Dal Pachadi

INGREDIENTS 

5 tbsp white urad dal 

2 tbsp chana dal 

Few pepper corns 

3-4 tbsp coconut grated 

2 red chili 

1/2 tsp jeera 

Few curry leaves 

1/2 tsp chopped ginger 

1 tbsp oil 

Pinch of hing

1/2 tsp mustard seeds 

1 cup whipped curd 

Salt 

1/4 tsp Chili powder 

METHOD

1. Heat a pan and add dals, peppercorns, 1 red chili, jeera and few curry leaves and sauté until golden brown. Cook and add coconut. You can use fresh or dry coconut as you like. Grind it into a powder  

2. Beat the yoghurt with salt and dilute as much as you like. 

3. Add the powder and mix well. Over time the curd will thicken up. Add yoghurt or water as you like. 

4. Heat oil, add hing, mustard, broken red chili, curry leaves and little urad dal. Sauté. 

5. Add ginger and sauté again. Put in chili powder and pour on top of the yoghurt mix. 

6. Adjust consistency and top with fresh coriander. 

7. Relish with rice, dosas or serve as an accompaniment with upma like I did. It’s highly flavorful and refreshing. 

PALAK PANEER

Palak paneer, rumali roti, raita and mirchi achaar

Palak paneer is a very loved dish and it is a healthy way of getting everyone to enjoy spinach. Nutrition wise it’s a good combination of calcium, protein and fibre besides the vitamins and minerals. It’s easy to make and pleases everyone. I use various shortcuts when in a hurry. Add fried potatoes or green peas for variety along with paneer. 

Ingredients

500 gms boiled spinach

1 chopped onion

1 chopped green chili

1 tbsp chopped garlic

1 tsp chopped ginger

200 gms Paneer cubed

2 tbsp oil

1 tbsp butter

½ tsp cumin seeds

½ tsp chili powder

1 tsp coriander powder

Salt to taste

250 ml tomato puree

4-5 tbsp cream

Method

1. Heat oil & butter together, add cumin seeds. Saute until light brown. 

2. Add chopped garlic, chillies & ginger. Saute till golden.Add onions & saute.

3. Add the spices and saute for few seconds until light aroma emits.

4. Now pour in the tomato puree and saute well. Let the spices blend & simmer till oil separates.

5. Add the spinach puree & mix well. 

6. Now put in paneer pieces and stir. 

7. Cover and cook for about 10 mins on low-medium heat.

8. Stir in cream &  let the curry cook & come together well so that it doesn’t leave any water. Add 1 tbsp flour if needed.

9. Pour into a dish. To spice up more, heat butter, add chopped garlic & saute till golden. Put a little chili powder and pour on top of the curry. Pour a tbsp of cream to decorate. Serve hot with rice or naans.

Tips- 1.Use tofu &  rahm spinat instead for a quick meal. Tastes similar ,needs less planning.

2. Saute paneer in butter for added richness.

Chaas masala mix

 I have started enjoying the process of making homage dahi or yoghurt. It’s therapeutic to an extent. The satisfaction of putting jars of fresh yoghurt in the refrigerator and then waiting to cut into the thick chunk…it’s hard to define or describe in words. It’s enjoyed by my family. Lately I have started to make buttermilk for the family. It’s great for the stomach. In Ayurved it’s considered good for digestion. To make it more beneficial and digestible I have started to spice up with a homemade spice mix. This 13 ingredient mix is delicious. I sprinkle it on my yoghurt too and can add on various other dishes including dosas! 

Ingredients 

1 bowl of washed mint leaves 

1 bowl coriander leaves 

1 bowl curry leaves 

1 bowl brahmi( since I had them in my terrace garden. You can use other herbs or skip it) 

4-5 tbsp cumin 

1 tsp peppercorns 

1 tsp carom/ ajwain 

1 tsp rock salt / kala namak

1/4 tsp hing 

1 tsp ginger powder 

1 tbsp garlic powder 

1 tbsp mustard seeds

4-5 tbsp Himalayan salt 

Method

1. Wash and dry the green leaves. Sun dry or put into the microwave until they are crispy to touch. 

2. Roast all the other ingredients until they are lightly toasted and are crisp. Cool  

3. Grind all into a nice fine powder. Store in a dry container. 

4. Add 1/2 tsp in a glass of buttermilk and whisk well. Heat oil and add few mustard seeds. When they pop, add a pinch of chili powder and pour on to the buttermilk. Relish delicious, flavorful and digestive mix of spices. 

