Palak Oats Cutlet

Quick ,easy and tasty evening snack which not only turns out delicious but also has a healthy quotient attached to it.Palak Oats cutlet was born from the leftovers of my pantry but the humble Spinach and multipurpose Oats adds a new flavor and dimension to the normal potato laden cutlets !

Replace the starch laden potatoes with whole wheat bread or boiled chana or boiled moong dal.Good bye Potatoes..My cutlets are healthy now.Shallow frying or oven baking procedure will make the recipe even more healthy.Opt to deep fry for any special occasions or parties.There will be remarkable difference in texture and taste if deep fried..but Calories...Whhhaaat ??!!

Ok now,I ll give a list of ingredients I used here.Feel free to get the creative brains working and you can workout a whole totally new recipe.

Ingredients & Procedure

Oats - 1/2 cup
Besan roasted - 3 to 4 tsp
Water as required
Salt to taste
Ajwain - 1 tsp
Roasted rava - 2 tsps

Soak the above with less water to be just right for the oats to be soaked.Leave it aside for 10 mins or so.


Chop the below items

1. Spinach 1 bunch chopped finely
2. Green chillies as per taste or optional-Use red chilli powder instead
3. Brown bread slices 4 to 5 soaked in water for 2 secs and squeezed.Mash it with fingers
4. Ginger optional few pieces chopped finely
5. Corainder finely chopped


Keep the seasonings ready

1.Garam masala 1tsp
2.Turmeric a pinch
3.Coriander powder 1 tsp
4. Amchur or dry mango powder a pinch for that extra zing

Top it with white sesame seeds for the extra crunch on top !

What Next

• Now mix the finely chopped items and all the seasonings to the oats-besan-rava  mixture and mash nicely with your hands..(Best !!).If you feel the mixture is soggy, add few more torn dry slices of bread and mix it well.
• Add 2 tsps. of oil to the mixture so that the entire thing comes together as a dough-type.
• Shape it in the form of cutlets.if greasy use little oil to shape .Sprinkle white sesame seeds on top.
• Shallow fry these delicious cutlets on medium flame until the inside is cooked well and the outer surface is golden brown in color or deep fry as per your demands

No need any coating like Maida, the bread will give a good binding texture to the cutlets.

Serve it piping hot with mint-coriander chutney or the usual ketchup!Enjoy.Have a Cutlety Day !!

Ridge Gourd-Capsicum chutney/Peerkangai Chutney-No coconut version

Try this unique combination of veggies for a very flavorful chutney.Serves as a great side dish for idly dosas and Indian bread varieties.There is no coconut added here but the texture is super good with the below ingredients.

I normally make a regular thogayal type with the nutritious peerkangai.But some have an aversion to this humble vegetable.Making a spicy kootu variety is another option.But this time wanted to try a new recipe with Ridge Gourd and tried to mix and match it with Capsicum, whose flavour gives this Chutney an amazing taste.It was a great hit at my house during my very first attempt.Planning to make it often in the coming days.

What you need:

Ridge Gourd/Peerkangai 1 no
Capsicum 1 no
Handful of fresh coriander
Lemon juice 1 TSP
Salt
Small onions 1 small cup
Tomatoes 1 no
Green chillies 2 no
Red chillies 2 no
Tamarind a small piece
Oil very minimal

Method:

In a pan,drizzle little oil and fry small onions till it's cooked,followed by tomatoes and the chillies.Reduce the spiciness if you find it more.Adding both varieties of chilly is what I prefer!

Now add in the sliced Capsicum and let it cook for few mins. Finally add in salt and ridge Gourd pieces and coriander.Cook till it turns mushy and Capsicum is cooked partially.Add in tamarind.

Grind to fine or coarse paste as you prefer the chutney consistency. Squeeze few drops of lemon. I don't prefer a tadka for this but if you do so you can garnish it with curry leaves and mustard seasoning.

Just try it out and I'm sure you would love the flavour too !

