VILAMBAZHA PACHADI AND PANAGAM
BELADA HANNINA PACHADI AND PANAKA
As the scorching sun is beating down mercilessly upon the earthlings, our compassionate Mother Earth is all set to help her children beat the heat with her nature basket brimming with abundant body cooling produce. Come summer and we see vendors with cartloads of numerous fruits, tender coconuts and ice apples everywhere. Tender coconut is a natural Oral Rehydration Solution which helps in replenishing and regulating the body fluids and salts which are lost due to profuse sweating. Panagam /Panaka is a traditional juice prepared using certain fruits and jaggery. The most common one being the lime and jaggery drink, Panagams/Panakas act as ORS and is prepared and distributed as Prasadam during all the festivals celebrated during summer.
Pachadi and Panagam/Panaka prepared using a fruit called Vilambazham/Belada Hannu/ Wood Apple are ideal body coolants for the summer heat. This fruit has various health benefits apart from being an energy booster and a delicious body coolant. Elders recommend the fruit for rakta shuddi meaning detoxifying the blood. Vilambazham/ Belada hannu/ Wood apple has a woody outer shell and the pulpy fruit rattles inside the shell when ripe.The unique flavour the fruit emanates confirms its ripeness.
Hold the ripe fruit firmly in one hand and gently knock the shell using a pestle or the back of a knife to break open the shell in half.
A perfectly ripe fruit will roll out like a ball from the broken shell. Vilambazha Pachadi / Belada Hannina Pachadi is a favourite finger licking relish prepared during traditional feasts.
The botanical name of Vilambazham/Belada hannu is Limonia acidissima.
The botanical name of Vilva pazham / Bilpatre hannu of the sacred bilva tree is Aegale marmelos/ Bael. The name Wood Apple is commonly used for both the fruits. Many a time the fruits are mistaken for each other. However the Vilvam/ Bilva/ Bael fruits are also edible. Now coming to Vilambazham /Belada Hannu recipes.
VILAMBAZHA PACHADI/BELADA HANNINA PACHADI
INGREDIENTS
Wood apple pulp - 1 cup
Powdered jaggery - 1 cup
Salt - 1 pinch
Sesame oil - 1/4 tsp
Mustard seeds - 1 pinch
Broken red chillies - 1
METHOD
1. Mash the fruit using your hand with powdered jaggery and salt till the jaggery melts and blends well with the fruit. Using Mudde bella (soft round jaggery) is preferable as it is devoid of impurities.
2. Heat oil and splutter mustard seeds, and then add the broken red chillies.
3. Add the seasoning to the Vilambazha Pachadi / Belada Hannina Pachadi.
Enjoy the flavoursome sweet sour Pachadi along with its small crunchy seeds.
VILAMBAZHA PANAGAM/BELADA HANNINA PANAKA
Wood apple pulp - 1 cup
Powdered jaggery (Mudde bella/ Round jaggery) - 1 cup
Salt - 1 pinch
METHOD
1. Blend the Wood Apple pulp, jaggery and salt together.
2. Add enough water to taste and filter the Panagam/Panaka.
3. Adjust the concentration of the drink according to taste.
Enjoy the traditional Vilambazha Panagam/Belada Hannina Panaka to quench your thirst and stay healthy this summer.
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