Tag: rice

Meal is incomplete without Cereals

Cereals are the staple food in our meal providing unlimited benefits to our body and mind too. If one has choices available for healthy lifestyles, then cereals are the best choice you people can opt. The nutritional value of cereal is undoubtedly so high that no other food item can replace this staple item from our meal. It is highly rich in carbohydrate, fats, proteins, vitamins and minerals.

Cereals, being the main source of carbohydrates help in providing you with vigorous energy and increase the immunity of our body against cancer. It also aids in removing constipation problem and maintain the sugar level. Cereals are also supplemented with iron and fiber contents which keep your body away from any heart diseases and maintain the level of cholesterol in your body. Nothing could be better than having cereals in your breakfast as they are enriched with high protein contents. They are generally preferred to be accompanied with the glass of milk.

Cereals are also known as grains and are the most staple crops which belongs to monocot families. They are grown to gain the edible component of this fruit. The fruits are known as Caryopsis. It is largest selling crop grown all over the world and therefore it is farmed in huge quantities. The name has been derived from the word Ceres (Roman goddess of agriculture). It was firstly cultivated in South West Asia by the Neolithic founder.

According to the production statistics every country has its own staple food like wheat is mainly consumed in Europe and India; rice is famous in Japan, South East Asia, Pakistan and US; maize is widely popular grain in Africa and Northern America; millets are eaten in Africa and India.

You can find different types of cereals in your meal. It can be rice, brown rice, wheat, maize, millet etc. Let us discuss some of them. Rice is the most popular cereal eaten across the world. It is cultivated in tropical regions rather than cold regions. It is consumed in many countries with various different rice recipes prepared which are truly lip-smacking. Maize is the most staple crops found in South America and Africa. Popcorn and Cornflakes are the two other different forms in which this particular cereal is consumed. Cornflakes is counted in one of the healthiest snacks and popcorn is the favorite time pass during the movies. Wheat, this cereal needs no description. All the basic food items like bread, pastries, biscuits, pancakes, cookies, etc are incomplete without this cereal. It is mostly cultivated in agricultural zones. There are various different species of this cereal, which is grown all over the world.

Cereals are mostly eaten in breakfast meal. Breakfast cereal is a commercial food available in all the kitchens around the world. They are eaten as an individual item or sometime they are also accompanied with water or milk. According to our taste fruits are also added and some sweeteners too. Breakfast cereal is boiled or mixed with milk in order to make them soft before consumption. Some of the best examples of breakfast cereal are Corn Flakes, Porridges, oatmeals etc. Breakfast cereals are widely accepted in developing and developed countries, both as they are a single bowl of full nutrients. It provides you with full nutritional value while maintaining your health and weight.

Porridge is unconditionally the most nutritious breakfast anyone can have. It is fully rich in fibre and minerals. For making it sweet people use jaggery and it is decorated with almonds and raisins. Intake of this porridge in your breakfast helps in maintaining your sugar level. Poha is another version of rice which is generally prepared on every Sundays in the Indian households.

Cornflakes are the healthiest breakfast, loved by all the children. A bowl of this corn flake along with the milk fulfills the demand of all the nutrients like carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins and iron. Its intake is more effective during the time of monsoon as due to high moisture it becomes easy for your body to hold the water.

Wheat flakes are just the replacement of wheat porridge and is prepared using wheat. It is taken in the breakfast meal as it is highly rich in calcium. Oatmeal is best for those who are going through diseases like diabetes and cholesterol. There is no need to add sugar into the bowl of oats. It helps in exorcising depression from your mind. Muesli is the best choice among all the breakfast cereal as it consists of four types of grains along with almonds and raisins. It helps in the mental and physical growth of the child and keeps them fit and fine. The most amazing fact is it is served with yoghurt. Sometime people take it as their evening snack too.

Try some juicy cereals too for your child and enjoy all the nutrients in just a tiny piece of grain..!!

August 1, 2014
Rice Is Nice!

Rice is a part of the Bengali’s ‘Mach Dal Bhat’ and most of us have had it for a better part of our life – Rice for dinner. Rice for lunch. For some, rice for breakfast too. It is the staple food of Bengal. And it goes well with a myriad of delicious sides.

Rice can be cooked in various ways. It can be steamed, boiled, spiced up, etc. it can be simply stirred with jeera to make ‘Jeera Rice’ or made into a pulau, a biriyani or porridge; you can even make a risotto (this I learnt from MasterChef Australia). It can be used in soups, in sushi, stuffed in vegetables or wrapped in grape leaves.

Rice provides more than one – fifth of the calories consumed by humans all around the world. So, why not learn how to cook ‘em?

Jeera Rice

Time: 30 minutes

Serves: 4

Ingredients: 1 1/2 cups Basmati rice, 2 tsp Cumin seeds, 1 ½ tsp Ghee, 1 bay leaf, 1 black cardamom, 1 2 inch cinnamon stick, salt

Directions: Wash rice thoroughly and soak in water for half an hour. Drain. Heat the ghee in a pan. Add cumin seeds, bay leaf, cardamom and cinnamon. When cumin seeds crackle, add the rice. Add salt to taste. Stir till ghee coats every grain of rice and it looks glossy. Add three cups of water. Bring to a boil. Stir once. Reduce heat to minimum and cover the pan with a lid. Leave a little gap, otherwise water will boil over. Rice will be done when holes appear on the surface and water has been completely absorbed. Fork the rice out onto a serving dish. This will separate each grain. Serve hot with any curry.

