Alambi bhaji / Mushroom

       

People who love mushrooms know they taste great.Wild mushrooms are more tastier than the farm mushrooms. Wild mushrooms are available only for 15 days in a year. Agaricus bisporus—known variously as the common mushroom, button mushroom, white mushrooms.

Medical Benefits :

One cup of mushrooms includes vitamins C, D, B6 and B12, plus large doses of riboflavin, niacin and pantothenic acid. These vitamins along with minerals like calcium, iron, potassium and selenium keep you fit and in good health. The vitamins C, B6 and B12 found in mushrooms are responsible for boosting  immune system. This helps flush toxins out of your body.

Mushrooms  are a fantastic source of fiber.Potassium is a naturally occurring mineral that helps prevent strokes, and it reduces blood pressure.Mushrooms contain selenium, and along with vitamin E, selenium protects the cells of the body from free radicals.Copper is a mineral present in mushrooms that helps keep the cardiovascular system in check.Many of the enzymatic functions of the body rely on niacin. This includes the production of estrogen, testosterone, and progesterone. Niacin also helps keep the nervous system functioning properly as well as many other working components of the body. Mushrooms, which contain niacin, also help the body produce energy from blood sugar, and they help give the skin a healthy texture and brilliant glow.

Intake of white button mushrooms each day, can decrease the risk of developing prostate cancer and breast cancer.

Coming to the spicy part, we coastal people try and make a point to eat  wild mushrooms atleast once in  a year. In Konkani mushroom is called Aalambi.

Ingredients required for aalambi bhaji :

• Mushrooms  8-10 cleaned, washed under running water and then cut vertically.
• One onion fried  (Keep onion directly on stove and fry till outer skin burns, Remove the burnt skin of the onions and use the inner part for grinding).

1. Coconut   1/2 cup  (Finely grated)
2. Cloves      8 in no
3. Pepper corn    8  in no
4. Coriander seeds 11/2 tsp  (Dhaniya)
5. Garlic          4-5 cloves
6. Red chillies        6

• Fry all the above ingredients in  a  tbsp full of coconut oil, one item at a time (**Except onion and mushrooms). Now grind all the fried items together with fried onions into smooth paste.
• In a Kadai or frying pan, add around 2 tbsp of coconut oil, Once oil becomes hot, add chopped onions and 1/2 tsp of salt. Fry till the onion turns its colour to light brown.Now add the mushrooms fry for a minute or two. 
• Add above masala, add a cup of water adjust for salt. Put on lid and simmer for 10 minutes.
• Aalambichi bhaji is ready  to be served with chapatis.