The Hungry Notebook

  Chana Ka Saag: The Iron-Rich Indian Green That Deserves a Global Spotlight Introduction When people talk about Indian superfoods, they usually jump to turmeric, moringa, or lentils. But quietly growing in winter fields across North India is something far more powerful — Chana Ka Saag, made from tender green chickpea leaves. Yes, chickpeas aren’t just beans. The plant’s fresh leaves are edible, incredibly nutritious, and have been used in village kitchens for generations. This humble saag is packed with iron, fiber, plant protein, and natural detoxifying compounds. It’s warming in winter, strengthening for the body, and surprisingly flavorful with its slightly nutty, mildly tangy taste. While the world obsesses over kale and spinach smoothies, India has been cooking this mineral-rich green for centuries — slowly simmered with garlic, spices, and sometimes a touch of maize flour for body. This is not just food. It’s seasonal wisdom on a plate. What Makes Chana Ka Saag Unique? Unli...

 "Patrode: A Delicious and Forgotten Indian Superfood for Strength, Taste, and Health" Introduction Traditional foods in Indian cuisine have received less attention than the new, fast foods that have come along. For example, Patrode is a popular snack, rich in nutrients and tastes fantastic too. Oncewidely included in Indian rural cooking, buckwheat is ready to make a comeback with us. What is Patrode? Another name for Patrode, also called Pathrode, is a dish in which you make spiced gram flour, smear it over colocasia leaves, roll them, steam them and then slice them into pieces. In Karnataka, Maharashtra, Kerala and Tamil Nadu, it is widely consumed by the coastal population. It tastes amazing and provides you with important nutrients. Ingredients: A maximum of 12 fresh colocasia (taro) leaves A cup full of gram flour (besan) Dust a generous 2 tablespoons of rice flour onto baking sheet. Just one tablespoon of tamarind pulp 2 grams of jaggery To make this, add 1 teaspoon o...