Mushroom Mix Veg

The 4 large mushrooms stared at me. Wondering what to do with them. I decided to just use whatever else was lying in the fridge. Green peas are our favorite and so they also got added and using ready-made paneer mix spice,  It ended up tasting delicious.

Ingredients 

1/2 cup quartered mushrooms 

1/2 cubbed red bell peppers 

1/2 cup chopped spring green onions 

1/2 cup green peas 

1 sliced onions 

1/3 cup tomato purée 

1 tsp Chopped garlic 

1 chopped green chili 

1 tbsp oil 

Hing 

1 1/2 tsps paneer masala mix 

1/3 tsp turmeric 

1/4 tsp chili powder 

1 tsp coriander powder 

2 tbsp fresh yoghurt 

1/2 cup milk  

Salt to taste 

Method 

1. Heat oil and add garlic and chili sauté well. 

2. Add sliced onions and sauté for few mins. 

3. Add rest of the vegs and sauté with salt. 

4. Put in all the spices and mix well. 

5. Add purée, yoghurt and mix well.

 6. Add milk snd pressure cook for 6 mins. 

7. Keep it thick and not to runny. Serve hot with naan, rice or hot parathas. 

Power of 30 Ingredients Laddu/ Fudge

    

Giving nutritious food to family has always been my priority. With exams round the corner, she burns the night lamp and has a lot of pressure on her brain. A late night snacking to stay motivated besides being healthy is a good thought. So I made these yummy and power packed laddus and squares. These not only have natural sugars which keep the sugar craving satisfied but are high on all the nutrition that one needs. Much healthier and better than any store bought. You can add the ingredients of your choice depending on allergies and liking. If you like laddus then the moisture should be less otherwise for a fudge like feeling you can adjust the thickness. This has 30 ingredients! So 2 portions a day will be wonderful for keeping cravings away and giving the required goodness. 

INGREDIENTS 

List 1- Almonds-200 gms ,Cashews- 50 gms ,Walnuts-200 gms, pistachios 25 gms, peanuts 100 gms, coconut 200 gms, pumpkin seeds 100 gms, sunflower seeds 100 gms 

List 2- Sesame 100 gms , flax 50 gms, halim seeds 25 gms, chia 50 gms, poppy seeds 25 gms ,  basil seeds 25 gms

List 3- Fenugreek 2 tbsp, ajwain 1 tbsp, peppercorns 2 tbsp 

List 4- Turmeric 3-4 tbsp, nutmeg 1 tsp , cinnamon 1 tsp

List 5- Dates 200 gms, raisins 50 gms, dried figs 6-8, dried dates 200 gms, jaggery 50 gms and raw sugar( if you like) as desired

Ghee- 100 gms

Edible gum 100 gms

Brahmi powder 4 tbsp  

Cardamom powder/ saffron if desired

METHOD

1. Heat 1 tbsp ghee and sauté gum on medium heat to puff up  add more ghee if needed. Remove and keep aside.  

2. In a huge pan add all the list 1 ingredients and sauté on low heat. Add a little ghee if you like. About 10 mins later add list 2 ingredients. These are smaller and hence need less time to sauté. Sauté everything till they get crunchy and golden.

3. Add ajwain, methi/fenugreek, peppercorns in a pan.Sauté on low heat & remove. Add these to the sautéed nuts. 

4. Pressure cook the dried dates, dates and dried figs so that they are soft. Now deseed the dates and mash. Add jaggery and raw sugar and make a think paste. Now make a purée and keep to cool. 