Peas Corn 'n' Sprouts Pulav,Easy Pulav Recipe

Last recipe of this year and here comes a multi vegetable rice delight.With few ingredients,this one pot recipe will be easy to prepare and a treat for rice lovers.My little one savoured this dish as i had made it mild spicy.You are always open to make your own modifications and make it more spicy according to your taste buds.So here it comes,

Ingredients:
Fresh peas,Sweet corn,Green Moong Sprouts all together in a cup
Onions 1 finely sliced
Garlic 3 chopped
Ginger small piece chopped
1 bay leaf,1 small cinnamon,2 cloves
Salt to taste
Basmati rice 1 cup,soaked for 20 mins
Water 1 3/4 cup
Ghee and oil 2 tsp

To grind:
Coriander leaves,Mint leaves(if preffered) 1 bunch
Green chilly 1 no. Adjust as per taste
Soaked Badam 5 nos
Coconut 2 tsp (optional)
Grind with very little water to a smooth paste

Method:

• In a pressure cooker,add in ghee and oil and fry the dry masala spices.
• Add cashesw if preferred.
• Fry onions,ginger and garlic pieces.Add in salt.
• Now saute the vegetables.
• Once slightly roasted,add in the ground paste.Mix well.Add required water and soaked rice.Check salt and allow it to boil.
• Close the cooker and cook the pulav in low flame for 10 to 12 mins.
• Garnish with  cashews and ghee if preferred.

Serve hot with any raita of your choice.

Protein Millet Ladoo, Quick Ladoo Recipe

Pearl  Millet (Kambu) is a very good source of nutrients and this combined with fried gram(potukadalai) makes it a delicious healthy snack.A sweet delicacy cant get healthier than this :)

Kids and Elders can enjoy this ladoo and add a nutritive value to ones regular menu.This can be prepared in a jiffy and makes it a great option for kids evening snacks or handy outdoor snack.

Ingredients:

Kambu (Pearl Millet) flour 1 cup -(You can also try using any health mix powder if you have)

Fried gram(Raw potukadalai) flour 1/2 cup

Naatu sakarai/Vellam powdered to taste

Flax seeds 1 tsp

White Sesame/Ellu 1 tsp

Ghee as required

Raisins finely chopped as needed

Method:

Dry roast the flax seeds,white sesame,kambu flour and potukadalai flour slightly till a nice aroma comes.Do not over roast it.Switch off and allow to cool.Mix in the jaggery powdered and raisins as per sweetness required.

Slightly melt the ghee and add in the above mixture and mix with dry hands.When the mix is still warm,make ladoos of any shape desired.Do not add more ghee.It is sufficient if you are able to make balls with the mixture without breaking.

Store  in an airtight container and enjoy this guilt free yummy treat.

Nutty Capsicum Rice

Delicious Capsicum rice with nutty flavours.This easy to prepare recipe comes handy during busy morning hours.Combined with a vegetable raita,this sure will be a hit in your menu.With the goodness of flaxseeds and nuts,this healthy varierty- rice is a must try.

Ingredients:
Capsicum - 1 nos chopped medium size (you can chose any colour or combine all  the  3 colours)
Rice 1 cup( I prefer raw rice,you can experiment with basmati rice too)
Onions 1 no finely chopped
Oil as needed
Curry leaves few
Urad dal 1 tsp
Turmeric powder 1 tsp
Peanuts roasted 2 tsp
Cashews roasted as needed
Coconut shredded 1 tsp
Salt to taste

For the powder
Red chillies 4 nos
Urad dal 1 tsp
Chana dal 1 tsp
Coriander seeds 1.5 tsp
Flax seeds 0.5 tsp
Peanuts 0.5 tsp
White Sesame 0.5 tsp
Cinnamon 1 small piece (optional)


Method:

In a kadai dry roast(refer under For the powder:) urad dal,chana dal,dhania,flax seeds,peanuts,sesame and red chillies.If needed you can add a piece of cinnamon.After cooling the mixture grind to a coarse powder (not too powdery).

