Cucumber and mint raita/ Cucumber and mint Yoghurt

Cucumber mint raita gives a soothing feeling on the throat with its refreshing yet cooling effect. This is a mild raita recipe that only has the astringent tingling flavor of ground fresh black pepper balancing with the sweetness of sugar and the sour and salty hint given by rock salt.

Serving size : 4
Total preparation time : 8 mins

Ingredients :

1 cup thick yoghurt
1 cup water
1/2 cup shredded cucumber
2 tbspn finely chopped mint leaves
1 tspn sugar
1/2 tspn freshly ground black pepper powder
1/8 tspn rock salt
Salt to taste.

Method :
Whip the yoghurt and water together with a whisk. Add all the spices and seasoning and mix well. Lastly add the cucumber and mint and stir. Serve chilled.

Carrot salad

Carrots are not just healthy but also delicious. If you are not fond of sticks and dips, this refreshing juicy yet tender grated carrot salad with the sourness of lime and the heat of green chilies might electrify your taste buds.

Serving size : 2
Total preparation time : 5 mins

Ingredients :
2 medium sized carrots, finely grated
1 green chili, finely grated
1 tbspn finely chopped cucumber
1 tbspn finely chopped fresh coriander leaves
1 tspn roasted groundnut powder
1 tbspn lime juice
1/2 tspn sugar
1/2 tspn salt
A pinch of rock salt

Method :
Mix all the ingredients well. Serve immediately.

Chinese Sweet corn vegetable soup

Serving size : 4
Total Preparation time : 15 mins
Cooking Time : 10-12 minutes.

Ingredients :

1.5 cup corn kernels
2 tbsp finely chopped carrot
1 tbspn chopped white onion (white part of green onion/scallions)
3 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 tspn ginger paste
1 tbspn chopped celery.
2 tbspn finely chopped green onion.
4 cups vegetable stock. ( see recipe)
1 tbspn chopped coriander leaves
1 tbspn oil
1 tspn salt
1/2 tspn sugar
1.5 tspn freshly ground black pepper powder
1/2 tspn corn flour (optional )
1 tspn soy sauce (optional)
1/2 tspn Rice vinegar (optional)

Method :
Coarsely grind 1 cup corn kernels in a blender till its creamy and pulpy. Keep some mashed/broken corn pieces and do not make a paste. Now heat oil in a saucepan, and saute the garlic and ginger. Add the onion and saute till transparent. Add the salt, black pepper. Add the celery, carrot, corn kernels, mashed cream of corn and part of the green onion and saute for a minute. Add vegetable stock and bring it to a boil. Simmer covered on medium for 5 mins till all the added veggies are cooked. Add the coriander leaves. Mix corn flour, rice vinegar and soy sauce separately in a bowl with sugar and stir in the simmering soup. Turn the heat on low and stir to get the desired consistency. Add water or stock if required. Check for taste and adjust salt, and black pepper. Serve hot garnished with chopped green onions.

Spicy Cottage cheese and bell pepper stir fry/ Paneer and capsicum stir fry

Serving size : 4
Total Preparation time : 20 mins
Cooking time :10 mins.

Ingredients :
2 cups cottage cheese/paneer cubes
1 cup sliced purple onion.
1 cup green bell pepper cut into cubes
1/2 cup finely chopped tomato
5 garlic cloves, minced
1 inch ginger, finely grated
1 inch cinnamon stick
2 cloves
1 bay leaf
1 star aniseed
1 tspn shahi jeera
2 red chilies
1/2 tsp turmeric powder
1/2  tspn roasted cumin powder
1 tspn roasted coriander powder
1 tspn kashmiri red chilli powder
1 tspn garam masala  ( Everest brand or any home made)
2 tbspn oil
salt to taste

Method :
Heat oil in a wide casserole on medium heat. Once the oil is heated, add the whole chilies and spices one by one and temper. Saute the ginger and garlic for a minute and mix in the chopped onions. Add salt and saute them till transparent. Add the the powdered spices one by one. Once the spices are well cooked for a minute, add in the tomatoes and bell peppers and saute for 2 mins on medium- high heat. Add the paneer cubes and stir well gently taking care not to break the pieces. Turn the heat to low- medium and let it simmer covered for another 2- 3 mins. Turn the heat off. mix well and serve hot. Best served with naan or rotis.

