Click here to view Baked Oondhiya Calories. Oondhiya is a classic Gujarati vegetable from the city of Surat and hence also called Surti undhiyu. Oondhiya is a preparation of vegetables and fenugreek muthias cooked in an aromatic blend of spices. A traditional undhiyu recipe requires hours on end to make.
Undhiyu is a one pot vegetable dish that is the hallmark of Gujarati vegetarian cuisine. Generally preparing undhiyu takes a lot of time and needs patience. Traditionally the veggies are cooked or fried in batches. There are usually three versions of Undhiyu, matla undhiyu, Kathiyawadi undhiyu and the version we have made which is surti undhiyu.
The name “Undhiyu” is derived from the Gujarati word “undhu” which means upside down. Tradionally undhiyu is cooked in an earthen pot called matti nu matlu in gujju. The pots are sealed and placed upside down in a fire pit dug in the ground.the slow cooking in the earthen pot gives the dish a rustic flavor and taste. This method of making undhiyu is still used in my village, the flavor and aroma is distinctive.
Undhiyu is specially made in winter as some veggies used for making are only available in winter. My mother would make undhiyu for special occasions and also family get-togethers along with poori’s and aamras. Being a Gujarati I grew up with Undhiyu as special dish for which we has to wait all year long until the winters started and we would still just get to enjoy this vegetable for 2-3 months, but now-a-days everything is easily available. Every Gujarati household makes Undhiyu for Sunday lunch or festival like Uttarayan when the vegetables are in season.
The dish is a seasonal one, comprising the vegetables that are available during the winter, including green beans or new peas, small eggplants, muthia (dumplings/fritters made with potatoes, and purple yam, yam. You can also add green peas if you wish to.
Ingredients of
undhiyu are now available all year but are very expensive in the off season and the quality of the vegetables are not very good.
To save on time further, you can buy readymade dry muthias. However, ensure you add them along with the vegetables so that they turn soft on cooking. Ummmmm… I am reminded of
Jalabi,
Puri and oondhiya… trust me,that is the perfect combination to win a Gujarati's heart!
Puris
Is Baked Oondhiya healthy?
Yes, this is healthy. But restrictions apply to some.
Let's understand the ingredients of Baked Oondhiya.
What's good in Baked Oondhiya.
Surti Papdi : A Winter delight. Usually every Winter in India, we get a surplus supply of fresh green beans which are delicious to eat and have unique taste. The whole beans look almost like green peas with shells on. The shells are harder than green peas. Vibrantly delicious flavor, wonderful texture and a wealth of health-promoting. The seeds of the surti papadi are called dana/seeds. They are generally green to greenish brown in colour and are used in varieties of Indian cuisine. Oondhiya is the most famous Gujarati delicacy in which surti papadi seeds are used. A delicious plate of surati papadi seeds spiced up with masala also tastes best with puffed Pooris, served with onions and a slice of lemon and also varities like oondhiya and rice delicacies can be prepared using these beans. These can also be sprouted and used in variety of dishes.
Kand (Purple Yam) : The antioxidant anthocyanin is the key element which will help fight the free radicals produced due to stress and pollution. Again it’s the anthocyanin which is identified as an anti-cancer agent. It helps in the prevention of cancerous cells. Purple yam is fairly good source of carb, almost equal to potatoes, it would be best for diabetics to restrict its use. Fiber will bind cholesterol, while potassium will balance the effect of sodium and ease the nerves. However, kand also lends some carbs with it. So if you are overweight or diabetic along with exhibiting heart trouble, try and restrict its consumption. Read details is kand healthy?
Coriander (kothmir, dhania) : The antioxidants vitamin A, vitamin C and the quercetin present in coriander works towards strengthening our immune system. Coriander is a fairly good source of iron and folate – the 2 nutrient which help in the production and maintenance of red blood cells in our blood. Good for reducing cholesterol and for diabetics. Read 9 benefits of coriander to understand details.
Green Chillies : Antioxidant vitamin C in green chillies protects the body from effects of harmful free radicals and prevents stress. It is probably the high fiber which helps in controlling blood sugar levels. This it is a welcome addition to a diabetic diet. Suffering from anaemia? Add green chillies to your list of iron rich foods too. For complete details see benefits of green chilli.
