Having been on WW for last one , I have transformed my food habits. It's more fruits and vegetables, I am lighter than ever before and needless to say, feel more energetic and confident.
Recently I came across this recipe with Grapes, celery and yoghurt filling inside hamburger. I made it one night and maaan, it was delicious, filling and was 2 or 3 points on WW scale.
When I had the first bite, my indianized palette wanted some spices in it. Added sandwich masala and it got yummier, add red chillie powder and it got even more interesting.
I further tweaked it and made my very own Indian, grape yoghurt filling which can be made as follows.
1/2 cup seedless Grapes halved/chopped
1/4 cup celery chopped
2 tbsp Greek yoghurt (low in fat and high in protein). You may add your own yoghurt
Salt
Pepper
Chat Masala
Cumin powder pinch
Red Chillie powder as required
1/4 cup Sprouts ( I know it can't be healthier)
Boiled potatoes (little)
Imli chutney/ Maggie hot and sour ( watch the qty and spice levels)
Some Sev( optional)
Chana boiled (black preferred)
To add crunch you may either add puffed rice or some matri/ poori. ( I didnt add any)
Mix it all with a spoon and fill it inside two light pepperidge farm toasted bread/ hot dog buns and enjoy a wholesome, filling and delicious dinner.
Friday, January 27, 2012
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Recipe #3 - Chinese fried rice in 15 minutes
Thanks to Abirami Bharath, it took multiple attempts to get this recipe right.
I used to get my veggies soggy before I could add rice. So I ll write the recipe and follow with common mistakes and tips
Fried Rice
1. In 3 tbsp oil, fry 1 slit green chillies, slivered garlic pieces, spring onions and fry well..
2. Add carrots, peas, broccoli, musrooms, soy sauce, chillie sauce, 1 tsp ajinomotto, salt.
3. After having fried the above well, add cabbage and capsicum and fry for 3 more mins. Remember we don't want it fully cooked. 50% cooked is good enough.
4. Now add rice which is only 70% cooked and mix well. Long grain rices work the best. I use Basmati rice.
Common mistakes
- Control sauce portions or they can your fried rice soggy.
- We want the veggies to be semi-cooked. That gives a crunchy texture.
I used to get my veggies soggy before I could add rice. So I ll write the recipe and follow with common mistakes and tips
Fried Rice
1. In 3 tbsp oil, fry 1 slit green chillies, slivered garlic pieces, spring onions and fry well..
2. Add carrots, peas, broccoli, musrooms, soy sauce, chillie sauce, 1 tsp ajinomotto, salt.
3. After having fried the above well, add cabbage and capsicum and fry for 3 more mins. Remember we don't want it fully cooked. 50% cooked is good enough.
4. Now add rice which is only 70% cooked and mix well. Long grain rices work the best. I use Basmati rice.
Common mistakes
- Control sauce portions or they can your fried rice soggy.
- We want the veggies to be semi-cooked. That gives a crunchy texture.
Recipe #2 - Pirattal - A chettinadu flavor
I am an ardent fan of chettinad food, it's spicy, it's extremely different from our mundane sambars and finally it employs all the veggies just like many popular cuisines.
I didn't know that cuisine has so much to offer even for a vegetarian like me.
I follow Mallika Badrinath for chettinadu dishes. Her north indian recipe books lack the aunthetic taste. but for south indian vegearian dishes I love hers the best
Here goes the recipe for Pirattal
Boil 3 carrots, 2 potaotes and 1 small cauliflower, 1/4 cup peas.
For me california style of mexican style veggies packet helps best. Instant and equally nutritious and less pricy. I am for frozen veggies anyday.
Heat oil and add mustard, aniseed, curry leaves, 2 tbsp onion.
Once onions are brown, add 2 tbsp tomatoes and fry till all this is pulpy.
Grind grated fresh coconut 2 tbsp, 7 red chillies, 1 tsp cumin seeds, 1/4 tsp aniseed, 1 tbsp gram and 1 tsp poppy seeds. Add to onion and tomatoes.
Fry till you get a good aroma and then add steamed veggies and salt. When all of it is a thick paste, switch off. Add to rice and ghee and eat.
Dellllliiiiiicious !!!!!!!!!!!! My new year weight loss resolutions up in the air ! B went fida too !
ps- it came out dry , so you can consider adding little water while frying
I didn't know that cuisine has so much to offer even for a vegetarian like me.
I follow Mallika Badrinath for chettinadu dishes. Her north indian recipe books lack the aunthetic taste. but for south indian vegearian dishes I love hers the best
Here goes the recipe for Pirattal
Boil 3 carrots, 2 potaotes and 1 small cauliflower, 1/4 cup peas.
For me california style of mexican style veggies packet helps best. Instant and equally nutritious and less pricy. I am for frozen veggies anyday.
