Author: Sagar
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Broom
While grazing goats and cattle, Tamil ladies will often harvest a certain type of long grass used to make brooms. This grass is very hard and when bundled up makes an excellent broom. The grass is dried and then lightly beaten with a stick to remove the poky seeds. The stems are then bound together…
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Plantain flour
Plantain is an amazing food source. At Solitude, especially in the summer when it is really hot, and we have a glut of plantain, we make flour. Plantain is a great wheat substitute if you want to go gluten-free. This is truly something that anyone can do! First, peel the plantains. Slice them into thin…
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DRIED HIBISCUS FLOWERS
I feel quite shocked when I go around Auroville and see people are not harvesting the hibiscus flowers. This beautiful flower is full of antioxidants, helps in vitamin C uptake, lowers the risk of heart diseases, lowers blood pressure, and is even an antidepressant. Simply harvest the flowers, remove the stamen, and make a herbal…
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Tamarind rice
Wanna travel the world and worried about food. Wooaahhh, we have tamarind rice for the rescue. Tamarind rice is a common travel time food of south India, which can last for a couple of days, as tamarind acts as a natural preservative. Soak tamarind and make it as a paste using your hand. Heat oil,…
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Varagu Millet Rice
Varagu, or Kodo millet, is a dry land crop domesticated in India about 3000 years ago. This rain feed crop is very hardy and can survive on marginal soils. It is an excellent rice substitute but can also be made into flour. Varagu is an excellent source of fiber and contains high amounts of antioxidant…
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Manathakkali berries
Manathakkali berries or black night shade berriesManathakkali is synonymous with Tamil culture. While the leaves are used to make a delicious curry, the small black berries are delicious thrown in a salad or eaten just like that. The green berries are toxic raw, but can be cooked in a tamarind based gravy. The ripped manathakkali…
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Thali
Solitude farm cafe, boasts some of the best food in South India. The reason being that the food is fresh, extremely diverse, and grown in a way that gives a unique taste. This snapshot of seasonal delights changes day to day throughout the seasons. It is the healthiest, tastiest, and most eco friendly way to…
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Rice patties
What do you do with left over rice? Add some grenn chillies, ragi flour, sauteed onions, and drumstick spinach, and you can even add some soaked dal. Add all of these ingredients to the left over rice,in Solitude farm cafe, we use red rice, but brown or white will also work. This type of patty…
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Clove bean porriyal
Clove bean, also known as Mukkuthi Avarai, derives its name from the Tamil word “mukkuthi,” which means nose ring, owing to its resemblance to the traditional ornament. This perennial vine thrives in the southern regions of India, particularly Kerala, and belongs to the morning glory family, sharing kinship with sweet potatoes. Beyond its culinary appeal,…
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Edible Weeds in Uk
This is a video of edible weeds in England, so you could say edible weeds exist nationwide. The story of edible weeds exists all over the planet. Krishna’s sister, Emma Collins, presents edible weeds from her garden and community permaculture forest.
