Lentil Soup

Vegetables
Carrots (chopped) - 2
Peas - 1 tbsp
Corn - 1 tbsp
Onion (chopped) - 1 medium
Ginger (grated) - 1 inch
Garlic (grated) - 4 cloves
Green Chilli (chopped) - 2

Lentils
Brown Lentils - 2 tbsp
Sprouted Lentil Mix (from Costco) - 1 tbsp
Moth Daal - 1 tbsp

Grains
Qunioa - 1 tbsp (washed)
Farro -  1 tbsp
Bulgur - 1 tsp

Procedure:

Add olive oil, cumin seeds and saute onion, ginger, garlic, green chillies for 2 mins. Then add all other vegetables and grains. Add 5 cups of water and add salt, turmeric, cumin powder and pressure cook for 1 whistle and then leave it cooking on low heat for 30 mins.

Voila... open and garnish with cilantro and enjoy!!!

Zucchini Crisps

1 Zucchini
2 tbsp Parmesan Cheese
1 tsp Olive Oil
Black Pepper

Note: No extra SALT

1. Cut Zucchini into small rounds. Put in a bowl and toss with the olive oil and black pepper.
2. On a baking sheet, arrange these rounds so that they don't overlap. Sprinkle the Parmesan cheese on top. Remember, we are eating healthy.. so go easy on the cheese.
3. Crank up the oven to 375 F and  bake for 35-40 mins.
4. Check to see if they are crisp and not burnt. Once done, finish them in less than 2 mins..lol!

Healthy (Paushtik) Roti

Its been a while I added any recipe... just woke up from hibernation :)

I had a lot of healthy grains/seeds at home and I was wondering what I should do with them, so i mixed it all up and made this roti...

So, here is the recipe:

Ingredients

1 cup whole wheat bran
1/4 cup roasted flaxseed (grounded)
1/4 cup oatmeal (grounded)
1/2 cup chickpea flour (besan)
2 cups whole wheat flour
2 green chillies (optional)
salt to taste (usually a tsp)

Process

Make a dough with all the ingredients. Roll it out and make roti's... It's that easy!!!!

Enjoy!!! 

Some articles to read

http://www.shape.com/healthy-eating/healthy-drinks/best-juice-whats-bugging-you?page=8

http://www.shape.com/healthy-eating/healthy-drinks/15-creative-alternatives-coffee

Cabbage Burgers (well almost!!)

So, the other day i was frying some cabbage fritters and thought to myself, if i can fry it then why can't I bake them/shallow fry them. Then, there was no stopping...

Ingredients:

Cabbage - 2 cups (nicely chopped/shredded)
Gram Flour (aka Besan in Indian store) - 1 cup
Chopped Ginger - 2 tsp
Chopped Green Chillies - 1 tsp
Cumin - 1 pinch

Salt and Pepper to taste

Procedure:

Add all the ingredients in a bowl and mix well. Use a little water if the mixture is too thick. Divide the mixture into 6-7 balls. In a hot skillet, spray a little PAM. Just like burgers, create one at a time and put them on the skillet. Add a little oil and cook it and then turn it. Cook on the other side as well. When half way, press the burger to flatten it a little and just cook like regular burgers. I like to start with very less oil and then once it is half way done, i add my share of olive oil :) This makes them soft and non-dry.


Notes: For all my friends on IP diet, i would suggest eating 2 burgers with some hot sauce (if u like spicy). For the ones, that like to eat as a burger, spread 3-4 leafs of lettuce, cucumber, tomato, spread some low fat mayo, ketchup or just the hot suace and add the burger and enjoy....

Stir Fry Vegetables with chopped cauliflower (as your carbohydrate)

Ingredients:

1 Cauliflower
4 heads bok choy
2 cups baby spinach
1 green pepper
1 Tomato
1 cup vegetable broth(Low Sodium)
2 tsp Soy Sauce
1 tbsp Chilli Paste
1 tsp Corn Starch

Cauliflower Recipe:
Pulse/Chop all cauliflower in a blender and saute it with some salt and pepper in a hot skillet. Saute for 6-7 mins.

Stir Fry:

In a pan, add 2 tbsp EVOO, vegetable broth, soy sauce, chilli paste and corn starch. Mix well and let it reduce for 2-3 mins. Add all the vegetables and let cook for 6-8 mins and adjust salt and pepper. Add 1/2 cup of vegetable broth so that it is a gravy dish.

Now the serving part:

Scoop 2 ladles of cauliflower and put in the middle of the plate. Add gravy vegetables on top. Enjoy... and let me know what you think.....

Sautéed Spinach

Until now i only knew spinach could be eaten in Palak Paneer, Daals or salads. Recently, i tried sauteed spinach at a chinese restaurant and i have to say i was quite amazed that it tasted delicious. Spinach?? Really??
So, i thought of trying to make that at home...The good part is that you control what you put into it.

Ingredients:

1 bag baby spinach
garlic powder - 1/2 tsp is enough, but varies based on taste
Salt and Pepper
EVOO

Procedure:

In a skillet, add 1 tbsp of EVOO, add a pinch of salt and pepper in that, and then add spinach. Saute for a minute or two, add garlic powder, adjust salt and pepper and enjoy....

Tip: Do not let the water released by spinach to dry up. This is a little watery dish. You can also add red bell peppers so that the spinach alone would not take funny :)


Trivia: This dish costs $7 at a regular chinese restaurant....you can do the maths how much it cost ya!!!