Baked Beans have been a camping favorite, it seems, from the beginning of time…..but with this recipe, we take them to a whole new level. An Uncle of our’s introduced it to our family years ago and with a few tweaks and changes, it has been our family favorite “quick lunch” for many many years. Using Vegetarian Baked Beans makes it a super healthy, protein packed, lunch for vegetarians. With a few adjustments, it is a winner with kids as well. This visually appealing open sandwich, with its perfect blend of sweet, tang and spice, is sure to please everyone.
I was pleasantly surprised this weekend when I watched Chak De India, starring Shah Rukh Khan (Director: Shimit Amin; Producer: Aditya Chopra). Not being a big sports buff myself, I was a little reluctant to see a movie about a bunch of misfit women trying to play hockey.
The story revolves around defamed ex-hockey player Kabir Khan (Shah Rukh Khan) and his monumental attempt to redeem himself in front of his country. (more…)
Aloo Parathas (Parantha) are a staple dish in many Indian households. Warm flatbread stuffed with a spicy potato mixture, Aloo Parathas can be enjoyed with yogurt, pickle or with any curry. The chapatti and vegetable “all in one” design of Aloo Parathas make them a great meal on the go all by themselves. Pack some in the kids’ lunchboxes or for you “soccer Moms”, take some in the car with you for a quick snack in between activities. Try this simple and healthy recipe!
Ingredients:
For Dough:
Whole Wheat Flour – 1 1/2 cups
Salt – 1/4 tsp
Oil – 3 tsp
Water – 1/2 cup
Dry Flour in a plate – for rolling
For Filling:
Potatoes– 2 large, boiled and peeled Onion – 1/2 small, finely chopped Chaat Masala – 1 tsp Red Chili Powder – 1/4 tsp or to taste Salt – 1/2 tsp or to taste Cilantro – 5 sprigs, finely chopped Spray Cooking Oil – for pan frying
Method:
Prepare dough according to Paratha/Chapatti recipe/video from ShowMeTheCurry.com and keep aside.
Mash or grate boiled Potatoes. Grating prevents lumps.
In a medium sized bowl, add Potatoes with remaining filling ingredients and mix well.
Keep a tava or skillet on the stove at medium to medium high.
Divide dough into equal size balls (approximately 8).
Divide Filling into equal size balls (approximately 8).
Roll out one dough ball into a 3-4 ” disk.
Place a Filling ball on the center of the disk and fold the dough around the Filling ball, completely enclosing it. Pinch the dough ends together.
Flatten the stuffed ball and dip it into the dry flour on both sides.
Using a rolling pin, roll out the stuffed ball into a tortilla shaped disk. The paratha should not be too thin.
Place the rolled paratha on the heated skillet and cook until bubbles start to appear.
Start to roll the next paratha while one is cooking to get a process in place. This is a great time saver.
Once bubbles appear, flip the paratha over and lightly spray it with cooking oil.
Allow this side to cook for 30 seconds and flip it over once more. Again, lightly spray with cooking oil.
Keep flipping and cooking the paratha until the look of raw dough is gone and it looks completely cooked. It should have light golden/brown spots.
Keep the paratha in a covered or insulated container and repeat process for remaining parathas.
Serves 4.
Tips:
Health tip — When rolling the paratha, we try to use minimal dry flour to prevent too much oil from soaking into the paratha.
There can be many different stuffings for parathas. Be creative and look out for more recipes coming soon.
Parathas and Chapattis freeze well. Just cook them without oil and freeze (placing wax paper in between each paratha). When ready to use, defrost and re-heat the paratha using oil to freshen up the taste.
Aloo Parathas (Parantha) are a staple dish in many Indian households. Warm flatbread stuffed with a spicy potato mixture, Aloo Parathas can be enjoyed with yogurt, pickle or with any curry. The chapatti and vegetable “all in one” design of Aloo Parathas make them a great meal on the go all by themselves. Watch this video and try this simple and healthy recipe!
This recipe for Kosambri or Shredded Carrot Salad most probably originated in the southern parts of India but has been adapted all over. The natural sweetness of carrots mixed in with the tanginess of the lemon juice makes Kosambri one of the tastiest ways to eat raw carrots. Try this recipe and enjoy the health benefits of carrots – an A+ vegetable!
Sevia Kesari, an Indian Vermicelli dessert (aka Sukhi Sevia or Eid ki Sevia) is just as delicious as it is easy to make. It is a wonderful twist and healthy alternative to Suji ka Halwa, which uses a lot more ghee. Hope you enjoy this dessert as much as I do!
Ingredients:
Vermicelli – 1/2 cup
Ghee ( Clarified Butter) – 1 tsp
Sugar – 1/4 cup
Water – 2 cup
Cashews – 1 tbsp, broken pcs.
