8 health benefits of moringa leaf powder and a recipe of baby potatoes stir fried with moringa powder

We have been using moringa or drumstick leaves forever, having a huge tree of drumsticks in the front garden helps. We can pluck some moringa leaves or flowers anytime and add them to our egg scrambles, chutneys or curries. 

I have been working on some recipes with moringa leaves and I realised it is a good idea to stock some moringa leaf powder for convenient and versatile usage. So a few months ago I asked my Mali (garden helper) to pluck a large bundle of leaves to sun dry and I was pleasantly surprised how easy it was to make the moringa powder at home.

I will share the method of drying and powdering the moringa leaves on request if you want.

The health benefits of moringa leaf powder are numerous, making it a cheap and easily available super food. I suggest everyone should have a moringa tree growing in the backyard or even roadsides, the tree grows well even in large pots on terraces and balconies too.

Here are the 8 reasons you should grow moringa tree and use moringa leaves, either fresh or powdered.

1. Moringa leaves are rich in proteins, Calcium and Iron and can be included in everyday meals as a great tonic food. 
2. Moringa leaves help manage a healthy lipid and cholesterol profile, great for cardiovascular health.
3. Moringa leaves are known to boost immunity from viral infections. The leaves were fed to everyone in older days during changing seasons when chicken pox used to be prevalent, many tribal communities have used the leaves as an immunity booster.
4. The Vitamins A and C are found in generous amounts especially in the moringa leaf powder, make it a potent antioxidant. It is great for skin and hair when consumed along with some healthy fats like ghee and butter.
5. Moringa leaves are anti-inflammatory too, traditionally used to treat joint pains and even to heal fractures. Great for joint health. 
6. Chlorogenic acid found in moringa leaves is considered great for prevention and management of diabetes when cmbined with mindful lifestyle. 
7. Taken in small doses, moringa powder helps improve digestive health. With its antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral properties it helps cure candida and other minor digestive tract infections. Great for IBS too but be careful as large doses of moringa can induce diarrhea in some people.
8. Moringa leaf powder is a good brain food too, being rich in antioxidants, minerals and Tryptophan. 

Apart from these, easy availability of naturally grown chemical free moringa is the strongest reason to use this super food more and more in everyday meals.

Recipe of baby potatoes stir fried with moringa leaf powder

ingredients 
(2 servings)
200 gm baby potatoes, boiled, cooled and peeled
1/2 tsp garlic paste
1/4 tsp green chili paste
1/4 tsp turmeric powder
1/4 tsp of crushed pepper 
1/2 tsp cumin powder
1/2 tsp amchoor powder
2 tsp moringa powder
salt to taste
1 tbsp mustard oil
10-15 grains of fenugreek seeds

procedure

Heat the oil and tip in the fenugreek seeds. Let them get brown and aromatic and then add the boiled baby potatoes.

Toss and cook the baby potatoes for a couple of minutes, add the garlic and green chili paste, salt and turmeric powder and cook while stirring frequently, for 5-6 minutes.

Add the remaining powders and cook for a couple of minutes. The stir fry is ready within 10 minutes if you have everything ready.

It can be served as a salad with boiled eggs or some grilled paneer. I served it with some okra stir fry and boiled eggs and when I posted a picture on Instagram I got many requests for this recipe.

I hope you try this recipe too. The baby potatoes made this way can be served in various ways, even as a snack with evening tea or drinks. Add some roasted peanuts to it and see how well the snack is received.

Moringa leaf powder can be used in many ways. I will write more about that in my next blogpost. Stay tuned.