5. Add the gum, list 3 ings, list 4 ings together and grind in a course powder. 

6. Mix brahmi powder to this seed mix. Add the purée of the sweet mix. Add raisins and cardamom powder/ saffron. Mix well. It’s hard to mix. Depending on how dry you like, you can adjust the thickness of the syrup. The quantity of sugar can be changed as per need. Since it’s natural sugar, it is really nice even if it’s sweeter. 

7. Less syrup can just be mixed with hands and then sharped into balls. These are drier and hence have a long shelf life. Less sweeter too. 

8. If you like to add more syrup and make them like fudge, add thinner syrup and start cooking on low heat. It takes time and looks very difficult to come together but keep cooking till it starts to firm up a bit. Add ghee and cook. You can take a little ball and see if it’s coming together like a thick fudge. Pour this on a greased butter paper sheet and spread well. Press with a greased spatula and make it into a nice uniform sheet. Keep to cool overnight before cutting. 

9. Cut into desired shapes. This keeps well outside too but if you are not sure, refrigerate and heat a little in microwave to relish. 

10. 2 portions a day with warm milk can give you so much energy and kills all the sweet cravings. It also gives long satiety due to the rich ingredients. 

Extra notes- 

1. Turmeric and pepper are a powder house together. Ajwain and fenugreek are good for digestion. Due to stress level or lack of exercise, this helps. 

2. Brahmi is wonderful for the brain. Hence I grow it at my home too and try to eat them each day. Hence added a little to this for added benefit. 

3. If you do not have ghee, use unsalted butter.

4. Halim seeds/ watercress seeds are strong in taste. Hence added just enough. It’s an acquired taste. They are great in iron and very good for periods and hair. 

5. Edible gum is great to give energy and good for bones. In India it’s given to elderly in winters, new moms and to active kids in winters. 

6. In India you get very dry dates, these need to be cooked well so that you can grind. I also added date paste that is available here. Add the sugar as desired.

7. Feel free to omit ingredients you can’t have, get or don’t have in your kitchen. These taste good even if few ingredients are missing. In over 30 ingredients, few missing won’t hurt. 

Chilies, garlic, ginger pickle (Instant)

One pickle that never fails to impress, emus easy and lifts up any dish is green chili pickle. I love making it as it’s easy and doesn’t need too many ingredients. Best is you can relish it with any cuisine and use with rice, wraps or our indian bread! Spread it on a toast or use as a sharp kick in a sandwich. Sharing this healthy and happy recipe. You can put adjust the ginger and garlic according to choice. At times i just put equal quantities of each to make it different. It’s easy and high on taste.

INGREDIENTS

200 Good morning green chilies 

50 gms cleaned ginger 

3 bulbs garlic, cleaned 

2 large lemons 

1/4 cup oil of choice(mustard oil makes it pungent)

3 tbsp salt

1 tsp turmeric 

1 tsp roasted and ground coarse methi 

3 tbsp roasted and ground mustard seeds

1 tbsp ready made pickle masala 

METHOD

1. Coarsely crush the ginger, chilies and garlic in a processor. I find this easy and also it adds character to it. 

2. Put all the spices and salt. Mix well. 

3. Add the oil and lemon juice. Mix well and keep aside. 

4. Cover and keep tossing for the next 24 hours. This helps the water to be released, spices to be absorbed and also the mustard to absorb the water. 

5. Adjust seasoning and taste. Bottle them and eat with EVERYTHING you are relishing. 

6. Use really hot chilies since as the days go by, it gets milder on spice. 

Beetroot pachadi

Beetroots are a rich source of nutrients and one should try and use them in daily diet. This was on my wish list for long. Flavorful and very healthy, it tastes great just the way it is or with rice too. Flavored with coconut, curry leaves and mustard seeds, it’s very satisfying. Try this recipe from South India. 

