Strengthen Your Digestive System and Improve Your Overall Health with Probiotics. Simple Recipes for Homemade Probiotic Foods and Important Tips to Consider When Taking Probiotics (2020)

Strengthen Your Digestive System and Improve Your Overall Health with Probiotics. Simple Recipes for Homemade Probiotic Foods and Important Tips to Consider When Taking Probiotics (2020)

If you wish to use probiotics but are apprehensive about the off-the-shelf probiotic supplements available in the market then you can prepare delicious probiotic dishes in the comfort of your home itself. This BP Guide will share some simple yet delicious recipes for preparing probiotic foods at home. It will also share some important tips to keep in mind when taking probiotics.

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Homemade Probiotic Items You Can Make for Better Health

Idli Recipe

In case you like South Indian food, this dish is a must-try. To make idli, you will need:

Ingredients:

  • ½ cup split black lentils
  • 1 tbsp fenugreek seeds
  • 2 cups parboiled rice
  • 3 tbsp thick beaten rice
  • Salt to taste

Method:

  • First, pour the first 2 ingredients and water into a bowl, mix them and keep aside for 4 hours after putting on a lid.
  • Now, pour the next 2 items and some water into a bowl, mix them, put on a lid, and keep aside for 4 hours.
  • Next, remove the water from the first mixture and, using 1 cup of water, make a paste of lentils and the seeds.
  • Add it into a deep bowl before keeping them aside and making a paste of the next mixture the same way, just reducing the water quantity to ½ cup.
  • After this, add this paste to the first and mix well after adding salt.
  • Later, cover it and ferment it for ½ day before mixing them well and adding spoonfuls into every greased idli mould. Lastly, steam for 12 minutes before cooking them a bit and de-moulding them.

Indian Lime Pickle

In case you like pickle, do give this recipe a try. To make the Indian-style pickle, you need:

Ingredients:

  • 2 pounds lime
  • 4 tbsp salt
  • 3 tbsp turmeric powder
  • 1 tbsp white vinegar
  • 1 cup olive oil
  • 1 tbsp asafoetida powder
  • ½ cup mustard seeds
  • ¼ cup crushed fenugreek seeds
  • 2 tbsp cayenne pepper

Method:

  • Cut each lime into 8 wedges and put the limes, turmeric, salt, and vinegar into a fermenting vessel and mix.
  • Now, cover them with a towel or an airlock and let them ferment for a month.
  • After this, toast the mustard seeds and, once cool, add them, asafoetida powder, fenugreek and pepper into the vessel.
  • Let them sit for ½ month before putting them into an airtight jar and refrigerating.

Classic Masala Dosa Recipe

Source craftlog.com

You may not know but masala dosas are a great source of probiotics. To make it, you need:

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups short-grain rice
  • ½ cup split black lentils
  • 1 tsp fenugreek seeds
  • ½ tsp salt
  • Vegetable oil
  • 3 tbsp ghee
  • 1 tsp cumin seeds
  • 2 dried red pepper
  • 1 onion
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ½ tsp turmeric
  • 1 pinch asafoetida
  • 1 tbsp grated ginger
  • 8 curry leaves
  • 4 minced garlic cloves
  • 2 chopped green chillies
  • 1½ pound fleshed potatoes
  • ½ cup chopped cilantro

Method:

  • First, put the rice in a bowl, cover it with cold water and rinse before putting urad dal and fenugreek in another bowl, cover with water and rinsing.
  • Soak both for 6 hours before draining both mixtures and putting the rice in a food processor and blending well.
  • Now, add in a cup of water and grind well for 10 minutes.
  • Do the same with the other mixture and combine both to make a thick batter of 6 cups.
  • Cover with a towel and ferment for 8 hours while adding salt and refrigerate.
  • Next, heat ghee and add mustard and cumin seed before adding in pepper and onion.
  • Stir-cook for 5 minutes and season with salt before adding ginger, curry, garlic, green chilli and turmeric and sizzling.
  • Add water and potato, stir-cook for 5 minutes, and mash before seasoning with salt and cilantro and put aside.
  • After this, set a griddle and brush with oil before ladling ¼ cup batter and spreading it.
  • Drizzle oil over it and let it sit before loosening it, putting ½ cup filling over it, and folding the dosa around it.

