HealthyMeals – Page 3 – The Secret Ingredient

Appetiser

Zucchini Garlic Soup with Yak Cheese Shreddings

By anshu March 17, 2015

I Live in a small town in the Himalayas where Summer has still not beckoned us but there are traces of spring here and there. When I saw Zucchini in the Farmer’s Market I knew summer isn’t that far off. I picked it up and wanted to make something light for my kiddo who like all kids his age is a fussy eater. I made it into a soup and wola!!!! He loved it. That is the greatest joy a mother can feel. Little shreddings of yak cheese gave this humble soup a new meaning. It was flavourfully devoured by my little one his daddy and his mumma 🙂

Directions:

1. Wash zucchini and if the skin is hard peel it off otherwise retain the skin and cut it into cubes. Set aside The soup will be more green with the skin on.

2. Chop Onions and Garlic. Set aside.

3. In a pressure pan add butter and melt it on a low flame.

4. Add chopped onions and garlic and saute them till they are soft and tender.

5. Add the cubed zucchini and saute it for a minute.

6. Add water with chicken/vegetable bullion or chicken stock.

7. Add salt and ground black pepper.

8. Close the lid and cook for ten minutes till the zucchini is soft.

9. Open the lid and puree the soup with a hand blender till soft and creamy.

10. Serve hot with a dollop of fresh cream and yak cheese shreddings. You can also have this cold.

You can also try other soups from The Secret Ingredient like Russian Borsch, Mexican Chicken Soup with Rice, Tomato Soup, Mexican Soup of Kidney Beans.

[whohit]ZucchiniSoup[/whohit]

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Dessert

Khajoor Til Ke Laddoo | Quick Sugarless Dates & Sesame Balls

By anshu February 25, 2015

This post is specially for diet conscious people or people who are watching their weight. These dates ball are quick and easy to do with minimal ingredients. When you want to snack on to something guilt free or quench your mid night cravings this is a perfect treat. Store them in air tight jar and these go a long way. They look small but they are very filling, so ensure you make small sized balls.

When I made them last time I never got an opportunity to store them for they were gone by the evening. Yes me and my husband had 6 each ;). A little dieting never hurts anyone 😛

Directions:

1. Remove the seeds from the dates.

2. Dry roast the almonds and walnuts or pecans in a pan in batches. You can use any nut of your choice. Ensure you keep tossing them for you don’t want to burn them. Coarsely grind them in a grinder leaving a few chunky pieces to give texture to the balls.

3. In the same pan add the sesame seeds and toss them to get a slight colour and crunch on them. Roast them on a low medium flame.

4. Add the pitted dates in a coffee grinder or normal grinder and make a sticky paste.

5. In a pan add little butter or ghee or if you are vegan add coconut oil or any neutral oil.

6. Add the dates and cook them in ghee for about 2-3 minutes. The dates will absorb all the butter.

7. Now add the ground chunky nuts and mix them to combine evenly using a spatula. Soon everything will be well combines in one thick paste.

8. Let the mixture cool down a bit. Take a spoon full of it in your palm and make a smooth ball with it.

9. Place all the balls in a plate and one by one roll them in roasted sesame seeds.

10. Store them in an air tight jar and enjoy them whenever you feel like snacking!

[whohit]DatesLaddoo[/whohit]

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Breakfast

Apple & Cinnamon Pancakes

By anshu November 18, 2014

Pancakes are the most delicious breakfast which can be made in a jiffy. They are also known as Hotcakes, Griddlecakes or Flapjacks. They can be sweet or savoury. Each country has its own style of making them with unique toppings or ingredients. Apple Cinnamon Pancakes are a classic combination. Filling, Fast and yet so tasty.

I had so many apples which needed to be put to some use. I made apple bread, apple chutney, Apple Lapsi and what not still they were plenty. So I utilized few of them to make these amazing pancakes. The cinnamon gives the pancakes that divine flavour that its difficult to describe in words. You must try to understand it.

