BADGUJAR HERBS & FOODS Puth Khurd Village, Delhi

Aam papad or Amawat (Hindi:अमावट) or Mamidi Tandra (Telugu:మామిడి తాండ్ర) or Aamsotto (Bengali:আমসত্ত্ব) is a traditional Indian snack. It is a fruit leather made out of mango pulp mixed with concentrated sugar solution and sun dried. It is a part of the South Indian and North Indian cuisine and is available is numerous varieties all over North India. Traditional Aam Papad is sweet, although it is available in different varieties. It can be preserved for months making it popular in the off season of mangoes. A village Atryapuram in Rajahmundry is popular for mamidi tandra.

Kachri is a wild variety of cucumbers. Fresh kachri resembles a brown yellow small melon, which grows wildly in the desert areas and is seldom cultivated as a crop. Dried kachri powder, when used in cooking, adds a tangy taste. Since fresh kachri is rarely available outside Rajasthan, the use of kachri powder is popular. It is the real earth food … growing wild, and becoming a protein rich vegetable for people living in the harsh arid areas of Western India, where it is hard to grow conventional vegetables. Kachri powder is used extensively in Rajasthani cuisine.

Anardana is a spice used in Indian cooking to give a sour-sweet taste to dises. It is made from the dried seeds of pomegranate fruit (Punica granatum). The seeds are dried along with the pulp, either by sun-drying or other means of dehydration. They are then dried or sold in whole form. The sweet astringency of the dried seeds and flesh makes them a popular acidulant for Indian dishes, and they are an alternative to mango powder or amchur, which does not have the advantage of also giving some sweetness. Tamarind is used for similar purposes.  

Medical researchers have been studying Ashwagandha for years with great interest and have completed more than 200 studies on the healing benefits of this botanical. Some key examples of the healing effects of Ashwagandha are: Protects the immune system Helps combat the effects of stress Improves learning, memory, and reaction time Reduces anxiety and depression without causing drowsiness Helps reduce brain-cell degeneration Stabilizes blood sugar Helps lower cholesterol Offers anti-inflammatory benefits Contains anti-malarial properties Enhances sexual potency for both men and women

• White pepper powder is commonly used in light coloured European dishes like casseroles, pies, mayonnaise, cream-based soups and white sauces. • It is often used in instant noodles and snacks. • In Indian cuisine, white pepper powder is used for white, cream-based gravies and curries.  

Safed Musli has very good ayurvedic medicinal use. It is a rich source of over 25 alkaloids, vitamins, minerals, proteins, carbohydrates, steroids saponins and polysachharides etc. Musli or Talamuli ha.s been used iii the indigenous systeni of medicine for a long period. According to Bhavprakash the drug is sweet, cooling, mucilaginous increases Kapha and reduces `Pitta daha and acts as stimulant, it gives strength Mush prepared as a paste with goats milk or honey and applied locally over the face, brightens the complexion of the face.It is extensively used by the Ayurvedic practitioners for a wide variety of ailments and particularly an ingredient of aphrodisiac preparations.

Bulgur can be used in pilafs, soups, bakery goods, or as stuffing. In breads, it adds a whole grain component. It is a main ingredient in tabbouleh salad and kibbeh. Its high nutritional value makes it a good substitute for rice or couscous.In Indian cuisine, bulgur or daliya is used as a cereal with milk and sugar. In the United States is often used as a side dish, much like pasta or rice. In meals, bulgur is often mistaken for rice because it can be prepared in a similar manner, although it has a texture more like couscous than rice. A popular South American carnival food, bulgur is often prepared with flower pollen and tapioca syrup and fried in patties   Bulgur is a cereal food made from the groats of several different wheat species, most often from durum wheat. Burghul is a kind of dried cracked wheat.[3] It is most common in European, Middle Eastern, and Indian cuisine.

This plant should not be confused with the unrelated Eleocharis dulcis, also called a water chestnut. Eleocharis is also an aquatic plant raised for food since ancient times in China. Eleocharis dulcis is a sedge, whose round, crisp-fleshed corms are common in Western-style Chinese food.

Black turmeric which is known as “kali haldi” in native Indian tongue is used for tantric rituals. Black turmeric has a great deal of importance as it is used for vashikaran purposes. Black turmeric is usually dark red in colour but it appears to be a dark black or brown. Ideally kali haldi should only be used for spiritual purposes. Kali haldi is also a wealth giver. It brings health, wealth and prosperity to anyone who puts this in their cash box. Kali Haldi may be wrapped in red cloth and worshipped daily. Kali haldi starts showing its effect to the owner in 11 days. Many people apply tilak of kali haldi in order to attract people towards them. A kali haldi tilak should always be applied if you are facing court matters. Ladies may use kali haldi as a face pack.

