Vegetarian Recipe: Sukto

Sukto is a Bengali recipe made with a mix of vegetables with least number of spices and has an amazing flavour. Mostly the prime vegetable in the recipe is bitter gourd or karela,stop making the faces and try this at home.

Sukto

Ingredients:
2 medium sized Bittergourd or karela, cut into chips
1 cup cubes of pumpkin
1 brinjal or eggplant cut into cubes
2-3 drumsticks cut into 2inch pieces
Other veggies which can be used are raw papaya, potato, bottlegourd etc.
1 teaspoon Panch phoron (a mix of whole cummin seeds, mustard seeds, kallonji or kalo jeera (nigella sativa), saunf, fenugreek or methi seeds)
1/2 teaspoon asfoetida or hing
milk 1/2 cup
1 teaspoon flour
Mustard oil
Ghee
Salt to taste

Procedure:
1. Pour 1 tablespoon mustard oil in a heated frying pan, once the oil is heated add the cut bittergourd in to the pan, cook till it iss light golden in color, take it out and keep it aside.
2. Pour a little more oil & add a teaspoon of ghee. Add the panchphoron and hing to it and later add the rest of the vegetables to the pan. Cook for sometime covering the pan.
3. Add the salt after the vegetables are little softer & add some water to it, let it cook for some more time. Add the bittergourd also after some time.
4. After the vegetables are fully cooked around 20 min later, add the mix of milk and flour (can be whole wheat or refined).
5. Once the mixture boils properly, you can turn off the gas.

The dish is best served as the starting item in the menu with rice.

Healthy Breakfast: Rawa Uttapam

The instant South Indian meals are easy to cook as well as healthy & tasty. I will share the recipe of Instant Rawa Uttapam for a healthy breakfast.

Rawa Uttapam

Ingredients
Rawa or Semolina: 2 cups
Yogurt (un-fattened): 3 cups
Green Capsicum: 1/2 cup chopped
Cauliflower:1/2 cup chopped
Tomato: 1 medium chopped
Onion: 1 medium chopped
Chillies: 2 chopped
Salt: as per taste
Oil

Preparation:
1. Mix the Rawa & Yogurt well till a smooth paste is made. Mix it well with salt.
2. Add the onion & chillies to the mix. Let it stand for 15 min
3. Mix the rest of the veggies in a bowl & add some salt. This will help it get cooked easily and also the taste would be better.
4. On a non-stick pan, let it heat up and then brush oil.
5. Pour the batter enough to get a 6" uttapam.
6. After it is half cooked, add the veggies on the top & turn the side.
7. Let the other side cook on low flame for 2-3 min.
8. Serve it hot with veggie side up.
9. You can make the chutney also with khus khus paste, coconut paste & curd mixed or enjoy it with tomato sauce.

A healthy breakfast with good proteins & good taste served on the platter. Thanks!

Healthy Vegetarian Recipe: Dahi Soya Chunks

A protein-rich vegetarian recipe with a different tasty tinge is on the plates today. Dahi is none other than yogurt which is known for its great nutritional values, rich in calcium easy to digest & light on the stomach. Soya chunks or soya nuggets possess the qualities of soy protein, an excellent source of plant protein.

Dahi Soya Chunks

Ingredients:
Soya nuggets: 100 g (2-3 cups)
Yogurt: 200 ml
Turmeric powder: 1/2 teaspoon
Paprika or Kashmiri Lal powder: 1 teaspoon (This is for the red color)
Coriander powder: 1/2 teaspoon
Cumin powder: 1/2 teaspoon
Onion:1 medium
Ginger: 1/2 inch
Garlic: 1-2 cloves
Chili: 2-3
Mustard Seeds: 1 teaspoon
Dried Chili: 2-3
Kadi patta or Curry Leaves: 4-5 twigs
Rice bran oil or any white oil of your choice: 1 tablespoon
Salt & Sugar to taste

Preparation:
1. Soak the nuggets in hot water & boil till soft (3-5 min in boiling water).
2. Blend the yogurt with the spices turmeric powder, Red Kashmiri mirch powder, coriander powder & cumin powder with salt to taste.
3. Heat the oil in a pan, add the mustard seeds, dried chilis, chopped onion, ginger, garlic, chili, curry leaves. Add the nuggets till they turn slightly golden.
4. Add the blended yogurt, Stir it well & let it boil. Stirring helps the curry to remain smooth. Check the salt & add a pinch of sugar before taking off.
5. Serve hot with Indian breads or rice.

A simple tasty & healthy recipe for the family to enjoy. 

Healthy Vegetarian Recipe: Dahi Parwal

Hi Friends! Here is a tasty & healthy recipe you will love. This recipe is light for the summers and easy to digest. Let's see how it is made:

Dahi Parwal:

Ingredients:
Parwal or Pointed Gourd: 6-8
Onion: 1
Ginger: 1/2 inch
Chili: 2
Yogurt:1 cup
Corriander powder:1 teaspoon
Turmeric powder: 1/2 teaspoon
Cummin Powder: 1 teaspoon
Cardamom: 2 small
Cinnamon: 1 inch
Olive oil: 2 teaspoon
Salt to taste

Preparation:
1. Take the Parwal or pointed gourd, Cut the ends, peel off the skin. Make side-slits on the side on the body of the parwal for the cooking to take place properly.
2. Chop the onion and slit the chili.
3. Mix the yogurt with ginger paste, and corriander, turmeric, cummin powder.
4. In a heated pan, add the olive oil. Then add cardamon & cinnamon after making it into small pieces.
5. Then add the chopped onion, once light golden in color add the parwal  & chili and after mixing it well cover it for some time on low flame.
6. When the parwal becomes tender add the yogurt with spices. Add the salt to taste.
7. Let it cook for a while on low flame. You will see a uniform mix in the gravy.

It would taste awesome. Serve hot! You can enjoy this recipe with rice. This would be a light & healthy recipe. Hope you like it friends!

Low calorie Baked Dinner Recipe: Baked Stuffed Bell Peppers

Hi Friends!!
Today I will speak about two low calorie dinner options which can be enjoyed guilt free. The recipes are easy to prepare & have good nutrient value. I have one vegetarian baked recipe for all my friends.

Baked Stuffed Bell Peppers

Ingredients:
Bell peppers: 2 large (choose your color make your impression)
Onion: 1 medium
Tomato: 1 small
Cottage cheese: 100 g (fat free)
Peas: 1/4 cup
Green Chili: 1
Dried Parsley leaves: 1/2 teaspoon
Olive oil: 1 teaspoon
Salt to taste
Pepper: 1/2 teaspoon

Preparation:
1. Cut the bell peppers into half. Clean the inside, to make them look like bowls. Grease the inside with a brush.
2. Chop the Onion, tomato, green chili finely. Crumble the cottage cheese (paneer) into small pieces.
3. Mix the ingredients above in a bowl. Add the salt, parsley leaves, pepper to the mix. Add 1 teaspoon olive oil.
4. Fill the bell pepper halves with the mix & place it on a plate to bake.
5. Preheat the oven at 350 F. In the pre-heated oven place the plate & bake for 10-15 min. It can be done on the stove also on a low flame on the tawa with a cover.

It is known that cooking reduces the nutrients in the food so try avoid too much cooking. I have used the filling raw & cooked the whole at once only. This is a twist to the usual Shimla mirch ka bharwa. It has less spices, oils & simple. Hope you guys like this. Thanks Friends!!