Heat oil and add mustard, aniseed, curry leaves, 2 tbsp onion.
Once onions are brown, add 2 tbsp tomatoes and fry till all this is pulpy.
Grind grated fresh coconut 2 tbsp, 7 red chillies, 1 tsp cumin seeds, 1/4 tsp aniseed, 1 tbsp gram and 1 tsp poppy seeds. Add to onion and tomatoes.
Fry till you get a good aroma and then add steamed veggies and salt. When all of it is a thick paste, switch off. Add to rice and ghee and eat.
Dellllliiiiiicious !!!!!!!!!!!! My new year weight loss resolutions up in the air ! B went fida too !
ps- it came out dry , so you can consider adding little water while frying
Recipe #1 - If Coriandar and Peas is all you have
Recipe #1
Nita Sharma has been one my favorite chefs fow an year now. Her recipes are simple, ingredients are easy to find and my book called ' 10 minutes cooking' is a hit in my house.
Grind together 2 cups chopped cilantro, 4 flakes garlic, 1 in Ginger, 2 Green Chillies, juice of one lemon, 1 tomato and salt.
Saute jeera, hing and kalonji ( onion seeds) and add 2 cups shelled peas. fry well for 5 mins and add dhaniya paste.
Pressure cook if possible or leave on gas for 15 mins. Add tomato finally. Serve hot..
This goes well with chappathis and cream. Achar would complete the combination.
For those who, like me enjoy the smell of fresh cilantro ( coriandar), green chillies this is a great side dish to chappthis.
I used the left over with rice the next day.
Nita Sharma has been one my favorite chefs fow an year now. Her recipes are simple, ingredients are easy to find and my book called ' 10 minutes cooking' is a hit in my house.
Grind together 2 cups chopped cilantro, 4 flakes garlic, 1 in Ginger, 2 Green Chillies, juice of one lemon, 1 tomato and salt.
Saute jeera, hing and kalonji ( onion seeds) and add 2 cups shelled peas. fry well for 5 mins and add dhaniya paste.
Pressure cook if possible or leave on gas for 15 mins. Add tomato finally. Serve hot..
This goes well with chappathis and cream. Achar would complete the combination.
For those who, like me enjoy the smell of fresh cilantro ( coriandar), green chillies this is a great side dish to chappthis.
I used the left over with rice the next day.
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Julie and Julia on my Blog
Extremely inspired by the movie 'Julie and Julia' combined with my passion to cook, I am looking for a role-model-cook to follow. Perhaps I ll have multiple cooks to follow. Definitely Sanjay Thumma is one of them.
The idea of having a deadline was cool.
So here is the commitment. Starting Jan 2nd 2010 - I ll have 364 days to finish 100 recipes. For food lovers it'll be a great place to relate to. Plus there will be some discoveries, some experience sharing and some inspiration for the readers. I am looking for a counter currently.
What am I going to try ? "Indo-Mexican, Indo-Chinese, Indo-Western" keeps it easy and yet interesting for me ! Still thinking on something unique.
How about some guest entries too...
What a resolution for a foodie !
The idea of having a deadline was cool.
So here is the commitment. Starting Jan 2nd 2010 - I ll have 364 days to finish 100 recipes. For food lovers it'll be a great place to relate to. Plus there will be some discoveries, some experience sharing and some inspiration for the readers. I am looking for a counter currently.
What am I going to try ? "Indo-Mexican, Indo-Chinese, Indo-Western" keeps it easy and yet interesting for me ! Still thinking on something unique.
How about some guest entries too...
What a resolution for a foodie !
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Green Chutney - Nutritious and Easy
How about having a single side dish which goes excellently well with Chappathis, Idlis, Dosas, breads and even rice ? How about not having to make it each time you want to have it ? Here is the recipe for an easy Nutritious green chutney.
Finding "healthy, Easy to make and tasty" food is rare. Here is the recipe of one of the most useful chutneys I have ever had.
Ingredients :
2 Cups Mint leaves
1 Cup cut Coriander leaves
2 Green Chillies ( You can increase if you want)
3/4 cup Onion ( Preferably small green ones, I use whatever is there at home)
Some Lemon Juice for tanginess
Salt to Taste
Method :
Grind them all raw into fine paste. THAT'S IT !
Uses :
1. You can store this chutney in fridge for a little more than a week and use it as and when you need it. You can have this chutney with little curd/yoghurt/Sour cream. Together they serve as an excellent accompaniment to Dosas, Idlis and Chappathis.