This is kid’s favourite. Its a good nutrition for them and they even relish the taste. Oh before I forget recently, I contributed few of my recipes to Indusladies to an event for 100 Kids Lunch Box Recipes. They got published in an e-book. You can download the e-book here for some delicious recipes.

Directions:

1. Whisk an egg in a bowl.

2. Add melted butter to the whisked egg.

3. Add milk and combine. Keep aside.

4. Wash, core and peel apples. Grate them using a grater. Add them to the wet ingredients. Keep aside.

5. In a separate bowl add All purpose Flour and Baking Soda. Combine evenly.

6. Add ground cinnamon and brown sugar. Combine.

7. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and whisk to combine.

8. Heat a griddle and butter it well.

9. Pour one ladle or 1/4 cup of pancake batter in the center of the griddle. Do not spread, it should spread on its own. If it doesn’t, it needs more milk to liquefy it further to achieve perfect consistency.

10. When you see holes appearing on the surface of cakes its time to flip. It should take somewhere between 3-4 minutes. Transfer to a serving platter, loosely cover with some Aluminium Foil so it doesn’t get dry and cold. Repeat with remaining batter.

11. Serve hot with maple syrup, chocolate syrup, whipped cream or even custard. You can even throw in some nuts or fruits.

You can even try Blueberry Buttermilk Pancakes and Eggless Walnut Pancakes.

Other breakfast recipes you can try here are: Quick Rava Idli, Mexican Style Casserole Eggs, Wrapped French Toast, Soya Veggie Vermicelli, Rava Pizza Bread ,Italian Frittata, Shahi Poha.

Other Apple Recipes you can try: Apple Cinnamon Swirl Bread, Apple Cider Spiced Doughnuts, Apple Spiced Butter, Apple Crisp, Apple Raisins Streusel Bread,

[yumprint-recipe id=’74’] [whohit]appleCinnamonPancakes[/whohit]

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Breakfast

Soya Veggie Vermicelli Seviyan Upma

By anshu July 24, 2014

Vermicelli Seviyan Upma is a healthy and quick breakfast option which is loved by all. To make a new breakfast recipe every day is a constant struggle. The bigger concern is to have a healthy meal for a healthier start to the day. Coming from a Punjabi Family where breakfast largely revolves around stuffed Parantha cannot be considered healthy for every morning. So I started making this quick vermicelli with veggies and soya granules. Vermicelli is nothing but broken thinned wheat pasta, known as Sevai or Seviyan in Hindi and Fideo Pasta in Spanish Nowadays you get roasted Vermicelli in market which further cuts down the cooking time and uses less oil.

Also if you are a bachelor or working women you can buy a pack of frozen chopped vegetables and dump it in your freezer for making your life convenient. But nothing compares to the taste and freshness of fresh vegetables. Anyways, the choice is yours.

Directions:

1. Finely chop Capsicum, Onions, Green Beans and Carrots.Take lukewarm water in a bowl and put frozen corns to thaw. Keep aside.

2. In a pan or wok pour some oil and add Mustard Seeds. When they start to splutter add Cumin seeds.

3. Put chopped onions and saute them till they start sweating.

4. Add Kaddi Patta.

5. Add capsicum, green beans and carrots and cook for 5 minutes or till you see they loose their firmness.

6. Drain water from the corns and put them along with the vegetables to cook.

7. Add salt, turmeric and red chili powder.

8. Add water and cover with a lid and cook on medium low flame for 5 minutes till the vegetables become tender.

9. Add vermicelli and Soya granules.

10. Mix everything together and add water.

11. Cover with a lid and let it cook on low flame till the water is absorbed.

12. Fluff it up and Serve hot with tomato ketchup.

Other Breakfast recipes you can try : Italian Frittata with Mushrooms and Spinach, Fried Egg Over Polenta with Homemade Basil Pesto, Blueberry Buttermilk Pan Cakes, Apple & Cinnamon Pan Cakes, Shakshouka, Shahi Poha.

