Healthy Breakfast Potatoes with Curry Leaves - Make it Monday

Make this yummy version of Breakfast Potatoes with a hint of Curry Leaves and Mustard seeds.
It is originally a South Indian Dish but I have added my own twist to it!

Healthy Breakfast Potatoes

Ingredients:

Potatoes - 4 Medium
Curry leaves - 1 Stalk
Mustard Seeds - 1 Tsp
Cumin Seeds - 1/2 Tsp
Red Whole Chilies - 2
Chopped Green Chilies - 1 Tsp
Chopped Onions - 2 Medium
Turmeric - 1 Tsp
Salt - to Taste
Olive - oil 2 Tbsp
*You can add/reduce the Chilies as per your taste

Method:
Boil the potatoes,
Peel them,

Heat Oil in a pan, add Mustard seeds, Cumin seeds, when they pop add Curry Leaves, Chilies and Onions,

Fry till the onions are transparent, then add the potatoes, gently crush them don't mash up,

Finally add turmeric and salt, Cook for 8-10 minutes.

That's all your yummy + healthy Potatoes are ready!

Enjoy!

 

Carrot & Celery Soup: Make it Monday

Make this Delicious & Healthy soup with my fun & simple recipe!

Ingredients:

Carrots - 2 Medium
Celery - Stalk 1 Finely Chopped
Onion - 1 Small Finely Chopped
Celery Leaves- I tbsp Chopped
Garlic - 1 Small Clove Finely Chopped
Black Pepper - As Per Taste or 1/3 Tsp
Olive Oil - 1 Tbsp
Salt - to Taste

Method:

• Chop the Carrots into big pieces and boil covered in 1 cup water.
• When the carrots are tender, let them cool and then blend into a smooth paste.
• Heat the oil, add chopped onions, celery and garlic.
• Fry for a few minutes, add the carrots, salt & pepper.
• Boil for 15-18 minutes on medium flame, add some water, boil more if you want it thicker.
• Serve hot garnished with celery leaves.
• Enjoy!!

Stir Fried Rosemary Carrots: Make it Monday

Make this Yummy and Quick Carrot Recipe for a healthy anytime Snack!

Ingredients:

3-4 Medium Carrots
1/2 Tsp Chia Seeds
1/3 Tsp Black Pepper Powder
1 Tbsp Light Cooking Olive Oil
1/2 Tsp White Vinegar
Salt to taste
Dry/Fresh Rosemary to Garnish

Method:
1. Chop the carrots into small pieces as you like.
2. Heat the oil, add Chia seeds.
3. Add the carrots.
4. Cover and cook till carrots are tender and soft.
5. Add pepper, salt, vinegar and mix well.
6. Garnish with Rosemary.

Enjoy!!

Lentil Soup: Make it Monday

The benefits of Lentils are numerous. Not only a rich source of protein but good for heart too, plus it is low in calories.

Being a vegetarian "Lentil Soup" is one of my favorites to meet my protein requirement. This recipe is both healthy and yummy, with wholesome unpolished yellow lentils and the goodness of turmeric, you'll have no excuse to avoid this one!

Ingredients:

Yellow Lentils - 1/2 Cup Washed and drained (preferably unpolished)

Water - 1.5 Cups

Onion 1 Medium - Finely Chopped 

Ginger-Garlic Paste - 1/2 Tsp

Asafoetida Powder- 1 Pinch (**this is great to prevent bloating - should be available online or at any Indian Grocery Store)

Black Pepper Powder - 1/3 Tsp

Cumin Powder - 1/3 Tsp

Turmeric Powder - 1/2 Tsp

Salt - to taste

Cooking Olive Oil- 1 Tbsp

Cilantro - 1 Tbsp Chopped to Garnish (Optional)

Method:

Heat Olive Oil to medium- Add onions, saute till onions are translucent, then add the dry powders except salt.

Add Ginger Garlic paste, saute till fragrant.

Add lentil and water, Add salt.

Cook in pressure cooker for about 12-14 minutes.

When done, blend the lentils with potato masher to unify, continue cooking uncovered for about 8-10 minutes if your soup had needed consistency. If you feel that your soup is too thick you can add more water and cook OR if it is too thin cook uncovered for some time to thicken, while stirring in between, due to different types/age of lentils amount of water may vary.

Finally Garnish with cilantro, serve hot.

Enjoy!!

Tomato & Garlic Salad - Make it Monday

Do you like Salads in Summer!
Make this 'Tangy Tomato Salad' with a twist of Garlic flavor.

Ingredients:
Tomatoes - 2 Medium Chopped
Black Pepper- As Per Taste
Salt- As per Taste
Sugar- 1 Pinch
Chia Seeds - 1/2 Tsp
White Vinegar - 1/2 Tsp

For Garnishing:
Cilantro- Chopped 1 Tsp
Mint - Chopped 1 Tbsp
Garlic - 1 Small Clove Grated or Finely Chopped (If you are not used to eating raw garlic, add just a pinch)
Extra Virgin Olive Oil - Drizzle
Green Chilli - 1 Small Finely Chopped or as per Taste

Method:
Mix the ingredients together.

Add the Garnish.

Enjoy!!

Crispy Bitter Gourd - Make it Monday: Spicy Indian Recipe

I know "Bitter Gourd" is not something that everyone has taste buds for, when I was in school I used to hate it too, but now it is one of my favorites! 

Especially looking at the health benefits it has. This recipe is infused with sweet and mild fennel flavor and also has a spicy flavor to it!

So here it is...

 

Ingredients:

Bitter Gourds - 2  Medium
Onions - 2 Medium
Crushed Fennel Seeds - 1 Tsp
Red Chilly Powder - 1/2 Tsp (or as per Taste)
Turmeric Powder - 1/2 Tsp
Salt
Light Olive Oil - 2 Tbsp

Method:

1. Peel the bitter gourds and cut into two length-wise. Discard the seeds.
2. Apply salt generous to it and keep for about an hour. This will reduce the bitterness quite a bit.
3. After that thoroughly wash the bitter gourd and cut into thin slices.
4. Chop the onions.
5. Heat oil in a pan, add the crushed fennel seeds, add onions and bitter gourd.
6. Cover the pan for about 10-15 minutes and cook on medium heat so that the bitter gourd is tender.
7. Add chilly powder and turmeric powder. Remember you marinated it in salt so no need to add any now.
8. Open the lid and cook on high heat stirring in between for about 25-30 minutes till the bitter gourds are nice crispy and brown.

Enjoy!!

Whole Wheat Raisin-Walnut-Banana Bread

This banana bread is both yummy and healthy.

Ingredients:

1 Large Egg

1 Large Ripe Banana – Mashed

1 Cup Whole Wheat Flour

¼ Cup Olive oil

¼ Cup Fine Brown Sugar

1 Tbsp Chopped Walnuts

1 Tbsp Chopped Raisins

4-5 Ground Almonds

1 Pinch Nutmeg

1 Pinch Cinnamon

1 Tbsp Honey

1 Tsp Vanilla Essence

½ Tsp Baking Powder

¼ Tsp Salt

Method:

1. Preheat the Oven to 350 Degree F.
2. Mix in Sugar, Oil, Vanilla, nutmeg, cinnamon, honey and mashed banana, beat well until smooth.
3. Add the egg, beat nicely.
4. Add the baking powder, salt and ground almonds to the flour, mix well.
5. Add the flour mixture gradually to the wet mixture and beat.
6. Once smooth, add the raisins and walnuts.
7. Bake in small bread pan for about 55-65 minutes, till done.

ENJOY!

Healthy Tomato Rice

Ingredients:

Rice – 1 Cup (Preferably Basmati Rice)

Canola Oil - 2 Tbsp

Chopped Onion – 1 large

Bay Leaves – 2

Whole Black Pepper- 4-5

Cinnamon Stick – 1” Piece

Cloves – 2-3

Green Chilies – 2 medium (or as desired)

Ginger & Garlic Paste – 1 Tsp

Green peas - 1/2 Cup

Pureed Tomatoes - 2 large

Salt - to taste

Method:

• Heat Oil, add onions, all the dry spices and the chilies.
• When the onions are slightly golden brown add the ginger & garlic paste.
• Fry for a few minutes.
• Add the washed rice and fry again for a few minutes, add the peas and salt.
• Add tomato puree + the water needed to cook the rice. (for me I need 3 cups water to cook 1 cup Rice, the puree made for 2 cups and so I added just 1 cup water.)
• Cook till the Rice is done.

ENJOY!

Monday Recipe - Red Bean Kebabs

Red Bean Kebabs

Ingredients:

Red Beans (boiled) - 1 Cup

Potato (boiled) - 1 medium sized

Garlic Paste -  ½ Tsp

Ginger Paste - ½ Tsp

Chopped Onions -  ½ Cup

Chopped Cilantro - 2 Tbsp

Chopped Green Chilies - 1 Tsp

Red Chili Powder -  ½ Tsp

Olive Oil - to Shallow fry

Salt -  to Taste

* You can add/reduce chilies as per your taste.

Method:

• Crush and mash the red beans and potatoes.

• Add ginger, garlic, onions, cilantro, green chilie, red chili and  to the mashed preparation.

• Shape into equal sized Kebabs.

• Fry till nice, crispy and brown on both sides.

• Enjoy with your favorite sauce!

Wonderful Wednesday- Healthy Tasty Vegetable Pulao (Rice)

Wonderful Wednesday- 3 Yummy Corn Recipes!

Wonderful Wednesday- Yummy Filling/ Topping!

This is my Sister's Secret Recipe. It is a must try!

Wonderful Wednesday- Healthy Snack!

I really love this one. It is my mom's simple and healthy recipe!

You just need Green Peas (about a cup), Chopped Carrots (half cup), Cumin Seeds (half teaspoon) Salt and Black pepper (to taste), and Olive/Canola Oil (1 Tablespoon).

Heat oil, add the cumin fry till it starts cracking, add the peas, carrots, salt and black pepper. Cook covered for about 8 minutes, DONE!!

Healthy Snack

ENJOY!!