Bottle gourd is highly appreciated vegetables in Indian cuisine though it is not very familiar to the western world (yet!) as an edible. It is rich in minerals and high in water therefore considered extremely light on the digestive system. It is used in stir fries, curries, with lentils, in desserts, soups and a lot more. This is a super simple and homey dish, but the flavors are tremendous. We Punjabis particularly love to add wadis in it. They add a lot of flavor and make the dish enjoyably spicy.
Healthy
Vegan Black Bean Burger with Mango Salsa
We eat a lot of beans but I’ve often resisted making “bean burgers”. It’s not that I don’t like them, It’s just that, most bean burgers have the texture of mush which I do not find appealing at all. A while ago I tried the bean burger recipe from the Food lab of Serious Eats. It was a win at first try! The tips given in the post gave a perfect burger that was not mushy at all. My family loved it and after that I tried it with different combination and spices. These burgers have a firm crust on the outside and still moist on the inside. They don’t fall apart when cooked and don’t squish out the back of the bun when you bite down. What more do you want? With the right ingredients, a little time, and the technique of dehydrating the cooked black beans, I perfected my recipe for vegan black bean burgers.
Sprouted Red Lentil, Quinoa Nourish Bowl
Sunshine and warmer days have returned which means less time in the kitchen and more time outside having fun with family and friends. Though I love spending time in the kitchen, I also don’t want to miss out on the sun and fun by staying indoors or spend money eating out. The only way to do this is to have simpler meals that come together fast. This Sprouted red lentil, quinoa nourish bowl meets all the requirements for a simple healthy meal. It has got protein powered lentil, whole grain, lemony kale, crunchy raw vegetables, and a herby mint chutney. It is bright, satisfying, incredibly nourishing, and super easy to make.
Coconut Pandan Black Sticky Rice with Mangoes
My daughter came over yesterday and said, “Mom you haven’t made anything with mangoes this season”.
“We’ll change that tomorrow”, I said.
There’s no end to the goodness in my kitchen when I bring home mangoes. I am seriously addicted. I eat one mango everyday (that’s what makes me gain weight in summer). I love manila mangoes very much. Even their smell is superb! The flesh is super sweet and has almost zero fiber. To me this readily available fruit is as close as I can get to mango heaven. I knew exactly how I was going to use these in a recipe. We went to a Thai restaurant for my daughter’s birthday and since then the black sticky rice pudding was on my mind. Often served with mango, this is a totally exotic dessert that is so easy to make. I love the creaminess of the pudding, and the color contrast between the black sticky rice with the white coconut cream and golden yellow of the mango.
Pithaud with Chaunke Matar / Gram flour Cakes with Masala Peas
I have more than a dozen gluten-free flours stored in my fridge and pantry, but the bag of besan (gram flour) is the one that needs to be restocked most often. There are many, many ways you can use gram flour in your cooking. Its characteristic nutty flavor gives besan the ability to create tasty, simple dishes that stand on their own with few ingredients. Take this Pithaud recipe for example. It looks simple, right? Well, it is! The delicate golden brown crust and silky smooth interior of pithaud really shines through in this easy dish and is well complemented by simple tomato curry and seasoned sweet green peas. I made this for my friends on Yoga retreat day and they couldn’t stop talking about how good it was.
Simple Millet Crepes
Food evokes memories and many a times they give birth to recipes that have resemblance to their origins but modified to dietary restrictions. I got the inspiration for these crepes from my mother’s “sour dough cheelas”. I can hardly contain my excitement to share that this recipe is not only gluten-free, but also dairy-free, egg free, soy free, and nut-free. Just like its name suggests, these crepes are super easy and can be prepared ahead of time. Serve either as an accompaniment to a main dish or for breakfast with chutney or treat them like soft tacos and fill with whatever you like.
Black Chickpea (Kala Chana) Pulao with Candied Carrot Strips
This pulao combines a tasteful combination of black chickpeas and brown rice. Being low in fat, high in dietary fiber, black chickpea is an excellent source of protein. It can be a good choice to add them to your diet, especially if you are a vegan or a vegetarian. This pulao is my mother’s recipe. My only change to the original is the addition of candied carrots. It is beautifully flavored and deliciously fragrant. The stock is the key ingredient which gives the rice it’s black color and flavor.
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