing from fire add cardamom powder. Serve with rice or poori.

Note: 1.To removes impurities in jiggery –jaggery syrup is used. (Add 1 cup jiggery and ¾ cup water. Melt and boil for 2 mts.Then strain to remove impurities. This can be stored.)

2. Cardomom powder is optional.

Apple sambar

Ingredients:

Red gram dhal-(tuvar-toor-thuvaram parupu)-1/2 cup

Green apple cut into big pieces-3 tbsp

Small onions-1 tpsp

Green chilli-1 sliced

Tomatoes-chopped-1tbsp

Turmeric powder-1tsp

Red chillipowder-1/2 tsp

Coriander powder-1tsp

Sambar powder-1tsp

Oil-2tsp

2 pinches of asafoetida, salt, curry leaves, coriander leaves.

Method:

Wash the dhal and add 1^1/2 cups of water in a pressure cooker &cook for 4 whistles. Heat a teaspoon of oil in a pan; add mustard seeds, black gram dhal, curry leaves&asafoetida sauté on a medium flame for a few seconds. Add onions, green chillies, fry for 2 mts.Add tomatoes, turmeric powder, coriander powder, and chilli powder mix well and cook for 1 mt.then add apple, stir &cook for another 1 mt, and add the cooked dal, salt, sambar powder, coriander leaves .Mix well and cook on a medium flame for 2 mts.sambar can be served with steamed rice, dosas, idlis and appams.