Ever wondered how to make a simple dish of yellow lentil with ridge gourd taste and smell heavenly? Leave the spices alone, and add a bunch of fresh, chopped fenugreek leaves instead.
Going by the bitterness which one tastes while chewing methi seeds, the ignorant me had taken it for granted that methi leaves will be utterly bitter. This also made me wonder why aloomethi is a main side dish in the vegetarian section of a menu. The same goes when I am offered methi paratha, because according to my wrong notion on methi leaves, I thought I was being offered bitter parathas .
Then one day, I noticed that a friend’s mother who was visiting, while preparing mutton, had kept aside a bunch of methi leaves. I was devastated.
I nervously asked about the ‘funda’ behind making the mutton curry bitter with methi leaves. Now, it was her turn to give me a look. She said, “This will enhance the taste.” I wasn’t convinced, but waited anxiously to taste.
My doubts were baseless, I soon realised. The mutton dish was indeed superlative in taste, to say the least.
High resolution image of fresh green fenugreek leaves on white background shot in studio.
After that, I always remember to pick a few bunches of fenugreek leaves when I go to the market to pick up my vegetables. Though methi leaves are used as a herb, its use to enhance the taste in food is most common in India.
Methi leaves are also eaten as a side dish by itself, slightly sautéed on a pan.
While aloo methi is commonly cooked in many kitchens, the reason methi is added to non-vegetarian dishes is possibly because of fenugreek’s natural tendency to maintain body temperature.
Also known as a rich source of nutrition, these leaves are easy to grow and last long in the refrigerator when stored properly. As fenugreek is rich in fibre and antioxidants, it helps flush out harmful toxins from the body, and thus, aids digestion.
Fenugreek is a good source of iron, which is why both seeds and leaves are considered medicinal and a good cure, for anaemia.
In many home remedies, I am told, crushing and consuming fresh leaves of fenugreek helps control the level of insulin in blood. Health advocates say it could give competition to spinach as a rich source of Vitamin K.
Surprisingly, fenugreek is also a great source of protein and nicotinic acid. These nutrients make it good for the hair as well.
