Quinoa and Paneer Pilaf

Quinoa and Paneer Pilaf

Ingredients

Quinoa-2 cups
Water-31/2 cups water
Paneer -6 oz(Cottage Cheese)
Onions-1 chopped fine
Minced Garlic and Ginger-1 tbs
Tomato -1 diced
Cilantro leaves handful
Mixed veggies of your choice (carrots,peas,beans)-1 cup
Oil to saute
Salt to taste
Green Chilli-3-4
Juice of 1/2 Lime

Instructions

Wash and rinse quinoa with water.
Measure the water in a saucepan bring it to boil add the quinoa with a few pinches of salt.
Cover let it simmer for 10 minutes till it's fully cooked.

 In a frying pan add about 2 tbs oil add the onions,ginger and garlic,green chilli saute till golden brown add the mixed veggies,cover let it cook for 10 minutes.

To it add the tomatoes,cubed paneer continue to saute for a few more minutes now add the cooked quinoa and combine.Finally add the juice of half a lime or alter according to your taste.

Serve hot with some raita or just plain quinoa pilaf is yummy to the crumb!

Methi Potato Fry

Methi Potato Fry

INGREDIENTS

Potato -5 large washed,peeled cut lengthwise
Green Chille-2 slit
Red Chillie-2 
Curry leaf
Methi Leaf -Dried 2 heaped tablespoons
Garlic pods-4 crushed
Salt to taste
Chille Powder-1 tsp
Turmeric Powder-1/4 tsp


FOR TEMPERING

Oil
Mustard seeds-1/4 tsp
Split Urid dhall 1 tbs
Channa dhall-1/4 tsp
Fennel seeds-pinch 

Instructions

Prep work

• Wash,Peel and cut Potatoes lengthwise.

Bring a pot of water to boil add some salt ,when water comes to a rolling boil add the potatoes let it simmer in the water,cook the potatoes for 5 minutes.Drain into a colander and set it aside.

In a non stick frying pan add some oil about a couple of table spoons when hot add the mustard seeds wait for it to sputter,then add the urid and channa dhall's followed by curry leaf,chillies,fennel seeds and crushed garlic saute on medium flame.

Now add the almost cooked potatoes,mix to combine,toss the red chille powder and turmeric powder saute for 10 minutes.Check for salt.Finally stir in the dried methi leaves.Saute for another minute or two. 

Very tasty dry potato fry is ready to be eaten with some hot rice and sambar or served as aside dish for hot phulka's!

Recipe Courtesy

A very dear Friend :)

Medu Vada

Medu Vada or Ulundhu Vada

Ingredients

Urid whole -2 cups
(Soak for 30 -40 minutes)
Water to grind


Onions-1 minced fine
Cilantro leaves a few
Whole Black Pepper 1/2 tsp- crushed(to your taste)
Green Chille-2 minced
Ginger-1"piece minced
Rice Flour -2 tbs
Salt to taste
Canola Oil to Deep fry the Medu Vadas

Instructions

• Soak the whole Urid for 30-40 minutes and grind by adding very little water.I ground mine in the wet grinder along with the green chille and the minced ginger.
• Chop the onion fine and the cilantro leaves,add it to the batter add salt the crushed pepper and mix well.
• Check for salt.
• Finally add the rice flour and combine.Make small balls,flatten it and deep fry in hot oil.
• Enjoy crispy hot medu vada with some sambar and chutney.

Mango Banana Chia Seed Smoothie

Mango Banana Chia Smoothie




Serves 2


Ingredients

Ripe Mango diced-1 cup
or
Mango pulp-1/2 cup
Milk-3/4 cup (Almond/Coconut/Soy)
Ice cubes-4
Chia seeds-2 tsp
Flax seed-1 tsp
Banana -1/2



Directions


Place all the ingredients in a blender or food processor blend on high speed till creamy and smooth.

