Fruit Smoothie

Happy December!! December not only spells summer in the land down under, but also times for over indulgence (eating) and probably not the most healthiest kind of indulgence! So why not prepare for all the intake by starting the month on a healthy note.

Trying to consume 3 or 4 fruits and veg at once can be challenging, so the best way to do it is SMOOTHIE it :) You can add whatever combination of fruits and vegetables you like, each have their own benefits and taste.

Here is my FRUIT SMOOTHIE, fit for a quick lunch on the go too :)

Ingredients for 1 cup: 1 apple, 1 orange/mandarin, 1 kiwi fruit, 1 carrot.

Make: Roughly chop all of the above and put in your juicer, grind for a few minutes and add a few spoons of water if too thick.

Enjoy your delicious healthy smoothie filled with goodness!

Spiced Cauliflower Rice & Roasted Chickpeas

A hearty, delicious and healthy lunch is not always possible to put together especially on busy days where time is precious and list of to do's are too long!

Here's a quick meal including a side dish (now that's pretty fancy for a busy day lunch) which you can put together within minutes by preparing a few things the night before.

It's always a hit at our household and very healthy with a nice serve of veggies and protein :) Here is is, my SPICED CAULIFLOWER RICE & ROASTED CHICKPEAS.

Ingredients for Roasted Chickpeas: 1 can of preboiled chickpeas, chilli flakes, salt.

Make: Grab a thick bottomed pan and put in chilli flakes into a bit of oil, add the chickpeas (double washed out of can), salt to taste and roast till golden brown - should take just a few minutes. 

Ingredients for Spiced Cauliflower Rice: 1 cup of cooked rice (can be made night before), 1 cup of chopped cauliflower florets, half cup chopped carrots, handful of frozen peas or corn kernels, 1 fresh tomato chopped, 1 onion chopped, chilli powder, 1 spoon cumin seeds, 1 spoon mustard seeds, salt, olive oil, cumin powder.

Make: In a non stick pan, saute the onion in a bit of olive oil with cumin seeds and mustard seeds, then add all the chopped veggies. Roast on high flame for a few minutes, add cumin powder, chilli powder and salt. When mixed well, add in the cooked rice and combine well. Done! 

There it is, a healthy, hot cooked meal ready to enjoy for lunch :) 

Pan Fried Eggplant

Eggplant/aubergine/brinjal fans are guaranteed to love this simple and delicious way to savour that unique flavour and texture of eggplant!

Keeping with my moto of spending less time in the kitchen and enjoying fresh, healthy and beautifully presented food, this little creation works perfectly in the equation.

Here it is, my PAN FRIEND EGGPLANT :)

Ingredients: 1 full sized eggplant, 2 green chillies, 1 teaspoon garlic paste, 1 small onion chopped, 1 teaspoon chopped fresh ginger, handful of chopped spring onions or coriander. 

Make: Chop eggplant into thick wedges. In a thick bottom wide pan, heat a bit of oil and put in chillies, garlic paste, ginger and onion. Saute until there is an aroma, add in the eggplant wedges and some salt to taste. Pan fry on both sides for approximately 5 minutes each side. You will know it is cooked when there is a rich golden brown colour and it smells absolutely amazing! Remove from flame, sprinkle chopped spring onion/coriander and serve hot. Enjoy!

Sev Papdi Chaat

When the craving for snacking strikes, you really don't want to spend lots of time making something AND you don't want to snack on high fat or high sugar foods. I find that quick 'Indian street food' style snacks tick all my boxes!

Very similar to "Sev Puri", my SEV PAPDI CHAAT is a quick to make snack with the perfect combination of spicy, tangy and sweet flavours.

Simple and quick to put together and tastes as delicious as it looks! 

Here it is, Sev Papdi Chaat :)

Ingredients: 

Papdi (or crisp wheat crackers), chopped fresh tomato, chopped onion, chopped coriander, mint paste or mint & coriander paste, sev.

Make:
Layout the papdi in a serving plate. Spread mint/coriander paste then sprinkle chopped onions, tomato and coriander. If desired, lightly sprinkle some chilli powder on top for extra spice. Finish off with a generous sprinkle of sev. Serve and enjoy your healthy and delicious snack!