Golden Raisins – 1 tbsp
Kesar ( Saffron) – few strands
Method:
Melt the Ghee in a wok on Med-high flame.
Roast the broken Cashew pieces in the ghee till they turn golden.
Once golden, remove the Cashews from the wok and keep aside.
In the same wok, roast the Vermicelli, stirring constantly until it turns golden. Be careful not to burn it.
When golden, add water and mix. Cover and let it cook, stirring occasionally.
When the water has evaporated down to 1/4th of the original, uncover and add Sugar.
Mix well and add the Kesar, Raisins and the fried Cashews.
Mix till the water totally evaporates and remove the flame.
Serve hot and enjoy! Serves 4.
Tips:
Saffron, Cashews and the Raisins are all optional. The sevia taste wonderful anyway.
Raja Special is a great Indian appetizer that is synonymous with clubs, bars and drinks. It’s amazing what some onions, lemon juice and some spices can do to dress up the already popular peanut! It is a great make-ahead appetizer for parties. Raja Special is also known as Masala Peanuts…enjoy!
Parathas are an Indian unleavened bread and an integral part of many Indian meals. Any subzi (vegetable) or curry dish can be fabulous when accompanied with fresh, hot parathas. Try this recipe. It’ll be worth your while! Although we refer to this recipe as Chapatti in the video, this is actually a Paratha recipe. The difference between the two is that Chapattis are cooked without oil whereas Parathas are pan fried
Adai, the way I make it, is packed with protein and makes an excellent snack, school-lunch and an equally good meal. It can be served with Coconut Chutney, Butter, Sambar or for some, Jaggery! It is quick to make and unlike Dosa, it does not require as much pre-planning.
Tri-Color Bell Pepper stir fry dish is a colorful and healthy way to enjoy your vegetables. Thanks, Nitu, for sharing this awesome recipe which is always a big hit with everyone! (more…)
Papdi Chaat is one variety of Indian street food known as Chaat. With it’s light and crispy base, tomatoes, onions, potatoes and lots and lots of Mint and Tamarind Chutneys, it’s guaranteed to make your mouth water. (more…)
Papdi Chaat is part of the ‘chaat series’ for which we received a lot of requests…and rightly so. Chaat is generally sold by street vendors in India and is one of the most popular snacks. Papdi Chaat is so easy to make and can be had as a snack, appetizer or a meal. I have to dedicate this recipe to Suraj-ji and all the Chaat-walas who have fed me awesome chaat for so many years and still remember my chaat-consuming capacity and me! (more…)
One of our subscribers sent us an excellent article from Hindustan Times called “The K2K (Kashmir to Kanyakumari) food court”. It showcases 60 of the most classic Indian dishes for the 60 glorious years of Indian independence. Check to see how many of your favorites make the cut and you will be surprised to see how many favorites you have. Guaranteed to make your mouth water! Read on… (more…)
Pan-Seared Shrimp is such an easy dish to make and so appetizing. I love the rich color that the Turmeric and the Tandoori Masala bring to the shrimp. Pan-Seared Shrimp are great as snacks or appetizers…my kids love them as a after school snack. Shrimp, as we all know, are an excellent source of calcium and protein.
“There’s no need to fear. Underdog (rated PG) is here!” Disney’s latest canine caper, starring Jim Belushi, is here! Based loosely on the Underdog cartoon show from a few decades back, this action-packed adventure aims to please…6-8 year olds, that is. Having grown up watching the cartoon myself, I stepped into the theatre with feeling of nostalgia. A little ways into the film, I felt a twinge of disappointment. The thing I noticed and missed most was the “matter-of-fact” voice of the original Underdog. Jason Lee, the voice of the the new Underdog, was definitely not the best choice for the role. Even then, I somehow waited and waited, hoping Disney wouldn’t let me down. (more…)
Most Indian households have as many different types of pickles in the house as they have relatives!!! Ours is no different – you can never have enough. Maangai Thokku is one of my favorites because I can control the oil and the spices and it tastes great with North or South Indian cuisine.
Ingredients:
Raw Green Mangoes – 2 large (approx 3 cups packed), finely chopped
Wash the green mangoes, deseed them and use a food processor to chop the flesh.
Heat Oil in a kadhai (wok), on medium flame.
Add the Mustard Seeds and let them splutter and pop.
Add Asafoetida and the finely chopped raw mangoes, in that order.
Mix well and let it cook till the oil separates from the mangoes, stirring occasionally.
Add Salt and Red Chili Powder and mix well.
Cook for another few minutes and add the dried powdered fenugreek leaves.
Mix well again and take it off the flame.