Boil rice and keep separate.Make sure the grains are separate and rice is not mushy.You can chose any variety.
In the same kadai,add oil ,urad dal followed by onions and capsicum.Do not fry too much.Onions and capsicum can remain bit crunchy.Add turmeric powder,fried peanuts,fried cashews and salt.Add curry leaves and give a toss.
Now lower the heat and add in the rice.
Add the powder grinded as needed per rice qty and taste.
Add a  teaspoon of gingelly oil or ghee and gently mix till well mixed.

Top it off with more nuts ,shredded coconut as per taste and serve it hot with carrot//bhoondi/cucumber raita.

Tip:You can store the powder in air tight container and use when required.Comes handy during busy cooking hours.

Nankhatai

Diwali fever is on.Wanted to try these yummy Nankhatais for sometime now.Got the perfect occasion and reason for it.Bake,Share with your friends & family and have a prosperous Diwali.

No baking powder/soda used.So way more healthier with the goodness of atta.

Ingredients
Maida 1 cup
Wholewheat 1 cup
Besan 1/2 cup
Sugar 1 2/3 cup powdered or even less of you prefer it less sweet.Do measure after powdering sugar.
Ghee 1 cup would suffice to make a good non sticky dough.Add more to roll balls.
Cardamon powder 1 tsp
Badam powdered as you prefer

Method
Mix the dry flours with sugar .Slowly add half of ghee and make bread crumb resembling textured dough. Now add more so that the dough comes together as a big ball.Make sure not to add too much ghee else the biscuits turn crumbly.

Now refrigerate the dough in a aluminium foil for 10 mins.

Now,take the dough .Make small balls and flatten to make Nankhatais.Now again refrigerate it for 10 mins.Meanwhile preheat oven at 190 degree Celsius.Place the biscuits in the baking tray greased with ghee.Make a cross cut on top and decorate as you wish.Bake for 18 to 20 mins or a little more till the base of the biscuits is slightly browned.For the last few mins reduce the temperature a little less to prevent cookies being burnt.

Take out the biscuits  and allow to cool.Once cooled it hardens and your soft melt in mouth Nankhatais are ready to go :)

Pearl Millet Spaghetti

Missing the Maggi noodles already. Well who doesn't ? :( Ok now.Make up your minds and get ready for a yummy treat and this time it's fun Spaghetti.But wait..It isn't the usual Maida based one,I have here used Pearl Millet & Whole wheat Spaghetti. Yes you heard it right ! Ever since the organic fever is on in the markets,this pack of organic kambu & whole wheat Spaghetti caught my attention in the supermarket.
Finally I dished out this Chatpata Masala Spaghetti with no market sold masala packets,but full of homemade spices and veggies.
Lets move on to this recipe fully loaded with health & nutritional benefits.

Ingredients:
1 cup Pearl Millet organic Spaghetti.
Veggies of your choice ( I used carrots,beans,cabbage, sprouts,cauliflower)
Garlic 2 minced finely
Onions chopped finely
Tomatoes 1 no cubed
Turmeric powder,Chat Masala,Red chilli powder,Coriander powder,Garam masala - Take a tsp of each & mix and keep aside.
Green chillies 1 no as per taste.
Lemon juice as per taste
Salt to taste.

Method.
1.Boil  five times the water ratio to that of the spaghetti quantity roughly with a pinch of salt.
2.Add the spaghetti and boil for 8 mins.Drain the noodles and keep aside to cool.
3.In a kadai,add a tsp of oil & saute garlic followed by onions and green chillies.Add salt to taste.
4.Add the veggies one by one and add water & cook.Don't make it too soft .Let the veggies retain the crunchiness.
5.Once the water is absorbed, add the spice powder mix,diced tomatoes and give a quick stir.
6.Add the noodles and mix well.Check salt.
Top it off with a dash of lemon juice.

Serve it hot sprinkled with red chilli powder & lemon juice for added flavours.

Paneer Capsicum Calzone

Craving for pizza flavoured baked goodies?You can very well try them and bake them in healthy way rather than indulging in store bought ones.

The calzone meaning pizza pockets can be made healthy using half and half whole wheat and all purpose flour.

