Hindi name- Gond katira
English name-
Tragacanth gum
Botanical name
–Astragalus Gummifer
German name -Kutira Gummi
French name - Gomme Adragante
Arabic Name - Katheera, Haloosiyaa
Bengali Name - Katila
The gum comes from a thorny shrub . The gum exudes naturally from the roots of the plant and from incisions made in the stem . This is collected and when dried forms crystals of flakes.
Benefits of Tragacanth gum are :-
· Heat stroke- It acts as a cooling agent in body,thus preventing us from
heat stroke.
· Laxative – It has the qualities of laxative and so it
helps in constipation.
· Weakness in men – It helps to cure weakness in men.
· Breast size – in women it helps to increase breast size.
- In Pregnancy - Gond Katira ladoos are very beneficial in pregnancy.
II It helps in Urinary incontinence (Involuntary urination)
It is believed that it might have anti tumor properties & could stimulate immune system
Note
– It has both cooling and heat producing effects . In summer after soaking in
water it becomes fluffy and soft . Consuming it in this form in summer helps
to cool our body. In winter we use it after frying and grinding . It can be
added to many sweets. And then It generates heat in the body.
Method
of soaking :- Take only two piece of gond katira and soak it overnight in
1 glass of water. In the morning you will see that it becomes
fluffy and there is increase in the volume of gond katira. Wash it with clean
water 2-3 times to remove the impurities .Now it is ready to use .
How to make gond katira drink :-
Ingredients are :-
Fluffed gond katira –
½ tbs
Sugar – 1 tbs
Lemon juice – 1 tbs
Water – 1 glass
Crushed ice
Mix
all the ingredients and drink it everyday.
How
to make gond katira kheer :- (Gond katira generally used with chilled milk.)
Ingredients are :-
Fluffed gond
katira -1 tbs
Milk - 500 ml
Sugar as per taste
Almonds ,pista chopped
– 2 tbs
Green cardamom powder
just a pinch
Crushed ice
Method :- Boil the milk
till it is reduced to almost 2/3 or as per your concentration
choice .
Now add sugar and cardamom powder .
Let it cool for some time .
After cooling add the fluffed gond katira and chopped dry fruits .
At last but not least add the crushed ice and serve it.
Ingredients:
Wheat flour- 250 gm
Ground sugar- 250 gm
Ghee – 175 gm
Mildly crushed gond – 15 gm
Cardamom powder – 1/2 tsp
Grounded cashews – 1table spoon
Almonds – 1 tablespoon
Walnuts – 1 tablespoon
Method :-
Heat ghee in a kadahi/pan , deep fry gond on medium heat , stirring it up all the time to ensure that every single piece is fried. It fluffs up to almost double. Lift it out of the ghee as it fluffs up otherwise it will burn. Keep aside for 5 minutes . Now grind it. Fry the flour in remaining ghee until it is light brown and gives out aroma .When ghee separates from the flour then it is ready. Turn off heat and add all the grinded material in it. Mix well . Allow to cool until it can be touched by hand comfortably. Now make delicious and nutritious ladoos of any shape or size. Keep aside for 1 to 2 hours . Store in an airtight container.
In winter these ladoos are very beneficial for pregnant ladies.