Thai Vegetable Curry

Those of us who enjoy a nice hot and spicy curry will definitely enjoy Thai cuisine. Not only does it cater for our spice taste buds, it gives a sense of sweetness and smoothness with the use of coconut.

An easy to make yet delicious side to rice or breads/roti is my version of Thai Vegetable Curry. I do not use store bought curry pastes/sauces as most of them contain some sort of fish/oyster sauce. Thanks but no thanks - we like it purely vegetarian :) 

Here it is, my Thai Vegetable Curry.

Ingredients: 1 carrot chopped, handful of green beans, 1 green capsicum chopped, 1 zucchini chopped, 1 cup of chopped pumpkin, 1 cup of cauliflower florets, 1 red chilli, 1 tablespoon crushed garlic, 1 onion chopped, 1 tablespoon finely chopped ginger, 1 tablespoon tomato paste, half cup coconut milk, 1/2 tablespoon brown sugar, 1 tablespoon soy sauce, salt, chilli flakes.

Make: In a non stick deep pan, saute the onions, chilli flakes, garlic and ginger. Add all of the chopped vegetables and stir-fry lightly until the aroma is released. Stir in the tomato paste. Add the coconut milk and some water to help lighten the consistency (full fat coconut milk will be very thick and heavy). Add salt, soy sauce, brown sugar and stir to mix evenly. Finally add chopped fresh red chilli.

Remove from flame, sprinkle with coriander and serve immediately with hot rice or breads.  Enjoy! :) 

Tawa Pulao (Indian Fried Rice)

Wanting to make a hearty Indian rice dish but have little time or patience to spend in the kitchen? It happens to the best of us and more often than not! The biggest downside to most quick cook dishes are that we loose out on nutritional benefits, however not this beautiful dish!

Taking just half an hour to create, not only does it tick the nutritious box but will also put smiles on your family's faces.

My version of the very famous dish by celebrity chef Sanjeev Kapoor (his version on his page Sanjeev Kapoor)...TAWA PULAO.

Ingredients: 1.5 cups cooked rice (preferably basmati rice), 1 tomato chopped, 1 carrot chopped, 1 potato chopped, half cup green peas or corn kernels, 1 onion chopped, 1 spoon garlic paste, 1 spoon pav bhaji masala, 1 spoon garam masala, coriander leaves. For tempering, cumin seeds and mustard seeds.

Make: In a wide based pan, heat oil and saute the cumin seeds, mustard seeds, onion and garlic paste. When there is a nice aroma, add all other chopped vegetables and masala powders. Cook for 5 minutes. Add in the hot cooked rice, salt and mix well. Mix in chopped coriander leaves. Done!

Enjoy your hot Tawa Pulao with yougurt or raita :)

Bread Pakora

Crispy fresh cold air outside, droplets of rain sitting on windows, the sounds of rain dropping on the rooftop...all makes for a perfect time inside at home feeling warm with something hot to munch on. Winter is here and we all crave those warm foods which are often on the naughty side!

No exception here, we try to stay healthy but just need to give in to temptations every now and then. A cold winter afternoon at home made perfect...hot cup of tea with the very delicious, crispy, hot BREAD PAKORA :)

Here is my version of the popular snack!

Ingredients: Few slices of any type of bread, half a cup besan flour (chickpea flour), quarter cup of rice flour, 1 tablespoon chilli powder, handful of chopped spring onion or onion, handful of chopped coriander, salt to taste, oil for deep frying.

Make: In a bowl mix the chickpea flour and rice flour with a bit of water to make a thick paste. Add in chilli powder, chopped onion, coriander and salt. Mix well to make a smooth batter with no lumps. Cut the bread slices into small sizes as desired. Dip each piece in the batter and drop into hot oil for deep frying. Fry until golden brown on each side. Serve hot with sauce. ENJOY!

Eggplant Potato Fry

Everyone has an all time favourite vegetable that they would include in any possible dish possible..! The humble eggplant (or aubergine or brinjal) is that very favourite of mine. Whether it's Indian, Asian or Italian cuisine that I'm cooking I'll take any chance to add some delicious eggplant :) 

On the health benefits side, it's a winner all round too. Not only low in calories and rich in antioxidants, the skin of eggplant is known to protect brain cells from damage due to free radicals. So with all these extremely great qualities, why not include eggplant as part of your regular diet!?