Vegetable Pulao

Time: 30 minutes

Serves: 4

Ingredients: 2 cups long grained or basmati rice soaked for 30 minutes, 2 or 2.5 cups of chopped mixed veggies (cauliflower, carrots, green peas, potatoes, broccoli, corn kernels, baby corn, french beans ), 1 large onion (sliced), 1 tsp ginger-garlic paste, 1 green chili (chopped), 1 medium size tomato (chopped), 4.5 cups water or vegetable stock, 2 to 3 tbsp oil or ghee, salt, whole spices (1 tsp cumin, 1 bay leaf 2-3 cloves, 2 green cardamoms , 1 black cardamom, 1 pinch of mace, 1 small star anise, 1 inch cinnamon)

Directions: In a deep pot, heat oil and fry all the whole spices till the oil becomes fragrant. Add the onions and brown them. Add the ginger-garlic paste and saute for a minute. Add the tomatoes & green chilies and saute for 2-3 minutes on a low flame. Add all the veggies and saute again for 2-3 minutes on a low flame. Drain the rice and saute for 2-3 minutes on a low flame, so that the rice gets well coated with the oil. Pour water and stir. Season with some salt. Cover tightly and let the rice cook on a low flame, till the water is absorbed and the rice is well cooked. Fluff and let the rice stand for 5 minutes. Serve the vegetable pulao hot with some side salad, sliced onion & lemon wedges.

Hyderabadi Vegetable Biriyani

Time: 45 minutes

Serves: Served 4

Ingredients:

For the Rice: 1 and half cup basmati rice, 2 green cardamoms, 2 black cardamoms, 2 cloves, 1 cinnamon, 1 bay leaf, , 2 mace strands (javitri), 3 cups water, salt

For the Vegetable Gravy: ½ medium sized cauliflower (florets removed), 1 medium sized carrot (diced), 1 medium sized potato (cubed), 1 cup of chopped french beans, ½ cup frozen fresh peas, 1 and half onion (finely sliced), 1 green chili, slit, 2 tbsp ginger (julienned), 1 tbsp chopped garlic, 1 tsp caraway seeds, 2 green cardamom, 2 black cardamoms, 2 cloves, 1 cinnamon, 1 bay leaf, 2 mace strands, 100 gm whisked yogurt, ¼ tsp turmeric powder, ½ tsp red chili powder or cayenne pepper, 2 tbsp cashew nuts, 1 tbsp sultanas or raisins, 2 tbsp almonds (blanched, peeled and sliced), 3 tbsp ghee, salt

For the assembling (herbs and spices): ½ cup chopped coriander, ½ cup mint leaves, 100 gm whisked yogurt, a few saffron strands, 1 tbsp milk

Directions:Pick and clean the rice in running water. Soak the rice in water for 30 minutes. Now microwave or pressure cook the rice. Cook the rice till its ¾th done. In a pressure cooker or a microwave cooker, add the pre-soaked rice, add all the spices mentioned above and salt. Cook till the rice is almost done. Fluff the rice and keep it separate. Heat the ghee in a handi. Add cardamom, mace, clove, cinnamon and bay leaf. Fry them till they crackle. Add the onions. Fry them till golden brown. Add the green chilli, ginger and garlic. Fry for a minute. Add the turmeric and red chili powder. Stir. Add the vegetables and stir for a minute. Add the curd. Stir and then add ¾ cup water. Add salt. Stir the mixture well.

If using a pressure cooker for cooking the vegetables, then cover the cooker with a lid and pressure cook for 2 minutes. If not using a pressure cooker, then bring the entire vegetable mixture to a boil. Then simmer until the vegetables are cooked. Add the dry fruits (almonds, raisins and cashew nuts) to the vegetable gravy.

Warm the milk. Add saffron to it. Let this saffron-milk mixture cool. Add the curd to this mixture and mix well. In the same handi with the cooked vegetables, sprinkle half each of saffron-flavored curd, mint and coriander leaves. Now spread half of the rice. Sprinkle the remaining saffron-flavored curd/yoghurt, mint and coriander leaves. Spread the remaining rice. Sprinkle rose water. Place a moist cloth on top. Cover with a lid. Then seal with wheat flour dough or keep a heavy weight on the lid. Place the sealed handi on the gas stove at low fire. Cook for 20-25 minutes more.

If using an oven, preheat the oven to 190 degree C and bake the biryani for 15-20 minutes. Assemble the vegetable biryani as mentioned above in an oven proof utensil and then bake it.

July 7, 2014
Pulaos
Rice does to a meal, what ornaments do to a woman! An ordinary meal turns into a treat if a little imagination is used in preparation. Rice can be used to prepare a plethora of dishes – biryanis, pulaos, tahirees, stir fried rice and so on.

Pulaos are famous Indian rice dish of Persian origin. It is basically rice sautéed in a little oil or ghee and then cooked along with vegetables. Good quality basmati rice along with Indian herbs and spices are mandatory for this preparation. The rules remains the same; 1 cup of uncooked rice = 3 cups of cooked rice. Also, before cooking, rice must be soaked atleast 30 mins prior to cooking. This not only reduces time for cooking but also ensures that the rice does not stick after it is cooked. Once the pan is covered, cook on very low flame to ensure even cooking

Enough with the rules. Let’s get to the fun part. Some famous and healthy pulao recipes are as these given below.

I. Gobi Matar Paneer Pulao / Cauliflower Pea Cottage Cheese Pulao Serves 4

This variety of rice combines the taste and flavours of three nutritious ingredients with a perfect blend of spices. It is light on the stomach and fine to taste. It can be served with raita or eaten as it is

Ingredients

Basmati rice – 1 cup

Onion – 1 sliced finely

Oil – 2 tbsp

Bay leaf – 1 leaf

Ginger – 1/2″ sliced into juliens

Cloves – 2

Cauliflower – 1 cup medium sized florets

Shelled peas – 1 cup

Paneer – 1 cup

Chilli flakes – 1/4 tsp

Garam masala – 1/2 tsp

Salt – 1 1/2 tsp

Procedure
- In a heavy bottomed pan, fry the cauliflower till golden brown. Remove from oil and soak the excess oil on tissue sheets. Repeat the procedure for the paneer. After frying, soak the paneer in hot salted water to make them soft.
- In the same oil, add the whole spices and onions and fry till golden brown.
- At this stage, add the vegetables and stir lightly. Drain the rice and add to the pan. Stir the rice gently. With 1 cup rice, add 2 cups of water
- Add the powdered spices and boil the mixture.
- On boiling, cover the pan and continue cooking on very low heat for 12-13 mins until the water is completely absorbed and the rice is cooked to perfection.
II. Wadi and Matar Pulao / Pulse rolls and Pea Pulao Serves 4

Urad or any regular dal wadi is used extensively in Indian cookery. These can be innovatively used even in your regular pulaos. Not only does it add to the nutrition in food, but it also makes the dish look truly unique

Ingredients

Basmati rice – 1 cup

Oil – 1 sliced finely

Bayleaf – 1 leaf

Ginger – 1/2″ sliced into juliens

Garlic – 2 cloves

Cloves – 2

Wadi – 3/4 cup

Shelled peas – 1 cup

Cumin seeds – 1 tsp

Brown Cardamom – 2

Salt – 1 1/2 tsp

Procedure
- In a cooker, add I tbsp oil and fry the wadis till golden brown. Remove from oil and soak the excess oil on tissue sheets.
- Add a cup of water and pressure cook for 2-3 mins.
- In a heavy bottomed pan, add oil, the whole spices, ginger and garlic and fry till golden brown.
- At this stage, add the wadis and peas and stir lightly. Drain the rice and add to the pan. Mix gently. For 1 cup rice, add 2 cups of water left after cooking the wadis
- Boil the mixture.
- Cover the pan and cook on very low heat for 8-10 mins until the water is completely absorbed and the rice is cooked to perfection.
III. Kashmiri Pulao Serves 4

Faithful to its name, the dish combines the colours and flavours of the majestic and beautiful state of Kashmir. Enriched with rare and extravagant spices and fruits, this dish is both light on the palette as well as great to taste.

Ingredients

Basmati rice – 1 cup

Onion – 1 sliced finely

Oil – 2 tsp

Bayleaf – 1 leaf

Cinnamon – 1 stick

Cloves – 2

Green cardamom – 2-3

Saffron/ Kesar – few strands

Tinned fruit – 1 cup

Salt – 1 1/2 tsp

Procedure
- In a heavy bottomed pan, add oil, add the whole spices and onions and fry till golden brown.
- At this stage, drain the rice and add to the pan. Mix gently and fry for a while. For 1 cup rice, add 2 cups of water
- Boil the mixture.
- On boiling, cover the pan and continue cooking on very low heat until the water is completely absorbed and the rice is cooked to perfection. Add soaked saffron
- Drain the tinned fruit and mix with the cooked rice using a fork gently.
IV. Tamatar Kasooori Pulao / Tomato Fenugreek Pulao Serves 4

Fenugreek is much used in Indian cookery, both the seeds as well as the leaves. But the dried version is rarely used in pulaos. It is a great dish to try out for the health conscious and for people suffering from lifestyle diseases like diabetes.

