Thursday, April 5, 2018

Spicy Vegan Chickpea Omelette | Egg-less Omelette Recipe : Gluten free and Vegan Recipe


Why on earth do you need to make and egg-less omelette?  Because.., there are few (rather many!!) of us who do not prefer to eat eggs. This recipe is also for kids/adults who are allergic to eggs and diary. This recipe is a mock omelette recipe (just like mock duck or mock meat!!). We do not understand how risky certain food is for people(especially kids) with allergies.

Can we get started now?

Preparation Time: 5 mins 
Cooking Time: About couple of minutes for each omelette
Serves: Makes about 4 omelettes.



Ingredients:
Chickpea Flour | Besan : 1/2 cup
Salt: As needed
Onion: 1 tbsp, finely chopped
Tomato: 1 tbsp, finely chopped, refer notes
Red bell pepper: 1 tbsp, finely chopped, optional, refer notes
Cilantro | Coriander leaves: 2 tsp, finely chopped
Grated ginger: 1 tsp, optional
Kala Namak : 1/2 tsp, refer notes
Baking soda: 1/8 tsp or a pinch
Salt: As needed
Red chili powder: 1/4 tsp
Water: 1/2 cup + 2 tbsp, adjust accordingly

Other ingredients:
Cooking oil: 1/2 tsp, for each omelette



Method:
Sieve the chickpea flour.

 Add the red chili powder, salt, baking soda, kala namak to the flour and mix.
Add the finely chopped onion, tomato, pepper, cilantro and water to the dry ingredients and whisk well. Make sure there are no lumps.


Chickpea flour easily lumps up. So, whisk well.
Let the batter sit for 10 mins.
Meantime, heat the griddle. When griddle is hot, brush the griddle with oil and pour a ladle full of batter on to the griddle.

Cook until golden brown on both the sides.
Repeat with the remaining batter.
Serve it with a ketchup, green chutney or omelette placed in between bread slices.


Notes:
I de-seed the tomato and chop them fine. Tomato seeds and pulp would ooze out the tomato juice and impart a tomato flavor to the omelette. I do not like that.
Replace red bell pepper to any other pepper of your choice or skip it.
I like the taste of kala namak. You can easily find this salt at the Indian Grocers. Try adding it once. It'll impart a nice flavor.




Tuesday, March 27, 2018

Spicy Avocado And Spinach Paratha : Wholegrain Vegan Spinach Flatbread


 (PS: The struggle is real guys! Can you see the little hands wanting to lick the pickle)

For people who do not get avocado in their Country, just chill and skip adding avocado. Instead if you have tofu or cottage cheese (paneer) handy, feel free to add it. This is a kick-ass spicy parantha . You could adjust the spice level according to your needs.

Do not get overwhelmed by the amount of ingredients. These are easily available at home. Or you can fetch them at any Indian Grocers.

Verdict: I have a 11 year old who starts drinking water just by seeing chilies or hearing the word spice/spicy. He is very very hard to convince and he loves this paratha. He calls this pasta paratha. Pasta is his favorite food and this paratha comes close to pasta taste. That is his explanation!! Whatever..I'm happy that he likes this paratha.



Notes: 
I have blanched the spinach and then pureed here. But, if you are using baby spinach, you do not have to blanch.
I have added flax seed powder to increase the nutritional level of the paratha. You could skip it or replace it with soybean flour or any other nut powder.
I have used garlic powder as I did not want the raw smell of garlic to overpower. If you do not have garlic powder, you could use dry roast the garlic, grate and use it.
Replace garlic powder with fennel powder for a different flavor.
You could make triangular, layered, circular or square paratha.
I have used peanut oil to shallow fry the paratha. You could use clarified butter, butter or olive oil too.

Preparation Time: 30-45 mins
Cooking Time: About 2 mins for each paratha
Makes: 10 parathas, 



Ingredients:
For the Dough:
Spinach : 2 heaped cups,
Avocado: 1 small or 1/2 of a large avocado
Garlic: 2 big cloves, or 6-8 small nos (Indian Variety)
Green chili: 2 nos
Lemon juice: 2 tsp
Whole wheat flour: 2 cups
Chickpea flour | Besan : 1/2 cup
Flax seed powder | Flax meal: 2 tbsp, refer notes
Oil: 2 tsp
Salt: As needed
Water: As needed

For sprinkling the spices on the paratha:
Dhania powder | Coriander powder: 1 tsp
Chaat masala : 1 tsp
Red chili powder: 1 tsp
Salt: As needed
Cumin powder: 1/2 tsp

Other ingredients:
Oil: For shallow frying the paratha
Dry wheat flour: For dusting and rolling the paratha

Special equipment:
A rolling pin



Method: 
Making the dough:
Blanch the spinach and keep it aside. Scoop out the flesh from the avocado and mash it gently.
Put the spinach, mashed avocado, garlic, green chili in a food processor and make a puree from it.

You do not need to add any water.
Mix the dry flours in another bowl (whole wheat flour, chickpea flour, flax seeds powder, and salt).
Scoop the spinach and avocado paste onto the dry flours. Add the lemon juice to it and mix well.

