Vamu Kharam: A Traditional Andhra Cure for Indigestion

Continuing with my series of “food as medicine” posts, today I present to you a traditional Andhra powder called Vamu Kharam.

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Made by sun-drying hand pounded ajwain (vamu, carom seeds) and green chillies, Vamu Kharam is a very effective for indigestion. In fact, I always have a spoonful of this powder fried in ghee with some rice virtually every weekend to keep the stomach in good shape.

Carom Seeds or Ajwain are used widely in India because of their medicinal properties. Apart from relieving indigestion, Carom Seeds (or Vamu as it is called in Telugu) can help lower blood pressure and combat acidity.

Indeed, the Indian Kitchen is a veritable pharmacy that can alleviate common (and even some chronic problems) by using food as medicine.

There is not much to this recipe but here it is.

Do read the recipes for some more home remedies in the “food as medicine” series including Lemon Barley Water, Chaddannam: Vitamin B-12 Rich Curd Rice, Sprouted Methichi Usal, Sprouted Methi Dana Achar, Methi Dana Dal, and Telaga Pindi Kura | Sesame Flour Stir-Fry.

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How to Make Vamu Kharam | Sun-dried Carom Seeds and Green Chillies Powder from Andhra Pradesh

Serves: 10

Drying time: 6 hours

Cooking Time: 10 mins

1. Ingredients
2. Ajwain, Vamu, Carom Seeds – 1/2 Cup
3. Green Chillies – 18 to 20
4. Salt – 1/2 tsp

Method

1. Making the Vamu Kharam
   1. Ensure that the chillies are dry. If they are not, wipe them dry with a cloth.
   2. Cut them in halves.
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   3. Grind along with the salt to a coarse paste.
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   4. Add the carom seeds to the ground chillies and pulse 2 or 3 times for 5 seconds each. The idea is just to crush the carom seeds a bit but not grind them to a powder. Avoid grinding the carom seeds.
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   5. Spread on a plate and dry under the sun for 6 to 8 hours or till you have a dry powder.
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   6. Store in an air-tight bottle.
2. Using the Vamu Kharam
   1. In a ladle heat 1 tsp ghee.
   2. Add 1 tsp of Vamu Kharam and fry till crisp.
   3. Add the fried powder to about 1/4 cup hot steamed rice and mix well.
   4. Eat immediately. 

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Recipe for Vamu Kharam

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Vamu Kharam: A Traditional Cure for Indigestion from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana

Aruna

Vamu Kharam is a traditional home remedy for indigestion from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. It is essentially a mix of crushed green chillies, salt, and carom seeds (ajwain) fried in ghee. It is eaten with rice.

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Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 1 minute min

Sun Drying 6 hours hrs

Course Accompaniment

Cuisine Andhra, Food As Medicine, Home Remedy, Indian, Telangana, Vegan, Vegetarian

Servings 10 People

Calories 69 kcal

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 1/2 Cup Ajwain Vamu, Carom Seeds
• 12 Green Chillies
• 1/2 tsp Salt

Instructions

 

Making the Vamu Kharam

• Ensure that the chillies are dry.
• Cut them in halves and grind along with the salt to a coarse paste.
• Add the carom seeds to the ground chillies and pulse for 2-3 times for 2-3 seconds each. The idea is just to crush the carom seeds a bit.
• Spread on a plate and dry under the sun for 6 to 8 hours or till you have a dry powder.
• Store in an air-tight bottle.

Using Vamu Kharam

• In a ladle heat 1 tsp ghee.
• Add 1 tsp of Vamu Kharam and fry till crisp.
• Add the fried powder to about 1/4 cup hot steamed rice and mix well.
• Eat immediately.

Nutrition

Calories: 69 kcalCarbohydrates: 9 gProtein: 2 gFat: 3 gSodium: 297 mgPotassium: 1 mgFiber: 6 gSugar: 2 gVitamin C: 6 mgCalcium: 1 mgIron: 1 mg

Keyword Cure for Indigestion, Vamu Kharam

Tried this recipe?Do let me know how you liked it @aahaaram or tag #aahaaram!