Tag: Fruit
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Ragi Adai
The Ragi Adai is basically a spiced, roasted flatbread integrated with Drumstick Spinach, Onion, and Chilli. In the regions surrounding where we live, a fresh, hot Adai is enjoyed, especially as a monsoon delicacy. It was once said jestingly, “The Adai has been so named for the fact that it is made when an “adai…
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Cooking with PlantainBajjis
The Plantain is a versatile vegetable, and useful as an optional staple. It grows locally, and it grows easily. It is high in ascorbic acid and iron, and can be used in several different ways. One easy way to eat Plantain is to remove the skin with a regular peeler, cut the flesh into long…
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Brahmi
Centella asiatica Vallarai Recently in Solitude Farm, we have started to grow Vallarai. It is a plant that flourishes extensively in shady, marshy, damp and wet environments. In the right conditions, it is quite rapidly propagative, while growing thick, circular leaves which grow to about 2 inches in diameter. Besides the cultivated variety there is…
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How to make Palm Fruit Juice
In this short Tamil comedy (in English subtitles), I, collaborated with Hamish from Mediclown to show the forgotten values of the palm fruit. At Solitude in the summer season, we harvest the fallen fruits and make delicious Juice, which we serve at the farm café. There are so many foods and recipes to share along…
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Wild Passion Fruit & leaves
Wild Passion fruit grows abundantly in and around Pondicherry and has been part of the traditional diet here. It derives its local name ‘Mukuseri’ from its fruit that tends to be very gelatinous inside. The leaves are velvety and extremely delicious. They can be thrown in salad adding a very unique flavour to the food…
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Centella and Asiatic pennywort
Thuthuvalai Thuvaiyal Thuthuvalai is used here traditionally in the treatment of fever, common colds and respiratory problems such as tuberculosis, bronchial asthma, sinus and chest congestion. It is essentially anti-inflammatory and also effective against microbes. Often a chutney is prepared from the leaves, and this is known as Thuthuvalai Thuvaiyal. More than just remedial, it…
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Local food celebration with Green Papaya
A reclamation of our cultural identity can happen through eating local foods. There’s a lot of talk about organic farming but it is essential to understand that our cultures have emerged because of a relationship with local foods which include many foods that are not even found in shops. Masanobu Fukuoka says, “A society that…
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Papaya Leaves
One of the ladies who works at the Solitude kitchen has a grandson who had contracted dengue fever, and the doctors were very concerned about his health. We packed her off with a sack of papaya leaves and she went to Chennai to the hospital where her grandson was admitted. There she made him a…
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Growing Pineapples
Planting cutting is a really easy way to start growing your own food. The pineapple is great example to start with. When you are eating a pineapple, just take a moment to keep the head that you will cut off the top of it, because this is potentially a seed for a new Pineapple plant!…
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Coconut yogurt
Yogurt or curd is pretty commonly eaten in Tamil Nadu, and all over India. Our friend Sarah, makes a vegan coconut yogurt that is absolutely delicious. You will not miss dairy for a minute! The coconut yogurt is made with the tender coconut malai, and a little bit of coconut water, to blend it into…