Add few tablespoons of water at a time to the mixture and make a soft and pliable dough. The dough should not stick to your hands. Once the dough is formed, add the oil and knead the dough for couple of minutes.

Rest the dough to absorb the flavors for 30 mins to 1 hour.

Rolling the dough:
Divide the dough equally to yield 10 mandarin orange sized balls or big lime sized balls.

Mix all the dry spices mentioned above. (under the section for sprinkling the spice on the paratha)


Dust the working surface generously and roll the dough ball into 5 inch circle.
Sprinkle the spice powder, few drops of oil and some flour on the rolled dough.

Fold it like a triangle, square or circle.
Let it rest until you repeat the procedure for the next couple of dough balls.
Dust the folded dough square and roll into a 1/4in square paratha. (or any other shape of your choice)

Shallow frying the paratha:
Heat a griddle on a medium-high heat. When the griddle is hot enough, add few drops of oil on the griddle and place the rolled paratha. Add oil onto the edges of the paratha and shallow fry it on both sides until it turns golden brown.



Thursday, March 22, 2018

Halu Menasina Saaru | Pepper Rasam made using Milk: An excellent home remedy for common cold


As kids whenever we got cold or sore throat, our mom would make this rasam. She made sure we eat it and gave it as a drink too. Honestly when I was a kid, I didn't enjoy eating this. I gave innumerable reasons to avoid eating this rasam. What goes around comes around, isn't it? Now, my son does the same thing that I did to my mom. I really feel sorry for her now.

Anyways, that's for another day. After I started making this rasam for myself, I enjoy eating, drinking and even bathing with it. You know what I mean ;)

This rasam will wake up your senses and all the blocked sinuses will start running.

Preparation Time : 10 mins
Cooking Time: 15 mins
Serves : 2 to 3


Ingredients:
For the rasam:
Water: About 3 cups
Salt: As needed
Milk: About 1/4 cup, refer notes
Jaggery or brown sugar: 2 tsp
Spice powder: 3 tbsp

For the spice powder:
Pepper corns: 1/2 or 3/4 tsp
Cumin seeds: 1 tsp
Coriander seeds: 1/4 tsp, optional
Dry coconut : 1 tbsp, grated or powdered

For the tempering:
Coconut oil: 1 tsp, or any oil of your choice.
Mustard seeds: 1/2 tsp
Cumin seeds: 1/2 tsp
Curry leaves: 4-6 nos, torn
Asafoetida: a big pinch



Method:
Dry roast the pepper corns, cumin seeds and coriander seeds until they leave out a nutty flavor. Turn off the heat and allow it to cool.

Once cool, blend together the roasted spices with dry coconut. Make a fine powder.

Mix together water, spice powder, salt and jaggery. Allow it to boil on a low-medium heat for 15 mins. Your house will smell amazing during this time!!

After the liquid has thickened up a bit, add the milk.

Allow the mixture to boil again for another 5-7 mins.
Meantime, prepare the tempering. Add coconut oil to a small wok. When oil is hot, add the mustard and cumin seeds. When the seeds crackle, add the curry leaves. Let the curry leaves wilt and turn off the heat. Add the asafoetida/hing after turning off the heat.

Pour this tempering over the boiling rasam and close the lid of the rasam.
The tempering will be infused in the rasam making it more flavorful.
Serve it hot as a drink, or with rice and a side dish.



Notes:
  • I mostly use whole milk to make this rasam. If you are using fat free or 1% milk, you might want to reduce the water and add more milk accordingly.
  • Do not use hot milk to this. Always use milk that is at room temperature, or else milk will curdle.
  • Also do not add milk in the first step. Let the spices boil in water first.

Wednesday, June 28, 2017

Quickest bisi bele bath | Pressure cooker bisi bele bath | Cracked wheat bisi bele bath


This is a diabetic friendly bisi bele bath as it is made with cracked wheat (godhi nucchu or daliya) instead of the rice. It's also one of the quickest one pot meal. It's nutritious, healthy and a complete meal by itself.

Preparation Time: 15 mins
Cooking Time: 30 mins
Serves:3-4 


Ingredients:
Broken wheat - 1 cup
Pigeon pea dal / Toor Dal - 1/2 cup
Mixed Vegetables - 2 cups (Carrot, beans, green peas, potatoes, chow-chow, beets), refer notes

Surti lilwa/avrekalu : 1/4 cup
Tamarind - small lime/lemon sized
Jaggery - According to taste, optional

Turmeric powder: 1/4 tsp
Asafoetida: 1 big pinch
Salt - According to taste

Homemade bisi bele bath powder: About 1/4th cup
Oil: 2 tsp

Ingredients for tempering (Tadka):
Peanuts - 1 table spoon
Cashew Nuts - 4-6
Ghee - 2 table spoons
Red Chilly - 1, broken
Curry Leaves :4-6 nos, torn
Mustard Seeds: 1 tsp
Asafoetida: a big pinch
Bell peppers/capsicum - 1 finely chopped (Optional)




Method:
Wash the broken wheat and toor dal together in running water. Drain the water from the mixture and let it soak for about 10 mins.