2. With Sour cream or Yoghurt when you blend this chutney, you can spread it on bread.
3. The chutney can be had with all North Indian chats like samosas, Kachodi, Pakodas, Bhel Puri etc.
4. With Gujju snacks like Dhoklas, it's an ideal side dish.
5. Mix some buttermilk/ curds to make a delicious Raitha which goes well with pulavs, Sambhar rice etc.
6. Blend this chutney with Yoghurt and instantly it acts like a dip for tortilla chips or potato chips...
Finding "healthy, Easy to make and tasty" food is rare. Here is the recipe of one of the most useful chutneys I have ever had.
Ingredients :
2 Cups Mint leaves
1 Cup cut Coriander leaves
2 Green Chillies ( You can increase if you want)
3/4 cup Onion ( Preferably small green ones, I use whatever is there at home)
Some Lemon Juice for tanginess
Salt to Taste
Method :
Grind them all raw into fine paste. THAT'S IT !
Uses :
1. You can store this chutney in fridge for a little more than a week and use it as and when you need it. You can have this chutney with little curd/yoghurt/Sour cream. Together they serve as an excellent accompaniment to Dosas, Idlis and Chappathis.
2. With Sour cream or Yoghurt when you blend this chutney, you can spread it on bread.
3. The chutney can be had with all North Indian chats like samosas, Kachodi, Pakodas, Bhel Puri etc.
4. With Gujju snacks like Dhoklas, it's an ideal side dish.
5. Mix some buttermilk/ curds to make a delicious Raitha which goes well with pulavs, Sambhar rice etc.
6. Blend this chutney with Yoghurt and instantly it acts like a dip for tortilla chips or potato chips...
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Notes on OATS
"Fiber" in diet is a mantra these days for healthy heart. You find fibre pills, fibrous vegetables more than ever before. Oats is top on the list when you think of fibre for breakfast. Here are some details I collected about OATS.
If you don't like it as a breakfast item, there are alternatives. Read further to get tips on oats.
Amazingly, the processing of oats does not take away anything as in the case of other grains.
The finer the grain, the faster it will leave you hungry. Of course, the larger or thicker it is, the longer it will take to cook. But then, we do know that a slow-cooked dish is tastier by far, don't we?
Benefits :
Oats offer an unbeatable number of health benefits: seven B vitamins, Vitamin E, and nine minerals, including calcium and iron. Oats have twice the amount of protein as wheat and corn, including essential amino acids-good for growth, maintenance and repair of the body. Importantly, a high level of soluble fibre is found in oats and this helps keep blood pressure and cholesterol levels in check, thereby protecting you against cardio-vascular diseases.
Soluble fibres also act as bottle brushes in the intestines, cleansing them of toxins and food debris. Its complex carbohydrates (sugar from them is released slowly in the blood stream) are good for diabetics, weight and health-watchers alike. Oats also have GLA (gamma linoleic acid), known for its anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties.
Ways with Oats :
1. Breakfast Cereal - Sweet or Salted. Steamed first. Add milk or curd, honey and nut.
2. Since they have been steamed for processing, they can even be eaten 'raw'. Just roast slightly for flavour and add gomasio (a healthy salt), or drizzle with cheese and pepper.
3. Add to cakes, cookies, shortcrust pastry, breads, pancakes, soups and dosas.
4. Oats Upma - Quaker is best. Delicious Oats Upma Recipe here at Saffron Trail.
I buy quaker oats.
I have compiled this post from various sources including preventionindia and several culinary blogs. You can add to the details :-)...
Wishes from me for a healthy heart and happy life.
If you don't like it as a breakfast item, there are alternatives. Read further to get tips on oats.
Amazingly, the processing of oats does not take away anything as in the case of other grains.
The finer the grain, the faster it will leave you hungry. Of course, the larger or thicker it is, the longer it will take to cook. But then, we do know that a slow-cooked dish is tastier by far, don't we?
Benefits :
Oats offer an unbeatable number of health benefits: seven B vitamins, Vitamin E, and nine minerals, including calcium and iron. Oats have twice the amount of protein as wheat and corn, including essential amino acids-good for growth, maintenance and repair of the body. Importantly, a high level of soluble fibre is found in oats and this helps keep blood pressure and cholesterol levels in check, thereby protecting you against cardio-vascular diseases.
Ways with Oats :
1. Breakfast Cereal - Sweet or Salted. Steamed first. Add milk or curd, honey and nut.
2. Since they have been steamed for processing, they can even be eaten 'raw'. Just roast slightly for flavour and add gomasio (a healthy salt), or drizzle with cheese and pepper.
3. Add to cakes, cookies, shortcrust pastry, breads, pancakes, soups and dosas.
4. Oats Upma - Quaker is best. Delicious Oats Upma Recipe here at Saffron Trail.
I buy quaker oats.
I have compiled this post from various sources including preventionindia and several culinary blogs. You can add to the details :-)...
Wishes from me for a healthy heart and happy life.
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