Cream of broccoli soup

INGREDIENTS


Broccoli florets-1 cup
Veg broth/Stock-2 cups
Onion-1/2
Garlic-3 cloves
Butter-1 teaspoon
Milk-1/2 cup
Cream-2 teaspoons
Spring onions-2 strands


PREPARATION


Heat butter in a pan sauté onion and garlic until slightly brown, then add stock and when it starts boiling ,drop broccoli florets and allow it cook for around 5 minutes. Now allow the mixture to cool and sieve it blend well with the help of a blender or mixer. Keep the stock aside.

Put the grounded paste back into the stock ,combine milk and cream and cook for 5 more minutes. Garnish with spring onions and serve hot .

Egg Fried rice with Crunchy raita

INGREDIENTS


Cooked basmati rice-2 cups
Eggs-4
Minced garlic-1 teaspoon
Cumin -1 teaspoon
Peppercorns-5 to 6
Ginger garlic paste-1 teaspoon
Salt-as per taste
Soy sauce-2 teaspoons
Spring onions-2 strands


PREPARATION


Cook basmati rice ,keep it aside and allow it to cool.In a frying pan heat oil,while oil is heating beat eggs into a bowl along with salt,pepper and ginger garlic paste.Pour this mixture into the oil and stir it.
Crush cumin,peppercorns and garlic using a pestle and mortar to retain the fresh taste.Add it into the fried egg mixture along with cooked rice.Fry the rice by mixing all the ingredients well.Garnish with spring onions.


RAITA


INGREDIENTS


Yogurt-1 cup
Onion-1/2
Cherry tomatoes -2
Cucumber -1/4
Capsicum-1/2
Salt-1/4 teaspoon
White pepper -1/4 teaspoon


PREPARATION


Mix in all the ingredients and serve immediately for that crunch with hot egg fried rice.

Spinach/palak dal

INGREDIENTS

Toor dal-1cup
Spinach-4 cups
Sunflower oil-1 teaspoon
Onion-1 finely chopped
Crushed garlic-1table spoon
Curry leaves-2 strands
Cilantro -4 strands
Cumin-1/2 tea spoon
Red chilli-1
Green chillies-1
Turmeric-1/2 teaspoon
Mustard-1/2teaspoon
Lemon-1/2 slice or pea sized tamarind
Paprika-1/2 teaspoon
Salt as per taste

PREPARATION

Cook 1cup of toor dal with 2 cups of water and tamarind in a small pressure cooker.Now heat oil in pan ,add the spices followed by onions and garlic.Next add in washed and drained chopped spinach leaves.sauté till the leaves wilt.put the remaining spices along with dal ,mix well and allow it cook for 5 minutes. Garnish with fresh cilantro and Serve hot with rice or roti.


Quick and easy alternative


Heat oil in a pressure cooker and fry mustard,cumin,chillies,onions ,garlic ,pea sized tamarind and then add 1cup dal,2 cups water,4cups spinach and then cook for about 10 minutes on medium flame or until a cooker blows off 3 whistles .once the steam is gone open the lid and add salt,turmeric and red chilli powder.

Easy veg pulav with mint raita

INGREDIENTS

Basmati rice-1/4 kg or 2cups
Onions-2chopped
Cinnamon stick-pieces of 1inch stick
Cloves-5
Bay leaf-1
Cardamom-2 crushed
Carrot-1small ,cut 1 inch length wise
Green peas-3 tablespoons
Lean green beans-5
Tomatoes-2 finely chopped
Green peppers-1 cut into thin strips
Chillies-5
Ginger garlic paste-1 table spoon
Salt as per taste

For Raita

Low fat yogurt-1cup
Mint leaves-5 strands
Chilli-1
Salt-as per taste
Ginger garlic paste-1/4 teaspoon
Onion-1small

PREPARATION

Soak basmati rice with 2 and1/2 cups of water for half an hour and keep aside.Heat oil in a pan and fry condiments along with onions until slightly cooked.Mix all other vegetables ,salt and sauté them until the raw smell and moisture in them is gone.
Add the above mixture into the soaked rice and cook in an electric rice cooker.Stir once in a while and add 1 tablespoon clarified butter( optional ) and cilantro towards the end.

Raita preparation

Finely grind mint,chilli,ginger,garlic and add this paste to yogurt,salt and freshly chopped onion.

Serve hot with mint raita .

Sprout salad

INGREDIENTS

Sprouts-1cup
Red-onion-1finely chopped
Tomato-1finely chopped
olive oil-1 teaspoon
Fresh cilantro-1table spoon chopped
White pepper-1/2spoon
Salt as per taste
Sev-2tablespoons(optional)
Cumin-1teaspoon
Mustard-1/2teaspoon
Urad wash1/2 teaspoon
Lemon-1/2slice


PREPARATION

Heat olive oil in a small skillet,add mustard,cumin,urid wash fry them for about 1 minute.Add remaining things ,except lemon and sev ,stir fry for about 5 minutes.
Garnish with sev and a dash of lemon juice before eating.

Healthy Instant snack

INGREDIENTS

Left out idli or dosa batter-2 cups
Plain flour-1 cup
Onion chopped-1
Cumin seeds-1teaspoon
Chillies finely chopped-2
Spinach-2cups
Chopped Cilantro-1 table spoon
Oil-to deep fry

PREPARATION

Mix in all the ingredients with the help of water to a medium thick consistency .Heat oil in a skillet ,drop in 2 diameter sized balls of mixture and deep fry them until they turn reddish brown. Lay few tissue pieces on serving plate to soak excess oil.
Serve hot with ketchup.

Spicy spaghetti

INGREDIENTS

Spaghetti -1/2kg
Canned tomatoes -1tin
Onion-1chopped
Minced garlic-4cloves
Cumin-1tea spoon
Chopped basil-1 teaspoon(optional)
Chopped cilantro-1teaspoon
Dried oregano-1 teaspoon(optional)
Bell pepper-1
Green chillies-4 finely chopped
Salt-as per taste
Olive oil-1 teaspoon


PREPARATION

Heat 1teaspoon of olive oil in a pan.Add cumin,garlic,onions and sauté until golden brown.Add pureed tomatoes,chillies,salt ,oregano,basil,pepper,and then cook for 5 minutes. Meanwhile boil water in a different vessel and then add spaghetti strands ,it takes about 10mins to cook.Avoid overcooking or else your dish turns mushy.
Drain the water from spaghetti by putting it into a colander and later add it to the spiced tomato mixture.Mix well,garnish with cilantro and serve hot with bread.