Unbelievable! The Secret To Weight Loss Might Just Be in Your Rajma Bowl

Rajma or kidney bean is among the most common types of legumes found in Indian kitchens. In some regions, especially in North India, rajma is synonymous with a dish, often eaten with rice, and together known as rajma chawal. But the beans can also be used to prepare a variety of other culinary treats. If you're on a weight loss diet, rajma can actually work wonders for you, provided you cook it in the right way. We have put together a short list of benefits and healthy recipes for rajma that you need to check out:
Also Read: 5 Delicious And Healthy Ways To Add Makhana To Your Weight Loss Diet

Here Are The Top 3 Benefits Of Rajma For Weight Loss:

1. High in protein:

Rajma is an excellent source of plant-based protein. Those wanting to lose weight require a consistent intake of protein to keep their system in balance. Kidney beans can also curb your appetite and keep unwanted cravings at bay.

2. Rich in fibre:

According to USDA data, every 100-gram serving of rajma provides around 15.2 grams of dietary fibre. High-fibre foods can help promote satiety and also improve gut health. Thus, rajma can give your weight loss journey a power-packed boost.

3. Can regulate blood sugar:

Kidney beans have a low glycemic index. This, along with its fibre and protein content, may prevent blood sugar spikes. While this can help diabetics, it can also be good for those on a weight-loss diet. Weight management and blood glucose levels are closely linked, and both are influenced by your cravings and dietary habits.

Apart from these benefits, rajma is rich in minerals and antioxidants. It is also said to be good for your heart. Do you need any more reasons to add it to your diet? Now let's delve into how you should consume it:

Is Rajma Chawal Good For Weight Loss?

_{Rajma (a preparation of red kidney beans) is often savoured with rice (chawal). Photo Credit: iStock}

Rajma chawal can be considered a traditional delicacy as well as a popular comfort food combination. If you're dieting, make sure you don't add too much oil/ ghee/ butter/ cream while preparing the dish. Apart from the beans, the remaining ingredients are weight-loss-friendly and brimming with nutrients. But the rice (chawal) may pose a problem for dieters. Since white rice is not high in complex carbs, it is advisable to control your consumption of it. But as part of a balanced diet, you can indulge in rajma chawal occasionally.
Also Read: 5 Essential Bedtime Rituals You Must Follow To Boost Your Weight Loss Journey

How To Have Rajma On A Weight Loss Diet: 4 Easy And Healthy Kidney Bean Recipes

1. Add it to your salads

Rajma can be a wonderful addition to your salad - not just in terms of nutrients but also in texture. Kidney beans can give your salad a unique twist and bring some variety to your regular meals. You can pair it with a range of ingredients and dressings. For your reference, here's an easy recipe for a rajma salad

2. Prepare rajma-based snacks

You can use rajma to make a variety of delicious snacks - similar to those made with moong dal and channa (chickpeas). Remember to pan-fry, bake or air-fry the snacks, to ensure that you don't use too much oil and increase your calorie intake unnecessarily. If you want a nutritionist-approved recipe to begin with, watch the recipe video for rajma cutlets here.

3. Make rajma stuffing for certain food items

You can prepare fillings for rolls as well as parathas using rajma. Since the beans don't have a strong taste of their own, you can experiment with seasonings and combinations. We recommend using fresh veggies, Indian masalas and other low-calorie ingredients. To give you an idea, here's a recipe for a wholesome rajma paratha you will love.

Use it while making soup

You might have heard about the benefits of having dal soups. Now prepare yourself to taste the goodness of rajma soup! After all, dal and rajma come under the broader category of legumes - and both are good for weight loss. You can actually make a nourishing rajma soup inspired by Mexican flavours at home. Sounds intriguing? It also contains chickpeas and several types of vegetables. Read the full recipe here.

Also Read: 6 Smart Tips To Elevate Your Rajma Game: From Ordinary To Extraordinary

Disclaimer: This content including advice provides generic information only. It is in no way a substitute for qualified medical opinion. Always consult a specialist or your own doctor for more information. NDTV does not claim responsibility for this information.

