Fresh zucchini noodles (zoodles) tossed with lightly sautéed corn, cherry tomatoes and in an easy avocdao-cilantro-lime-chilli dressing. A fun way to incorporate more veggies and also an healthier gluten-free alternative to our traditional noodles/spaghetti pasta.
A quick and easy recipe for chickpea curry - pan fried and lightly coated with spices. Perfect as a side dish for rice/roti or as an easy snack with crunchy chips. Indian food is not hard at all and this dish is the proof.
It has been a tradition since past few years to welcome a New Year with a black eyed pea post. Last year it was scrambled eggs, the year before with some fried fritters (still a popular one for New Year's) and a curry with coconut, the year before that. The reason is simple - in some cultures, black eyed peas symbolize good luck due to their penny-like appearance. They also signify abundance and if there are any left overs for the day after, it is meant to demonstrate frugality and prosperity in the coming year! Don't get me wrong. I am not a stickler when it comes to any kind of customs or superstitions but it is always a good feeling to start something on a good note. Isn't it? Today's recipe is a vegan curry made with coconut milk and some aromatic spices. New Year's or not, this recipe comes together in a giffy, any kind of beans like red, garbanzo etc can be substituted instead of black eyed peas and it will still taste heavenly. Enjoy.
Today's recipe is a simple, tangy and fulfilling snack that is so versatile to add anything you fancy and forgiving enough when it comes to ingredient amounts - Peanut Chaat. Not just during monsoons, this can be enjoyed as an appetizer on a papad canape maybe? or as a healthy salad anytime and any season. And while you are at it, don't forget to leave a comment on this post to mark your participation for the TWO book giveaways (Day 2) Scroll down to the end for more details. If you haven't tried your luck already, do leave a comment in yesterday's post as well. Good Luck! Click here to access all book giveaways on a SINGLE page.
There are few recipes that you know will be loved so much that you got to make them again and again! It's just that instinct I guess or the sheer simplicity. Today's dish Crispy Hedgehog Potatoes with Garlic and Herbs fits perfectly into such a category. Very similar to hassleback potatoes, this is one other fun way to roast potatoes. It hardly takes any effort for preparation and doesn't need much attention as most of the cooking is done in the oven. If you are short on time and need a quick appetizer for your next house or potluck party, look no further. Hedgehogging spuds is the way to go!
Sometimes it makes me sad, how our Indian cuisine is stereotyped for a handful of popular curries. There is a world of truly unique and diverse food culture spanning across the country that each one of us should make an attempt to atleast know and if possible, learn. Today's post is about a quick and scrumptious curry made with whole green gram, potato and spiced with a unique spice blend of 18 spices called Koli Masala. It was initially a gift to Lataji from Anjali, the maker of the spice mix. I was quite chuffed when Lataji generously shared some with me during our stay together at IFBM. Since then I have been meaning to make a recipe, to try the spice mix. Isn't VeganMoFo a perfect platform to talk and feature some lesser known cuisines & traditions? - To let the world know how distinct and extraordinary our Indian cuisine is!
Learn how to make sambar rice in one pot i.e pressure cooker. One dish to clean, one plate to serve and a bunch of chips with a bowl of yogurt is all that is needed to make it a full lunch or dinner meal. On busy (read as lazy) weeknights, such recipe ideas help us fill our tummies easily and quickly. To save time, I tend to chop veggies like - okra, green beans, tomato, bottle gourd, drumstick and refrigerate in air tight boxes.
Learn how to make a simple Indian beetroot salad, a vegan recipe with steamed beets and lightly spiced with cumin powder and lemon juice dressing. Another easy variation is thisroasted beet salad in yogurt dressing. These two salad recipes can be served as side dishes, main course-salads or just as healthy snacks.
"Tomorrow [January 1st] is the first blank page of a 365 page book. Write a good one." ~ Brad Paisley
I simply love making new (plus some old) resolutions on New Year's eve, even though am unsure on how many I would be completing by the end of that year. But, the tiny things-I-wanna-change jotted down in my little book gives me that much needed kick - to be happy and hopeful for coming times. This year though, instead of clinking champagne glasses or letting the colorful confetti shower down from the roof, I have decided on a quite New Year's Eve with a book by my side. That is how I envisioned the night of December 31st few days ago as one of my goals for the year 2014 is to -read more and blog more!.
While I was in US, I learnt from my office colleagues that eating black-eyed peas as a part of the Southern Tradition on New Year’s brings in good fortune for the coming year. Well, we wouldn't want to miss that. Isn't it? Since then, it has become kind of a tradition on this blog as well to kick off the year with a black-eyed-peas recipe. Last year, I made these fritters and the year before this curry with coconut.
Will 2014 be lucky for me? Only time will tell. But, meanwhile make this this scrumptious Scrambled Eggs with Black-Eyed Peas and Potatoes, for that perfect January 1st morning. Serve with a toast and coffee/orange juice to make it a filling breakfast. Before I jump into the recipe, I just want to -
"Thank you for the love & support in the past year. May the coming times bring in lots of joy and beautiful moments that can be cherished long after the year is gone! Wishing you all a very Happy and Healthy 2014."