Ingredients

Basmati rice – 1 cup

Oil – 2 tbsp

Cumin seeds – 1/2 tsp

Kasoori Methi / Dried Fenugreek Leaves – 2 tsp

Tomatoes – 1 cup

Salt – 1 1/2 tsp

Procedure
- In a heavy bottomed pan, add oil, add the whole spices and onions and fry till golden brown.
- At this stage, drain the rice and add to the pan. Mix gently and fry for a while. For 1 cup rice, add 2 cups of water
- Boil the mixture.
- On boiling, cover the pan and continue cooking on very low heat until the water is completely absorbed and the rice is cooked to perfection.
- Drain the tinned fruit and mix with the cooked rice using a fork gently.
V. Garden of Five Senses Serves 4

As the name suggests, this recipe is sure to ignite all five human senses. Owing to its colour, it provides interest to the eyes; the magical aroma is sure to arouse the sense of smell; the taste is sure heavenly; the crackling of spices and aromatic oils from the masalas are music to the ears thereby arousing the sense of hearing and finally, its texture is so smooth that its sure to activate the sense of touch and feel of every single grain of rice

Ingredients

Basmati rice – 1 cup

Spring Onion – 4-5 sliced finely (keep the greens separately)

Oil – 2 tbsp

Bayleaf – 1 leaf

Ginger – 1/2″ sliced into juliens

Garlic – 2 cloves

Cauliflower – 1 cup

Shelled peas – 1 cup

Bread slice – 1 slice cut into small squares

Pomegranate – 3/4 cup

Garam masala – 1 tsp

Salt – 1 1/2 tsp

Baby Corn – 1/2 cup

Capsicum – 1 cup

Procedure
- Pressure cook the baby corn along with one cup water and salt for 5-7 mins.
- In a heavy bottomed pan, add oil and deep fry separately, the bread pieces, cauliflower florets, and paneer cubes till golden brown. Remove on frying and keep in absorbent sheets to soak excess oil
- In the same pan, add the whole spices and stir for a while. Add the onions, ginger, garlic and fry till golden brown. Reduce the flame and add the powdered spices and salt.
- Add the drained corn, capsicum, peas, cauliflower and paneer pieces and mix gently.
- At this stage, drain the rice and add to the pan. Mix gently and fry for a while. For 1 cup rice, add 2 cups of water
- Boil the mixture.
- On boiling, cover the pan and continue cooking on very low heat until the water is completely absorbed and the rice is cooked to perfection.
June 13, 2014
Ghee rice recipe

The main food item in south India is rice,using this rice there are many recipes prepared depending on the locality and taste.One of the most popular rice made recipe is ghee rice which is made by many people instantly in their homes.Because of its easy making,less time taking process and most adorable taste many of the busy people prefer making this at their home.This process is so simple because of the usage of a pressure cooker,it reduces the cooking time and also reduces the complications and mess that no one would like during busy hours.This is one of the best one which is very easy to make and makes a very good lunch box recipe so that people with busy working hours can do it for their children and for them which saves their valuable time.

Famous south Indian ghee rice recipe

Ghee is a classified form of butter that is firstly originated in India and spread to many other countries.It is commonly being used in many countries like Pakistan,Bangladesh,Nepal,Srilanka many other other countries.The name Ghee is originated from Sanskrit and depending on the regional languages its name is followed by their regional slang.It is prepared from the extract of a residue from milk called butter.Ghee is prepared by simmering butter and removing the residue aside.The main quality factor of Ghee depends on quality of butter and the duration of its boiling.

Home made ghee

This Ghee has wide range of applications.It are used widely in India in various dishes which adds a better flavor of taste to the food items.In making sweets they get enriched taste because of this.Many people mix in rice along with pickle to enjoy the taste of food.It has high fat content about 8 mg of cholesterol for one table spoon of Ghee.

Ingredients:

1) One cup of Basmati Rice

2) One cup of finely chopped Onion

3) One small Cinnamon stick (which adds its flavor)

4) Two to Three Cloves (lavangam)

5) One Green Cardamom (Yaalakkaya)

6) Half teaspoon Black Peppercorns (Miriyal podi)

7) One small Bay Leaf (Biryani Aku)

8) Four to Five Cashew Nuts

9) Three to Four Raisins (Endu Draksha)

10) One teaspoon crushed Ginger Garlic

11) One Green Chili Finely chopped

12) One tablespoon Ghee (Clarified butter)

13) Two cups of water

14) salt required amount

Ghee rice Ingredients required

Procedure:

We can find many versions of Ghee rice around different parts of India.Different type of recipes involve different type of making process.In few types the rice is cooked in ghee with spices and some recipes call for seasoning the spices in ghee and adding the steamed rice like the fried rice.If we go for Andhra style of making we need only pepper powder and no other spice is used.This can be cooked by using egg or without egg depending on our requirement.The main taste for this Ghee rice comes from the flavor of pepper and curry leaves fried in ghee.

Step 1:

For the better taste we can go for Basmati rice for effective making of this ghee rice.At the first step we have to wash the rice grains thoroughly for about two to three minutes in mineral water to remove the excess starch and dust particles present in the rice.Now keep the rice in a bowl and pour fresh water up to one third of rice and leave it to soak them for 20 minutes.because of this washing we can also avoid sticking of rice grains while cooking process.After the completion of twenty minutes leave the soaked rice to get drained.