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Viral Video: German Woman Makes Desi Tiffin For Indian Husband, Wins Hearts Online

It's often said that you can take a person out of India, but you can't take India out of a person. This sentiment rings true, especially, when it comes to food preferences. The rich flavours of tadka and the enticing aroma of spices hold a special place in the hearts of desi food enthusiasts. Even when we go abroad, we find ourselves longing for our Indian comfort foods. Recently, a video showing a German woman preparing a tiffin meal for her Indian husband has gone viral. According to her, he insists on having "only Indian dishes for his lunch." And she doesn't seem to mind cooking them for him. 
Also Read: Viral Video Shows Making Of 'Chocolate Coke,' Here's Why The Internet Is Relieved

In the Instagram reel, the woman makes a preparation of kala chana (brown chickpeas) along with rotis (flatbreads). She starts by placing chickpeas and water into a pressure cooker and adds a pinch of salt before sealing the lid. Next, she blends onions, ginger, and garlic together and keeps some chopped green chillies ready. In a separate pan, she heats some oil and adds cumin seeds, ginger-garlic paste, the blended onion mixture, turmeric, and various spices. She also mixes in tomato puree, chopped green chillies, and a spoonful of salt. She the transfers this mixture into the pressure cooker with the boiled chickpeas. Using a ladle, she combines the ingredients to create a yummy-looking curry. After that, she makes rotis. In the end, she packs the chickpea curry in a traditional Indian steel tiffin box and wraps the rotis in silver foil. 

The caption of the video reads, “My husband is from Amritsar, India. And thanks to him, I learned to cook Indian food. Some would see it as a burden to have to cook food from a foreign culture. For me it has become my passion!”, along with a heart emoji. Take a look at the video below:

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Also Read: UK Food Vlogger Makes Sattu Paratha From Scratch, Video Gets More Than 19M Views
The video has received more than 560K views so far. The woman's efforts have won many hearts online. Many people not only took note of the food, but also the steel box she packed it in. Read some of the reactions below:

An Instagram user wrote, “That tiffin box is more Indian than the food itself.”
Another complimented her skills, "Your rotis are better than mine."
A third stated, "I applaud your resolve to learn to cook our food. You're a total pro."
A user wrote, “Your husband is lucky to have you as wife.”
Another added, “I think it's amazing to learn to cook Indian. It's an act of love. I enjoy following your posts."
A person said, “You are awesome..you both are fortunate to have found each other."
Someone showered blessings by writing, “You are so sweet. You make Indian food with so much warmth.. may god give you all the happiness of the world.”

What did you think of the video? Tell us in the comments.
Also Read: Watch: These Contestants Wrestled Each Other In A Pool Filled With Gravy, Here's Why

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Give Your Meals A Kick Of Spice With Homemade Chilli Oil - Recipe Inside

What is your weekend guilty pleasure? Pizza, pasta or noodles? Whatever dish you pick today to whet your cravings, there is one thing that can elevate it to new heights - chilli oil! If you are like me, you would pour a dash of chilli oil on everything, even omelettes. It can transform a bland meal into a fiery, flavour-packed delight by adding extra heat to it, and our palates love it. You'll find it interesting to know that you can easily make your own chilli oil at home that can taste just as good as the store-bought ones.
Also Read: From Tomato Dip To Chana Dal Dip, 5 Tasty Dips Ideas To Spruce Up Your Breakfast Meals  

Why Homemade Chilli Oil? 

Sure, you can buy chilli oil at the store, but trust me, there's something special about crafting your own. Homemade chilli oil lets you control the heat level, flavour profile, and quality of ingredients. Plus, it's a fun and satisfying DIY project for any food enthusiast. 

I found a simple recipe for homemade chilli oil on the Instagram handle 'parthbajaj' and wanted to share it with all fellow chilli oil lovers.
Also Read: Pair Your Favourite Comfort Food With This Super Healthy Three-Pepper Dip 

How To Make Chilli Oil At Home I Homemade Chilli Oil Recipe: 

Crush garlic and ginger and combine with salt and lots of chilli flakes (of course). Get hold of whole spices like bay leaves, cardamom, cinnamon, star anise, peppercorns and cloves. Cook the spices in oil then strain the hot oil and pour over the chilli flakes mixture. That's it, your homemade chilli oil is ready! 

Watch the complete recipe video here: 

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A post shared by Parth Bajaj (@parthbajaj)

Pro-tip by the self-taught chef Parth Bajaj: "Make sure to cook the spices in oil at a very low temp for 5-6 mins and then pour the oil over the chilli!" 

How to Enjoy Your Homemade Chilli Oil: 

Now that you have this culinary gem in your pantry, here are some delicious ways to use it: 

Drizzle on Noodles: Toss your favourite noodles in chilli oil for a spicy kick. It's a game-changer. 