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Breakfast

Shahi Poha | Beaten Rice with Dry Fruits

By anshu January 6, 2014

Beaten Rice or Pohe as they are called in Marathi makes an interesting and healthy breakfast or quick snack. My father is very fond of pohe. I remember a normal evening in my house where my Father would be sitting on his porch. My Mom would ask him if he would like to have his tea. And with a spark in his eye he will say ” It will be great if chai is accompanied with pohe”. And in no time comes a platter of pohe with namkeen bhujia sprinkled on top along with raw onions, freshly chopped coriander and hint of lemon.

Well, back at home that is still the regular evening snack. I guess some tastes do not change. I call this recipe “Shahi” or “Royal” because it is cooked with dry fruits instead of just vegetables. You can vegetables and dry fruits both.

Directions:
1. In a colander put the beaten rice and run it under cold water. Move it with your fingers gently so that the entire rice is soaked in water for a minute or so. Keep aside and let the beaten rice become soft and excess water drains out.

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2. In a pan pour oil and add cumin seeds and mustard seeds. As they begin to splutter add fresh Kaddi Patta or dried. Keep your flame on medium low for you would not like to over toast your seeds.

3. Add Cashew Nuts, Almonds, Raisins and Peanuts and toast them for a minute . You will notice the raisin has swollen and dry fruits are acquiring colour.

4. Add chopped green chilies and onions and saute till they have become tender and translucent.

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5. Add Salt, turmeric powder and red chili powder and stir well.

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6. Add soaked beaten rice and mix well to coat all spices.

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7. Transfer to a serving plate and garnish with freshly chopped raw onion, chopped coriander leaves, namkeen bhujia and a dash of lemon juice.

You can enjoy other hearty breakfast recipes on The Secret Ingredient: Quick Rava Idli, Mexican Style Casserole Eggs, Wrapped French Toast, Soya Veggie Vermicelli, Rava Pizza Bread ,Italian Frittata, Eggless Walnut Pancake, Apple Cinnamon Pancakes, Buttermilk Blueberry Pancakes.

[yumprint-recipe id=’7′][whohit]shahipoha[/whohit]

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Appetiser

Rava Pizza Bread | Sooji Toast | Quick Semolina Yogurt Pizza

By anshu November 13, 2013

This Rava Pizza Bread is my husband’s favorite breakfast. Even I don’t mind making for him because it is fast and is ready in no time. Also it is healthy and very filling. It is even great for fussy kids. I came across this recipe years ago when I just started experimenting with food. But even with years this recipe has always saved me when I was running out of time in the morning not because of any other reason but simply I was too lazy to get out of bed 😛 Yeah I am not a morning person so, such recipes are always my sought out breakfast recipes. Before I brag more tales of laziness I want you to note this recipe.

Directions:
1.In a mixing bowl mix onions capsicum and tomatoes along with yogurt and sooji.

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2. Mix well till it forms a thick paste. You can add more yogurt if you feel the mixture is very thick but it should not be liquid.Add Salt and Pepper to this paste and set aside for 5 minutes for sooji to absorb yogurt.

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3. In a nonstick flat pan pour two tbsp oil to cover the surface and place two bread slices next to each other. Make sure your gas flame is on low otherwise the lower side of bread will become over toasted.

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4.Take the spoonful of paste and spread over each bread as a thin layer. Do not make the layer thick for it will not cook evenly and wont taste good.

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5. Drizzle little oil over the thin layer of paste and turn the bread upside down with the paste side facing down. Now you can turn the gas flame on high.

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6. Cook for about 3-4 minutes and then carefully turn it upside down. If the bread topping is properly cooked and settled it will come out easily without sticking to the pan. If you feel its still sticky give it couple of minutes to cook and then try turning it again.

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7. Place them on the serving plate and sprinkle on top some chili flakes and oregano.
8. Repeat the above with the other bread slices.

You can enjoy other hearty breakfast recipes on The Secret Ingredient: Quick Rava Idli, Mexican Style Casserole Eggs, Wrapped French Toast, Soya Veggie Vermicelli, Shahi Poha, Italian Frittata, Eggless Walnut Pancake, Apple Cinnamon Pancakes, Buttermilk Blueberry Pancakes.

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[whohit]pizza-bread[/whohit]

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