Benefits of Eating Curd Rice During Summer

Curd is very common in many parts of the world. Even though yoghurt and curd are very similar, they are two different foods. They have different tastes and health benefits, and the making of curd and yoghurt are totally different. Lactobacillus delbrueckii is the bacteria responsible for the fermenting of milk.

These bacteria help convert the lactose sugar in milk to lactic acid, which is present in the curd. Curd can be made fat-free and full-fat depending on the milk that is used, i.e. whole and skimmed milk, respectively. This blog will educate the readers on the benefits of curd and how to make it.

Nutrient Content of Curd

Curd (100 grams) – Nutritional Value

• Cholesterol – 17 mg
• Potassium – 104 mg
• Sodium – 364 mg
• Protein – 11 grams
• Calories – 98 (approximately)
• Carbohydrates – 3.4 grams
• Fat – 4.3 grams

Health Benefits of Curd

Heart Health

Having curd everyday keeps the cholesterol balanced. It helps in lowering the blood pressure and hypertension and hence maintaining heart health. 

Digestion

Probiotics present in curd help maintain a healthy gut and, in turn, maintain a healthy digestive system. It is easy to digest, and it also helps with inflamed or bloated stomachs. 

Immunity

Curd contains micro organisms that are alive which is good for the body. It is one of the best probiotic foods that increases the white blood cells count. So, it prevents infections and increases the immunity.

Lose Weight

Due to a hormone called cortisol, fat is stored around the waistline. This might also be due to a faulty lifestyle. The calcium content in the curd lessens the production of cortisols and hence promotes weight loss. Curd also makes you feel full for a long time, decreasing the calorie intake.

Bone Health

Curd contains calcium and phosphorus. Both these are very important for bone health. So, consuming curd every day in the right quantity will fulfil the body’s daily need for calcium content. 

Vaginal Health

In the list of very few foods that are good for vaginal health, curd makes its place. As curd has the power to maintain acid levels and thereby maintain PH levels, it is a great food for managing vaginal health. By balancing the PH levels, curd helps in the prevention of irritability and burning of the vagina. 

Hair Health

The fat content in curd helps in the moisturizing of hair and the lactic acid in curd promotes hair growth and healthy scalp. Its lactic acid and antimicrobial properties help in getting rid of dandruff.

Skin Care

The presence of vitamin E and Zinc, promotes glowing and healthy skin. It can either be used in face packs or as raw curd as well.

How to Make Curd?

Curd is a product of milk, it can be easily prepared at home. There are a number ways to prepare curd but the most common method is using milk and curd.

Heat the milk to make it warm, and add a spoonful of curd to it. This will begin the fermentation process. Generally people leave this mix over night for the fermentation process to complete. By morning freshly made curd is ready.

Other methods include using chilli or lemon in the place of curd itself for the fermentation of milk.

Curd Rice

Curd rice is filling, delicious and, most of all, easy to make. It is famous on the south side of the country and is especially beneficial in summer. It has many names all over India, like Thayir Sadam in Tamil Nadu, Dahi Chawal in the North, Thayir Choru in Kerala, Dhaddijanam in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, Mosaranna in Karnataka and Dahi Bhat in Maharashtra. 

Curd rice is a dish typically made from yoghurt or curd and rice. However, there are many versions of curd rice that incorporate herbs, spices, and fruits. 

How to Make Curd Rice?

Although there are various versions of curd rice, the ingredients in this one include:

• Curd
• Rice
• Curry leaves
• Milk
• Green chillies
• Coriander leaves
• Ginger
• Mustard seeds
• Asafoetida 
• Sesame oil
• Husked and split black gram
• Pomegranate or grapes

Making

1. Rinse half a cup of uncooked rice in water a couple of times and add this to a two-litre pressure cooker. 
2. To this cooker, add one and a half cups of water and medium pressure to cook the rice for eight to nine minutes. 
3. By this time, the rice is cooked well and has a mushy texture. Make sure the rice is cooked more than how it is normally cooked. 
4. Now, mash the rice properly and let it cool down to room temperature. 
5. Add one cup of curd to the rice and a quarter cup of milk. One can skip adding milk as well if the curd is not sour. Now, mash them all together once more. 
6. Add finely chopped green chillies, ginger, coriander leaves, and curry leaves to the curd rice and mix thoroughly. 
7. Add one spoon of sesame oil to a pan and let the oil get hot. Add mustard to the oil and let it crackle. After this, add half a teaspoon of urad dal and stir till it turns golden. 
8. To this, add 7-8 curry leaves and 1/8 teaspoon of asafoetida. Stir properly and switch the heat off. 
9. Now pour this sizzling hot tempering into the curd rice mixture and mix. 
10. For garnishing, grapes or pomegranate are used as this gives a tinge of sweetness and colour to the rice. 
11. Curd rice is ready to be served. It can be served with pickle, sun-dried, spiced chilly or with different varieties of chutneys. 

Conclusion

Curd is abundant in minerals, vitamins, protein and probiotics. Not only this it is also low-carb. Curd not makes the food look appealing but it also adds nutrition. The side effects of curd is very limited compared to its benefits. It helps in digestion, bone health, heart health, skin and hair, weight loss, sugar levels, immune system and many more. 

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