Allow it to cool and store in a bottle in the refrigerator.
Tips:
I like to use the skin of the raw mango, but if the skin looks very hard or is a little leathery (usually off-season), remove it and use only the flesh.
If you plan to make a large amount and store it for a longer time, double the amount of oil.
Pura Vida! We heard and saw the phrase all throughout the trip to Costa Rica. Hmmm, what does it mean? So, here is Wikipedia’s explanation – “Pura Vida, literally translated means “Pure Life” but means contextually something approximate to “Purified life”, “This is living!”, “Going great”, or “Cool!” It can be used as a greeting, as a word of farewell, to express satisfaction, and in some instances to politely express indifference when describing something. The phrase has become widely known in the USA and Europe; this highly flexible statement is used by many Costa Ricans (and expatriates) since 1956. (more…)
Bhel Puri is one variety of Indian “street food” known as “Chaat”. With a nice balance of flavors, including savory, sweet and spicy, Bhel Puri is a perfect snack or appetizer idea. Watch this video recipe — it’s sure to please! (more…)
Bhel Puri is one variety of Indian “street food” known as “Chaat”. With a nice balance of flavors, including savory, sweet and spicy, Bhel Puri is a perfect snack or appetizer idea. Try this recipe — it’s sure to please!
Ingredients:
Pre-packaged Bhel Mix – 3 cups
Onion – 1/2 medium, finely chopped
Tomato – 1 small, finely chopped
Raw Mango – small piece, finely chopped (optional)
Cilantro – 5 sprigs, finely chopped
Green Chilies – to taste, finely chopped Tamarind Chutney – to taste Mint Chutney – to taste
Method:
In a medium bowl, mix together Bhel Mix, Onions, Tomatoes, Raw
Mango, Cilantro and Green Chilies.
I had been watching the short trailers of ‘Gandhi, My Father’ in awe. There something about Gandhi that always catches my attention and something about the title- Gandhi, My Father….WOW! I just realized I knew nothing at all about his children. Trying to remember what I had learnt in my history classes (most of which I slept through) did not prove fruitful either. I finally turned to the almighty- the net, the Internet! No luck, not much there either….
Tomato Rice is a South Indian dish but due to it’s attractive look and the wonderful taste, it has won everyone’s heart. Enjoy this dish with yogurt, pickle and papad…..mmmm! So colorful, simple and easy to make, you’ve just got to give this a try.
Tamarind Chutney (aka Imli Chutney) is an Indian sauce with just the perfect blend of sweet and sour flavors. It is widely used in chaats and as a condiment for various appetizers such a samosas and pakoras. Try this simple recipe. Make a large batch and freeze it so it is readily available at all times.
“Tomatoes are now eaten freely throughout the world, and their consumption is believed to benefit the heart among other things. Lycopene, one of nature’s most powerful antioxidants, is present in tomatoes, and, especially when tomatoes are cooked, has been found beneficial in preventing Prostate cancer” ….thanks Wikipedia! Need we say more! Give your diet and your taste buds a toast with this Tomato Chutney.
Ingredients:
Oil – 1 tbsp
Mustard Seeds – 1/2 tsp
Channa Dal – 1 tsp
Urad Dal – 1 tsp
Curry Leaves – 1 sprig
Whole Red Chilies – 1-2 (optional)
Ginger – 1 tsp, grated
Onions – 1 small, chopped
Turmeric – 1/4 tsp
Asafoetida (Hing) – 1 pinch
Tomatoes – 5 large, diced
Salt – to taste
Sugar – 1/2 tsp
Green Chili – 1 (optional), finely chopped
Fresh Cilantro – 5 sprigs, finely chopped
Method:
Heat Oil in a wok on medium to high heat.
Once Oil is hot, add the Mustard Seeds and let them pop.
Add the following in this order – Channa Dal, Urad Dal, Whole Red Chilies and Curry Leaves.
Once the Dals are golden brown, add Turmeric, Asofoetida, Ginger, Onions and Green Chilies and Salt. Mix well.
Let the Onions cook till they turn translucent.
Add diced Tomatoes and more Salt. Mix well and allow it to cook covered, stirring ocassionally.
Once the tomatoes appear cooked, uncover the wok and continue cooking till the juices of the tomatoes have been absorbed.
Add Sugar and mix again.
Cook for another few minutes, garnish with fresh Cilantro and serve.
Serves 4
Tips:
You can use cans of Diced Tomatoes in place of fresh Tomatoes. For this recipe, use 3, 14.5oz cans to substitute for the 5 large tomatoes.
This dish can be served with Chapatis, Paranthas or Dosas. It is also excellent as a filling in sandwiches or on toast for breakfast.
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