"Great,
indeed, is
the power
to endure
hunger.
Greater still
is the
power to
relieve
other's
hunger"

Tamil poet
Tiruvalluvar
- 200 A.D.
Indian vegetarian cooking:
We make flat wheat breads, rice dishes, spicy curries and lentil sauces in our classes.
We will learn to cook south Indian and north Indian dishes.

Indian breads like Chapathi, stuffed parathas and naan are very popular items.

Spicy rice dishes like vegetable biriyani, tomato biriyani and vegetable fried rice are
some of the well liked dishes.

South Indian specialties like idli, dosai, sambar and vadai are favorites of our
participants.

Island vegetables like moringai, winged bean, taro and bittermelon are used in the class.
Kolam Charitable
Foundation, Inc.
6213-A Kahiliholo Road
Kilauea, HI. 96754

    Banquet on April 5th at the Church of the Pacific

We are hosting a banquet on April 5th in Princeville. There will be live music (blues and jazz),
Indian dinner, slide shows of our India trip and dancing. Please call Vi at 828-0540 for details.

The next cooking class is on April 12th.

The classes might use milk or yogurt  in a dish or two.  You can arrange for special vegan
classes or, let Vi know that you are a vegan.

We can arrange for a special class if a group of 8 or more requests one. The suggested
donation is 30 dollars per person.
Tropical vegetables available in Kauai: (most are available at the Monday afternoon Sunshine Market in Lihue)

MORINGA - Botanical name is Moringa Oleifera. The origin of the tree is India and the word is the Tamil murungai,
meaning twisted pod. The pod is twisted while young. The moringa leaves have 7 times the Vitamin C than in oranges, 4
times Vitamin A than in carrots, 3 times more Potassium than in bananas, 4 times more Calcium than in milk.
The pods are also rich in Vitamin C, Vitamin B and other essential nutrients.
In India, Philippines and parts of Africa, the leaves, seeds, roots, flowers and resin are used for many medicinal
purposes in the treatment diabetes, blood pressure problems, bronchitis, tumors, inflammations, ulcers and many more.
'Moringa - Nature's Medicine Chest' by Sanford Holst is an excellent reference book on the health benefits of the
moringa.

WINGED BEAN - Botanical name is Psophocarpus Tetragonolobus. This plant is native to New Guinea. This is also
known as the Goa bean and Princess bean. It grows on a climbing plant, and the bean is about 6 to 8 inches long.  The
bean has 4 winged edges along the entire length.
The fresh pods can be used in salads and they have chewy texture with a slightly sweet taste. When cooked, the leaves
taste like spinach and the flowers like mushrooms. The firm-fleshed roots have a nutty flavor.
The bean is very high in protein. The tuber itself is high in protein - 20%, while potatoes and yams have only a 7%
protein content.

BITTERMELON - Botanical name is Momordica Charantia. This vegetable is bitter as the name suggests. This plant is
native to India. In Indian medicine, it has great value in increasing the production of insulin. Bittermelon does not react
with any type of insulin. Many diabetics are able to reduce or eliminate their insulin doses if they eat bittermelon.
Bittermelon can help keep your HDL and LDL levels in control, as well as stabilize your Triglyceride levels.
Both Chinese and Indians have used bittermelon as an anti-infection and anti-tumor herb for centuries.

CURRY LEAVES - Botanical name is Murraya Koenigii. The name Curry leaf is from the Tamil word curry due to its
curry like smell. The leaves are used in Indian cooking for all their spicy curried dishes. The leaves are also used as a
tonic and digestive aid. They are used to cure dysentery. The extract of the leaves stops vomitting. Research has
shown that the leaves are both anti-bacterial and anti-fungal.
Curry leaves are rich in Vitamins A and B, and rich sources of proteins and amino acids. Researchers at King’s College,
London, claimed that the curry-leaf, which is traditionally used in both Ayurveda and Indian cuisine could aid people with
diabetes. The researchers found extracts from the curry-leaf appeared to restrict the action of a digestive enzyme
called pancreatic alpha-amylase which is involved in the breakdown of dietary starch to glucose. Because diabetics do
not produce enough insulin to cope with rapid rises in blood glucose levels, slowing the rate of starch breakdown, by
blocking alpha-amylase, can lead to a more even trickle of glucose into the bloodstream from the intestine, they
reported. The researchers are now looking at which compound in the curry-leaf tree has this effect. They say that, once
it has been identified, it should be possible to evaluate if it could be better than existing anti-diabetic drugs. Professor
Peter Houghton, head of the research team, said: “The curry-leaf is used to control diabetes in traditional Indian
medicine; it is an common ingredient in curries and it is quite possible that people who take this regularly as part of their
diet could control diabetes. The research is being supported by a leading US drug company, Merck Research
Laboratories.

TARO - Botanical name is Colocasia Esculenta. The origin of Taro is southern India. It went from India to Egypt, Greece
and Rome. The Greek word for taro is Colocasia, which is now it's generic name. The Polynesians brought the taro to
Hawaii. The Maoris took taro to New Zealand. Taro also became popular in Africa.
Taro has a higher protein, calcium and phosphoros content than potato. Also, it is rich in Vitamins A and C. It is 98.8%
digestible because it has very small starch grains rich in amylose.

BREADFRUIT - Botanical name is Artocarpus Altilis. The origin is tropical India. It was spread by the early Polynesians
throughout the Pacific islands and Hawaii. Breadfruit is much richer in lysine than wheat flour. In Trinidad, the extract of
breadfruit leaves are used lower blood pressure and relieve Asthma. Diluted latex is used to cure diarrhea

To register for the classes, please email Vi Herbert at
vi@kolam.info or call her on 828-0540.
Do you want to volunteer in Tamil Nadu? We have an affordable program in a rural
setting and yet close to an airport.

Teach children conversational English and any other skills that you may have.

Click on the volunteer tab for information.