Simple Gluten Free Kitchen

Soups, Sides & Salads

Cream of Lambsquarter Soup with Toasted Pumpkin Seeds

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Hi, I am still occupied with too many things but I thought to squeeze in a quick post.

We are a family of soup lovers and today’s recipe features a gorgeous green soup made with a wild edible weed. I know that it’s April, and that it’s springtime but spring is not really a spring in Richmond (BC). You will get a week or so of nice weather and then it is rain again. When I spotted lambsquarter in an indian market today, I grabbed a bunch to make a bowl of belly warming soup. Bathu as we call this green in punjabi and bathua in hindi, is only in season for a brief period in the spring and early summer. So get it quickly and get cooking.

Baghare Baingan / Tempered Eggplant, hyderabadi style

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In honor of National Heart awareness month I am sharing a heart healthy recipe today which your family will enjoy and your heart will love. When I say heart healthy, the ingredients you use, the way you cook and the portion size make a big difference. Baghare baingan or tempered eggplants is a classic dish from the city of Hyderabad that contains healthful nutrients from seeds and nuts. It is made with baby eggplants and is cooked twice, first shallow fried and then later cooked in fragrant and delicious gravy. I didn’t fry the eggplants prior as recommended but simmered them directly in the gravy, creating a healthier version of the traditional dish.

Thai Chicken Laksa

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Laksa is a popular noodle dish from south east Asia. There are many variations of this dish and each regions’ version has slightly different spices or ingredients. The one that I first had and adored was in a Thai restaurant. Ever since then, I have been an addict. So, here’s my version of chicken laksa with Thai flavors. It tastes delightfully refreshing and light, yet nurturing and filling at the same time.

Herbed Broccoli Soup with Cheesy Polenta Croutons

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When we think about broccoli, it’s the shape of the florets that come to our mind and we picture it in salad or crudites, but it can also be used to make soups that are delicious and pretty to look at. Broccoli is the most nutrient rich of all the vegetables and belong to ‘cruciferous vegetables group’. Low in calories and high in vitamins and nutrients, it’s a perfect diet or health food. This herbed broccoli soup is a wonderful way to get your cruciferous veggie intake.

Vegan Meat Masala

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I know what you are thinking right now, “How can a vegan dish have meat?” ‘Well, it can”. Jack fruit or ‘kathal’ is one of those unique fruits that is used as a meat substitute for vegetarians and vegans. When young and green, the fruit has a mild flavor and meaty texture. When ripe, it has a strong fruity flavor that can be eaten raw as a fruit or used in desserts. In India people don’t wait for the fruit to ripen and consume it while it is still very tender. I grew up eating it in curries, pickles, semi dry dishes, and rice preparations like biryani. The fruit is rich in energy, dietary fiber, vitamins and minerals and free from saturated fats or cholesterol making it more nutritious than many starchy staples. When cooked well, using heavier spices like black cardamom, cinnamon and bay leaf in the preparation, it is indeed a satisfying meat alternative.

Lemongrass Infused Clear Chicken Soup

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You don’t feel like eating much when you are sniffling, sneezing and have sore throat. Drinking hot liquids is one of the thing that helps to relieve symptoms, move mucus and keep you hydrated. But a good bowl of salty soup can do wonders and make it easier to recover from flu symptoms by giving your body the energy and nutrients it needs to fight the cold. At such times, it’s quite handy to have broth at home. If it is homemade, then that’s well and good, if not even boxed broth is delicious to transform into healthy soups. This is a light, fresh and zesty soup with plenty of flavor. The slow cooked juices of lemon grass and ginger helps soothe the sore throat and warm you from inside. Lemon grass has a citrus flavor that goes really well with spicy ginger. The whole house smell fantastic and the best of all it is fast and easy to prepare.

Hope you like it!