Washing process of Basmati rice

Step 2:

As the first step has completed then keep that drained rice aside, now pressure cooker on the stove and take two spoons of ghee in it.On the stove and heat this ghee until it melts and then add cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, black peppercorns and a piece of bay leaf.all these are stirred in that pressure cooker until their color changes to brown or gold color.Now take the chopped onion and they are stirred along with the ingredients until their color changes.

Preparing Ghee rice and deep fry chopped onions

Step 3:

To this onion, cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, black peppercorns and a piece of bay leaf mixture that we have prepared add a cup of cashew nuts, raisins, crushed ginger garlic and chopped green chilies and mix them thoroughly by keeping the flame low for about one minute.Now at this stage add drained rice to the pressure cooker.Now add salt to taste and 2 cups of water.Mix them properly and close the lid.The cooking process must be done for at least two whistles.

adding drained rice to it

Step 4:

After the whistles are out you have to turn off the flame and leave the pressure cooker aside without taking the lid out and leave it undisturbed so that the pressure in it come down naturally.for this process to go on it takes at least 5 to 8 minutes.Now you can open the lid and stir it carefully once to get mixed the cashew nuts and other ingredients.That’s it tasty and spicy ghee rice is ready to eat.Now take it to ta serving plate and we can add decorations to it by using carrot or tomato.

Ghee rice in a serving plate

June 11, 2014
The Veggie Kitchen

I’m going vegan for a week.

Being a meat lover and someone who hardly has her vegetables at meal time, this was turning out to be quite a hellish challenge to overcome.

I spent the first two days craving for some meat. Anything meaty. Any meat look-a-like. Today is the sixth day and I’m more than okay. I guess I’ll survive.

I was always a fussy eater. Not this. Not that. This is soggy. That looks weird. Eww. “Mum, the fish tastes fishy. I don’t like it.” I made up all kinds of excuses to not eat my meals properly, especially the greens.

Well, I’m twenty now. These excuses work no more.

Anyway, when mum dared me to go all vegan for a week, I readily took up the challenge. I had to prove her wrong, didn’t I?

Why? Why did I have to prove her wrong? *sighs*

Since my bruised ego had already done the needful, I braced my taste buds and entered the Veggie Kitchen.

(I would rather not admit this, but I don’t hate the green beings any more. The Vegetable Mornay is one of the yummiest vegetable dishes I have had so far. As far as egg-less desserts go, the Peanut Butter Fudge is my favourite. )

From the Veggie Kitchen:

Vegetable Mornay

Time – 40 minutes

Serves – 4

Ingredients – 2 to 3 carrots, 2 leeks, 1 head of broccoli, 1 cauliflower, 25g butter, 1 tbsp plain flour or cornflour, 500-700ml milk, 2 tbsp nutritional yeast flakes (optional), 100g mature cheese (grated, 75 g for the sauce and 25 g for the topping), ½ tsp mustard, Black pepper to taste

Method – Preheat the oven to 180C. chop the carrots into sticks, slice the leeks and cut the broccoli and cauliflower into manageable florets. Place in a steamer and cook until the cauliflower is tender but not soft. Meanwhile, make the sauce. Melt the butter gently in a saucepan in medium heat. Add the flour or cornflour and stir well with a wooden spoon. Add the milk a little at a time, continuing to stir to avoid lumps. Switch to a balloon whisk. Continue to stir over a medium heat until the sauce begins to thicken. The balloon whisk will also help to eradicate any lumps that may have materialized. Add more milk as necessary to get the desired thickness. The sauce should be the thickness of custard. If you are using nutritional yeast flakes, add these before the grated cheese as they will reduce the amount of cheese you will need. Add the cheese and mustard and stir well. Season with black pepper. When the vegetables are ready, transfer them to an oven proof dish. Pour over the sauce and garnish with the remaining grated cheese. Bake in the oven for about 15 to 20 minutes or grill until the top is golden.

Creamy Beetroot Curry

Time – 50 minutes

Serves – 4

Ingredients – 1 tbsp vegetable oil, 2 onions ( very finely chopped), 2 tsp yellow mustard seeds, 3 tbsp Madras curry paste, 1 kg raw beetroot (peeled, halved and thickly sliced), 1 green chilli (halved lengthways), 400g can chopped tomatoes, 3tbsp ground almonds, 4 tbsp low-fat natural yogurt (plus extra to serve), basmati rice (to serve, optional)

Method – Heat the oil in a large lidded pan, stir in the onions and cook for 8 minutes until soft. Tip in the mustard seeds and cook for 1 minute until toasted. Stir through the curry paste and sizzle for 3 minutes. Mix the beetroot through the spicy onions, then add the chilli, tomatoes and 2 cans of water. Cover and simmer for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the beetroot is tender. Remove the lid, turn up the heat and cook until the sauce is thick. Take off the heat, then stir through the almonds, yogurt and some seasoning. Top with yogurt and serve with basmati rice(optional).

Coconut and Lime Rice

Time –22 minutes

Serves –4

Ingredients – 250g basmati rice, 5 tbsp desiccated coconut, zest and juice 1 lime, small pack coriander (roughly chopped)

Method – Cook the rice. Add the coconut about 5 minutes before the end of the cooking time. Stir in the lime zest and juice, and the coriander. Serve immediately.

