Health benefits of Betel leaf(வெற்றிலை) and How to prepare delicious betel leaf rice

       Betel leaves are an important part of Indian culture and offering them to guests is a sign of hospitality. Betel is also used  in religious rituals and prayers as it is considered auspicious. 

    

        Betel leaves are rich in vitamin C and it has loaded with thiamine, niacin, ribofalvin, carotene and great source of calcium. Betel leaves have much more health benefits but sadly, modern urban people are not only unaware of its medicinal  benefits and then discourage eating these leaves citing alleged risk of oral cancer. 

       Traditionally eating betel leaf with areca nut, slaked lime and with or without tobacco. Betel leaf independently has not found to cause oral cancer. Actually the concerns regarding oral cancer are caused of tobacco and other ingredients like areca nut, slaked lime.

HEALTH BENEFITS OF BETEL LEAF:

• Betel leaf is an excellent analgesic that offer instant pain relief.  Make a betel leaves paste and apply on the affected area such as cuts, bruises, rashes to get pain relief.

• If you are consuming  betel leaves, you can relief from constipation. Crush some betel leaves and put in the water overnight.  Drink this water in the morning on an empty stomach to ease bowel movements.

• Betel leaf widely helps to treat cough and cold. Apply some Castro oil or mustard oil on the leaf and warm it and then place it on the chest to cure cough and cold.

• Why chew on betel leaf after a good and satisfying meal? It is stimulating intestines to absorb vital vitamins and nutrients. It helps to digest food.

HOW TO PREPARE BETEL LEAF RICE:

INGREDIENTS:

• Betel leaves       - 5 to 10 nos

• Pepper                - 1 tb. Spoon

• Cumin seeds      -1 tb. Spoon

• Garlic                  - 5 to 7 cloves

• Small onion       - 5 to 10

• Peanuts               - 1 handful

• Urad dal         - 1/2 tea spoon

• Mustard seeds - 1/2 tea spoon

• Curry leaves     - 1 strand

• Coconut           - 1 cup

• Cooked rice     - 2 and 1/2 cup

• Oil                  - 2 tb. Spoon   

• Turmeric powder - 1/4 tea spoon

• Dried red chilly     - 3 nos

• Salt                  - salt as needed

METHOD:

• Remove the stalks of betel leaves and wash them.

• Chop the onion and garlic finely.

• Take a kadaai, add pepper, cumin seeds, chopped betel leaves and add 1/2 cup of  grated coconut, then satue well in low medium flame and grind it together finely.

• Then take a kadaai, pour oil, add mustard seeds, urad dal, curry leaves, chopped onion and garlic, peanuts, turmeric powder, red chilly and saute them finely.

• Then add remaining 1/2 cup of coconut, roast well and add that grinded paste, add required amount of salt, saute well.

• Add boiled(cooked) rice and mix well and turn off the stove. 

• Now you can serve the hot and healthy, yummy betel leaf rice.