Pepper and Cumin - Remedy for relieving upset stomach

Today's post is about the simplest but very natural home remedy for those days when you feel heaviness in your stomach and want something soothing to help make you feel lighter. Cumin and Pepper have always been the stars of many medicinal preparations connected with stomach problems. This recipe is also from Amma's kitchen! Amma uses this combination of Pepper and Cumin in many dishes - Rasam, Thogayal (wet thick chutney) etc. This powder that uses Cumin and Pepper (Milagu Jeeragam) is usually mixed with rice which is called SAMBA RICE. Its very simple yet a comfort food that will surely make you feel much better especially if you have been experiencing heaviness in your tummy!

 











Ingredients:

Cooked Rice - 1 cup
Ghee - 1 teaspoon
Cashews - a few
Green chilli - 1
Mustard Seeds - 1/2 teaspoon
Urad dal - 1 teaspoon
Curry leaves - a few
Asafoetida - a pinch - optional

To dry roast and powder:

Pepper corns - 1 teaspoon
Cumin Seeds - 2 teaspoons
Salt - To taste

Method:

For the powder

1. Heat a pan and dry roast pepper corns first, cumin seeds next and switch off the flame and dry roast salt for a few seconds.
2. Powder these in a spice grinder or mixie coarsely. You can even use mortar and pistil. It is preferable to keep the powder on the coarser side.

For the rice

1. Heat up the ghee
2. Put the mustard seeds and when they stop spluttering, add the urad dal.
3. Half way through urad dal turning golden brown, add the cashews
4. If you are using green chilli add it at this point.
5. Add the springs of curry leaves and Asafoetida.
6. Add the cooked rice, the powder and mix well.

Enjoy!