Soup Recipe- Carrot and Lentil with bread sticks

Carrot beetroot and lentil soup

Carrot beetroot and lentil soup

This is another healthy and quick soup to enjoy in winter. Last week I made this soup with fresh carrots, beetroot and added little red lentil which made the soup more thick and yummy. I  normally make only carrot and beetroot soup but this time I wanted something different. This soup is quick and tastes yum when added lemon juice. So lets start

Ingredients

Carrot 2 cups chopped

Beetroot 1/2 cup chopped

Red lentil 2 tablespoons

Dried bay leaf 1 small

Minced Garlic 1 tsp

Butter 1tsp

Salt to taste

Pepper 1/2 teaspoon

Lemon juice 1/2 tsp

Red chilli powder 1/2 tsp( optional)

Veg stock 5 cups

Method

Start with peeling and chopping the vegetables.

Put the vegetables and red lentil in a pressure cooker, add little salt and 1 cup water, give 3 whistle.

Open the cooker and let it cool.

Now grind the boiled vegetables and dal in a smooth paste.

Heat butter in a heavy bottomed pan.

Add bay leaf, onion and garlic.

Fry for 2 to 3 mins.

Add the puree, salt and pepper.

Add the vegetable stock and let it boil.

Add red chilli powder.

Serve hot with baked bread sticks.

Egg and chicken frankie

Chicken frankie

Chicken and egg frankie

Normally in India it is called Egg roll and chicken roll and is a very popular street food. It is very easy to make at home and it tastes delicious. If you are a vegetarian skip egg and chicken and prepare the filling with veggies. Today I made two frankies one with egg and one with chicken sausage. First lets learn how to make egg roll.

 Ingredients

Chapatis/ tortillas 1

Egg 1

Pepper powder 1/4 tsp

Oil 1 1/2 tsp

Onion 1 sliced

Green Chilli 1 chopped

Cucumber 1/2 sliced

Chaat masala 1 tsp

salt to taste

Tomato sauce 1 tsp

Green chilli sauce 1/2 tsp( optional)

Directions

First prepare the Chapati and keep aside.

( To make chapati take Whole wheat flour, oil, a pinch of salt. In a bowl mix together flour, oil and salt. Add water and make a soft dough. Divide the dough in equal sized small balls.

Take a ball, flatten it with finger tips and using a rolling pin start roll out the dough to form a circle. Use dust flour while rolling. Now in a heated skillet put the rolled out dough and cook for few mins. Flip and cook the other side too. When done keep aside.)

Now break an egg into a bowl and beat it with salt and pepper.

Heat a nonstick pan, apply oil and pour the prepared egg.

Place the chapati on top of the egg mixture and press it.

When one side is cooked flip and cook the other side.

Take it out in a flat dish.

Now place the sliced onion, cucumber, green chilli, chat masala and tomato sauce.

Roll the chapati tightly and cut into half.

Your egg roll or egg frankie is ready.

Now to prepare Chicken sausage roll make the chapati in the same way as mentioned above.

Fry the chicken sausage and cut it into small pieces.

Now put the sausage, onion, cucumber and tomato sauce.

Roll tightly, cut it into half and your Chicken sausage frankie is ready.

Egg frankie

Pasta Arrabiata

Pasta Arrabiata

Pasta Arrabiata

Ingredients

Penne pasta 400g
Onion 1, finely chopped
Garlic 1 clove chopped
Red chillies 3 small chopped
Can tomatoes diced 800g
Extra virgin olive oil 1/2 cup
Caster sugar 1 tablespoon
Vegetable stock 1/2 cup

Directions

Cook pasta in a large saucepan of boiling water until tender.
Drain the pasta and keep aside.
Now heat oil in another saucepan.
Add garlic, Onion and chillies.
Stir for 5 to 6 mins
Add tomatoes and stir.
Now add the stock and bring it to boil.
Add sugar and season with salt and pepper.
Spoon sauce over pasta.
Toss and cook for 6 to 7 mins.
Serve hot.

Pasta Recipe- in Peanut butter

Pasta in hot peanut butter sauce

Pasta in hot peanut butter sauce

I never thought that pasta in peanut butter sauce could be amazing….Last Sunday I went to an Indo Chinese restaurant for lunch. I ordered Pad thai noodles in hot sauce. It was awesome…. the noodles was actually cooked in hot peanut butter sauce. So I tried this morning my pasta in hot peanut butter sauce which was delicious. Actually now I found another simple dinner or lunch recipe for weeknight meals.Creamy, spicy and slight sweetness and nutritious too, this sauce is super easy to make. Sometimes simple meals turned out just awesome. I bet all the ingredients are present in your kitchen, so lets start

Ingredients

Penne pasta 12 ounce/ spagetti can be also used
Chicken broth 1/2 cup/ vegetable broth
Minced ginger 1/2 tablespoon
Soy sauce 3tablespoon
Peanut butter 3tablespoon
Chilli tomato sauce 2 teaspoon(optional)
Honey 1/2 tablespoon
Chilli paste 1 teaspoon
Garlic 3 cloves
Chopped peanuts 3 tablespoon
Oil 2 teaspoon

Directions

Start with boiling water in a large pot.
Add pasta and cook until tender according to package instructions.
Drain water and keep aside.
Now in a small sauce pan put oil and add garlic.
Fry and add ginger.
Saute for 1 to 2 mins.
Now add chicken/ vegetable broth, soy sauce ,peanut butter, chilli paste, chilli tomato sauce and honey.
Cook over medium heat.
When the sauce thickens add pasta and toss to coat.
Garnish with chopped peanuts and serve.

