Are Fermented South Indian Foods Good For Your Gut?

Starting the day off with a fresh hot plate of crispy Dosas or sponge-soft idlis is the most South Indian version of a morning! But did you know that apart from its “just one more” taste, this breakfast dating back almost to 5th Century AD also packs numerous health benefits in itself? 

• Probiotic rich foods such as dosa and idli offer ways to maintain good gut health, promoting healthy digestion. In addition to this, the dal that goes into making the batter also provides essential proteins that go a long way in building bone strength
• Fermentation enhances the bioavailability of nutrients. Meaning, the batter makes it easier for your body to pick and choose just the right nutrients it needs to function effectively. 
• Customising your dosas according to your taste by adding vegetables and other spices, can help you make a balanced meal that not only tastes good but also checks all the boxes in your wellness checklist! 
• Accompaniments such as Sambar and Chutneys can give your Dosa or Idli a delectable taste and also an opportunity for you to include more nutrition into your plate. Check out Ammatha’s Sambar Podi to make the perfect bowl of gravy for your breakfast or dinner! 
• The essential nutrients and low proportion of calories in both Dosas & Idlis make it an ideal choice for a weight loss diet! You can add Podis of your choice with a quick serving of oil to blend and you will find yourself gobbling up one Dosa or Idli after another in no time at all! 
• Making these batters out of Ragi or Green Gram could power up your breakfast or dinner with digestive fiber and protein! Not to mention they give it a unique taste that has you coming back for more. 

Apart from just Dosas and Idlis, Indian cuisine has many more delectable dishes whipped out of fermented batter. Some of these include Appam, Puttu and Dhokla. All of these are safe to eat breakfast options filled with immense health benefits. But they taste their best when paired with their other half - Podis!