How many calories does one serving of Sai Bhaji have?

One serving of Sai Bhaji gives 174 calories. Out of which carbohydrates comprise 75 calories, proteins account for 20 calories and remaining calories come from fat which is 79 calories. One serving of Sai Bhaji provides about 9 percent of the total daily calorie requirement of a standard adult diet of 2,000 calories.

See sai bhaji pressure cooker recipe | Sindhi sai bhaji| saibhaji | Indian style healthy sai bhaji | with 28 amazing images.

sai bhaji pressure cooker recipe | Sindhi sai bhaji| saibhaji | Indian style healthy sai bhaji is a traditional bhaji from the sindhi repertoire is a nutritious and balanced meal in itself when served with rice or rotis. Learn how to make Sindhi sai bhaji.

To make sai bhaji pressure cooker recipe, heat the oil in a pressure cooker and add the cumin seeds. When the seeds crackle, add the onions, ginger-garlic paste and green chilli paste and sauté on a medium flame for 1 to 2 minutes. Add the chilli powder, coriander-cumin seeds powder, turmeric powder, tomatoes, chana dal, potatoes and brinjal, mix well and cook on a medium flame for 1 to 2 minutes, while stirring occasionally. Add the spinach, khatta bhaji, fenugreek leaves, dill leaves, salt and ½ cup of water, mix well and pressure cook on a medium flame for 2 whistles. Allow the steam to escape before opening the lid. Keep aside to cool slightly. Blend it till the mixture is coarse using a hand blender. Serve immediately.

Is Sai Bhaji healthy?

Yes, this is healthy. But restrictions apply to some.

Let's understand the Ingredients.

What's good.

Chana Dal ( split bengal gram) : One cup of cooked Chana Dal provides 33% of your protein for the day. Chana dal is  heart and diabetic friendly, also rich in fiber. Chana dal has high amount of potassium and low amount of sodium which makes it very effective in regulating your blood pressure. Read this article on complete benefits of chana dal. 

Health Benefits of khatta bhaji: Being a green leafy vegetable, sorrel leaves or khatta bhaji is high in vitamin A, which is good to add glow to skin and also plays an important role in maintaining vision. Since it is low in calories, it can be eaten by people who want to lose weight. It helps in maintaining a healthy digestive system and lowering the blood glucose levels in people having type 2 diabetes mellitus due to presence of high amount of dietary fiber. The potassium it possess aids in maintaining fluid balance in the body and thus can benefit people with high blood pressure. There is also good amounts of antioxidants quercetin and myricetin present in it which along with Vitamin C, which helps to get rid of harmful free radicals, fight cancer and boost overall immunity.

Spinach (Palak) : Spinach is one of the richest plant sources of Iron and it should be part of a healthy diet for everyone.  Raw spinach has 25% having soluble fiber and 75% insoluble fibre. Spinach is good for the heart, diabetics and eyes. Read this on the 17 benefits of spinach and why you should eat it. 

Methi leaves (fenugreek leaves) : Methi leaves are low in calorie, powerful antioxidant and cures mouth ulcers. Fenugreek leaves help in improving glucose and insulin responses, hence good for diabetics. The levels of cholesterol also reduced with intakes of fenugreek leaves. Rich in Vitamin K which is good for bone metabolism. They are good source of iron which is important for pregnant women as well as other individuals. Iron is a part of hemoglobin in the blood. A deficiency of iron may cause anaemia and that may decrease your work ability and make you fatigue easily. See all benefits of methi leaves here. 

Dill Leaves ( Suva bhaji, Shepu) : Our body needs to build white blood cells (WBC) to strengthen our immune system. Dill leaves with its loads of vitamin C helps us achieve this goal. Dill leaves are rich in antioxidants Vitamin A and Vitamin C which  prevent or stop cell damage in your body and thus lowers the risk of chronic diseases like cancer, diabetes and heart disease. See detailed benefits of dill leaves. 

Benefits of Cumin Seeds ( jeera) : The most common benefit of jeera known to many is to soothe the stomach, intestine and the entire digestive tract. Cumin seeds are apparently a very good source of iron. A tbsp. of cumin seeds can fulfil nearly 20% of days iron requirement. Even small quantity of cumin seeds has huge amounts of calcium ( see calcium rich Indian foods ) – a bone supporting mineral. They aid is digestion, weight loss and help reduce inflammation. See detailed benefits of cumin seeds, jeera. 

Onions (pyaz, kanda) :  Raw onions are a very valuable source of vitamin C – the immune building vitamin. Along with other phytonutrients from onions, it helps to build WBC (white blood cells) which serves as a line of defence against illness. Yes, it’s a source of many antioxidants, the most important one amongst them being Quercetin. The quercetin in Onions promotes production of HDL (good cholesterol) and lowers total cholesterol in the body. The sulphur in onions act as a blood thinner and prevents blood clotting too. This in turn would lower blood pressure and good for heart,  diabetics. Read the benefits of onions. 

Ginger (Adrak) : Ginger is an effective cure for congestion, sore throat, cold and cough. It aids digestion and relieves constipation. Ginger was found as effective as drugs in relieving menstrual pain. Ginger is effective in decreasing the cholesterol levels in patients with high cholesterol. Ginger significantly reduces symptoms of nausea in pregnant ladies. See here for 16 Super Health Benefits of Adrak, Ginger.

Garlic : Garlic has been proven to lower cholesterol. The active ingredient allicin present in garlic aids in lowering blood pressure. Garlic is also alleged to help regulate blood glucose levels for diabetics. Garlic is great for the heart and circulatory system. Garlic has an antimicrobial, antiviral and antifungal function and can help in relieving common cold and other viral infections. To boost your immune system have a garlic clove a day. Garlic is a top anti viral food. The thiosulphate compound, Allicin found in garlic acts as a strong antioxidant and protects our body from damage of free radicals.  Read here for complete benefits of garlic. 