Strawberry smoothie

Strawberry Smoothie

Strawberry smoothie

Sometimes its better to start your day with simple, healthy and less fussy breakfast. For this smoothies however could be your best option, the blended beverage offers tons of nutrition as well as protein and fiber to help you keep full until your next meal. I will share various easy and yummy smoothies which are super heathy too. Today lets start with strawberry smoothie

Ingredients

Strawberries 6
Skim milk 1/2 cup
Plain yogurt 1/2 cup
White sugar 2 teaspoons, use honey to avoid sugar. Today I used sugar…… as I didn't have honey today at home.
Vanilla extract 2 teaspoons

Directions

Put all the ingredients in a blender, combine and blend until smooth and creamy. Pour in a glass and serve.

Muffin Recipe- Strawberry Muffins

Strawberry muffins

Strawberry Muffins

Whenever I feel depressed or sad I start baking something. So I decided to make muffins... soft, quick and yummy….. I baked strawberry muffins…and my recipe is super simple just flour, baking powder little oil, egg, milk and vanilla extract and strawberries. You can add nuts and choco chips instead of strawberries. You can even try with other berries like blueberries, blackberries raspberries or cherries. Believe me the aroma of strawberry muffins baking is not one you want to miss…. its just amazing.

so lets start with the ingredients

Ingredients

All purpose flour 3cups
Baking powder 1tablespoon
Baking soda 1/2teaspoon
Salt 1/3teaspoon
Ground cinnamon 1 teaspoon
Milk 1 cup
Eggs 2
Butter 1/2 pound melted
Vanilla extract 1 teaspoon
Fresh strawberries 2cups
Sugar 1 1/2 cups

Directions

First preheat oven at 180C
Line muffin tins with muffin liners
Now shift flour, Baking powder, Baking soda,salt and cinnamon.
Now combine milk, eggs , vanilla extract and Butter with a mixer.
Add the egg Butter mixture into the dry ingredients.
Add strawberries and sugar and mix well.
Now spoon the batter in the muffin cups to fill the liners.
Bake for 20 to 25 mins or till the tops are nicely browned.

Set dosa with mixed vegetable

Set dosa and Mixed Vegetable

Set Dosa

These are soft, spongy and light dosa prepared specially for breakfast. In restaurants specielly in Bangalore where I stay, these dosas are served in a set of 3 with a very delicious mixed vegetable. Usually set dosas are cooked only on one side but I cook them on both the sides. Sometimes I even make these dosas for tiffin. I will share both set dosa and mixed vegetable curry recipe. Lets start

Ingredients

Idli dosa rice or parboiled rice 1 cup

Urad dal 2 tablespoon

Thick poha( flattened rice) 1/2 cup

Methi seeds( fenugreek seeds) 5

Sugar 1/3 teaspoon

Salt to taste

Baking soda 1/4 teaspoon

Oil for frying

Directions

First in a large bowl take rice, urad dal, fenugreek seeds.

Wash two three times in running water.

Drain water and keep aside.

Now take flattened rice and wash properly.
Strain and add flattened rice or poha to the bowl of rice, urad dal and methi seeds.
Now put flattened rice, dal and dosa rice,sugar and methi seeds in a grinder and make a smooth paste.
Pour this batter in another bowl and let it ferment for 10 hours.
Now for preparing dosa heat a nonstick pan or griddle.
The griddle has to be medium hot not very hot.
If the batter is thick then add some water and baking soda and mix well.
Take a ladle of the batter and pour it on the non stick pan or griddle.
Spread the batter carefully to make a small round dosa.
Put some oil with a spoon on the sides.
When one side is golden flip the dosa.
When the other side also gets golden lift with a spatula and serve hot.

Now for the mixed vegetable recipe we need
Carrot 1
Potato 1
Cauliflower few florets
Green peas 1/4 cup
Tomato 1 
Onion 1 
Mustard seeds 1/4 teaspoon
Urad dal 1/4 teaspoon
curry leaves 5
Salt to taste

Ingredients for grinding

Ginger 1cm length
garlic 4 cloves
greated coconut 1/2 cup
coriander and cumin seeds 1/2 teaspoon each
roasted gram 2 teaspoon
green chilli 2
cinamon 1
cardamom 1
cloves 2

Directions

Lets first start with grinding the masala.

Take all the ingredients and put them in a blender.

