My mom always used to say that the digestive system is very delicate during the first few weeks after delivery. I realized it more once I gave birth to my baby. This is one recipe that is given to new moms in my family. It is believed that garlic enhances digestion and helps with lactation. This is the food that was given to me at every meal after delivery for almost 6 months. I had to eat 5-6 cloves at each meal. My mom would prepare this in the morning and I will have it for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Here is how to do poondu kari.
Peel about 3 pods, around 30 cloves of garlic…..Yup. its a lot of work! You can use store bought peeled garlic if you want. I still remember my husband carrying tubs of peeled garlic from Costco every week and handing over it preciously to my mom.
Pressure Cooker Method:
Take a pressure cooker and add in half a cup of water, turmeric, red chilli powder and salt. Add in two teaspoon of ghee and the garlic. Cover the cooker and cook for two whistles. Switch off the flame and wait for the pressure from the cooker to release naturally.
Serve the Garlic Curry with Rice or sneak it into dosa, sandwich etc…
Poondu Kari – Garlic Curry – Postpartum Food
Recipe for Poondu Kari. Helpful for digestion and moms who are lactating.
- Total Time: 15 mins
- Yield: 1 Cup 1x
Ingredients
- 30 Cloves Garlic
- 2 Teaspoon Ghee
- 1/2 Cup Water
- 1/4 Teaspoon Turmeric Powder
- 1/4 Teaspoon Chilli Powder
Instructions
- Take a pressure cooker and add in half a cup of water, turmeric, red chilli powder and salt. Add in two teaspoon of ghee and the garlic. Cover the cooker and cook for two whistles. Switch off the flame and wait for the pressure from the cooker to release naturally.
- Serve the Garlic Curry with Rice or sneak it into dosa, sandwich etc…
Notes
If your stomach is really sensitive or have just delivered a baby, use black pepper instead of chilli powder.
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Cook Time: 5 mins
- Category: Poondu Kari
- Cuisine: Tamilnadu
Hi Sugnua,
Thanks for posting an useful recipe, could you please share some recipe for post delivery/new moms
Hi kannamma.. how long will this stay for when kept in fridge ?
2 days.
Hi Suguna, in our household, during postpartum, chilli powder is generally replaced with black pepper as pepper is considered to go more softer for the stomach. Poondu (garlic) with milagu (pepper) and seeragam (cumin) lightly sauteed in ghee or gingelly oil with hot rice is a very comforting food – to bite a fever, a cold, sore throat and even a bad stomach and body pain.
Yes Ravi. Thats true.