Curd is good for health and who knows it better than the Indians

Curd is good for health and you should have it every day. We have heard this statement every time we are relishing our meal. Whether it is our grandmother or the self-professed doctors in the family, the solution to all health problems is curd. So much has been the influence of curd (dahi) in our life that few of the idioms in our national language are based on it. “Muh me dahi jamaanaa” means one who keeps quiet even while getting an opportunity. “Raita failana” means unnecessarily complicating a situation.

If one has to pick a food item that can be credited with uniting the nation, then it has to be dahi. From humble buttermilk in the south to a chilled glass of lassi in the north; From a bowl of curd rice in the south to a boondi ka raita in the north, this fermented milk is something that every citizen in the country relishes. Any auspicious occasion at home is incomplete without a portion of curd. If it’s the first day of the exam your mom will not allow you to leave until you have tasted a spoon of dahi-cheeni.  A pooja thali in India is complete only with a pinch of vermillion, a few grains of rice, and a little dahi.

Curd has also helped in building a friendly neighborhood. Whenever a household runs out of dahi the first thing, they do is ring the bell of the neighbors. Aunty thora jaavan (a small serving of dahi that is added to milk to make curd) milega kya?

Curd comes in so many avatars and here are a few of them.

A glass of lassi that makes you say curd is good.

One of the best avatars of curd is the sweet lassi.  Curd is good and gets even better when stirred in a steel jug with a hand stirrer along with sugar and ice cubes. Whether it is Jaipur, Delhi, or Amritsar every city has a street famous for serving mouth-watering lassi. Nehru Place, a big commercial centre in the south of Delhi is a hub of computer hardware and software. But do you know that you can enjoy a glass of lassi there also? You can feast on a plate of rajma-chawal or chole-chawal at one of the many food kiosks. And for easy digestion gulp it down with a large glass of sweet lassi.

A glass of lassi served with a topping of thick cream (malai) and sprinkled with a dash of Roohafza will satiate your soul to the inner core. People who are health conscious or are diabetic prefer the salty version of Lassi. But I will recommend a salty lassi only with a pinch of salt.

Curd rice is good for health

You walk into any restaurant serving South Indian food and check the menu. One of the most prominent dishes mentioned is curd rice. A lot of time I have seen families walking into the restaurant and ordering the delicacies of the south. It can be a masala dosa, idly-sambar, or an uthappam. In the end, they finish the meal by ordering a plate of curd rice. Served with lemon pickle, papad, and podi, the dish helps you digest the meal easily.

Curd rice is good for health as it is not only gut healthy but also a comforting summer food that keeps the body cool. It’s a dish made of soft cooked rice mixed with curd and salt and tempered with mustard seed, urad dal, green chilies, and curry leaves. Considered to be a superfood it aids in digestion. The curd rich in probiotics promotes the growth of healthy bacteria giving relief from stomach upsets and abdominal pain.

The day I venture out for lunch with friends at Karims or United Coffee house my dinner is just curd rice.

The world of Chaat-Papdi and Dahi Bhalla

In its 3^rd avatar dahi titillates the tangiest taste bud of people, the one that makes them relish Chaat-papdi and Dahi Bhalla. Imagine a world where there is no dahi in the Papdi-chaat or Dahi Bhalla. The crowds will disappear from the roadside vendors selling Golgappas and Chaat-papdi. On the other hand, sweet shops like Bikanervala and Haldiram will report a sharp decline in sales.

Dahi is at the heart of all chaat dishes. A plate of papdi-chaat with crispy papdi dipped in dahi mixed with a crushed dahi-bhalla is one of the most tempting dishes in India. A plate of bhallas dipped in thick dahi with a topping of imli ki chatni makes women swoon over it. Then there is dahi ka puchka which is golgappas filled up with dahi rather than the imli ka paani.

Raita can be relished with a whole lot of dishes

One of the most popular avatars of curd is raita. Raita comes in many variations like boondi, pineapple, or cucumber. It is best enjoyed with a complete meal like dal-chawal and sabzi or with chicken biryani.

A boondi raita is small boondis (fried gram flour mini balls) dipped in curd. Sprinkled with jeera (Cumin) and chilly red powder it can be savored with a lot of dishes. Similarly, an aloo or gobhi ka paratha or mutton biryani is best enjoyed with a serving of raita.

Curd is good at flirting

This is one of the most romantic avatars of dahi where it flirts with different dishes and makes them taste awesome. One of the most popular dishes in North India is Kadhi. Chickpea flour when mixed with sour curd and cooked with spices creates a dish that is best enjoyed with rice. In addition, deep-fried pakoras made out of chickpea flour when dipped in Kadhi makes the dish everybody’s favorite.

On the other hand, there are times when curd jumps into boiling oil to take a new avatar called Dahi ke sholey. Dahi ke sholey, a famous snack item is a fried bread roll with a filling of hung curd. A bite into the bread roll and the dahi just melts in your mouth.

When curd decides it is good even without any dressing

“Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.” This quote by Leonarda da Vinci is also valid for our humble curd. In its simplest form curd can be relished with rice or a parantha. In most homes in the south of India, a sumptuous meal is always concluded with a serving of rice and curd with a bit of desi ghee. If you are traveling on vacation to Shimla or a hill station in Himachal you can always enjoy your breakfast at Murthal. Known for serving stuffed parathas with dollops of white butter and pickles, the breakfast is incomplete without a serving of plain curd.

One of the simplest sweet dishes that anybody can make at home is a bowl of curd mixed with sugar. This dish can be enjoyed as a stand-alone or with some hot parathas.

When curd goes into deep meditation

In Indian culture, curd has an important role to play. A pooja ki thali is incomplete without a small portion of curd. On the other hand, if you are stepping out of home for a job interview or a school examination, your mom will wish you luck by offering a spoon full of curd.

And before that curd goes sour, please put it in the refrigerator. This is a standing instruction of mom to anybody who enters the kitchen. So better do it before you end up reading the story.

You can enjoy reading more such stories on my blog. Click on the following link:

The Daily Vegetables that have now become a Luxury

Chole Bhature the desi Indian dish that beats a hamburger any day

Learn more about dahi recipes and their health benefits by clicking on the following link:

https://food.ndtv.com/food-drinks/