Niger seeds Chutney

Niger seeds, also known as Nyjer or thistle seeds, come from the African yellow daisy (Guizotia abyssinica) plant and are tiny, oil-rich seeds. These seeds help in mood balance and nourish the nerves. Niger has been grown in Annapoorna farm Auroville as a dry land crop, but in solitude, we have never grown them and therefore don’t know how to use them, but recently a friend from Andra Pradesh – Kiran, brought us some seeds and showed us how to use them in a delicious chutney.

Ingredients:

• Niger seeds- 3 tablespoon
• Green chilies – 4 to 6
• Tamarind- ½ lemon sized
• Raw cumin seeds ½ tablespoon
• Raw garlic- 4-5 cloves
• Salt
• Tumeric powder
• Jaggery
• Raw onions

Roast niger seeds and green chilies with little oil, let them cool down, and blend the seeds without adding water.

Add half lemon-sized tamarind, green chilies, turmeric, salt, cumin seeds, 4 to 5 cloves of raw garlic, and one small spoon of jaggery, and add water to make it a paste. Add raw onion while serving(optional).

This chutney can be used with beans to make curry. Boil the beans. Heat the oil, add hing and cumin seeds, curry leaves, and add boiled beans and fry it on low flame and chutney.

These amazing seeds are rich in proteins, calcium, fatty acids, linoleic acid, and antioxidants. They are known to cure asthma and address respiratory problems. They are also good for sleep, heart health, skin, and boosting the immune system.

Another amazing discovery, another beautiful gift of Mother nature!