Ingredients

For the outer cover
All purpose flour 1 1/2 cup
Active dry yeast 1.5 tsp
Sugar 1 tsp
Salt to taste
Oil 2 tsp
Water to adjust.

For filling
Panner cubes diced into smaller piece
Capsicum- coloura of your choice- diced small
Onions finely chopped
Garlic few finely chopped
Sweet corn 1/4 cup
Pizza sauce as per taste
Lemon juice 1 tsp
Salt to taste
Oregano,black pepper & chilli flakes.
Mozzarella cheese as needed


Preparation:

Take the flour in a wide bowl and add in the salt and sieve it once.

In another bowl,take yeast and add sugar and 1/4 cup water to it and allow the yeast to prove.Check for bubble formation within few seconds in the yeast solution.If not discard the solution and start afresh with a new pack of yeast.

Now mix this yeast solution into the flour and start kneading with oil.The dough should be sticky initially.Do not add more water.Start kneading for 7 to 8 mins.Once gluten formation is done,the stickiness will be gone and the dough will be more manageable.Apply oil all over dough and keep it aside in a warm place to rise.

Check after 1 to 1.5 hra.The dough would have risen well.Now knead it again for few mins after knocking down the air bubbles in the dough.Take equal sized balls out of it.


For the filling.
In a kadai,add oil and saute garlic cloves ans onions.Add salt and add in the capsicums, sweet corn.Let them cook for few  seconds.Add in the panner pieces and check for seasonings.Finally add the pizza sauce as per taste .Squeeze in lemon juice
and switch off to cool.

How to make calzones:
Now roll the ball sized dough into a disc shape.Place in the filling and spread Cheese over it.Close the disc into a semi circle and fork the edges. Drizzle milk all over the surface to get the nice golden brown colouring.

Your calzones or pizza pockets are ready to bake.

Preheat oven to 180 degree for 10 mins and keep the prepared calzones covered in a muslin cloth and allow it to rise for few more mins till the oven is preheated.

To note: If your calzones do not rise properly,then allow them to rest for few more hrs before starting the filling.

Bake them for 20 to 25 mins till the top surface is lightly browned.

Serve them hot and relish with a cup of coffee :)

Pumpkin & Carrot Puri

Goodness of pumpkin with the sweetness of carrot gives this recipe a new taste that kids would surely relish.Elders too can opt it as a healthy alternative to regular puris.

Pack it as a snack or serve for breakfast with mint or coriander chutney or ketchup.

Ingredients:
Atta 1 cup
Boiled and pureed pumpkin& carrot mixture 1/2 cup
Salt to taste
Chilli powder to taste
Chat masala a pinch
Oil as needed to fry

Method:
Combine all the above ingredients and knead the puri dough.Add water if required only.The dough should not be too soft like for rotis.

You can add any other spice powders as per liking to avoid the smell of pumpkin if your child figures out :)

The mentioned spice powders will give subtle flavours and the health factor is also high due to addition of veggies.

Fry in hot oil and serve Puris hot.

Capsicum Chana Delight

The combination of Capsicum and Chana is quiet interesting and the aromas and taste mix match each other and provides a nutritive delight to our taste buds.Try this delicious side dish as a great accompliment to rotis/naan/pulav or rice.

Ingredients:

Chana soaked overnight and boiled 1 cup     Capsicum(red or yellow or green) chopped into cubes, 1/2 cup .
Tomatoes 3 to 4 pureed,along with green chillies,few cloves of garlic,coriander seeds a tsp,pepper a tsp & few pieces of boiled Chana.
Onions 2 nos finely chopped
Jeera 1 tsp
Salt to taste
Oil & ghee as needed
Red chilli powder as per Taste
Garam masala a tsp
Coriander leaves few
Lemon juice a tsp

Method:

1.Grind the mentioned items and keep aside
2.In a kadai,splutter Jeera in ghee or oil and saute with onions.
3.Once onions are cooked,add in the red capsicum and give a gentle toss.
4.Add in salt,red chilli powder.
5.Pour in the tomato puree and let it simmer for few mins.
6.Add in the boiled Chana and little water and let the gravy boil till the tomatoes raw smell goes and a thick consistency is achieved.
7.Top it off with garam masala and coriander leaves.
8.Squeeze a tsp of lemon juice before switching off the flame and serve it hot.

