Nutri-rich & Nourishing for the Palate
Also known as chawli beans or lobia it is one of the commonly available variety in the family of legumes and pulses which have come a long way offering their fruitful uses and benefits to us in our diets over the years. This is very popular in our day to day cooking and is prepared in a number of ways from starters to soups, from dips to salads from stews to curries and from Chaats to kebabs!
Lobia to me as a chef has been very kind enough to come about getting itself incorporated and transform into various forms, textures and even accepting flavors on the whole giving me great opportunities to impress my guests with wondrous recipes with lobia for instance the sun dried tomato and lobia paniyarams, the chawli bean pancakes, the lobia waffles with peanut butter salsa, nizami nargisi lobia wale chaap, black eyed beans in coconut gravy, lobia cheelas, dosas and uttappams etc.
Here are a few health benefits of Chauli Beans:
1. Lobia are said to be full of proteins, fiber and great source of potassium in our day to day diet.
2. Lobia also are a good source of iron and assist a lot in weight loss as well.
3. Lobia is good for the heart, a great anti-oxidant and also low in fat.
4. Lobia are good for our bone health and also helps in lowering of blood pressure.
5. Lobia promotes skin health and is also said to wash away free radicals, overall it has most of the essential nutrients for our body.
A few Culinary Uses of Chauli beans:
1. Soaked, boiled add a dash of chaat masala or salt and crushed black pepper with a splash of fresh lime in a bowl being enjoyed the way it is, is heavenly.
2. Chawli beans as it is also called is a popular choice for us to make in a slightly gravy form while some like it with steaming hot boiled rice or jeera rice and some prefer to have phulkas or hot parathas, salad and curd or raita.
3. Black eyed peas/beans is also popular in many international cuisines as well from being tossed into salads and quick fix meal bowls, one pot dishes, stir fries, baked dishes and stews!
4. Try lobia with a number of exotic veggies like zucchini, Babycorn, red capsicums, asparagus, mushrooms etc and add a touch of garlic and tomatoes in a stew format with fresh herbs and simmer it, serve the stew with toasted garlic bread.
4. While many of us like lobia with a spicy wet coconut based masala too the flavor of the coconut compliments chawli beans quite well, it can also be enjoyed with dosas, uttappams, appams etc too.
5. Lobia with fresh greens like methi, dill leaves, palak, coriander welcome each other pretty well and It can be prepared as a main course or even as a side dish to go with the main course with less oil and spices, healthy and nutri rich as well.
6. Lobia in the form or dahi bhallas, Kachories, steamed lobia idlis, dhokla with lobia ka atta, lobia goes well into a handvo concept as well. Always try to think of a mix- n- match concept when it comes to ingredients like lobia since it needs a little planning and it emerges as a winner at the end of it
Do try out these Simple- Healthy- Nutritious Chauli Bean Recipes:
