Avocado Roti with Ajwain (Indian flatbread with avocado and carom seeds) and some simple home remedies

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Using carom seeds as a digestive aid has always been common wisdom around our home. My mother in law  makes this cumin carom flavored water regularly, especially after a heavy restaurant meal or when we return home from a trip because she believes that it helps in maintaining a healthy digestion. A couple of years back when I visited India I found an article about carom seeds in a magazine that had a few more home remedies using carom seeds. I jotted down the most important ones so that I could share it with my readers.

The first, a tip to make a tea with carom seeds as a cure for indigestion and other digestive problems. Boil 2 cups of water and add a tsp of carom seeds / ajwain to it.Allow to boil until the water is reduced to 1 cup, cool strain and drink the water. This reminds me of the cumin carom water I mentioned above, although I am yet to try this strong carom tea version :-) Carom seeds/ ajwain in buttermilk is said to be good for respiratory disorders. The third tip, crush carom seeds and bundle them in a light cloth and inhale, this helps to rid a headache or to clear nasal passages when you have a cold.  And lastly including carom in our diet is said to help improve kidney function by strengthening the urinary tract as well.

I like to use carom seeds not just because of its health benefits but also because of its unique flavor and its taste. Ever since the first time I used avocados in roti and loved it, I make variations of avocado roti at home frequently. This time I made a version with carom seeds in it along with other spices. This roti like all the other ones with avocado is super soft and does not require even one drop of oil in either the dough or while cooking it making it super healthy too :-)



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Ingredients and Method to make Ajwainy avocado roti
2 cups whole wheat flour (atta/ godumai maavu)
salt to taste
3/4 tsp carom seeds (ajwain/omam)
2 tbsp flax seed meal (powdered flax seeds/ alsi/ ali virai) (optional)
1 avocado ( pitted, peeled and mashed completely)
1/2 tsp red chili powder (or to taste)
1 tsp kasuri methi (dried fenugreek leaves)
pinch of asafoetida (hing/ perungayam) (optional)
water as needed 
a little extra flour to help roll out the dough

In a large bowl, add all the dry ingredients and mix well. Add mashed avocado and mix into the flour.

Add water as needed and knead into a soft, non sticky dough. Cover and allow to "rest" for 30 minutes or so.

Divide dough into equal lemon sized balls. With the help of a little flour roll out into an even circle of desired thickness.

Heat a tawa/ griddle/ flat pan and place rolled out dough on it. Cook the roti gets small bubbles on the side facing upwards, flip over and cook the other side until it gets small golden/ brown spots. When both sides are evenly cooked, remove from heat.

Proceed with the rest of the dough in the same manner. Balance of the dough can be refrigerated and used within a couple of days.
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Serve rotis hot with dhal, any type curry of choice or even some pickle and raita.

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Cumin seeds and a simple digestive aid.

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When I first started cooking, I never gave any thought to why particular ingredients were used in any recipe. If you had asked me, the most I might have guessed was flavor. But now I realize that so many of the ingredients used in traditional recipes offer so much more than just flavor to food. Take cumin seeds for example, I am sure you already know that cumin seeds are widely used in various types of cuisines from around the world. But did you know that these little seeds have a lot more to offer than just taste and flavor to food.

Cumin seeds have been found to be a great source of iron, and research shows that it has anti cancer properties too. Traditionally cumin seeds have always been recognized as an aid to digestion and recent research has shown that this is because cumin seeds stimulate the secretion of pancreatic enzymes. Pancreatic enzymes are compounds that are necessary for digestion and nutrient assimilation



I was surprised to know that cumin seeds are a good source of iron and have anti cancer properties. On the other hand, the part about cumin being a digestive aid does not surprise me at all. It has always been common wisdom in our home that cumin seeds are a great aid to digestion. My mother used to make jeera rasam whenever any of us were not feeling too well, because it was good for digestion. Jeera rasam is a light soup like dish made with tamarind and spices like cumin (I haven't posted the recipe for this yet, but plan to do so in the future)

In addition to jeera rasam, my mother in law also makes jeera/cumin water regularly. Especially when we have been traveling a lot, or when occasions like weddings or festivals come up or we have elderly visitors. This quick and effective remedy has now become part of some of the simple home remedies that I have come to depend on.......