Green Chillies : Antioxidant vitamin C in green chillies protects the body from effects of harmful free radicals and prevents stress. It is probably the high fiber which helps in controlling blood sugar levels. This it is a welcome addition to a diabetic diet. Suffering from anaemia? Add green chillies to your list of iron rich foods too. For complete details see benefits of green chilli. 

Coriander (kothmir, dhania) : Coriander is a fresh herb often used as a flavour enhancer in Indian cooking. It is mainly used as a garnish. This is the best way to use it - no cooking. This preserves its vitamin C content which helps to build our immunity and bring that sparkle to the skin. The antioxidants vitamin A, vitamin C and the quercetin present in coriander works towards strengthening our immune system. Coriander is a fairly good source of iron and folate – the 2 nutrient which help in the production and maintenance of red blood cells in our blood. Good for reducing cholesterol and good for diabetics. Read 9 benefits of coriander to understand details. 

Turmeric Powder (Haldi) : Turmeric helps in digestion of food thus helping to overcome indigestion. Haldi may help in reducing the growth of fat cells in the body. Turmeric, being rich in iron, is highly valuable in the treatment of anaemia and both the root as well as the powder should be a regular part of an anaemic diet. One of the health benefits of turmeric is it’s anti-inflammatory property due to the active compound, Curcumin, which helps to relieve inflammation of the joints and thus is a ladder to relieve pain related to arthritis. The curcumin in haldi also helps to ward of the bacteria’s causing cold, cough and throat irritation.  Turmeric benefits in diabetes management by lowering blood glucose levels. Its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects are useful in the treatment of diabetes patients.  It is known to be a good brain food and keep diseases like Alzheimer’s at bay. See here for detailed turmeric benefits.

Tomatoes : Tomatoes are extremely rich source of Lycopene. Tomatoes are a powerful antioxidant, super rich in Vitamin C, good for heart. Tomatoes are a Pregnant women's friend and are rich in Folate or Folic Acid which helps your body to produce and maintain new cells, especially red blood cells. Read about 13 amazing benefits of tomatoes.  

Brinjal (baingan, eggplant) : Foods like Brinjal have a low glycemic index and good for weight loss. Brinjals are a very good source of fibre. It also prevents blood glucose from shooting up and is good for diabetics. Brinjals are rich in folate, which is required for producing Red Blood Cells (RBC’s) and also helps to prevent anaemia. See all the 7 amazing benefits of baingan.

Red Pumpkin ( kaddu, bhopla) :  A cup of pumpkin cubes fulfils your day’s requirement of Vitamin A (5526 mcg), thus making it a super food for your eyes. Kaddu  can be included in safe amounts or restricted amounts by diabetics. The magical combo of antioxidants and Vitamins A and Vitamin C  create a shield against cancer cells. The antioxidants help reducing LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol) from oxidizing and clogging the blood vessels, which if persists would increase the risk of heart disease. Read is pumpkin healthy? 

What's the problem?

Potatoes (Aloo) : Potatoes being high in simple carbohydrates will lead to weight gain and are not good for people with diabetes, heart problem and obesity. Potatoes are recommended for malnourished children and people with low weight. See full details on why potatoes are bad for you.  

Note : 1 cup = 200 ml (standard cup available in the market). The weight in grams varies for each ingredient.

Can diabetics, heart patients and overweight individuals have Sai Bhaji?

Yes, but cut the potatoes are they are high in carbs.

Being a green leafy vegetable, sorrel or khatta bhaji is high in vitamin A, which is good for skin and plays an important role in maintaining vision.
It also consists of iron, which increases hemoglobin, specially recommended for growing children and pregnant females.
Since it is low in calories, it can be eaten by people who want to lose weight.
It helps in lowering the blood glucose levels in people having type 2 diabetes mellitus due to presence of high amount of dietary fiber.
There is good amounts of antioxidants present in it along with Vitamin C, which helps fight cancer and boost immunity.

Can healthy individuals have Sai Bhaji?

Yes.

One serving of Sai Bhaji is high in

1. Fiber : Dietary fiber reduce the risk of heart disease, prevent the spike in blood sugar levels and hence super for diabetics. Consume more fruits, vegetables, moong, oats, matki, whole grains.

2. Vitamin A : Vitamin A is crucial for healthy vision, cell growth and healthy skin. 

3. Vitamin B1 : Vitamin B1 protects nerves, helps in carbohydrate metabolism, prevents heart diseases and helps produce red blood cells.

4. Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) : Vitamin B2 enables the production of red blood cells that contribute to the rise in your energy levels. So have more milk, curds, eggs and green leafy vegetables.

Vitamin C :  Vitamin C is a great defence against coughs and colds.

5. Folic Acid : Folic acid is an essential vitamin required throughout pregnancy.

6. Calcium : Calcium  is a mineral that makes bones stay strong. Required from kids to adults

7. Iron : Iron is essential in the chemical reactions that produce energy from foods. Eat more greens and garden cress seeds to prevent you from being anaemic. Here are the top 7 sources of iron rich foods.

8. Magnesium : Magnesium is required for formation of bones and teeth. It helps in the metabolism of calcium and potassium.

9. Phosphorus : Phosphorous works closely with calcium to build bones.

Note : a recipe is deemed high in a Vitamin or mineral if it meets 20% and above the recommended daily allowance based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

How to burn 174 calories that come from one serving of Sai Bhaji?

Walking (6 kmph) = 5 mins
Running (11 kmph) = 17 mins
Cycling (30 kmph) = 23 mins
Swimming (2 kmph) = 30 mins

Note: These values are approximate and calorie burning differs in each individual.