Protein punch salad

At times I just like to eat my salad with a slice of bread and make it work like a brunch. Try this protien packed meal that is satisfying and extremly healthy with carbs, proteins, nuts,fruits and vegetables.

Ingredients

1 cup Moong sprouts

1/2 cup anar

1/2 chopped bell pepper

1/2 chopped apple

few raisins

2 tbsp mixed seeds

1 toasted bread cut into small cubes

1/4 cup chopped paneer pieces

Dressing

Juice of half orange

Juice of half lemon

1 tsp chaat masala

1/2 rock salt

1/4 tsp pepper powder

1 tbsp oil

salt to taste

Method

1. Toss all the ingredients for salad on the top except bread.

2. Put all the ingredients for dressings and whisk well.

3. Toss all together and pour into a bowl lined with lettuce and chill.

4. Throw the bread pieces over and serve chilled.

Dal palak -Lentil with spinach

       This one of the most loved dishes in my home.It has the goodness of greens and proteins from lentils.Goes very well with rice or chappatis.If made a little thin,can be had almost like a soup.The goodness and smell of fresh spinach makes me want to eat bowl fulls of this lovely dish.
Ingredients
Bengal gram lentils                   100gms
Chopped spinach                     2 cups
chopped tomatoes                    2 nos
chopped onions                        1 no
chopped garlic                          1 tbsp
chopped ginger                         1/2 tsp
chopped green chilli                  1 no
lime juice                                  1-2 tsp
chilli powder                             1/2 tsp
coriander powder                      1 tbsp
tumeric powder                         1/2 tsp
garam masala                            1/4 tsp
bay leaf                                     1 no
cloves                                       3 nos
cumin seeds                               1 tsp
hing
salt to taste
Ghee/oil                                    1 tbsp
Method
Soak lentils (chana dal) for 30 mins.Pressure cook with water,tumeric and salt to 2 whistles in pressure cooker.
Heat ghee/oil and add hing and cumin seeds.Put in the bay leaf and cloves and let them colour.
Put in ginger and garlic and let them get golden.Now add chopped onions and let them cook till golden brown.Now put chilli powder, coriander and garam masala and stir well.
Now add the tomatoes and let them cook well together.Drop in chopped spinach and mix well.Simmer for 5 mins.Pour in the boiled lentils and mix well.Adjust consistency by adding more water if required.Boil for about 10 mins.Finally pour in the lime juice and serve piping hot with rotis or rice.

Zucchini and bell pepper dal

I like to combine lentils with some vegetable as it brings 2 things into one dish so more nutrition, taste and less work! In India I made ridge gourd with lentils which my kids really relished.So here I tried it with zucchini and it was loved by my family.I team it with some rice and salad or even a hot roti is lovely with this dal.Thin it a bit and it could be eaten almost like soup.
Ingredients
Red lentils(lal masoor)     100 gms
zucchini chopped             500 gms
sliced red bell peppers     1 no
chopped onions               1 no
chopped tomatoes           2 nos
chopped garlic                 1 tbsp
chopped ginger                1 tsp
lime juice                          1 tbsp
ghee                                1 tbsp
cumin                               1 tsp
hing                                  1/4 tsp
haldi                                1 tsp
chilli powder                     1 tsp
coriander powder            1 tsp
salt to taste
browned roasted onions    1/2 bowl

Method
Wash and soak the lentils.Heat ghee ,put in hing and jeera and let them splutter.Add the chopped garlic and ginger and saute.Add the onions and let them cook till slightly golden.Add the zucchini and cook till golden.Put in red bell peppers and turn them around for a while.Add the chopped tomatoes and cook.Put in haldi, coriander powder, chilli powder and salt.Put in dal and add about 2 cups water.Cover and cook till the dal is cooked and make sure the vegetables are not over cooked.Adjust the consistency of water.Add the lime juice.Pour into a bowl and top with browned roasted onions.Serve hot.