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Ingredients and Method to make Jeera/Cumin water
2 cups filtered/drinking water
3/4 tsp cumin seeds (jeera)
2 pinches of  Carom seeds (ajwain/omam) (optional but recommended)
1/4 tsp ground ginger powder (sukku) (optional but recommended)

Bring the filtered water to a boil, add cumin seeds, carom seeds and ginger powder to it.
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Let it simmer for a minute or two. Remove from heat, cool to lukewarm. Strain and drink the water warm.

This can be had anytime of the day. This quantity serves 2 to 3 .

Reference links : WHFoods

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Home Remedies for Cold

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With the temperatures dropping rapidly, it seems like the weather is in a hurry to go from summer to winter with no intention to stop for fall in between. We are already facing frost advisories and are bracing ourselves for a cold winter. Sudden changes in the temperature and colder weather also mean that the dreaded cold season is upon us.

Having a cold can be such a drag on our daily activities, sneezing, sore throat, stuffy nose and a heavy head are only some of the symptoms that we have to contend with while trying to go about our daily routine. Here are some home remedies that are simple and effective for some of the symptoms of cold using common items from around the home.




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For that lousy heavy head feeling that almost always arrives at the first sign of cold...

Heat a flat heavy dry clean pan to a medium heat, roll a fresh clean dry terry wash cloth or napkin and place one end of the towel on the pan for a second or two. Remove, feel with your palm to see if it is warm ( Caution it should NOT be hot just warm) then place the warm part of the towel on your forehead. Repeat this process and place the warm part of the towel from side to side on your forehead. Also place this warm part of the towel on your throat. This helps in soothing your throat and reduces the heavy headed feeling caused by cold.

For a heavy headed feeling that persists despite the above treatment...

Heat a flat heavy pan, dry roast 2 tbsp of rock salt. When the salt gets warm roll it in a dry terry wash cloth or napkin or even a muslin cloth. Place the rolled cloth or napkin from side to side on your forehead and on your throat ( Make sure the rolled cloth or terry towel is warm not hot before placing it on your forehead)

For a persistent cough,

Warm 1/4 cup water on the stove top or microwave, add a teaspoon of honey to it. Mix thoroughly and drink it up. Do this preferably at night before going to bed for a cough free sleep.
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For a sore throat,

Warm 1/2 cup or water on the stove top or microwave, mix 1/2 teaspoon of salt in it thoroughly. Pour a small amount of this mixture in your mouth and gargle for a few seconds. Spit out the water and continue until the rest of the water is used up. Do this 3 to 4 times a day for a quick relief from sore throat. A point to remember is that you should avoid doing this immediately after any meal. Wait at least 30 minutes after a meal to try this method.

For a stuffy nose,

Heat a large pot half filled with water and allow the water to come to a boil. When the water starts boiling, add 1/2 to 1 teaspoon of Vicks vaporub to it and remove from heat, Place the container on a flat, heat resistant surface and place your face as close as is bearable for you and cover your head and the vessel with a large sheet or towel completely, so the heat does not escape from it. Inhale this steam for about 2 to 3 minutes, slowly raise your head when done. Try this and see how much better that makes you feel, this is a great way to clear up stuffy nose.

And finally....

Warm a cup of milk, add 1/4 teaspoon turmeric powder, a pinch of freshly ground pepper, half to one teaspoon of sugar and mix well. Drink this once or twice a day for soothing your throat and a quicker recovery from the cold. Turmeric is known for its anti infection properties and this turmeric milk is a great way to beat the cold and get well sooner.

Most of these home remedies are something that we have followed since childhood and they are surprisingly effective despite its simplicity. I am sure there are many more simple home remedies that are followed in different households, if you know any such remedies that you would like to share, please feel free to leave them in your comments, I am sure all of us will benefit from more such ideas this season.

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