Meantime soak the tamarind in the hot/warm water. We need the extract of the tamarind. (PS: The other item in the photo is the jaggery syrup or brown sugar syrup).
(PS: 1. Soaked Tamarind, 
        2. Jaggery syrup
        3. Bisi bele bath powder
        4. Turmeric
        5. Salt
        6. Asafoetida)
Heat oil in the pressure cooker. When oil is hot, add the broken wheat and toor dal. Saute the broken wheat and dal for couple of minutes. 
To that add the chopped vegetables, surti lilwa, and mix well.
Add about 5 cups of water to the pressure cooker. 
Add the salt, tamarind extract, jaggery, asafoetida, turmeric powder and the bisi bele bath powder to the cooker. Mix well. 
Close the pressure cooker lid and cook the mixture on a  medium-high heat for 4 whistles. Turn off the heat and let the pressure release. It'll take a minimum of 15 mins for the pressure to release. 

Meantime prepare the seasoning. Heat ghee (clarified butter) on a small pan/wok. When ghee is hot, add the mustard seeds, followed by peanuts. Saute the peanuts on a low-medium heat. When peanuts turn golden brown, add the curry leaves, asafoetida and the bell peppers. Saute the bell peppers till they turn soft yet crunchy. 

Release the pressure from the cooker and pour the seasoning over the cooked bisi bele bath. Mix well and serve. (Refer notes)


Notes:

  • I add about a tbsp of finely chopped beets (beetroot) to get a rich color to the bisi bele bath.
  • If the cooked mixture is too hard, add a cup of boiling water, mix well and cook again for a couple of minutes.
  • I use the ratio 1 cup of broken wheat + lentils to 3 cups of water. Half cup on the higher side wont hurt.
  • If you are using the Instant pot, first saute as usual in saute mode. Then turn it on in manual mode (sealing postion ON) for 11 mins. Tada!








Monday, June 12, 2017

Stage 1 foods: 10 ways to feed your baby vegan and gluten free rice cereal

You can serve this baby rice cereal in 101 ways, literally. I am showing you some of the ways that I serve for my baby. As mentioned in the previous posts, I am still avoiding the wheat, sugar and salt.

Let us first understand how to cook the homemade baby rice cereal

Ingredients:
Homemade rice cereal: 1 tbsp, refer notes
Water: 3 tbsp or 1/4 cup, refer notes

Method:

Add water to a kadai/sauce pan.
When water comes to a rolling boil, add the rice cereal, mix thoroughly.
Cook on a low-medium heat for 5-7 mins.
When the cereal becomes thick and gets cooked, turn off the heat.
Allow it to cool and serve.


Refer the video to check for the consistency.


Notes:
If you want to make runnier cereal, add only 2 tsp of rice cereal to 1/4 cup water. For thicker versions, add a little more than 1 tbsp. Few trial and errors, you'll get the consistency right for you and for your baby.
If the baby is big enough, you can cook the rice cereal with vegetable broth or chicken broth.
I have already mentioned, how to make baby purees at home. All the purees that I have used are home made.

Option 1: Rice cereal with breastmilk/formula milk.
After the rice cereal has cooled down, add about 1 oz of formula and feed. Adjust the consistency according to your baby's needs.


Option 2: Rice cereal with apple puree and a dash of cinnamon powder.
After the rice cereal has cooled down, add about 2 oz of apple puree, a dash of cinnamon powder. Mix well and feed. Adjust the consistency according to your baby's needs.


Option 3: Carrot rice cereal pudding
After the rice cereal has cooled down, add about 2 oz of carrot puree. Mix well and feed. Adjust the consistency according to your baby's needs.



Option 4: Mango rice cereal pudding
After the rice cereal has cooled down, add about 2 oz of mango puree. Mix well and feed. Adjust the consistency according to your baby's needs. This is my personal favorite. It tastes so yum!

Option 5: Rice cereal with pureed butternut squash
After the rice cereal has cooled down, add about 2 oz of butternut squash puree. Mix well and feed. Adjust the consistency according to your baby's needs.

Option 6: Rice cereal mixed with plain Greek yogurt (curd)
After the rice cereal has cooled down, add about 2 oz of thick plain yogurt. Mix well and feed. Adjust the consistency according to your baby's needs.


Option 7: Rice cereal mixed with pear puree.
After the rice cereal has cooled down, add about 2 oz of pear puree. Mix well and feed. Adjust the consistency according to your baby's needs.


Option 8: Dates and rice cereal pudding
After the rice cereal has cooled down, add about 1 or 2 tsp of thick dates paste. Mix well and feed. Adjust the consistency according to your baby's needs.

Option 9: Rice cereal cooked with sweet potato puree.
Instead of water, add about 2 oz of sweet potato puree and about 2 oz of water. Cook the rice cereal in this mixture. Allow it to cool and serve.

Option 10: Rice cereal and banana pudding.
After the rice cereal has cooled down, add about 1 or 2 tbsp of mashed banana. Mix well and feed. Adjust the consistency according to your baby's needs.

The options do not end here. You can feed the baby with peas puree, mashed avocado, and other stage 1 foods puree. These are perfect stage 1 foods. 

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