Weekend special : Middle eastern dip-Hummus!

Most of us are always in search of healthy alternatives to our meals thesedays..and its very rare that a healthy dish is delicious too.One such dish is Hummus which is a guilt free snacking option..you can slather your toasts with thick layer of this dip without any guilty feeling.
I love hummus and other middle eastern dips..earlier I had shared a cannelini beans hummus recipe on my blog.
This time its the classic chickpea hummus and I cooked up an entire middle eastern platter this time with falafels and salad to go with the pita.

Ingredients

1 cup Chickpeas
1/4 cup Sesame seeds
1/3 cup Olive oil
2-3 cloves Garlic
1 tbsp lemon juice
Salt

Method

Boil the soaked chickpeas with salt.For tahini ,first toast the sesame seeds and then mix it with  olive oil in a blender.Now take the boiled chickpeas,tahini,olive oil,garlic and blend it till is smooth  and nice.Add lemon juice and serve it with warm pita or bread.

Before you say goodbye to mangoes...Try Mango Parfait !!

Mango is undoubtedly the most popular fruit and I love it in all the forms.So,before you say goodbye to the king of fruits try this simply delicious and healthy breakfast recipe..mango parfait...trust me its the most amazing way to eat fruits!Some dishes are so simple and yet so beautiful..Parfait is one such dish..just a handful of healthy ingredients and an amazing dessert is ready to serve.

Ingredients

1 Mango
1 cup Yoghurt
1/3 cup Muesli


Method 

Chop one mango into fine pieces.Take yoghurt in a bowl and whip it till its nice and smooth.You can add a bit of sugar if you want.I like it healthy so I didn't add.

Take a tall glass and layer alternate layers of muesli,yogurt and chopped mango.
That's it !!!Just dig in and enjoy !!

Guilt-free Breakfast Muffins !!

What to cook for breakfast???
Its always a challenge to decide and that too a healthy alternative as breakfast is the most important meal of the day.
Usually I go for sandwiches/eggs/poha but on weekends I love to experiment in my kitchen.
I have got my new toy (my oven) and so thesedays most of the experiments are all baking recipes.. I just love baking..One common myth is that baking involves loads of sugar and butter ...Its actually all upon you how you play with different ingredients and incorporate the goodness in your recipes.It won't taste as sinful but will still be a guilt-free pleasure.
So I tried these healthy breakfast muffins with the goodness of oats,nuts,bananas and whole wheat.These muffins are low on sugar and  butter free as I have used oil.
Banana gives a nice softness and oats and nuts a nice crunch on every bite!!
Enjoy these with a glass of milk and you are good to go for the day!!

Ingredients

1 cup whole wheat flour
1 cup quaker oats
1 egg
1/2 cup chopped almonds/walnuts
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp vanilla essence
1 cup mashed bananas
1/3 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup oil

Method

Preheat the oven at 180 degrees.In a bowl sift together wholewheat ,oats,baking soda and baking powder.In another bowl whisk in mashed bananas,oil,vanilla,egg and sugar.Mix in the dry ingredients with wet ingredients and fold in the nuts,Scoop in the mix into muffin cups and bake it for 15-20 minutes or till the skewer comes out clean.
Enjoy it warm with a glass of milk!!
Healthy and Yummy !!

Notes:

• You can replace egg with 1/3 cup of yoghurt
• You can even use raisins and other nuts

10 minute recipe:Rava coconut laddoos

As a working mother time is always running out for me and gone are the days when I used to go for elaborate and time taking recipes.Toddler time is a tough time where he needs your attention, wants you to to see and acknowledge every little thing he does..It sometimes just amazes me with the way he  arranges all the building blocks to form a train or the way he helps out to arrange cushions on the bed so nicely..and then there is his naughty side... in a minute he will just go crazy throwing everything in each corner of the house and you are back to the messy house !!

Coming on to the dish today these coconut rava laddus are so quick to make and believe me they will vanish from your pantry as quick as well...not many ingredients and no rocket science ..its a beginner recipe..but tastes awesome...It comes under the category of those addictive sweets where the moment you have one you just can't stop going for the second one !!

Ingredients 

1 & 1/2 cup semolina/suji

1 cup condensed milk 

1/2 cup dessicated coconut 

1/2 tsp crushed cardamom pods

2 tbsp Ghee

Dry fruits (as much as you like it)

Method 

Fry dry fruits and keep them aside.Now in the same ghee add semolina and fry till its smells heaven and changes colour.Add coconut and fry for a minute,Add nuts,cardamom and condensed milk and mix it well.Switch off the fame and make laddoos while the mixture is till warm.

Store them in an airtight container and enjoy.My son loved these laddoos too !!

Weekend Brunch Recipe:Shakshouka(baked eggs on a bed of tomato sauce) !!

Weekend meals are always special at my home..both hubby and me like to experiment different cuisines other than Indian either at home or at a restaurant..we don’t want to eat the usual daal roti on a weekend...and me being such a foodie I start planning well in advance stocking up the pantry with the essentials I will be needing for my experiments in kitchen ..!

I have been thinking of trying this recipe for long having read a lot in a number of blogs.....and lately I had it at a restaurant in Hampi for the first time.

For all those who have not heard of Shakshouka before it is a middle eastern dish –basically eggs baked on  a bed of tomato sauce.I have given my own  twist in this recipe by adding a layer of potato and paneer mash. This is a perfect brunch dish with a pack of nutrients and flavour as well.

You can serve it with toasts,pita,flatbreads or even rice..I would definitely recommend it to be a  part of any middle eastern theme party menu.