Enjoy a refreshing glass of  nutrient packed smoothie!

You can add Stevia or Honey to sweeten it to your liking!

Mango Loaf- Vegan and Nut free

Vegan and Nut free

 Mango Loaf

Ingredients


All purpose Flour - 2 cups
Baking Powder- 2 tsp
Salt- pinch
Sugar-2/3 cup
Vanilla Essence- 1 Tsp
Canola Oil -1/3 cup
Mango Pulp-1.5 Cups
Water - 2 tbs

Directions


To a bowl add the mango pulp,canola oil, vanilla essence whisk for a few minutes.To this add the sugar whisk till it all mixes in.

Add the flour,baking powder and salt.
You can add about 2 tbs of water to combine.

Do not over beat,making sure everything is whisked till you have a smooth batter.

Pour into a greased loaf pan bake at 350 Degree F for about 50 minute till a knife comes out clean.

Enjoy this vegan bread with a touch of  mango !Taste of home!!

Fried Onions Shrimp fry-DRY

Fried Onions Shrimp fry -DRY

Ingredients

Shrimp-Cleaned deveined 1 lb

Deep fried Red onions-1 cup
Curry leaf few sprigs
Cumin powder-1 tsp
Pepper Powder-1 tsp
Crushed Garlic-2-3 pods
Turmeric-1/4 tsp

Salt to taste

Juice of 1/2 lime
Chilli Powder-1/2 tsp or you can use whole red chilli (2 nos)
Oil to fry

Directions

Deep fry onions,keep it aside.I always have some handy thanks to some beautiful people in my life! :)

Clean the shrimp,marinate with turmeric,salt and chilli powder and half salt.

To a non stick pan add about 2-3 tbs oil,add the already fried onions fry for a few minutes,add the curry leaves followed by the spice powders,saute till the masala fries.Add the Shrimp cook for 10 minutes in the spice powder.Finally add the fresh lemon juice ,check for salt add more if desired...stir it for another couple of minutes...you will see it coming together serve with some hot rice or just as an appetizer.

It works both ways...yumm yumm!!  

Oven Roasted Chicken Tandoori Style with Roasted Red Potatoes

Oven Roasted Chicken Tandoori Style with Roasted Red Potatoes


Ingredients

For Tandoori Chicken

Organic Chicken Drumsticks -12 Legs
Juice of 1/2 a Lime
Chilli Powder-1 tsp
Pepper Powder-1 tsp
Cumin Powder-1 tsp
Coriander Powder -1/2 tsp
Kashmiri Chilli Powder-1/2 tsp(Optional)
Olive Oil-2 tbs
Salt to taste


Directions 

Skin the chicken using a paper towel makes  it easy,make about 2-3 slits on the legs, marinate over night or for a few hours with  the above marinade.

Mix the dry ingredients together in a bowl and rub it into the chicken, then mix the lemon juice and 2 tbs of Olive oil rub it in as well.Cling wrap the chicken.Set it in the refrigerator.

Remove from the refrigerator arrange the chicken legs on a baking tray .

Bake at 375 degrees F for approximately 25 minutes on each side.

Total baking times may vary depending on the type of oven you use.

If you don't have an oven no worries there,you can roast the chicken on the stove top using a non stick pan,keep the flame medium.Cook with a tight lid half way through cooking, open the lid let the
chicken cook on open flame.

Remove when fully cooked.



Recipe for the roasted red potatoes

Ingredients

For Roasted Potatoes


8-10 Red Potatoes(Any Kind)
Salt to taste
1 pinch Chilli powder
2 tsp black pepper freshly crushed
11/2 tbs olive oil

Toss the red potatoes with the above ingredients let it stand for 10 minutes,arrange them on the baking tray cut side facing down,roast until tender it takes about 30-40 minutes.

Simple potatoes so tasty and roasted to perfection.Enjoy it!!

I arranged it on a bed of sauteed Spinach.