Chickpea Patties with Carrot and Raisin Salad

Time –15 minutes

Serves –2

Ingredients –

For the Patties: 400g chickpeas (drained), 1 garlic clove, 1 egg, 1 tbsp ground almonds, 2 tsp harissa, 1 tsp ground cumin, 3 tbsp chopped parsley, 2 tsp rapeseed oil (for frying)

For the Salad: 1 tbsp raisins, 1 carrot and 1 courgette (shaved into ribbons with a peeler), 5 radishes (thinly sliced), 2 handfuls from a bag of watercress, rocket and spinach, 1 tsp each hemp or rapeseed oil and white wine vinegar, or lemon wedges (optional)

Method – Tip the chickpeas, garlic, egg, almonds, harissa and cumin into a bowl and blitz with ahand blender until smooth. Stir in the parsley. Heat the oil in a non-stick frying pan and dollop in the mixture in 8 big spoonfuls, spaced apart. Cook for 5 minutes on each side.

For the salad, toss the raisins and all the vegetables together, but don’t dress with the oil and vinegar until you are about to eat. If taking to work, add a wedge of lemon to squeeze over instead of the dressing.

Peanut Butter Fudge

Time – 1 hour 20 minutes

Serves – 4

Ingredients – ½ cup butter, 2 ¼ cups brown sugar, ½ cup milk, ¾ cup peanut butter, 1 tsp vanilla extract, 3 ½ cups confectioners’ sugar

Method – Melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Stir in brown sugar and milk. Bring to the boil and boil for 2 minutes, stirring frequently. Remove from heat. Stir in peanut butter and vanilla. Pour over confectioners’ sugar in a large mixing bowl. Beat until smooth; pour in to an 8×8 inch dish. Chill until firm and cut into pieces.

Vegan Brownies

Time – 50 minutes

Serves – 16 brownies

Ingredients – 2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour, 2 cups white sugar, ¾ cup unsweetened cocoa powder, 1 tsp baking powder, 1 tsp salt, 1 cup water, 1 cup vegetable oil, 1 tsp vanilla extract

Method – Preheat the oven to 175 C. Ina large bowl, stir together flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder and salt. Pour in water, vegetable oil and vanilla; mix until well blended. Spread evenly in a 9×13 inch baking pan. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes in the preheated oven, until the toothpick inserted in the brownie comes out clean. Let cool for at least 10 minutes before cutting into squares.

Recipe Courtesy: allrecipes.com, bbcgoodfood.com

Picture courtesy: allrecipes.com, bbcgoodfood.com, aliveandcooking.com.au, toriavey.com,

May 29, 2014
Healthy Cooking for Diabetes

DIABETES. What is Diabetes?

When one has diabetes, the amount of glucose (sugar) in his/her blood is very high. This is mainly because the body is unable to use the glucose properly.

For Diabetic people, maintaining blood glucose levels is the essential aim for treatment and this can be done by leading a healthy lifestyle. My grandmother and my mother are both prey to the disease diabetes mellitus. It is one horrible disease. The things to do and not to do. To eat or not to eat. The regular checkups. The huge doses of a dozen pills on a regular basis. The daily insulin intake through injections. It is a nightmare.

To be healthy, to lead a normal lifestyle, one has to follow a balanced diet among other remedies.

Breakfast, lunch and dinner are the three main meals of one’s day. The following recipes are very healthy and cooked as par the diet of a diabetic patient.

BREAKFAST is the most important meal of your day.

Besan Methi Frankie (Stuffed gram flour roti)

Ingredients –

For the dough- 90g gram flour (besan), 70g whole-wheat flour (atta) plus extra for dusting, 160g fresh fenugreek leaves (methi ) chopped, 4 green chillies (chopped), ¼ tsp ground turmeric, ¼ tsp carom seeds ( ajwain), 1 tbsp natural low-fat yogurt,½ tsp salt, green chutney ( as required), 1 medium sized onion ( chopped)

For the stuffing – 1 tsp olive oil, 2 medium sized onions (chopped), 2 medium sized tomatoes ( seeded and chopped), 2 green chillies ( chopped), 160g bean sprouts ( blanched), ¼ tsp ground turmeric, ¼ tsp red chilli powder, ½ tsp chaat masala, ½ tsp salt, 1 tsp lemon juice, 1 tbsp chopped fresh coriander leaves

Method – Mix together the two flours, fenugreek leaves, chillies, turmeric, carom seeds, yogurt and salt. Add enough water to knead into a semi- soft dough. Cover the dough with a damp cloth and rest for about 15 minutes.

To make the stuffing, heat the oil in a pan, add the onions and tomatoes and sauté for 2 minutes. Add the chillies and bean sprouts and continue to sauté for 30 seconds. Stir in the turmeric, chilli powder, chaat masala, salt, lemon juice and coriander, and sauté for 1 minute. Remove from the heat and set aside.