VeganMoFo (Vegan Month of Food) is here finally. It's a challenge where hundreds of bloggers have pledged to write about and cook only Vegan recipes all month long, and I am one of them.
Lots of raw, fresh vegetables along with a smooth, creamy dressing and of course noodles is what makes this salad sumptuous and a meal in itself. This is one of the recipes I bookmarked when I was subscribed to Vegetarian Times magazine while in US. I love those stash of old magazines so much that I got them along with me back to India. Every now and then, I flip through them for inspiration on what to try out and today's recipe is a result of one such browsings!
“I have found out that there ain't no surer way to find out whether you like people or hate them than to travel with them.” ~ Mark Twain, "Tom Sawyer Abroad"
Just when I thought that food memoirs are getting one-dimensional (read as boring), I stumbled upon Sandeepa's new book which she penned based on her childhood memories of being a bong. In her introduction page she says - "This is my story, but it might well be yours and may be even yours". That's so true to its every word.
“There's very little in my world that a foot massage and a thin-crust, everything-on-it pizza won't set right.” ~ G.A. McKevett
Ever imagined serving pizza for breakfast? I do, all the time. I sometimes even dream about waking up to a hot slice of pizza and cup of piping hot coffee. Who wants a bowl of boring cereal if I can whip up a better tasting breakfast in the same amount of time. Isn't it. All you need to do is prepare the dough, let it rise the previous night and stash it in the fridge. Top with whatever veggies you have on hand and don't forget eggs. Only then you can feel good about calling the pizza a breakfast and a sumptuous meal in itself.
Today's recipe - Cornmeal Crusted Potato Wedges is a result of one such quest to experiment with this humble vegetable. This dish enjoys being different and scrumptious at the same time. These are so yum that once you taste it, you are bound to return for more with an instant craving. I promise.
I have never played Holi (the festival of colors) ever in my entire life (except for once when I HAD to stay back at my friend's place). Neither did TH. Yes, we do believe in its true essence which is victory of good over evil, a common theme that runs through almost every Indian festival. Holi also waves goodbye to winter(which we never had) and welcomes spring(when is that? Its already so hot!) in a rainbow of its colors...
All my childhood, I have seen my parents lock the front door and all four of us stay indoors, gorging on delicious food, playing games or spend the day watching TV. Putting up a lock outside was important to make believe the outside world we were out of station. The plan worked for quite a few years but later my friends figured out the secret. But still couldn't do anything about it as they used fear the wrath of my father.
Essentially, Holi in our household is synonymous to family time and super delicious meals. With extra time on hand and nothing else to do staying at home, my mother used to make her famous biryani,korma, mirchi bajji along with many other delicacies. This year though, I chose to make something different for Holi. An appetizer that easy to nibble while staying in the house (in my case) and playing with colors (like many of you reading this post!). Both - the katoris and the filling can be made way ahead of time and can be assembled at the very last minute. Doesn't that serve our purpose to stay away from the kitchen during festival time? Yay!
Enjoy!
Besan Papdi Katori Chat
...Served! Holi hai!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This is Recipe 21 added to my 2013 Recipe Archive. Check out the rest of the recipes too!
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Make a difference to lives of those girls who have no family of their own to celebrate Holi except for each other. Would you spare to donate a few rupees (or dollars) so that their school fees are paid for and they can aspire for brighter future? Please press the "Give Now" button and share about Vaidehi Ashram (More information Click here) with your friends and family. Thanks in advance.
Yay! It's Friday today. After a busy week both at work and personal fronts, here I am sitting on my office desk during lunch time, thinking about what prologue to write for this post. Sigh! sometimes when you are drained, writing is always the hard part. Nothing's is coming to me. All my thoughts are wandering back to the task list in my "Reminders" app on my Iphone 4S. To make up for the sad state of my mind, I thought of sharing few pictures which I have photographed for this year's Project 365 so far. That's an easy task. Isn't it? Just choose my favorites and jump right into today's recipe. Yep, I chose the easiest way out. :-)
Here we go -
My favorite time of the day is when I am sitting in our balcony with a cup of tea. I make it a point not to have any news paper or my phone or my laptop around to distract the mind. Just me and my cup of ginger tea contemplating on the things to do on that day!
“In joy or sadness flowers are our constant friends.” ~ Kakuzō Okakura, The Book Of Tea I am in love with the bright, summer mornings we are bestowed with these days and strolling around in our roof top garden before it gets too hot.
Babies, they are adorable. Aren't they? This is one my favorite shot of my sister's niece who is already almost an year now. How time flies!
My favorite muse is of course photographing food and there are no surprises there. ;-) and sometimes they are slowly creep into my photo blog too.
These are my favorite few shots from Project 365 so far. There are many more that I wish I could share. But, that would make the post too long. To follow my photo journey, do subscribe to - 365 days of Siri. Now, let's talk about today's recipe. Shall we? - a combination of curry my mom makes where are literally nothing in the fridge. The Chana Dal and Coconut Stir Fry is a simple to make curry that goes well with both rice and rotis.