Ingredients

3 eggs

3 tomatoes chopped finely

1 small onion chopped

2-3 cloves of garlic

¼ cup spinach (wilted)

1 boiled potato

¼ cup mashed paneer

½ tsp Italian seasoning

1 tsp of tomato ketchup

Salt and ppper to taste

Chilli flakes –as much you like it

Grated cheese 1 tbsp

Method

For the tomato sauce take about a spoonful of oil in a pan and add garlic when the oil turns hot.When garlic turns to light brown add the chopped onion and cook till the onions are brown.Thereafter add tomatoes,salt and a half cup of water and cook covered for about 10 minutes until it is all mushy.Add a tsp of tomato ketchup,black pepper and Italian seasoning.

Tomato sauce is ready now for the mash.In a bowl mix mashed paneer and boiled potatoes salt and pepper.

Now take a baking tin and layer a bed of mashed aloo paneer mixture.On top of that place the tomato sauce.Now take wilted spinach and make three circles on the tomato bead for the egg yoks.

Break one egg each in all the circles and sprinkle salt,pepper and grated cheese.Bake it in a preheated oven for 10-15 minutes at 180 degrees.

Serve hot with toast and enjoy your weekend !!!

Back to blogging with Thai Red Chicken Curry !!

Its been more than an year since my Last Blog post!! ..There have been so many changes  in life all this while ...from shifting to India.. to joining work ...raising a toddler...setting up our new home.

But this blog of mine was always there at the back of my mind ..and finally I  am here reviving my blog...reliving my passion for food and cooking.

I am so proud to recreate dishes which I had first tasted in London ...thanks to the ingredients we get in India too...like Pesto is a staple in my fridge..Hummus and Pita is what I love eating in this summery weather.

Recently I found lemongrass at a supermarket and couldn't stop myself from trying this amazing Thai curry.The best thing is that you can make the Thai curry paste and keep it in fridge for all those weekends when you just feel lazy and still want a hearty homemade lunch.Its ready in a jiffy !!

I have never bought a ready made Thai curry paste and would not recommend as well..coz the freshness and simplicity which homemade paste brings.Hubby just loved it and its our weekend favourite thesedays.You can throw in some chicken pieces or tofu/paneer for a veggie version.

Here's how you can make this delicious and exotic Thai curry:

Ingredients 

For the paste:

7-8 Whole red chillies
1 small Onion
2 stalks of chopped lemongrass
2 tbsp coriander seeds
1 tbsp cumin seeds
1 tbsp grated ginger
2 tsp chopped garlic
1 tbsp coriander stalks
1 tsp lemon rind
Salt to taste

For the curry :

300 gm Boneless chicken pieces
1 carrot
200 ml Coconut milk

Method

Soak the red chillies in warm water for fifteen minutes,Take all the ingredients in the paste category and grind them adding little water.Now take about 1 tbsp oil in a wok and fry this paste  till the oil separates.Your Thai curry paste is ready to use or store.

To make a Thai chicken curry take the paste in a wok and add the coconut milk along with 1 cup of water.Cover and cook for five minutes.Now add the chicken and carrot pieces and cook till the chicken is cooked well.

Garnish with coriander leaves and serve hot with rice.

Have a great weekend !!

Notes

• You can use carrot,tofu/paneer ,broad beans and brocolli for a veggie version
• This paste can be stored in refrigerator for 10-15 days in a airtight container.
• You can increase the amount of chillies depending upon how hot you like.
• Original Thai curry calls for Galangal but I have used ginger which tastes similar and is easily available in India.

Happy new year with potato focaccia

"Tomorrow is the first blank page of a 365 page book.Write a good one."


Here comes the new year with new hopes... new dreams.... and new aspirations !!
Here's wishing all my readers a HAPPY NEW YEAR !!!
For me its NEW in every way  coz I am back to India for good !!So a new year and a new start!!
This was the reason of my absence as I was busy packing bags back to India.I promise I will be back with a bang once the settling process is done !!

Talking about focaccia ....there was time and had not even heard of it....and now it such a favourite that it features our dinner almost every fortnight....the best thing about this bread is that its so flavourful that its a meal in itself...you just don't need any dip...butter...cheese to enjoy it...!!
Potato is one of the common ingredients in our household so that's why I thought of making potato focaccia It is the star ingredient as there is mashed potato in the dough which makes it so moist  and potato slices as toppings which makes it a show stopper dish...!!!

INGREDIENTS:

• 3/4 cup boiled mashed potatoes
• 1 boiled potato sliced
• 1/2 cup warm water
• 1 teaspoon instant dry yeast
• 1 1/5 cup all purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoon olive oil
• 6-7 slices of onion
• 1 tablespoon grated parmesan cheese
• ¼ teaspoon chilli flakes
• 1 teaspoon chopped coriander(or any other herb)

METHOD:

1. Mix yeast in warm water and leave it till to activate.
2. Mix together the flour, salt, olive oil and mashed potatoes in a mixing bowl.
3. Once the yeast has frothed, add it to the flour mix and knead till the dough becomes soft.
4. Lightly grease a bowl, place the dough in it, cover with a wet cloth and set aside in a warm place to rise.
5. After about 2 hours, the dough would have doubled in size, so punch it down, knead for about 2 to 3 minutes and place it in a baking pan to proof again for 30 minutes.
6. Toss the potato slices in oil, salt and chilli flakes.
7. Once the dough has risen again, lightly dimple it at intervals with your finger.
8. Top with the potato slices, onion slices,coriander and cheese .
9. Place in an oven preheated at 190C and bake for 25-30 minutes or till golden brown.
10. Serve warm.

This recipe was chosen among the top ten winners of the Unusual Baking Challenge by Love Food & Hate Waste and features on their website as well.