Lemon, Lemon Juice : Lemon is a very good source of Vitamin C and thus helps in the production of white blood cells and antibodies in the blood which attacks invading microorganisms, prevents infection and builds immunity. Therefore, Lemon juice is given to prevent common cold. The ascorbic acid in lemon juice helps in absorption of iron from the food. So if you’re iron deficient or have anaemia squeeze a lemon on iron rich recipes. See detailed benefits of lemon, lemon juice.
Lettuce : Lettuce is low in calories and aids in Weight Loss. Being rich in Vitamin C works as an immune building vitamin by way of helping multiply white blood cells (WBC). Lettuce abounds in Vitamin A – Stops Inflammation and Improves Eyesight. It keeps heart healthy and manages diabetes. It is also rich in Folic acid, a nutrient which a mother-to-be should start building the reserve of much before conception. See benefits of lettuce.
Ginger (Adrak) : Ginger is an effective cure for congestion, sore throat, cold and cough. It aids digestion and relieves constipation. Ginger was found as effective as drugs in relieving menstrual pain. Ginger is effective in decreasing the cholesterol levels in patients with high cholesterol. Ginger significantly reduces symptoms of nausea in pregnant ladies. See here for 16 Super Health Benefits of Adrak, Ginger.
Garlic : Garlic has been proven to lower cholesterol. The active ingredient allicin present in garlic aids in lowering blood pressure. Garlic is also alleged to help regulate blood glucose levels for diabetics. Garlic is great for the heart and circulatory system. Garlic has an antimicrobial, antiviral and antifungal function and can help in relieving common cold and other viral infections. To boost your immune system have a garlic clove a day. Garlic is a top anti viral food. The thiosulphate compound, Allicin found in garlic acts as a strong antioxidant and protects our body from damage of free radicals. Read here for complete benefits of garlic.
Imli (Tamarind) : Tamarind is good for heart due to the fibre present which has a cholesterol lowering effect. It is also good for diabetics. But too much tamarind is bad for health.
Sweet Potatoes, Shakarkand : Sweet Potato is a good source of potassium which helps is balancing the excess sodium levels in the body. Thus it maintains normal blood pressure and exerts less strain on the heart. It helps build immune cells (WBC) thus forming a line of defence against all types of infections. Sweet Potato Aids in Weight Loss : ½ cup of sweet potatoes gives you a handsome amount of fiber (2.9 g). This much fiber for a snack is enough to keep you full for hours and avoid bingeing on unhealthy snacks. Almost nil fat is an added benefit for weight watchers. But it should not be fried and not be eaten in huge quantities daily. Small amounts good for diabetics to be consumed with protein rich or fiber rich food. Read 9 super benefits of sweet potatoes.
Brinjal (baingan, eggplant) : Foods like Brinjal have a low glycemic index and good for weight loss. Brinjals are a very good source of fibre. It also prevents blood glucose from shooting up and is good for diabetics. Brinjals are rich in folate, which is required for producing Red Blood Cells (RBC’s) and also helps to prevent anaemia. See all the 7 amazing benefits of baingan.
Benefits of Carom Seeds, Ajwain : carom seeds are good for digestion. Its active compound thymol helps in the secretion of digestive juices in the stomach which prevents indigestion. To overcome stomach pain, acidity, bloating and flatulence ajwain is a very good remedy. Ajwain water is also known to help boost metabolism and aid in weight loss. Including ajwain in the form of Ajwain Roti will be good for those suffering from high BP. See here detailed benefits of carom seeds, ajwain.
What's problem in Baked Oondhiya.
Jaggery (Gur) : When compared to sugar, which provides only empty calories, jaggery is considered to be a superior natural sweetener. Sugar is definitely one of the causes of many chronic diseases, but jaggery too needs to be consumed in moderate amounts. What you would consume is just about a tbsp (18 g) or a tsp (6 g). While those with heart diseases and weight loss can have a dessert made with this quantity of jaggery occasionally as an option to refined sugar, but diabetics need to avoid this sweetener too as it can spike blood sugar levels instantly. Read is jaggery healthy for complete details.
Potatoes (Aloo) : Potatoes being high in simple carbohydrates will lead to weight gain and are not good for people with diabetes, heart problem and obesity. Potatoes are recommended for malnourished children and people with low weight. See full details on why potatoes are bad for you.
