Cucumber is known as vellarikai in Tamil and khira/ kakdi in Hindi.
It is one of the very low calorie vegetables; provide just 15 calories per 100 g. It contains no saturated fats or cholesterol.
It is a very good source of potassium. Cucumbers contains unique anti-oxidants in moderate ratios such as ß-carotene and a-carotene, vitamin-C, vitamin-A, zea-xanthin and lutein.
Cucumbers have mild diuretic property, which perhaps attributed to their free-water, and potassium and low sodium content. This helps in checking weight gain and high blood pressure.
They surprisingly have a high amount of vitamin K, provides about 17 µg of this vitamin per 100 g. Vitamin-K has been found to have a potential role in bone strength by promoting osteotrophic (bone mass building) activity. It also has established role in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease patients by limiting neuronal damage in their brain.
Vellarikai pachadi ( raita) is a healthy dish which can served as an accompaniment for biryani / fried rice / any rice preparation/ parathas. There are many varieties of recipe. Sharing with you all a simple and a delicious and a easy to make recipe:)
Ingredients
Grated cucumber- 1 cup
Yogurt – 2 cups
Salt to taste
Oil – 2 tsps
Mustard- 1 tsp
Hing ( asafoetida)- 2 punches
Method
Beat the yogurt till becomes smooth. Add the grated cucumber and salt to taste and mix well.
Heat oil in a pan. Add mustard. When it starts spluttering, add hing.
Add the tempering to the pachadi and mix well. Serve with any rice preparation / parathas:)