A regular dish in my kitchen which combines perfectly with rice, breads or roti, is my very simple EGGPLANT POTATO FRY - simple, delicious and super easy to create!

Ingredients: 1 large eggplant, 1 potato, 1 red capsicum (if desired), 1 onion, few strands coriander, for tempering - mustard seeds, cumin seeds, chilli flakes.

Make: Chop eggplant and other veggies into cubes. In a wide pan, temper the mustard seeds, cumin seeds and chilli flakes in a tablespoon of oil. Add chopped onion and saute till golden, add chopped eggplant and other veggies and saute. Add salt to taste. By the time the eggplant is well roasted and soft, all other veggies will also be cooked. Remove from flame and present it with coriander. Enjoy hot with rice, roti or your favourite breads.

Mango Panna Cotta (gelatin free)

Who watches Master Chef on TV and dreams of whipping up something as fancy without all that extreme effort they seem to put in on the show?? Well, I certainly do! 

So being the lover of quick and easy recipes I used one of my all time favourites and simply used presentation to make it look that little bit fancier! 

Here it is, my Mango Panna Cotta (without gelatin)

Ingredients (for two): 1 cup full cream milk, 2 tablespoons corn flour, quarter cup caster sugar, 1 teaspoon mango essence, yellow food colour.

Make: Heat milk and caster sugar with mango essence in a non stick pan. In a separate bowl, add the corn flour to a spoon of milk and mix well until there are no lumps. Add this mixture to your warm milk in the pan, stirring continuously. Keep stirring until the mixture starts to thicken to a custard kind of texture - it should take around 10 minutes. Remove from heat and pour into a mould/small cup. Place in fridge immediately and allow to set for an hour atleast. Once set and jelly like, take out and flip upside down on serving plate. Decorate with chocolate sauce, nuts or fruits as desired. 

It's all about presentation with desserts, so make it pretty! Enjoy :) 

Zucchini Corn Fritters

Who loves Fritters??! Actually who doesn't?? In my view, fritters are the best and closest healthy alternative to the more unhealthy and popular deep fried dishes.

A great way to pack in some veggie goodness for kids too, fritters are simply so versatile! Breakfast, lunch or dinner - they are sure to be a winner on the table. One of our favourites is the simple Zucchini and Corn Fritters. I also sneak in spinach for added goodness. 

Here it is my ZUCCHINI & CORN FRITTERS, served with pan fried potatoes and beans :)

Ingredients (for about 6 fritters)

1 cup self raising flour, 1 firm zucchini, 3/4 cup of corn kernels, 1 onion, handful of spinach leaves, few tablespoons bread crumbs, salt, pepper, mixed spices, oil for pan frying. 

Make: In a bowl, combine the flour, grated zucchini, corn kernels, roughly chopped spinach and chopped onion with some water. Add only as much water required to form a pasty mix not too watery. Add bread crumbs, salt, pepper and spices as desired. Mix well and keep for 5 to 10 minutes. 

In a wide based pan, use oil and spoon on the fritter mixture in oval shapes as shown above. Pan fry each side until golden brown and crisp. 

If wanting to serve with pan fried vegetables as I have, simply use your choice of vegetables and pan fry in little oil and chilli flakes for added flavour! Serve hot and enjoy :)

Mango Raspberry Smoothie

Healthy, delicious, feel good and easy to make! Smoothies definitely tick all these boxes and can be literally a life saver on busy days.

Here's another delicious combination we love...can even use frozen mangoes and raspberries if not in season. Fresh fruit of course is always a winner!

My Mango Raspberry Smoothie :)

Ingredients for two: 1 mango or a cup of frozen mango cubes, handful of fresh or frozen raspberries, half a cup milk, 1 scoop of vanilla ice cream (can omit).

Make: Put the mango, raspberries, milk and ice cream if you wish, all in a mixer or juicer. Give a whip for about 1 minute. Pour into glasses, add ice cubes if desired. 
Enjoy your nutritious meal in a glass!
 