Less oil,healthy add on to your daily menu.Check it out and share your reviews.

Penne Pasta Tomato Delight

Quick,Easy and Filling recipe that has goodness of vegetables and Durum-Wheat Pasta.You can experiment with a variety of Pasta shapes but this is my personal favorite. You can add any veggies of your choice and even spinach puree and treat your senses with this yummy recipe.I have added flaxseeds for that extra dash of health.

Ingredients:

• Penne Pasta 1 cup boiled as per instructions on the pack
• Thinly sliced onions
• Thinly sliced carrots
• Thinly sliced capsicum(use all 3 colored capsicum for extra colors)
• Boiled sweet corn 1/4 cup
• Garlic pods 1 to 2
• Oregano 1 tsp
• Salt,Pepper to taste
• Few flaxseeds
• Red chilli flakes 1 tsp
• Pasta sauce 1/4 cup or more as your taste preference.
• Mozzarella/Any Cheese of your choice shredded

Note: I used readymade Delmonte Pasta sauce.You can prepare your own if time permits and preserve for future use.

Pasta sauce:

Chop some tomatoes

Puree some tomatoes

Heat oil,add garlic followed by the tomatoes and pureed ones,add oregano, chilli flakes,pepper and salt.Let it boil nicely till raw smell vanishes.Mix few drops of tomato ketchep and preserve for use.

Method:

• Boil Pasta as per pack instructions and drain the water completely.Set aside.Do not overcook else it doesn't taste good.
• In a pan,heat olive oil.Saute garlic and onions.Follow it by carrots,capsicums and boiled sweet corn.The vegetables can be maintained crunchy.
• Add in oregano, salt,pepper ,flaxseeds and chilli flakes.
• Add in the Pasta and mix well.
• Switch off the flame.Now add in the Pasta sauce and give a nice stir.
• Top it off with cheese shredding and enjoy with ketchup.

Beetroot Millet Pakodas/Fritters

These colourful crispy fritters is a delicious twist to the normal pakodas made with leftover rice.Here I have uplifted the health quotient(I know its a fried snack..But sshhhh! once a while is OK I say :)) by adding my leftover beetroot curry & foxtail millet rice.You can try with any of your leftover veggie and I'm sure kids would relish it and ask for more.

Ingredients:

• Leftover rice 1 cup. I used foxtail millet rice.
• Beetroot Curry/Poriyal leftover 
• Onions 1/4 cup
• Fried cashewnuts few
• Green chillies according to taste
• Rice flour 3 to 4 tsp
• Salt to adjust
• Lemon juice 
• Chilli powder to taste
• Coriander and Pudhina leaves few

Method:

Mix all the ingredients well and add rice flour to get a binding consistency. Make sure you are able to make small balls.

Deep fry in hot oil.Serve with chutney or ketchup.

Hot and crunchy on the outside,soft and flavourful on the inside ,these Pakodas are a good way to use leftover rice and veggies.

The mint flavor and colour of beetroot gives a visual treat apart from delighting your taste buds.

Dates Flavoured Millet Cookies

Millet cookies - Yes you heard it right.No Maida .No whole wheat.These are healthy munch-ons with the goodness of dates.

Ingredients:
Millet Flour 1 1/2 cup
Corn flakes 2 tsp -I used organic ones
Palm sugar 1/4 cup
Melted Butter or oil little more than 1/4 cup
Dates Syrup 2 tsp
Baking powder a pinch
Vanilla flavour a tsp
Milk for kneading

Method
1. Sieve the Millet Flour with baking powder.
2.Powder the palm sugar with cornflakes.
3.Mix the above with Oil or butter, Vanilla essence and dates syrup in a wide bowl.
4.Start kneading and add few tsp of milk if you find the dough too try.You need not make a round ball from it,just make sure you are able to make small round cookies that held firm and do not break if you shape it.
5.Preheat oven to 180 degree Celsius.Bake these goodies at 180 degree for 15 mins and 160 degrees for last 5 to 10 mins.Check by looking at the base of the cookies,should be slightly brown.
6.Once you remove the cookies from the oven, they will be soft.Let them allow to cool and you will get melt in mouth crisp cookies.