Vegetable Oils : To some vegetable oil is only soyabean oil, while some promote it as a mix of oils like soyabean, canola, sunflower, corn and other omega-6 rich oils. These are often cheaper options than many oils, but they are highly processed oils. They are undoubtedly not to be reached out for, whether you are looking for salad dressings, sautéing or cooking. The 5 best oils used in cooking are olive oil (low temperature short time cooking), avocado oil, canola oil, coconut oil and peanut oil. You must read the super article to find the facts of which oil is the healthiest avoid vegetable oil.
Can diabetics, heart patients and over weight individuals have Baked Oondhiya ?
No, this recipe is not good for diabetics, heart and weight loss. Jaggery spike blood sugar levels instantly, potatoes being high in simple carbohydrates will lead to weight gain and are not good for people with diabetes, heart problem and obesity.
Can healthy individuals have Oondhiya?
Yes, but in small quantity.
8 Pointers to get healthy on a Indian diet
1. Eat healthy and say yes to good home cooked food. Prefer whole grains like oatmeal, quinoa, buckwheat, barley and healthy flours like bajra flour, jowar flour, quinoa flour, wheat flour etc. rather than refined ones like maida. Have healthy Indian fats like ghee, coconut, coconut oil in your diet.
2. Opt out of junk food, packaged food, deep fried foods. Prefer steamed snacks and other non-fried snacks. Check out some Healthy Indian Snacks. Remember to eat small frequent meals through the day as that will keep you always full and prevent your blood sugar from dropping. By starving your body through some diet, will not help you one bit. In fact, dieting will make you binge on 2 to 3 meals which is not good.
3. Have 4 to 5 servings of vegetables and 2 to 3 servings of fruit is a must. Follow the logic of a vegetable in each main meal of the day and a fruit in-between meals. Check out a few Healthy Indian Soups and Healthy Indian Salads recipes using this food group.
4. Cut down on sugar and salt in your diet and pick honey ( very small amounts) or dates to sweeten your food. Slowly cut the sugar habit as this is not going to happen over night. Sugar is also called white poison. It is a simple carbohydrate with zero nutritional value. On intake, sugar will cause inflammation of the body which will last for many hours. It will spike your blood sugar level and shut down the fat burning process. This also causes high blood sugar levels in your body. The development of prediabetes comes from uncontrolled eating sugar and refined food products for many years and the classic symptom is if you have excess belly fat. This leads to diabetes and further onwards to heart attack, high blood pressure, strokes, impotence and kidney damage.
Salt and blood pressure. Apart from stress and obesity, one of the main reasons for high blood pressure is excessive sodium and salt intake. Most people find it difficult to limit the amount of salt in their cooking, thinking it will affect the taste of their favourite dishes.
This is not true. Bajra and jowar are rich in potassium and critical for those with High Blood Pressure as it lessens the impact of sodium. Eating more Potassium Rich Foods will remove more sodium from your body through urine. So include the basic bajra roti and jowar roti in your daily diet to have with Lower Blood Pressure Subzis Recipes.
5. Befriend a few healthy seeds and nuts like chia seeds, flax seeds, sesame seeds, walnuts and almonds.
6. Sprouts are called ‘living food’. They are high is most nutrients and easy to digest as well. Let them feature in your meals at least thrice a week. Also Read : All Benefits about Sprouts.
7. Exercise 45 minutes every day. No excuse. You can walk fast, run, do weights, play your favourite sport or go to the gym.
8. Sleep early and get up early. Get your body into rhythm and it will function best. Sleep helps your body to recover.
Baked Oondhiya is high in
1. Vitamin C : Vitamin C is a great defence against coughs and colds.
2. Calcium : Calcium is a mineral that makes bones stay strong. Required from kids to adults.
3. Phosphorous : Phosphorous works closely with calcium to build bones.
4. Vitamin B1 : Vitamin B1 protects nerves, helps in carbohydrate metabolism, prevents heart diseases and helps produce red blood cells.
5. Fiber : Dietary fiber reduce the risk of heart disease, prevent the spike in blood sugar levels and hence super for diabetics. Consume more fruits, vegetables, moong, oats, matki, whole grains.
Note : a recipe is deemed high in a Vitamin or mineral if it meets 20% and above the recommended daily allowance based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
How to burn 294 calories that come from Baked Oondhiya?
Walking (6 kmph) = 1 hour 28 mins
Running (11 kmph) = 29 mins
Cycling (30 kmph) = 39 mins
Swimming (2 kmph) = 50 mins
Note: These values are approximate and calorie burning differs in each individual.