Eggplant & Chickpeas Spaghetti

Eggplant lover? TICK! Chickpeas lover? TICK! Spaghetti lover??? Well you simply cannot go wrong with this fabulous dish which is personally one of my all time favourties and comfort meals! After a busy day at work or a cold winters day out...coming home to whip up this quick and easy meal is not only delicious but a joy to cook :)

Well, here it is..my protein loaded yet carb-loading treat. 

Eggplant and Chickpeas Spaghetti (which can also be made with any type of pasta).

Ingredients (for two): 1 large eggplant/aubergine/brinjal, 2 tomatoes, 1 cup of boiled chickpeas (can use canned chickpeas), handful of spring onions or spinach, 1 onion, 1 tablespoon crushed garlic, chilli flakes, salt, pepper, 1 tablespoon olive oil, spaghetti or any type of pasta.

Make: In a large dish, bring water to boil and cook your pasta/spaghetti for about 10 to 14 minutes until cooked. While this is happening, make the vegetable mixture in a non stick pan. Add olive oil, garlic, chilli flakes and onions and saute until onions are golden. Add the chopped eggplant and roast for 5 to 8 minutes until it looks golden brown and roasted. Add the chickpeas and chopped tomato, mixing well until the tomato has formed sauce. Now add in the cooked pasta/spaghetti, add salt and pepper. Mix well, add more olive oil if needed. Sprinkle with chopped spring onion and serve hot. Enjoy!!

Honeydew Melon & Mango Smoothie

Drink a smoothie...for breakfast, lunch and dinner..!! Seems to be the word on every fitness freak's mind at the moment. There are smoothie recipes for everything from weight loss to weight gain to skin care to digestive care. Well..I don't know much about all these healthy smoothies but I do know the ones we love as a family not just for its nutrients but the delicious taste!!

While we are not totally into smoothie culture, we do love our weekend smoothies when there is time for whip up some interesting combinations :) Here is my latest love in smoothie world, loaded with vitamins, anti-oxidants and fiber...Honeydew Melon and Mango Smoothie!

Ingredients for two: Half a ripe honeydew melon, 1 mango, quarter cup milk if desired.

Make: Put in roughly chopped mango and honeydew melon into your mixer/juicer and whip for a minute. Add in milk if using and whip again for 30 seconds. Done! 
Pour, decorate and enjoy.

Rava Kesari (Wheat Semolina Pudding)

Rava Kesari or wheat semolina pudding, is one of those quick and easy sweet treats that is a delight to enjoy any day. It is an extra bonus when the littlest person of the house also asks for it and enjoys each spoonful with a huge smile! No wonder it is a regular in our house :)

So here it is, my version of the simple and good old Indian sweet Rava Kesari :)

Ingredients: 1 cup wheat semolina, half cup melted butter/ghee, half to 3/4 cup raw sugar, 1 teaspoon cardamon powder, 2 cups water, food colour, few strands kesari, nuts/glazed cherries.

Make: In a non stick pan, fry the cup of wheat semolina with the melted butter/ghee on low flame. It should take 8 to 10 minutes for the aroma to release and semolina to turn golden in colour. Next add the sugar, cardamon powder and strands of kesari and mix well. Keep in low flame and slowly add the water (warmed water is better), stirring continuously to avoid lumps. At this stage add a drop of food colour if you wish. Keep stirring until it all thickens and no longer sticks to the pan. Turn off and pour into your desired dish and decorate with nuts or if you may like to present as above - afterall, pretty food not only looks good, tastes better too!! 

The perfect easy dessert for festivities or just to enjoy any day!

BANANA SHEERA Variation: Follow the exact method as above, simply add mashed Banana at the stage just before adding water and mix well. 

Here is another version of the same Rava Kesari, just a different food colour! I call it "Semolina Bites" :)

 

Masala Puri

Anyone from the Indian subcontinent will agree to one things about food - there is nothing more tantilising and taste-buds satisfying than a spicy, tangy, fresh CHAAT!! Wheather it is a vada-pav on the side streets, pani puri from the carts, gobi manchurian from a fancy restaurant or good old sev puri made at home, a good Chaat can bring a smile on anyone's face :) 

Having visited the south of India recently, we made sure we indulged in one of our favourites, MASALA PURI. Being back home sweet home though, it was too tempting not to re-create that Masala Puri magic..so here it is, my version of the very famous Masala Puri, made in a quick and easy way!