Tips :
You could marinate the paneer with 2 tspn of heavy cream, 1 tspn of ginger garlic paste and red chilli powder before adding to the the pan.
You can also use colored bell peppers in this recipe.
Make sure the bell peppers are not cooked too much and are tender yet crispy.

Potatoes in yoghurt sauce/Dahi wale aloo

Serving size : 4-6
Total preparation time : 30 mins
Cooking time : 20 mins

Ingredients :
4 medium potatoes, boiled and cut into wedges or cubes
3 small tomatoes, diced and pureed
3 cloves Garlic,minced
1/2 tspn ginger paste
1 tbspn oil
4-5 curry leaves
Pinch of Asafetida
1/4 tspn turmeric powder
1 tspn cumin seeds
1.5  tspn of roasted coriander and cumin powder
1 tspn garam masala  ( Everest/Home made )
1 tspn red chili powder
1 tspn paprika
1.5 cups well beated yoghurt.
Salt to taste

Method :
Heat oil in a heavy bottom pan and temper the curry leaves, cumin and asafetida. Add the ginger and garlic and saute them for 1 min. Add turmeic followed by the tomato puree. Simmer on low heat and cook covered for 7-8 mins until saucy and well cooked. Add the remaining spices, the potato pieces, salt and simmer for another 2 mins. Lastly add the yoghurt and stir well making sure the potato pieces do not break and the gravy doesn't stick at the bottom. Simmer for another min on low heat and serve hot with rotis or rice. Garnish with Coriander leaves.

Penne Broccoli with tomato basil creamy cheese sauce

Ingredients :
2 cups boiled and salted Penne pasta.
1 cup broccoli florets
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese

For the sauce :
3 large ripened roma tomatoes, pureed
1/2 cup chopped white onion
 3 cloves garlic minced
1/2 cup basil leaves finely chopped.
2 tbspn olive oil
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
1 tbspn heavy cream.
1 tspn black pepper
salt to taste

Method :
Heat oil in a pan, and saute the garlic and onion. Once they become transparent, add the diced tomatoes and basil leaves and cook covered till mushy and soft. Transfer these contents to a blender and make a paste. Now transfer the same puree back in the pan,add salt, black pepper and simmer on low heat for 2 hours or until thick. Once the sauce is ready, add whipped cream and grated cheese into this and mix well. In a separate pan, heat butter and saute broccoli with salt for a minute. Add the cooked pasta and top with the tomato basil cheese sauce. Mix well without breaking the pasta and serve  hot immediately garnished with fresh basil leaves.

Tip : You could use canned tomatoes or home made tomato puree instead of whole tomatoes.
You can use the choice of your cheese for this recipe.

Black eyed peas in yoghurt sauce/ Lobia dhai curry

A soothing mild spicy gravy high in protein, folate and iron prepared in minutes.

Serving size: 2-3
Total Preparation time : 20 mins

Ingredients :
For cooking :
1 cup black eyed peas, pressured with salt
1/2 cup whipped yoghurt
1 tbpsn gram flour/besan/ chickpea flour
1 tspn turmeric powder
1 tspn kasmiri red chili powder/ paprkia
2 tbpn water of as per required consistency
Salt to taste.

For Tempering :
1tbpsn oil
6-7 curry leaves
3 green chillies slit
1 tspn mustard seeds
1 tspn cumin seeds
Pinch of asafetida.

For Garnishing :
1/2 cup chopped coriander leaves

Method :
Heat oil in a pan and temper with curry leaves, green chilies,asafetida, mustard and cumin seeds. The add the cooked black eyed peas with the whipped yoghurt and 1 tbspn gram flour/besan and season turmeric, Kashmiri red chilli powder and salt to taste. Simmer for 5 mins on low heat while stirring.Garnish with chopped coriander leaves.

Best served with rice or Phulkas.

Tip :
Whip the yoghurt and besan together and add to the gravy, add water as per required consistency
Add the stock from the lentils if you need to add water.