INGREDIENTS 

5 beetroots medium size 

1-1.5 cups yoghurt 

1/2 cup coconut grated( I used flakes) 

2 green chilies 

1 tsp mustard seeds

1/2 tsp cumin 

1 tbsp roughly chopped ginger 

Salt 

Curry leaves

2 tbsp oil 

1/2 tsp mustard seeds for tempering 

Chili powder optional 

METHOD

1. Boil the beetroots but keep it a little firm. Cook and chop into small pieces. Or grate through large grater. 

2. Put coconut, chilies. Ginger, cumin, mustard seeds and few curry leaves in a blender and grind to a paste. 

3. Heat the chopped beetroots and add paste. Cover and cook for 2-3 mins. Cool  

4. Add beaten yoghurt to this and keep aside. Add water if you like to adjust consistency. 

5. Heat oil, add mustard seeds. Let them splutter. Add chopped curry leaves. I added red chili powder for extra punch and color. Pour over the curry. Sir and relish with rice. 

Kasundi (Bengali mustard chutney)

Kasundi is a mustard based sauce that comes from Bengal. It’s also eaten in Bihar. Lots of versions are there by adding tomatoes and raw mangoes. I just wanted a basic one and here it is. Strong and delicious. It can go with so many dishes. Mixed with boiled potatoes, green veggies, eaten with spring rolls or fried snacks. Endless options. It’s healthy too as it has garlic and mustard. Both have medicinal qualities. 

INGREDIENTS 

4-5 tbsp mustard seeds (soaked in water for 2-4 hours)

4-5 tbsp garlic chopped 

2-3 green chillies (I used red ones)

2-3 tbsp mustard oil 

Salt 

Turmeric( optional) 

Water 

2-3 tbsp apple cider vinegar

METHOD

1. Grind all the ingredients together till it comes together as a paste. 

2. Mix mustard oil and water as needed. 

3. It’s ready to eat, but tastes better as it ages. 

4. Serve with every possible thing! I plan to eat with savory waffles. 

Mix veggie sesame open sandwich

A wonderful lunch recipe, a snack or even a dinner idea with soup. Enjoy the healthy and delicious recipe which never fails to impress.

1 large potato boiled & mashed 

1 cup chopped beans, carrots, bell peppers 

1/4 cup peas

1 chopped onion 

1/2 tsp chopped garlic 

1 chopped chili 

1 tbsp oil 

Salt 

1/4 tsp Chili powder 

1/2 tsp turmeric 

1 tsp coriander powder 

1 tsp any kebab/paneer masala

1/2 tsp amchoor/lemon juice 

2 tbsp coriander powder 

Sesame seeds 

Butter 

Bread slices 

METHOD

1. Heat oil, add chopped chili and garlic. Sauté. Add onions and cook till golden. 

2. Add the chopped vegetables, salt and turmeric. Cover to cook well. Add the spices, sauté. Put in the potato and mix well. 

3.Put the amchoor or lemon juice and coriander leaves. Mix well and topping is ready. 

4. Apply butter on bread, spread a bit of the filling. Sprinkle sesame seeds. 

5. Heat butter on a skillet, put the sesame side and cook on medium heat till golden. 

6. Turn over and cook till crisp on the other side. 

7. Serve hot with chutney and ketchup. Delicious and healthy. 

Brüsselsprouts Poriyal (coconut)

Ingredients 

500 gms brüsselsprouts cleaned,cut into halves

2 chopped green chilies 

1 tbsp chopped curry leaves 

1 tbsp chana dal 

1 tbsp urad dal

Hing

1 tsp mustard seeds 

1/2 tsp haldi/turmeric 

1/2 tsp chili powder 

2 tbsp oil 

Salt

1/4 cup Coconut flakes

Lemon juice 

Coriander leaves chopped 

METHOD

1. Heat oil and add the mustard seeds and hing. Let them pop. 

2. Add the dals/lentils. And let them color brown. 

3. Add the leaves and green chilies. Sauté. 

4. Put in the spices and salt. 

5. Now add the Brüsselsprouts and mix. 

6. Cover and cook until soft yet not squishy(5-7 mins). Let them remain slightly crunchy. 

7. Now sprinkle coconut flakes and toss well. 

8. Pour lemon juice and let it just stay a little in the wok. 

9. Sprinkle coriander leaves and mix. Serve hot with rice as a side dish. Tastes good even cold. We love it with rice and dal/lentils. 

PS: if you do not have curry leaves, dals/lentils or coriander leaves it’s still fine. You can add peanuts instead of dals/lentils.