Fermented Apples Recipe

To make fermented apples, you need:

Ingredients:

  • 4 cups chopped apples
  • 1 tsp unrefined salt
  • ½ tsp fresh whey
  • Sprouted almonds
  • Raisins
  • Medjool dates
  • Fresh mints
  • Vanilla beans

Method:

  • First, cut the apples and add in the other ingredients before mixing them well.
  • Now, put them into a fermentation vessel, add in some pure water, leaving it 1 inch empty on the top, and airtight them.
  • Leave for a day or two, and, once it is a little tangy but not too sour with a strong smell, you can refrigerate, and then eat them.

Masala Matar Recipe

Masala Matar is another great Indian recipe that is not only very delicious but also very easy and quick to make. To make this, you require:

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup green peas
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 2 tomatoes
  • 1 tsp turmeric powder
  • 1 tbsp coriander powder
  • ½ tsp chilli powder
  • ¼ cup yogurt
  • 2 tbsp canola oil
  • ½ tsp cumin seeds
  • 1 curry leaf
  • ½ cup red onion
  • 2 green peppers
  • ¼ tsp garam masala
  • 4 garlic cloves
  • 2 tbsp chopped cilantro

Method:

  • You first need to grind the onion, pepper and garlic before heating 2 tbsp oil.
  • Add the curry leaves and cumin before frying for a minute and adding the ground paste into it.
  • Fry for 6 minutes and add in the turmeric and red chilli powder before heating for a minute.
  • Now, pour in the tomato paste, salt, coriander powder and fry till the oil gets separated.
  • Once this is done, cool off the pan and add in the yogurt before mixing well and putting it under heat again.
  • Next, add ½ cup of water and peas and simmer for 5 minutes.
  • Lastly, put in the garam masala, mix well, and garnish before serving hot.

Paneer Recipe

Paneer is the Indian cheese and is used in various delicious recipes. Now, this can be bought from the market but is way better if made at home. To make it, you need:

Ingredients:

  • 1½ litres full-fat milk
  • 3 tbsp vinegar

Method:

  • Start by pouring the milk into a pot and boiling it at medium heat while stirring. While doing that, put a colander over a bowl and collect the whey.
  • Now, put a muslin cloth over it.
  • Once the milk boils, pour in the vinegar and take it off the heat.
  • Stir well until the milk curdles and pour the paneer and whey onto the colander before pouring cold water to stop further cooking.
  • Next, rinse it and wring the cloth into proper shape before pressing out excess water.
  • Afterwards, make a nice knot and hang it for half an hour before removing the knot and placing it on a wooden board.
  • Place a heavy item over it before removing the cloth after 3 hours and cutting the paneer into shape.
  • Lastly, refrigerate or freeze and use when needed.

Khaman Dhokla Recipe

Khaman Dhokla is another amazing as well as beneficial Indian recipe. To make this simple yet delicious recipe, you need:

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup gram flour
  • 1 tsp sugar
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp refined oil
  • 1 tsp mustard seeds
  • 1½ cup water
  • 1⅓ tsp lemon juice
  • ¾ tsp baking soda
  • 15 curry leaves

Method:

  • Get a bowl and put in the gram flour, water, salt, baking soda, and lemon juice before mixing well.
  • Now, ferment it for 2 hours and while putting boiled water in the steamer and greasing the equipment with oil.
  • Next, put the dhokla batter in the equipment and cook for 20 minutes before cooling it and cutting it into pieces.
  • Afterwards, heat oil in another pan and add curry leaves, mustard seeds, green chilli, and ½ cup water and boil.
  • After 3 boils, add sugar and coriander leaves and squeeze in ½ lemon.
  • Later, remove from the heat and put the tempering over the dhokla and sprinkle coconut powder over it before putting it into a serving bowl and serving.

Probiotics Drinks That Can Be Made at Home

Kanji Recipe

To make this Indian drink, you need:

Ingredients:

  • 1 tbsp crushed brown mustard seeds
  • 5 large peeled carrots
  • 1 peeled beet
  • 7 cups filtered water
  • 1 tbsp fine sea salt

Method:

  • To make it, crush the seeds and chop both the carrots and the beet into long pieces.
  • Now, put all the ingredients into a jar and mix well before covering them with a lid.
  • Put it in the sun for a week stirring a few times a day and once a tangy flavor has formed, strain it and keep away the pickles to eat later.
  • Refrigerate the drink and drink chilled.