Divide the dough into 8 equal size portions and form into balls. Dust these with a little whole-wheat flour, and then roll out into rotis, roughly 15 cm in diameter. Heat a non-stick tawa and cook the rotis on both sides, until evenly done. To prepare a Frankie, place a roti on a flat work surface and spread a tsp of green chutney all over. Spoon some of the stuffing on one side of the roti, sprinkle on some onions, then simply roll up. Prepare the rest of the frankies in the same way, wrapping them in foil as you go to keep them warm and make them easier to handle. Serve immediately.

LUNCH – eat a light lunch and have a snack later if you are hungry

Dahi Idli ( Steamed Rice Cakes in Yogurt)

Ingredients – 220g parboiled rice, 100g split black gram, 500g natural low-fat yogurt ( whisked), 2 tbsp green chutney, 2 tbsp tamarind chutney, ¼ tsp red chilli powder, ¼ tsp ground cumin, 2 tbsp chopped fresh coriander leaves

Method – Wash the rice and then soak in 600ml fresh water for at least 2 to 3 hours. Wash the dal and then soak in 400 ml water for a similar period of time. Drain the rice and grind to a slightly coarse texture. Mix in as much water as required to make a batter of dropping consistency. Drain and grind the dal, then mix to a smooth and spongy batter, again using as much water as required. Mix both the batters together and pour into a large vessel with a lid. Close the lid tightly and then leave the batter to rest, and ferment, in a warm place overnight. The following day, heat sufficient water in a steamer. Place a muslin cloth on the idli stand. Pour a spoonful of the fermented batter into each dent. Place the idli stand in the steamer and cook for 8 to 10 minutes, or until the idlis are done. Place the idlis in a serving bowl and drizzle over the yogurt and chutneys, followed by the chilli powder and ground cumin. Garnish with the chopped coriander leaves and serve.

DINNER is the last meal of your day. Try having your dinner at least 3 to 4 hours before you sleep. If convenient, walk a little after your dinner. This helps in giving your body the time to digest the meal and use up the calories from the food before your metabolism rate lowers for the rest of the night.

Prawn Rice

Ingredients – 190g brown rice, 10 medium prawns ( shelled and deveined), 1 tsp lemon juice, 1 tsp salt, 30g fresh coriander leaves (chopped), 2 tbsp grated fresh coconut, 3 green chillies (chopped), 2.5 cm piece root ginger (finely chopped), 4 garlic cloves (finely chopped), 12 to 15 fresh mint leaves, ¾ tbsp olive oil, 1cm piece cinnamon stick, 3 black cardamom pods (split), 1 star anise, 3 cloves, 1 tsp cumin seeds, 1 large onion (chopped), 1 ½ tsp low-fat coconut milk

Method – Soak the brown rice in 500 ml water for 2 hours. Drain and set aside. Marinate the prawns in the lemon juice and salt. Set aside 1 tbsp each of the coriander and grated fresh coconut for the garnish. Grind the remaining coriander and coconut with the green chillies, ginger, garlic and mint to a fine paste. Heat the oil in a thick-bottomed handi and add the cinnamon stick, cardamom, star anise, cloves and cumin seeds. Sauté for 1 minute. Add the chopped onions and sauté for 3 to 4 minutes, or until it turns golden brown in colour. Add the masala paste and stir-fry for a further 30 seconds. Add the soaked rice and stir gently for 1 minute. Stir in the coconut milk and 1 litre water. Bring to the boil, stirring once or twice, and then cook on a medium heat until the water has almost disappeared – about 30 to 35 minutes. Add the prawns, reduce the heat and cook, covered, until the rice is tender. Remove the pan from the heat and served garnished with the reserved coriander leaves and grated coconut.

HAVING DIABETES DOES NOT MEAN YOU CANNOT HAVE SWEETS. Small amount mixed with a balanced diet is fine.

You can try making this healthy yummy pudding whenever you are craving for some sweet meats.

Pineapple Yogurt Fool

Ingredients – ½ medium pineapple (cut into small pieces), 2.5cm stick cinnamon, 135g hung natural low-fat yogurt

Method – Place the pineapple and cinnamon in a non-stick pan and stew over a low heat for 30 minutes. Set aside to cool. Remove the pineapple pieces from the pan and mix them with the yogurt. Blend together in a mixer. Chill in the fridge. Serve chilled.

Recipe Courtesy – sanjeevkapoor.com

Image Courtesy – lchdhealthcare.org, rediff.com, 4remedy.com

May 23, 2014
Cooking And Kids

“When I cook with my son, I might chop vegetables and have fun with different shapes. Cooking is a way to teach kids about other things, like reading or math with all of the weights and measures. There are so many things that are part of cooking that are also very educational.”

– Emeril Lagasse

Cooking with kids is super easy and fun. These days, recipes for kids are readily available on the internet, as well as, in the How-To-Cook-With-Children books. A toddler, a school-age child or an older child – anyone can help in cooking, ranging from snacks to main meals. From creating a menu together to building an organized work station – while one cleans the veggies, another fries a potato, a third grates some cheese, a fourth sautés the veggies, a fifth cleans the utensils, a sixth serves the food on the plates, a seventh sets the table, and so on ( NO, I don’t have the Von Trapp Children in mind) –it is quite an engaging activity.

