Quinoa Upma/Pilaf

I'm on a healthy-eating spree! If you guys haven't tried quinoa yet, you are significantly missing out! It is a grain-like seed that can substitute any grain you use, and even rice. It is filled with lots of protein, and being the picky eater I am, even I love the taste of it :)

Quinoa upma is a fast go-to meal, filled with nutrients, that you can further add veggies as per your liking.

This recipe serves 4.

What you need:

• Quinoa - 1 cup
• Diced Mixed Veggies - 1 cup combined
• Favorites are carrots, potatoes, bell peppers, onions, corn, spinach
• Oil - 2 tbsp
• Mustard Seeds - 1tbsp
• Urad dal/ skinned black gram - 2 tbsp
• Turmeric powder - 1 tsp
• Serrano chili - 2
• Salt (as needed)

Method:

1. Heat oil, add mustard seeds, and when the splutter, add the urad dal.
2. When the dal begins to brown, add the chilis & veggies, and fry for 5 minutes or so.
3. Add salt & turmeric powder, followed by the quinoa.
4. In a couple of minutes, add 2.5 cups of water (ratio of quinoa to water is 1 : 2.5), and let simmer covered on low heat for 15-20 minutes.
5. Taste to make sure quinoa is al dente, and fluff up with fork.

Serve with chutney of choice or hot sauce and yogurt like I did :)

Banana Date Sweet - Super Quick and Easy!!

I had about 10 minutes this morning to make a small amount of some sweet as offerings to God, and I ended up finishing it off in just 5 minutes.  Here's what I came up with.  It was quick, healthy, and yummy!!


What you need:

• Banana (ripe) - 1
• Pitted Dates - 5-6
• Ghee or butter - 1 Tbs
• Milk - splash
• Cardamon/elaichi - a pinch

Method:

Add chopped pieces of banana and dates to heated ghee/butter and fry for about 2 minutes.  Add the milk and mix for a couple more minutes until it all becomes mushy.  Add the cardamom, and enjoy!!

P.S. I have a bunch more pending recipes to post. Stay tuned :)

Carrot Kheer for Krishna

Been preoccupied with stuff, but I've still been cooking.  Krishna Jayanthi was a couple of weeks back, and I decided to make yummy treats for Krishna.  The main item was carrot kheer, but I accompanied with Panchamritham (fruit salad in honey) and a butter/sugar mixture.

Carrot Kheer, I discovered is probably one of the easiest Indian desserts that is also so healthy.  I had it for dinner for the next few days, without any guilt, because it was basically just carrot milk :)  Also, I eyeballed all the quantities, so it's definitely an easy Indian sweet to start with.


Here's what you need:

• Carrots - 3
• Milk - about 2 cups
• Sugar - about 1/4 cup
• Unsalted raw Cashews - 10
• Elachi - 1/4 tsp
• Ghee - 2 tsp

Method :

1. Cut the carrot into large pieces (halves or thirds) and pressure cook for about 20 minutes.
2. Once it cools, the peel slides off so easily.  Peel & blend into a smooth paste.
3. In a small pan, add ghee to fry the cashews and set aside.
4. In a heavy bottom pot, heat the milk until it boils.
5. Add the carrot paste and sugar and simmer for 15-20 minutes.
6. Finish by adding the elachi powder and cashews.

It tastes yum warm, but even better chilled!

Raita - Yogurt Dip

Raita is a quick and easy Indian condiment. It can be used as a dipping sauce or a side for any spicy rice or bread.

It's one of those recipes that you can throw it many different ingredients, and they all will make an equally yummy version of the "raita". Here's my version from a Sunday lunch that I used as a side for "vegetable pulav"



Ingredients:
1/2 Peeled Cucumber
5-6 Grape tomatoes
1/2 Onion
Handful of Cilantro
Creamy Yogurt - 1 C
Mint Buttermilk (optional)
Sour Cream (optional)
Cumin Powder (optional)
Chaat Masala - 1 tsp (optional)
Black pepper - to taste
Salt - to taste


Directions:
Chop all the vegetables you want to use uniformly. Stir in the yogurt, and a dollop of sour cream, and mix in the remaining ingredients. A splash of the mint flavored buttermilk will give it great fragrance and flavor.