Turmeric is mostly used in savory dishes, but is used in some sweet dishes, such as the cake sfouf. In India, turmeric plant leaf is used to prepare special sweet dishes, patoleo, by layering rice flour and coconut-jaggery mixture on the leaf, then closing and steaming it in a special copper steamer (goa). In recipes outside South Asia, turmeric is sometimes used as an agent to impart a rich, custard-like yellow color. It is used in canned beverages, baked products, dairy products, ice cream, yogurt, yellow cakes, orange juice, biscuits, popcorn color, cereals, sauces, gelatins, etc. It is a significant ingredient in most commercial curry powders.  

Tragacanth gum comes from a thorny shrub which is native to western Asia, Iraq, Iran and the Middle East. It is a tree gum like myrrh, frankincense and balm of Gilead, and can be used, along with the stems of the plant as incense. It comes from a number of Astragalus species, but the one which produces the best quality gum is Astragalus gummifer or gummifera.

There are three types of commonly used sunflower seeds: linoleic (most common), high oleic, and NuSun. Each variety has its own unique levels of monounsaturated, saturated, and polyunsaturated fats. The information in this article refers mainly to the linoleic variety. For commercial purposes, sunflower seeds are usually classified by the pattern on their husks. If the husk is solid black, the seeds are called black oil sunflower seeds. The crops may be referred to as oilseed sunflower crops. These seeds are usually pressed to extract their oil. Striped sunflower seeds are primarily used for food; as a result, they may be called confectionery sunflower seeds

There are three types of commonly used sunflower seeds: linoleic (most common), high oleic, and NuSun. Each variety has its own unique levels of monounsaturated, saturated, and polyunsaturated fats. The information in this article refers mainly to the linoleic variety. For commercial purposes, sunflower seeds are usually classified by the pattern on their husks. If the husk is solid black, the seeds are called black oil sunflower seeds. The crops may be referred to as oilseed sunflower crops. These seeds are usually pressed to extract their oil. Striped sunflower seeds are primarily used for food; as a result, they may be called confectionery sunflower seeds.

Bura is sugar heated so that it loses its water of crystallization and then powdered to get rid of any lumps which are formed. In northern India and Gujarat this form of sugar is taken with rice-ghee, Chapatti-ghee combination. For making laddu my mom used to use bura rather than sugar powder. When I got married I wanted to know why I should do this extra work. So on inquiring from her she told me the secret of tasty laddu. Because when I used powdered sugar then the texture and taste of laddu did not come out same as the laddu she used to make. She told me that bura makes the laddu very tasty and gives slightly grainy texture. Since then 32 years have passed by and I have never prepared any type of laddu without bura. now be it deepawali, Holi or any festival my preparations for the festivals start by making Bura.

You can enjoy soya chunks in a salad. Being high in protein it is extremely filling. You can add them to stews and soups, or use them to add volume and nutrition to subzis. Soya nuggets with pasta perked up with mixed herbs is truly delicious. To make a tasty and healthy salad, first grate radish and carrot. Chop cabbage and cut tomatoes, onions and cucumber into rings. Arrange grated vegetables in the centre, and rings on the side. Mix nuggets in cream and put in the centre. Sprinkle lemon juice, vinegar and salt on top, and serve the Soya Nugget Salad with pav buns.

These round, sour berries have been used for centuries in India as a natural cleansing soap. They contain a large amount of Saponin in their shells, which acts as natural and gentle cleanser when it comes in contact with water. Aritha is known in the Southern regions of India as "Kunkudukai."

The sunflower seed is the fruit of the sunflower (Helianthus annuus). The term "sunflower seed" is actually a misnomer when applied to the seed in its pericarp (hull). Botanically speaking, it is a cypsela. When dehulled, the edible remainder is called the sunflower kernel or heart.   There are three types of commonly used sunflower seeds: linoleic (most common), high oleic, and NuSun. Each variety has its own unique levels of monounsaturated, saturated, and polyunsaturated fats. The information in this article refers mainly to the linoleic variety. For commercial purposes, sunflower seeds are usually classified by the pattern on their husks. If the husk is solid black, the seeds are called black oil sunflower seeds. The crops may be referred to as oilseed sunflower crops. These seeds are usually pressed to extract their oil. Striped sunflower seeds are primarily used for food; as a result, they may be called confectionery sunflower seeds.