Add little water and make a smooth paste.

Keep aside.

Now chop the vegetables.

Transfer carrot, potato, green peas and cauliflower in a pressure cooker.

Add salt and cook till 2 whistles.

Now heat a heavy bottomed pan.

Put oil and when the oil is heated add chopped onion and fry.

Add chopped tomatoes and stir.

Add the cooked vegetables and ground spices.

If required add water.

Stir and cook the vegetables well.

Let it boil for 6 to 7 mins.

When the vegetables and the masala is cooked properly take it out and serve hot with Dosa.

Muffin recipe- Egg and Vegetable

Egg and veggie muffins

Healthy Egg and Veggie Breakfast muffins

 I know most of us dont have enough time for healthy breakfast. So we grab something else on the go that may not be healthy. I learnt these muffin cups from my baking teacher and I am really thankful to her. It's not only very healthy but it tastes good too.
Just chopp veggies like spinach, bell peppers, onion and mushrooms,then mince some garlic and crack the eggs. Mix pour in muffin pan with seasoning and in 15 mons your muffin cups are ready. So lets start with the ingredients for muffin cups

Ingredients

Eggs 2
Red and green Bell pepper 1/2 cup
Onion 1 chopped
Baby spinach 1 cup chopped
Corn 1 cup
Mushrooms 1/2 cup
Garlic 2 to 3 cloves chopped
Salt to taste
Olive oil 1 tablespoon

Directions

Start with greasing a standard muffin pan with oil or cooking spray and set aside.
Preheat oven at 350F
Now heat a medium size nonstick skillet and add oil.
When the oil is heated put minced garlic and fry for 2 to 3 mins.
Add bell peppers and onion.
Saute for 5 min.
Now add spinach,corn and mushrooms and cook for 2 to 3 mins.
Put salt and remove from heat.
Now crack eggs and whisk properly.
Add the veggie mixture and stir so that everything mixes well.
Now pour the mixture evenly in the muffin pan
Bake for 15 mins
Check with a toothpick if it comes out clean and the top is firm then your muffins are ready.
Serve hot and leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for about 3 days.

Veg Mexican Quesadillas

Veg Mexican Quesadillas

Veg Mexican Quesadillas

I had Mexican Quesadillas at Taco Bell many times. Its has been always my wish to prepare Quesadillas at home. Now a days Tortilla sheets are easily available in any departmental stores. So I bought tortilla sheets and prepared  some veg quesadillas at home which turned out awesome. This is a super easy recipe which can be made with some leftover veggies for breakfast. Try this simple Indian veg quesadilla at home and I am sure kids will love it.

Ingredients

Potatoes 2( boiled and mashed)

Green peas 1/2 cup 

Green chilli 1 (chopped)

Corn 1/2 cup

Grated garlic 1/2 teaspoon

Green capsicum 1 teaspoon (chopped)

Salt 1/2 teaspoon

Freshly ground black pepper 1/2 teaspoon

Herb seasoning 1/2 teaspoon

Tortilla sheets 3

Green chutney or tomato sauce to spread

 Cheese 1cup( grated)

Butter 2 tablespoon

Directions

Heat oil in a pan. 

Add the garlic and green chillies and fry till the raw smell goes.

Now add the veggies and cook for 3 to 4 mins.

Add black pepper and mix well.

When the veggies are done add salt and herb seasoning.

Now heat a skillet over medium heat.

Take one tortilla and roast one side of tortilla till it gets light golden color.

Flip the tortilla.

Now spread the chutney or tomato sauce on the tortilla, add the veggies and top up the veggies with cheese.

Fold over the tortilla to cover the cheese mixture.

Apply butter and fry the tortilla folded from both the sides.

Cut in triangles and serve hot with tomato sauce or salsa.

Soup Recipe -Green peas and coriander soup

Green peas and coriander soup

There's nothing more savory than a sip of a nice hot soup on cold winery nights. For me it's the best time to have varieties of soup as lots of fresh veggies are available now. Green peas and coriander makes a great combination, sometimes I even add coconut (grated) in this soup because coconut also tastes awesome with coriander. Lets start with the ingredients
Ingredients
Peas 4cups (frozen can also be used)
Fresh coriander leaves 2 tablespoons ( chopped)
Homemade chicken stock 3/4 cup ( if vegetarian then use veg stock or simply hot water)
Butter 1/2 stick
Onion 1/2 cup (chopped)
Garlic 2 cloves (chopped)
Salt and pepper to taste
Sugar 1/2 teaspoon
Directions
Take a heavy bottomed pan, add butter.
Add onion and garlic and cook for 3 to 4 mins.
Add peas and stock and bring to boil over high heat.
Reduce heat and simmer for 15 mins.
Now transfer half of the soup to a blender.
Process until smooth.
Repeat with the remaining mixture.
Now pour the mixture again into the pan on low heat.
Add chopped coriander, salt, sugar and pepper.
Cook for 5 mins.
Serve hot.