“Ver”
The spice cake or masala tikki has many health benefits too.
I am a foodie, so must be many of you, and we Kashmiris are famous for our khen Chen and the Kashmir’s cru-sine has no clone round the globe. While having dinner last night I asked my mother that how she made the haak so delicious and aromatic, she said it was the Ver she has used in the cooking. Ver, as it is known to us all, is the spice cakes that are made in Kashmir and a very old part of our traditional cookery. Besides the fantastic aroma, and flavor it gives to dishes, it has a number of health benefits too. The spices that are used to make the mixture for Ver are famous for their health benefits at individual levels and have been used since time immemorial in ( kashhur hakeem ilaj) therapeutic nutrition.
So let me throw light at the benefits of Ver key ingredients:
- Chilies: are surprisingly rich sources of vitamin A, and Vitamin C (more than oranges) that help in maintaining skin integrity, eyesight also helps in fighting free radicals. Capsaicin in chilies is the potent substance that destroys the cholesterol built up and stimulates the brain to produce the same “feel-good hormones” as in the case of exercise.
- Black cardamoms: are rich in antioxidants and essential oils like methyl Eugenol, limonene, citronellol that are therapeutic as antiseptic, antispasmodic, and digestive.
- Ginger powder/ sounth: This is one of the most commonly used stuff to cure every pain from headaches to nausea, to period cramps. The chunk of spice has substances like gingerol that is a potent anti-oxidant.
- Aniseed/ badiyaan: with the chief component anethol and flavor of licorice, acts as a mouth freshener, flouring agent, cures flatulence and treats colic pain.
- Clove/ rong or laung: this dried flower bud of the clove tree contains Eugenol that literally prevents the food from getting rancid. Eugenol is known for its antimutagenic, bactericidal, and fungicidal properties which favor its use in medicine.
- Cumin/ zeera /zur: the pungent strong seeds contain aldehyde cumino, and the specialty of our Kashmir is black zeera. This is rich in bioactive substances called phthalates which increase the levels of anti-cancer protective enzymes in the body.
- Garlic: This is one of my favorite ingredients that I tend to put in every meal, not only the flavor and aroma is out of this world but also having an antibiotic agent “allicin” that treats many digestive problems. Also has hypotensive and hypocholesterol factors that add stars to this baby.
- Saffron/kong: the fragrant stigmata of the crocus flower are a regal spice that is of matchless aroma. It is a sedative as well as used for curing eye and skin infections.
- Shallots/ praan: rich in iron, fiber, and potassium makes it a perfect ingredient for treating heart and cholesterol issues.
After I handover u a list of benefits of our very own Ver, it surely becomes unavoidable.
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