Did you know you can make full-flavored, creamy soup with out broth and dairy? Trust me you will not miss broth, butter in taste, flavor and aroma. Soup is supposed to be light. It is an anticipation to upcoming meal. With broth and heavy cream soup can load up calories equivalent to meal. Soups made of canned ingredients and stock cubes are high in sodium, bad fat, less in nutrients. This kind of soup is unsatisfactory too. Soup is my favorite fall, winter relish. It feels so comforting sipping a warm bowl of soup.
Lotus root kung pao
Just as visually appealing is flower, is root with holes. It’s a popular flower and vegetable throughout Asia. It is nothing but Lotus root. Lotus young flower, root, flower stalks and seeds are edible. Petals are used to make tea in China. Seeds are called makhane in India. Kheer and curries are made out of makhane. Just like its appealing looks, Lotus root is luxuriously delectable and healthy. Impress your date, family or guests cooking with this stunning looking yet heavenly vegetable.
Spicy asparagus, avocado lettuce wrap
A vibrant, crunchy, protein rich, light dinner or medium-sized snack. Smooth avocado with roasted red bell peppers, crunchy asparagus makes this dish a vivid delicacy. Those times when you don’t have big appetite for dinner or feel lazy to make roti, this dish serves your purpose. Usually I make this dish with left over avocado. When hot,…
Cilantro and onion chutney
Chutney made of vibrant greens and rich veggies, is vegetarian heaven. A natural multi vitamin. This vegan, vegetarian cruelty-free dish leaves you a priceless satisfaction especially when you make at home. Try it once. Incorporate brightly colored vegetables in your diet. Being on all-natural diet rich in leafy greens, fresh vegetables, and brightly colored produce that you see in farmers market and local market have lot of health benefits. Make your way through the farmers’ market today.
Chutney’s are staple food in Southern India. A variety of chutneys can be made with mix n match of vegetables, oils and nuts. Aromatic spices with vegetables, nuts in tampering makes chutney an ultimately delicious and healthy. Chutney’s made of such unique blend is loaded with iron, vitamins and anti oxidants. Traditionally, vegetables are cooked in spices and crushed with hand in mortar pestle. Chutneys is usually consumed with rice with ghee poured on top.
Purslane with mung lentils
From salad to stir-fry to dals, purslane is versatile leaf to use. Purslane is native to India and Persia, and thats where it is known as an edible plant. Rest of the world knows it as weed. It is known as Paruppu Keerai in tamil, gangabayala kura in telugu, kulfa in hindi. Many countries use purslane as a food.
Purslane has fleshy succulent leaves and stems. It can be called as tasty, easy to grow weed with rich nutrients. Purslane grows anywhere from fertile to the infertile soils. You can substitute spinach in many recipes with purslane and get 2-6 times more nutrients. Young, raw leaves and stems are tender and are good in salads and sandwiches. They can also be lightly steamed or stir-fried.
Black eye peas, samosa with alfalfa sprouts chaat
Chaat can be best described as salty, sweet and tangy savory snack. Chaat can be delicious and healthy if deep-fried items are avoided. Adding small amounts of fried stuff is ok, but consuming all fried items mean bloating yourself with calories.
Though there are tons of varieties of chaats, every dish has a unique, most cherishing taste. Chaats are great way to socialize and entertain. The road side carts in India and other countries serving chaats are favorite time pass spots to many families, friends, lovers, flirts. Chaats are excellent to entertain your guests with side of cocktail or lemonade.
Whole-grain, kale, moong lentil falafel
Those moong lentils sitting in your cupboard have been trying to say something. Let me out… play with spices and cook me crunchy. Fried in oil, moong dal can transform into a crispy, nutty, savory snack. Reach for something crunchy when you need snack. If you haven’t heard of Masala vada, allow me to do the honors of introducing. Masala vada is South Indian crispy, savory fried snack. It is one of most crowd cheered festive snack. Which makes its appearance in every home on a festival day, entertaining smiley family and friends. In different southern states, they are also called masala garelu, masal vadai, paruppu vadai. If you haven’t tried this snack yet, also allow me to introduce to all-natural step-by-step recipe. This is dangerous knowledge.
Beetroot, carrot raita
Raita is a mixture of yogurt, vegetables, sometimes fruit. It is Indian’s most favorite dish. It is an excellent combination with rice, biryani, pulav, kebabs. Usually consumed at end of meal maybe to cool down the spices. Not sure if cooling is the intent but it always works.
Raita recipe has no set rules to be followed. Thats because recipe is adaptable. A simple mix of homemade yogurt, veggies, herbs, spices or fruits will yield a luscious, flavorful raita. Cucumber, onions and carrots are usual veggies added to raita.
What is ghee, how to make it? Is ghee good for you?
Nothing can make your dish luscious aromatic like homemade ghee. Homemade as always is fresh, flavorful and way better than store-bought. I am a big fan of ghee. Ghee has a big significance and is a staple food in India.I grew up watching my grandma making butter in olden way by churning with a round wooden spoon, then heating it to make ghee. The word “ghee” kept rumbling in my ears all my life from my grandma, mom, aunts. I even used to steal and eat ghee while my mom was asleep.
Traditional Indian cuisine is never complete without aromatic Ghee. Not only in cooking, ghee is also an excellent all-natural moisturizer, lip balm and used in Ayurvedic medicine. Hindu rituals are performed of pouring ghee into fire.
Gongura pesto pasta
Gongura (Hibiscus Sabdariffa) leaves – the most popular dish in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, India. Gongura leaves are widely used in andhra pradesh. It holds a very special place in andhra peoples hearts. It is called as Andhra favorite dish – Andhra maatha or Andhra Shakambari Varaprasadam. Gongura known as Jamaican sorrel leaves in carribean countries, as Roselle, florida cranberries in western countries. It is known as ambadi or pulicha keerai, LalChatni, Kutrum, Tengamora, Aamelli, Pundi Palle, Pitwaa, Taka bhendi, Khata Palanga, Kotrum, Mestapat, Amaari in other parts of India.