Shilajit is a thick, sticky tar-like substance with a colour ranging from white to dark brown (the latter is more common), sometimes found in Caucasus mountains, Altai Mountains, and Tibet mountains and mountains of Gilgit Baltistan Pakistan. Shilajit is a blackish-brown exudation, of variable consistency, obtained from steep rocks of different formations found in the Altai Mountains It is used in Ayurveda, the traditional Indian system of medicine. It has been reported to contain at least 85 minerals in ionic form, as well as triterpenes, humic acid and fulvic acid

Before there was shampoo, there was shikakai. An ancient hair growth-promoting cleanser, shikakai is an herbal powder made from the fruit pods of the Acacia Concinna tree. Acacia Concinna is a shrub-like tree that grows in the hot, arid plains of Southern India. Known for its hair rejuvenating properties, shikakai is used in its raw, powdered form and as an extract that's added to shampoos and other hair products.

There are three types of commonly used sunflower seeds: linoleic (most common), high oleic, and NuSun. Each variety has its own unique levels of monounsaturated, saturated, and polyunsaturated fats. The information in this article refers mainly to the linoleic variety. For commercial purposes, sunflower seeds are usually classified by the pattern on their husks. If the husk is solid black, the seeds are called black oil sunflower seeds. The crops may be referred to as oilseed sunflower crops. These seeds are usually pressed to extract their oil. Striped sunflower seeds are primarily used for food; as a result, they may be called confectionery sunflower seeds.   The sunflower seed is the fruit of the sunflower (Helianthus annuus). The term "sunflower seed" is actually a misnomer when applied to the seed in its pericarp (hull). Botanically speaking, it is a cypsela. When dehulled, the edible remainder is called the sunflower kernel or heart.

Musk Melon Seeds are viewed as being a powerhouse of various nutrients, featuring essential fatty acids that are believed to be important for maintaining a healthy heart. · These seeds are said to help in supporting both the immune and cardiovascular systems. They are believed to help in regulating healthy blood- fat levels and provide vital nutrients that are thought to be essential for promoting wound healing. · The properties featured in melon seeds are believed to help sustain healthy skin, nails and nerves. · Melon Seeds contain high amounts of antioxidants and are viewed as an excellent source of Folic acid, calcium, magnesium, zinc and protein. · They also reportedly feature Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Iron, Calcium, Omega- 3 fatty acids and unsaturated oils. The calcium featured is believed to be necessary for maintaining strong healthy bones and teeth, and is considered to help in combating osteoporosis.

While apricots (Latin name: Prunus armeniaca; Indian name: Urumana) are orangish-gloden colored, fleshy juicy fruits with a seed and are highly perishable (require refrigeration), turkel are amber colored, oval shaped, skinny, not too juicy and are seedless. The taste is mainly deliciously sweet albeit one may feel a minor bitterness alongside. The dehydrated product is categorized as a dry fruit and is not perishable under normal room storage conditions, thereby being an ideal and a beautiful gifting choice.

Health benefits of Peanuts Peanuts are rich in energy (567 calories per 100 g) and contain health benefiting nutrients, minerals, antioxidants and vitamins that are essential for optimum health. They compose sufficient levels of mono-unsaturated fatty acids (MUFA), especially oleic acid. MUFA helps lower LDL or "bad cholesterol" and increaseS HDL or "good cholesterol” level in the blood. Research studies suggest that Mediterranean diet which is rich in monounsaturated fatty acids help to prevent coronary artery disease and stroke risk by favoring healthy blood lipid profile. Peanut kernels are good source of dietary protein; compose fine quality amino acids that are essential for growth and development. Research studies have shown that peanuts contain high concentrations of poly-phenolic antioxidants, primarily p-coumaric acid. This compound has been thought to reduce the risk of stomach cancer by limiting formation of carcinogenic nitrosamines in the stomach. Peanuts are an excellent source of resveratrol, another polyphenolic antioxidant. Resveratrol has been found to have protective function against cancers, heart disease, degenerative nerve disease, Alzheimer's disease, and viral/fungal infections. Furthermore, studies suggest that resveratrol may reduce stroke risk through altering molecular mechanisms in the blood vessels (reducing susceptibility to vascular damage through decreased activity of angiotensin, a systemic hormone responsible for blood vessel constriction that would elevate blood pressure), and by increasing production of vasodilator hormone, nitric oxide.

Sago or sabudana is a food which is full of energy and carbohydrates. It is extracted from the center of sago palm stems in the form of starch. It is also known as tapioca pearls. If is one of the wholesome diet of starch and carbohydrates and is used in a lot of Indian dishes. Sago is used in puddings, gruel or soups, and upma dishes. In gruel form, it is used in various carbonated drinks to provide energy without any addition of artificial chemicals and sweeteners. It is one food which possess a high cooling effect in the system and it is quite easy to digest. It is also used in making cakes and breads. Sago is helpful as a substitute in binding the dishes or making them thick. It is low in calories and is preferred as a light meal option.