Mixed Sprouted Beans – Nori Nem Vrat Vadhu

There are few ways to sprout legumes – beans & lentils. Jar sprouting is one of them, beans sprouts baskets are available as well. But I have been following my old school method to sprout beans. Earlier I shared how to sprout green mung beans. Video can be found below:

In this post, I am going to share mixed sprouted beans used during one of the ritual where I grew up in Surat district Gujarat known as Norinem vrat. More details of this ritual can be found below with story.

The sprouting process releases dormant enzymes that make the beans more easily digestible and in some cases, even more nutritious. The sprouts that are easiest to grow are also commonly eaten raw: mung beans, alfalfa, lentils, chickpeas, and adzuki beans.  Other beans such as fava, kidney, black, navy, and pinto beans—typically the larger beans—can also be sprouted with this method but are generally considered difficult to digest and potentially toxic in their raw form. They cook much faster than their unsprouted counterparts and are still more digestible. You can also sprout nuts, grains, and other seeds, but we won’t get into all that here.

To sprout and cook beans, soak the beans in water overnight. Drain thoroughly, then spread out in a colander or a berry basket and set on the counter to dry. Cover with a towel if needed. Rinse the beans 3-4 times a day for two to three days and drain thoroughly each time.

The key to sprout beans well is keeping them in dark, warm and moist place. So these days, I love to sprout beans using my Electric Cooker Instant pot Yogurt function for 10 hours, ring removed and with vent open. Traditional way to sprout beans can be found below.

This time, I decided to sprout beans in my electric pressure cooker using yogurt function.

Add 1 cup water in the instant pot insert. Place the steamer basket with mung beans in the instant pot. Remove the sealing ring and close the lid. Turn the steam releasing valve in venting position. Press the ‘Yogurt’ button on instant pot. The default time is 8 hours. Press the ‘+’ button and adjust it to 10 hours.

Now, to cook sprouted beans, I wash them well before cooking. And cooking sprouted beans is quick and easy. Into the electric pressure cooker, I add beans sprouts with water till beans are submerged into the water. Or add 2 cups of water for 2 cups sprouted beans. Now, if cooking in the regular pot, it may require more water. Season however you like. I add chopped green chili, Garlic and salt.

Now, let me share about The Noli Nom Vrat is also known as Nori-Naum / Nori-Nem Vrat.

This vrat is observed in the month of Sravana on the ninth day (Navmi) of the bright fortnight (Shukla Paksha) in Gujarati Sawan month. 
Noli Nom Vrat is observed by childless couples during the Shravan month in Gujarat. 
On the Noli Nom day, the husband and wife fast from morning to evening. At night they take food together.
The Vrat is continued annually on the same day till the couple gets a child. 
Women observe this vrat for the welfare of their children. 
Noli is taken from the word ‘Nevla’ or ‘Mongoose’ and Nom means ‘Navam’ or ‘Ninth’.

Procedure / Vidhi:
* On this day women get up early in the morning. 
* After taking morning bath and wearing clean clothes, worship the image of a mongoose. 
* Usually a Brahmin is asked to make a murti of a mongoose (Nevla) from the flour of juvar corn and turmeric (haldi). 
* Place the murti on a baajat (square stool / chauki) for puja. 
Ingredients for the puja include:
* Mung beans,
* Juvar,
* Baajari and
* Unhusked grains. 
* These are offered to the mongoose (Nevla).
* Thereafter these ingredients are given over to theBrahmin. Charity is an important element of this vrat and therefore, according to means, give to Brahmins and to deserving charities.
Food:
* The woman observing this vrat usually would include in her meals mung beans and grams (chana). 
* Roti can be made from chana flour or Mung beans flour.
* Unhusked pulses can also be used for meals.
*  The lady narrates or listens to the tale of Noli (mongoose).

 Katha of Noli-Nom Vrat:
There was a poor Brahmin. His wife was full of faith and devotion displaying lots of spirituality. She had unswerving faith in the gods and goddesses. She had become a mother and loved her infant child more than her own life. She used to observe the Vrat of Noli-Nom with full devotion.
One day her infant child was sleeping in the cot. She went to the village well to fetch water for her house. Her husband had gone to the temple. Thus her infant was left alone in the house. Just then a black snake slowly descended from the roof of the house and climbed upon the cot. The infant in the cot was awake with an innocent smile on the face. The snake kept staring at the infant and then raised its hood in preparation for striking the infant.

Within a fraction of a second, before the fangs of the snake can deliver its deadly poison to the infant’s  feet, a mongoose caught hold of the snake and removed it from the cot.

Just then the infant’s mother returned to the house. She saw the mongoose and the snake and immediately realised what had happened. Her vrat of Nori-Nom was rewarded. Devata had come as a mongoose to save the life of her child.