Watching MasterChef Junior, among other cooking shows, one is full of awe at kids, not even the height of one’s waist, intently cooking with dexterity. Most kids enjoy cooking. Moreover, learning to cook at an early age leads to big bonuses in the later years, when one is in college or about to settle down and start a family.

I have two young cousins who love to cook; one is a boy of six and the other a girl of 12. From dressing salads to making ice popsicles – every tiny step excites them. It sure is fun when it’s time to put the chef’s whites on.

So, here are a few easy-to-cook recipes which are an all-time hit among children:

Mac and Cheese

Cooking Time: 50 minutes

Ingredients: 2 shallots (peeled), 3 cloves of garlic, 1 tsp olive oil, 3 pieces of bacon (diced and cooked, reserving 1 tbsp bacon fat) ,2 tbsp flour, 4 cups of heavy cream, 1 tsp chopped fresh thyme, 1 cup shredded pepper jack cheese, 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese, 1 pound penne pasta (cooked) , ½ cup Panko bread crumbs, 2 tbsp melted butter, 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley

Directions: Preheat oven to 350 degree F. Place shallots and garlic in a small aluminum foil pouch and drizzle with olive oil. Roast 20 to 30 minutes or until tender. Remove from foil and chop. In a large sauté pan, reheat reserved bacon fat over medium heat. Add roasted shallot and garlic and sauté for 1 minute. Add flour and stir for 1 minute. Whisk in heavy cream and thyme. Reduce by a third. Stir in cheeses until melted, creamy and thickened. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Remove from heat and gently stir in pasta. Place in a 9X13 casserole dish. In a small bowl, mix together diced bacon, breadcrumbs, butter and parsley. Top Mac and cheese with Panko mixture and bake uncovered at same heat until bubbling and lightly browned on top (say, 20 to 25 minutes).

Brownies

Cooking Time: 22 minutes

Yield: 12 brownies

Ingredients: 1 package chocolate brownie mix (prepared to directions on box- ½ cup oil, ¼ cup water, 2 eggs), 1 cup peanut butter chips, softened butter (for greasing your baking dish), 1-2 ounce package chopped nuts, ¼ cup mini marshmallows

Directions: Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. To mixed brownie batter, stir in peanut butter chips. Grease an 8 by 13-inch baking dish with softened butter and line with foil. Spread the brownie batter into an even layer. Sprinkle the brownie batter with chopped nuts and bake 20 to 22 minutes. Top with marshmallows in the last 3 minutes of baking. Remove from oven and cut into 12 brownies.

Peanut Butter Crispy Rice Treats

Cooking Time: 15 minutes

Yield: 18 bars

Ingredients: 6 tbsp unsalted butter (plus more for greasing), 4 cups miniature marshmallows, ½ cup smooth peanut butter, 6 cups puffed rice cereal, ½ cup whole roasted peanuts, 4 ounces good-quality semi-sweet chocolate (chopped), flakes sea salt (optional)

Directions: Lightly butter a 13 by 9 inch baking dish.

Melt the butter in a large saucepan over low to medium=low heat until light brown specks start to form and the butter starts to smell nutty (10 to 12 minutes). Add the marshmallows and stir until completely melted. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the peanut butter until melted. Add the puffed rice cereal and peanuts. Stir until well coated. Press the mixture evenly into the prepared baking dish. Cool completely. Meanwhile, place the chocolate in a medium heatproof bowl. Microwave in 30 second intervals until the chocolate is melted. Drizzle the chocolate over the cooled crispy rice treats and sprinkle with flaked sea salt if desired. Cut into 18 bars.

Chocolate Chip Cookies

Cooking Time: 15 minutes

Yield: 26 cookies

Ingredients: ¾ cup packed dark brown sugar, ¾ cup sugar, 2 large eggs, ½ cup oil, 1 tsp pure vanilla extract, 1 cup all-purpose flour, 1 cup whole-wheat pastry flour, ¾ tsp baking soda, 1 tsp fine salt, 6 ounces semisweet chocolate chips or chunks, 4 ounces dried cranberries or dried cherries

Directions: evenly position 2 racks in the middle of the oven and preheat to 375 degrees F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone sheets. (If you only have 1 baking sheet, let it cool completely between batches.) Whisk the sugars, eggs, oil and vanilla in a large bowl until smooth. Whisk the flours, baking soda and salt in another bowl. Stir the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients with a wooden spoon; take care not to over mix. Stir in the chocolate chips or chunks and dried fruit. Scoop heaping tbsp of the dough onto the prepared pans. Wet hands slightly and roll the dough into balls. Space the cookies about 2 inches apart on the pans. Bake until golden but soft in the center; about 12 to 14 minutes, depending on how chewy or crunchy you like your cookies. Transfer hot cookies with a spatula to a rack to cool. Serve. Store cookies in a tightly sealed container for up to 3 days.

So, what are you waiting for?

Grab your apron, cook and have fun with your kids!!

Recipe Courtesy: foodnetwork.com

Image Courtesy: momtrends.com

May 23, 2014