Stir-Fry: Add a spoonful or two to your stir-fry for a burst of flavour and heat. You won't need much else in terms of seasoning. 

Dipping Sauce: Mix it with soy sauce and a splash of vinegar for an unforgettable dipping sauce for dumplings or spring rolls. 

Pizza Topping: Believe it or not, a drizzle of chilli oil on your pizza can be a game-changer. Try it on your next slice! You can even spice up your pasta with it.  

Marinades: Use it as a base for marinades for meats or vegetables. Let them soak up the heat before grilling or roasting. 

Eggs: Jazz up your scrambled eggs or omelettes with a touch of chilli oil for breakfast with a spicy twist. 

Popcorn: Popcorn lovers, rejoice! A drizzle of chilli oil over your freshly popped kernels takes movie night to a whole new level. 

Remember, homemade chilli oil is highly customisable. You can experiment with different types of spices or even infuse it with herbs like rosemary or oregano. It's all about making it your own and finding that perfect balance of heat and flavour. 

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Here's When American Workers Say They Last Received a Raise

A new study released Thursday by OnePoll reveals some interesting facts about America’s workforce.

Released just in time for Labor Day, the report surveyed 1,859 U.S. employees from August 16–18, 2023. Out of the participants, 46 percent reported feeling “somewhat recognized” in their position, while 8 percent said they didn’t feel recognized at all. 73 percent feel that a gender pay gap is real, with 58 percent of men and 56 percent of women feeling their gender influenced their salary. Most astonishingly, the study showed that the average American has not received a raise for the last three years.

The study also shone a light on generational differences between employees. Gen Z is more worried about mounting worker strikes nationwide (69 percent) than a lack of job security (47 percent). 53 percent of millennials were more concerned about salary cuts than wage gaps (49 percent) or strikes (45 percent). Meanwhile, Gen Xers and boomers shared a similar anxiety about job security (45 percent and 49 percent, respectively) and wage gaps (44 percent and 46 percent).

When it came to making a positive change in the workplace, 51 percent believed speaking directly to management was the best way to pressure companies into improving working conditions and salaries. 49 percent found labor and union strikes to be effective, while 40 percent and 36 percent found change was best executed through HR complaints and social media, respectively.

As strikes continue to occupy the news, 41 percent of those surveyed reported previously participating in a labor strike. 47 percent had never participated. Of the people who did strike, 68 percent did so for better schedules; 58 percent struck for higher pay; 56 percent wanted better health insurance; and 48 percent sought better benefits. 43 percent of the poll participants said belonged to a union, while an equal number did not. 93 percent of union members reported that joining was one of the best things they’d ever done.

Numbers from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, however, are radically different from the percentages in this study. In January, the BLS confirmed that in 2022 only 11.3 percent of workers were represented by a union. This actually represented a small dip in representation from 2021. And although many poll respondents said they haven't gotten a raise lately, the still-hot labor market and rising worker wages do indicate that many Americans are benefitting from current economic conditions.

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Watchdog Claims Airline Sold Tickets for Already Canceled Flights

An Australian watchdog group claims that Qantas, the country’s national airline, sold thousands of tickets for flights it had already canceled or had no intention of flying.

In a statement issued Thursday, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission accused Qantas of engaging in deceptive actions by advertising tickets for over 8,000 flights the airline knew it would not run. The flights were offered between May and July 2022. It’s unclear at this time how Qantas benefited from these transactions.

In filings with Australia’s federal court, the ACCC reports that tickets remained on sale for as little as two weeks, and at most 47 days, after the itineraries were canceled. The cancellations were not due to weather or extenuating circumstances, but issues well within Qantas’ control. The changes resulted from “consumer demand, route withdrawals or retention of takeoff and landing slots at certain airports,” ACCC chair Gina Cass-Gottlieb said in the statement.

In their own statement, Qantas said they were taking the allegations “seriously” but would wait for their day in court to respond in detail. They did stipulate that the two months in 2022 “was a time of unprecedented upheaval for the entire airline industry.” Yet in August, Qantas reported record profits of $1.6 billion ($2.5 billion AUS) for the previous fiscal year. The company also received $1.7 billion ($2.7 billion AUS) during the pandemic from Australian taxpayers, an amount the company reported it will not be paying back.

