MY DESI GRUB

Winter is a good excuse to load up on your favourite comfort food. Add these traditional dishes to your winter diet

Add these traditional dishes to your winter diet
Winter is a good excuse to load up on your favourite comfort food. However, you can use it to your advantage by having the right stuff to keep you warm and cut your risk of falling ill during the cold months. Here is a list of some traditional foods:

Vegetarian
Chaulai ka saag
Chaulai leaves are available all over north India and this is the type of saag that nutritionists suggest we should have during winter. 8220;Compared with sarson ka saag, chaulai is more beneficial for the winter months. It provides more warmth,8221; says Dr Bhuvaneshwari Shankar, dietician, Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, Chennai. Have it with makki roti. nbsp;

Brinjal
Mashed brinjal curry is an ideal dish for the winter as it keeps you warm. 8220;However, do not have baingan ka bharta, as the vegetable loses its exothermic properties while you make this dish and becomes a cold food,8221; says Dr Shankar. You can also have brinjals stuffed with potatoes. nbsp;

Methi
Methi is very beneficial for people who suffer from stiff joints during winter. 8220;It also helps boost your immunity and will keep you from catching a flu,8221; says Sharma. If you get bored of the usual methi sabzi, make methi paranthas and laddoos for a change. nbsp;

Non-Vegetarian
Harissah
Harissah is a Kashmiri dish that is made of minced mutton and rice cooked in spices and ghee. 8220;Since Kashmir is one of the coldest places in the country, they have to cook food that keeps them warm. This dish is a blend of all foods that provide heat to the body,8221; says nutritionist Shikha Sharma.nbsp;

Quail Bater
Quail meat is available all over north India but is mostly eaten in Punjab during winters. 8220;The meat of this bird provides a lot of heat to the body. It will also prevent you from falling ill in the winter,8221; says Sharma.nbsp;

Yakhni
Yakhni is a yoghurt and saffron-based mutton broth. This dish is made of lamb, cloves, ginger, onions, cardamom, yoghurt and saffron. 8220;It8217;s originally from Persia, and is eaten a lot in parts of Kashmir. A mix of mutton and spices, it8217;s perfect to eat during winter,8221; says Dr Shankar. Yakhni can be eaten with rice. nbsp;

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chutney
To add something warm to your regular meals, make a chutney of ginger, garlic, onions and green chillies stir-fried in ghee. 8220;It8217;s easy to make and all the ingredients help you stay warm. Also, it8217;s something that you can have with every meal,8221; says Sharma.