Almond Milk Kefir Recipe

In drinks, the almond milk kefir is among the tastiest and most nutritious probiotic beverage. To make it, you need:

Ingredients:

  • 7 cups water
  • 1 cup raw almonds
  • 1 pinch salt
  • 1 tsp probiotic powder
  • Liquid stevia
  • 1 tbsp lemon juice or apple cider vinegar

Method:

  • First, soak the almonds at room temperature for 12 hours after adding in the salt and lemon juice and covering them with a kitchen towel.
  • Now, drain the water and rinse the almonds before adding them into a blender and blending for a minute.
  • Next, strain the milk, add it into a bowl along with the almonds, and stir the probiotic powder into the mixture.
  • Afterwards, cover the bowl with a cloth and let it stand for 14 hours.
  • After this, skim the fat layer and strain the rest of the liquid before keeping aside ½ cup.
  • Lastly, sweeten the cultured milk by pouring in some honey or stevia and it is ready.

Masala Chaas Recipe

This drink is extremely quick and easy to make and is enriched with probiotics. To make it, you need:

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup plain yogurt
  • 2 cups water
  • 1 green chilli
  • ½-inch ginger 1 tbsp cilantro
  • ½ tsp cumin powder
  • ½ tsp black salt
  • ¼ tsp salt
  • ¼ tsp chat masala

Method:

  • First add the yogurt, water, green chilli and ginger into a blender and blend.
  • Now, pour in the rest of the ingredients and blend for some more time before pouring the drink into the glasses.
  • Lastly, garnish it with either cilantro or fresh mint and serve chilled.

General Tips for Taking Probiotics

Thinking of opting for probiotic supplements? Keep these factors in mind before picking up that bottle:

They are Not Tested as Vigorously as Drugs and You are Suggested to Pay Attention to Expiration Dates

Probiotics are generally safe and thus do not get regulated through testing. These are dietary supplements containing bacteria and yeasts that are beneficial for the health. Various researches have shown that probiotics can aid digestion and help maintain gut health but their effects have been described vaguely, and, therefore, they have not been tested properly.

Furthermore, while buying probiotics supplements you should look at the expiration date. This is important because some elements in these supplements break down quickly after a product's expiration date and will not be very effective. Also, the sooner that you use them after they have been manufactured, the more beneficial they will be.

Choose the Probiotics with Various Types of Bacteria

Look for probiotics that have a broad range of various bacteria. Before consuming any probiotic product make sure that most of these 5 organisms are a part of the supplement that you have selected. One of these organisms is Lactobacillus plantarum, which has significant antioxidant activities and also helps to maintain immunity and combat toxic chemicals and helps improve the overall health and well-being. The second bacteria is Lactobacillus acidophilus. It is usually found in dairy products and helps to reduce cholesterol and promotes weight loss.

Moreover, the third organism Lactobacillus brevis helps to treat diarrhoea and inhibits the growth of cancer cells. The fourth bacterium, Bifidobacterium lactis fights tumour growth, enhances digestion and improves the immune system functions. The last important bacteria is Bifidobacterium longum that helps to reduce inflammation and is very is effective in alleviating gastrointestinal disease.

They Can Have Side Effects and are Not Good for Everyone

Initially, when people start taking probiotics, they can experience an increase in gas, bloating, constipation or thirst. However, these are mild symptoms and usually clear up within a few days or weeks of taking the probiotics. Also, because probiotics do not work the same way for everyone, they can be possibly more harmful to some people.

Various studies have also shown that people suffering from immune system problems and other serious health conditions should avoid taking probiotics without consulting their doctor as they can cause infections, cramping, diarrhoea, memory problems, etc.

In addition to all that, people undergoing chemotherapy, immunotherapy, radiotherapy, etc. should avoid using them as they can be potentially harmful to these people. Moreover, some people can also react badly to ingredients used in probiotic supplements or to naturally occurring amines in probiotic foods. Therefore, if you are suffering from any medical condition, you should consult your physician.

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From our editorial team

Probiotics are Beneficial for Your Health However Always Exercise Caution

Normally, probiotics are great for your health however you should always exercise caution when taking them, because, as mentioned in this article, they may cause some side effects in certain individuals. Also, it is always prudent to consult your physician before commencing on a probiotic diet. We hope this BP Guide would have helped you decide which homemade probiotic recipes you would like to try out for your family and loved ones. Stay connected with us for more such engaging content.