With no added Maida,the goodness of these Dates Flavoured Millet Cookies will delight your taste buds.

Note:

• At any time you can adjust the sweetness of your cookies.
• Make sure the mixture do not crumble when you try to shape them.If so add more milk or oil to hold it together.

Eggless Butterless Jam 'N' Fruit Muffin

Yummy Strawberry Jam stuffed in tangy Orange-Banana muffins.Yeah that was a hit baked goodie at my place and our recent favorite. Try this yummilicious muffins and give the goodness of fruit and yummy jammy twist to it.I'm sure kiddos would heartily enjoy this recipe.And yes this is absolutely Eggless and Butterless.You can't just stop with one,I promise!

Ingredients

• 2 1/4 cup all purpose flour /maida
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp baking soda
• Pinch of salt
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup oil(refined or olive oil)
• 1 cup orange juice
• 2 small ripe bananas mashed
• Finely chopped almonds-Feel free to use any nuts of your choice.
• Strawberry jam for filling

I have here used Maida which normally finds a second preference in my household.Planning to use Wholewheat for the same recipe next time.Since I ran out of atta,I have here used APF.But you can always give a try using half-half ratio of atta & APF.

Method.

• Sieve APF,baking powder, baking soda,salt and sugar.Give a mix and keep it aside.
• Now to the flour mixture,add orange juice,oil,almonds and banana pureed or mashed.Gently fold the batter and mix and make sure no lumps are there.
• The mixture will be scoopy type and should not be a runny one.
• Once done pour a small scoop of batter in muffin moulds.Drop a dollop of strawberry or your fav jam and cover it with another small scoop of cake mixture.
• Continue this with all the moulds .Make sure the moulds are filled 3/4 level and bake it at 200 degree Celsius for 25 to 30/mins in a pre-heated oven.

Note:The temperature slightly varies with each oven.Mine were baked at 25 mins sharp.If needed reduce the temperature at last 5 mins and continue to bake.

Spongy texture of these jam filled orange-banana will leave you craving for more.Be careful weight-watchers :)

Tangy Chana/Chickpea Cutlet

Normally cutlets involve using potatoes to get the right consistency to shape them.Other day when there were lot of boiled chickpea in my kitchen that was left over from Chana masala,thought of making quick Chana cutlets to pack for my kiddos snack box.Also I had a dry powder made from oats,flaxseeds and peanuts.There it was..My amazing tiny cutlets coated with healthy mixture rather than usual breadcrumbs and was rather more happy when I saw my little ones snack box returning home empty !

Ingredients:

• Boiled Chana/Chickpea - 1 cup
• Onions very finely chopped
• Red chilli powder to taste
• Turmeric powder to taste
• A dash of Amchur or  dry mango powder
• Salt to taste
• Finely chopped Nuts of your preference
• Coriander Finley chopped
• Maize flour or Yellow Corn flour to bind them.
• Lemon juice 1/2 tsp

For the coating:

Dry roasted oats,flaxseeds and a tsp of peanuts.

NOTE:

Lemon juice and Amchur powder gives nice tangy flavor to the cutlets.You can vary them accordingly.

Maize flour is a very healthy substitute to white corn flour or maida or even rice flour and can be used as appropriate as a binding agent.

Method

• Mash the boiled kabuli Chana well .Make sure there is not much water in it else consistency will be mushy.
• Add all the ingredients one by one and mix well.
• Add maize flour to get the right consistency to shape the cutlets.
• Slight wet the cutlets with water in your hands and roll them in the dry roasted powder.
• Shallow fry in ghee or oil and serve it with ketchup or green chutney.

Tangy Chana cutlets is a rich source of protein and with added benefits of maize,its a nutritious delight for kids snacks.