During an interview with Australia’s public radio network on Friday, Cass-Gottlieb was seeking “a record penalty” of 250 million Australian dollars ($161 million) as a way of warning other companies against similar tactics. “This is going to be an important test for us. We consider [previous] penalties have been too low,” she said. “We are going to seek a penalty that will underline that this is not just to be a cost of doing business—it is to deter conduct of this nature.”

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The Pentagon Wants to Hear About Your UFO Sightings

The U.S. Department of Defense has launched a website intended to be a "one-stop shop" for declassified information pertaining to unidentified aerial phenomena, more commonly known as UFOs.

The website is the work of the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO), which was established by the National Defense Authorization Act last year to investigate unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP), or "airborne objects that are not immediately identifiable." As of the launch on Thursday, the website only featured a handful of videos, with some determined to have been commercial aircraft, and others yet to be resolved.

Eventually, the website will feature a tool allowing current and former U.S. government employees, service members and contractors to "provide reports via a private and secure means." Pentagon press secretary, Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder said in a news briefing on Thursday that the update is expected to arrive in the fall, as well as a similar tool for civilians to file reports.

"The posting of the website is the next step in this process, in terms of ensuring that the public has information and insight into UAPs," Ryder said during the briefing. "And so what you see today is what has been declassified to date. The department is committed to transparency with the American people on AARO’s work on UAPs."

He added that the office reviews the facts and, "when possible," will declassify information to make it publicly available.

The launch of the website coincides with a push for transparency when it comes to UFOs.

Back in July, the house oversight committee held its first-ever public hearing on UAPs, hearing unclassified testimony from three retired military veterans who had reported their own sightings. One of the witnesses, former Air Force intelligence officer David Grusch, claimed to have knowledge of the existence of a secretive UFO retrieval program, and said that the U.S. government was in possession of "non-human" biological materials.

Grusch also claimed that the government has covered up its research into so-called UFO sightings, and had done so above Congressional oversight. Government officials have denied his claims.

In an unclassified report released back in January, the National Intelligence Director’s Office said that the Defense Department had received 366 new reports of UAPs since March 2021. Although nearly half were "characterized as balloon or balloon-like entities" in preliminary analysis, the report stated that "initial characterization does not mean positively resolved or unidentified."

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Study Finds Surprising Number of Canine Vaccine Skeptics

The anti-vaccination movement has gained steam in the last decade, but that fear around inoculation isn't just among humans. A new study published in the Vaccine journal found that a majority of dog owners are skeptical of immunizing their furry friends. 

The study surveyed 2,200 people and their opinions on routine vaccinations given to pet dogs, specifically the rabies shot. 37 percent of respondents believe canine vaccination is unsafe, 22 percent feel it's ineffective, and 30 percent find it unnecessary. As a whole, 53 percent of dog parents hold at least one of these beliefs. 

“We were pretty surprised because we knew that this phenomenon would exist, anecdotally we had good reason to believe that it was, but we were pretty stunned,” study co-author Matt Motta told USA Today. “The sheer volume of people who hold these opinions was quite striking…That, to me, is pretty alarming.”

As for why people might hold these beliefs when it comes to their dogs, the study found that common vaccine myths for humans are being applied to man's best friend. Nearly 40 percent of respondents in the study were concerned that vaccines could cause their fur baby to develop autism.

"I believe the COVID-19 vaccine has fundamentally changed the way that Americans view vaccination in general,” Motta admitted. "I think alarmingly that could be spilling over to shape how people feel about attitude toward vaccinating their pets and frankly, who knows what else? You know, it could go even further."

Related: Certain Vaccines Associated With Lower Alzheimer's Risk, Study Finds

As with long-eradicated diseases like measles and polio, the reason dog owners don't usually hear about rabies cases is because of widespread vaccination across canine populations—and, of course, laws mandating that dog owners give their pet the shot. 

"The solution, I think, is that we need to restore Americans’ trust in vaccines and the people who produce them and then the people who administer them," Motta said. "We need to increase Americans' trust in science and vaccine science. That's a relatively simple thing to say, right? But how is it that we actually do it?"

“We're a nation of vaccine skeptics to some degree," he acknowledged, "but we're all vaccine-skeptical for different reasons. We need a patchwork of communication, efforts to understand the many reasons why people are vaccine-hesitant and then appeal to each one in a targeted way."

“If we can make more trust in human vaccines, I think we can restore trust in canine vaccines too."

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