AS_I_2015_01_02_

68 asiaSpa India January-February 2015

N

NATURE’S TONIC

Ingredients

• 2 William pear


• 1 1/2 cup brown rice


• 4 cups water


• 2 sticks cinnamon sticks


• 4 tbsp sugar


• few drops vanilla extract


• 1/4 cup soaked and peeled almonds
  Method
  Rinse the rice several times. Soak it in
  water with cinnamon powder for 8 hours
  in refrigerator. After 8 hours, strain out
  the water and discard the cinnamon
  sticks. Put into blender rice and sugar,
  vanilla extract and half of the soaked
  water. Blend the rice and soaked and
  peeled almonds on low for 3 to 5 minutes
  until well blended and finely ground. Pour
  the blended rice in muslin cloth. Put the
  strained rice water mixture into pitcher
  adding remaining water, stir well. Serve
  immediately.

Chef Ranveer Brar

Chef and TV host at Zee Khana Khazana

Brown rice horchata

Ingredients

• 2 slices brioche bread


• 5 gm cinnamon powder


• 1 egg


• 75 ml milk


• 1 cinnamon stick


• 100 gm wild berries (you can
  use blueberries and raspberries)


• 50 gm castor sugar


• 50 gm butter


• 1 generous dollop crème fraiche
  Method
  Put the berries, sugar and
  cinnamon stick in a pan with a
  little bit of water and simmer
  gently to get a syrupy texture.
  In the meanwhile, mix the milk,
  cinnamon powder and egg in a
  bowl and form a batter. Dip the
  bread in this mixture and pan
  fry in butter. Make sure you cook
  both sides nicely till they are
  golden brown and then arrange in
  a plate. Garnish with a dollop of
  creme fraiche and drizzle of berry
  compote.

Anshuman Bali

Executive Sous Chef

Four Seasons Hotel Mumbai

Cinnamon brioche

toasts with crème

fraiche and wild

berries

a plate. Garnish wh with a dollop of

creme fraiche and drid zzle of berry

compote.

AnshumanBali

Executive Sous Chef

Four Seasons Hotel Mumbai

yeast infections. However it should be

noted that there are NO scientifi c reports

to highlight the same.

On an average one can take around

one teaspoon in food, rice or tea. More

amounts have shown observations

of GERD, acidity and nausea. After

all, everything should be eaten in

moderation. High quantities can also

cause irritation in lips and in the

mouth. Scientifi c uses of cinnamon

have been proven by a Korean Hospital

that limited intake of the same helps in

reduces cytokines that are linked with

arthritic pain. University of Texas in a

controlled study also highlighted that

cinnamon also helps in reduction of the

proliferation of cancer cells,” he adds.

However one should understand that

there are no detailed and standardized

scientifi c analysis that confi rm the above

mentioned helpful facts. many a times

people resort to ayurveda, alternative

therapies for joint pain relief. However

in a majority of cases it is allopathic

intervention that counts and surgery that

needs to be performed.

Having been used for centuries as

an antiseptic, anti-viral aid, as well

as an astringent to enhance skin’s

beauty, cinnamon can also be used

as a good exfoliant to clear the skin,

open up the pores and kill bacteria, if

any. It also produces essential oils that

have plenty skin and health friendly

properties. “When ground into a fi ne

powder, it can be used directly on

the skin to reduce acne, pimples and

blemishes. It’s anti-bacterial and anti-

infl ammatory properties effectively help

fi ght breakouts. It is also considered to

have benefi cial effects of lightening scars

and blemishes when used regularly.

In fact, cinnamon powder is used in

a number of beauty products as well.

The oils contained in the bark also have

anti-oxidants which help fi ght free

radical damage and its effect. This is why

some people also believe that cinnamon

can help fi ght cancer as well,” says Dr

Madhuri Agarwal, leading Mumbai based

dermatologist and beauty expert.

Speaking about how multi-faceted

cinnamons are, Anshuman Bali,

Executive Sous Chef at Four Seasons

Hotel, Mumbai said, “The dark, dry and

warm spice, cinnamon, is not only strong

and mellow but also sweet and spicy

at the same time making it a versatile

condiment. Acknowledged as every

food connoisseur’s delight, the chefs too

appreciate it for its delicate aroma and

soul warming taste. Some of the most

popular dishes with cinnamon as a main

ingredient include the Middle Eastern

appetizer kibbeh, beverages

such as Kashmiri kahwa or Turkish coffee

and mains such as Kashmiri curries and

pulao.”

Good health via cinnamon

Cinnamon is amongst the most

commonly used spices in Indian

food. Known to have numerous anti-

infl ammatory and anti-bacterial

properties, it is used in several alternative

medicines. “Cinnamon or more

commonly named as Cinnamomum

aromaticum or dalchini is commonly used

since prehistoric times in Ayurveda to

treat arthritis and sore throat,” says Dr

Vivek Logani, Chief of Joint Replacement

Surgery, Paras Hospitals, Gurgaon.

“Scientifi c reports have also highlighted

that cinnamon is also benefi cial in

lowering blood sugar level. Some reports

have also suggested that the same is

used to control cholesterol and to treat

asiaSpa India January-February 2015 69

Untitled-2 6-69 02/01/15 :29 PM