Brahmi health shake/ Brahmi tambli – An ancient recipe for health and wellbeing.

Brahmi / Bacopa monnieri, is one of the revered herb which mainly grows in the marshy areas of South India. Native South Indian folks make the best use of this weed/herb in their cuisine. Because of its innumerable medicinal properties, cooling and healing nature, this herb is grown/maintained in majority of the households in South India. You may also find this herb in far east and in the neighbouring countries of India.

Being medicinal properties of brahmi are so enticing, this herb doesn’t taste like an insertion of medicine in food…not at all. They are pretty sporty, having no problem to adjust and bend with the other cooking ingredients.

Also, brahmi tambli/shake is more nutritious in the morning hours. Weird?….As the name of the plant suggests, brahmi muhurat or brahma muhurta, which is an hour and a half before sunrise, which is when the energy and the medicinal properties derived by this herb is at its optimum level. As we folks hardly see that time, we have conveniently made it as a smoothie for breakfast or as a cooling drink with lunch.

Jaggery along with this herb enhances the healing properties, so ensure you use jaggery to sweeten your smoothie as required

As the summer started to gulp in Mumbai, the need of cooling agents in food is a necessity. I had access to some of these precious leaves packed and forwarded by my dearest parents, all the way from down south.

So,here I am, with the majestic recipe, very specific to the community that I belong to, passed down from generations and devoured by all.

A quick, easy, healthy and tasty drink, for all of you.

 

Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 cup brahmi leaves with roots, thoroughly washed and chopped
• 1/2 cup grated fresh coconut
• 1/2 cup of yogurt
• 1 tbsp cumin seeds
• 1 tbsp jaggery
• 1 1/2 cup water
• Sea salt to taste
• Some ice cubes – optional

Method – Put cumin seeds, brahmi leaves,  and coconut in a blender and grind it to a smooth paste. Add 1/2 cup of water this paste and pass it through a fine sieve in to a large bowl.

Put the gist in the sieve back to the blender, add yogurt and rest of the water. Pulse them couple more times,  untill  yogurt becomes  really smooth and blends with the other ingredients in the blender.

Pass this mix through the sieve again to the same bowl used earlier. Add jaggery and salt, stir until well combined. Add the ice cubes if using.

Serves two, best served fresh and chilled.

Note –

You can increase the jaggery quantity, if you like your smoothies to be sweet. As the recipe in here, called for minimum sweetness.

You can also increase or decrease the water quantity depending on the your smoothies thickness preference.

You may use coconut milk, as a replacement to fresh grated coconut. Use half the quantity of the grated coconut.