Ingredients (for two servings): 1.5 cups of green peas, 1 potato, 1 red onion, 1 tomato, 1 carrot, corriander, few cinnamon sticks, few cloves, salt, chilli powder, chaat powder, 1 spoon garlic paste, crisp papdis (Indian wheat biscuits), sev.

Make: In a pan, lightly fry in a spoon of oil, chopped onion and garlic until golden brown. Add cinnamon sticks and cloves and fry lightly. Add the peas and chopped potatoes with half a glass of water. Add salt and cover. Simmer in low heat for 15 to 20 minutes and you should see the peas and potatoes have cooked well and become very soft. At this stage, add chilli powder and chaat powder. Simmer again for 5 to 10 minutes. This version requires no grinding etc, so is much quicker than the traditional version. 

Remove from heat and serve immediately (remove the cinnamon sticks & cloves before serving), with toppings of grated carrot, chopped tomato, roughly broken papdis, chopped onion, corriander and sev. Not only will it look mouth-watering, it will taste amazing with the mix of spicy and tangy flavours! Double the winner also as it only takes about half an hour to prepare :) 

 

Zucchini Dip/Chutney

Being a vegetarian household, we absolutely love all sorts of vegetables! One of the veggies always in abundance in our fridge is Zucchini - in my view, one of the most versatile and tasty vegetables. Not to mention its very low calories and very high nutritional benefits such as fiber, vitamin A and folate. All in all, zucchini is a winner at our place!

Among the many dishes I love to create with the magical zucchini, my zucchini Dip/Chutney is a favourite. Here it is, a creamy, spicy version :)

Ingredients: 1 large sized zucchini, 1 onion, handful of spinach leaves, 1 or 2 green chillies, oil for tempering, salt.

Make: In a pan, lightly fry chopped up chillies, onion and zucchini until they are golden brown. Let it cool and transfer to a mixer, add the spinach leaves and salt. Grind lightly on low until you see a creamy texture. Once done, you may choose to temper the chutney/dip with mustard leaves and curry leaves. Even without tempering, it will taste just as delicious!

Enjoy hot or cold with toasted breads or rotis :)

 

Watermelon Smoothie

Summer heat, searing sun & warm mornings definitely make for less time in the kitchen! Packing in a load of fruity goodness never got easier than whipping up a quick Smoothie. 

We have been enjoying some different combinations of smoothies along with our breakfast and here I am sharing our favourite, Watermelon Smoothie :)

Ingredients (for two): quarter of a watermelon, seedless is better, few mint leaves, half a cup of milk if you choose, few fruits of your choice for decoration.

Make: Roughly chop watermelon and put into your juicer, add in mint leaves and milk if you are using. Give it quick whirl for 30 seconds. If you like the texture fine, do it for longer. 

Pour into your glasses, add ice cubes if you wish and decorate with fruits as shown :) Enjoy your fresh, cool, goodness packed smoothie!

Mango & Cream Parfait

HAPPY NEW YEAR! Hope the new year brings much more sweetness and delicious days into your life :) Keeping healthy is nothing new so no such resolutions here...infact, keeping life happy and full of memorable moments is a life resolution, not just for any new year :)

Spending less time in the kitchen while whipping up great looking and tasting treats is of course high on the priority list too.

Here we are starting off 2016 blogging with a simple yet mouth watering dessert, perfect for Summer evenings! My MANGO & CREAM PARFAIT.

Ingredients (for two): two biscuits of your choice, half cup whipped cream, one mango chopped, glazed cherries or similar for decoration.

Make: Simply crush your biscuits (does not have to be powder) and lay it as the bottom layer of your glass. Spoon on some whipped cream as the second layer. You can choose another layer of crushed biscuits too. Top with fresh chopped mango and decorate as you wish.

Enjoy this quick and easy dessert which not only looks great but also tastes delicious! Great for entertaining too.