Posted in Appetizers, Gujarati, Snacks, Superfoods, Winter Special

પાલક મેથી ના મુઠીયા / Palak Methi na Muthiya

“They look green, so they must be healthy!” I must admit, I love Gujarati Farsan. Khaman, dhokala, shev-khamni, khandvi, locho, muthiya, mathiya, handva …. so much variety and so yummy! Muthiyas caught my attention because these can be made healthier as compared to other fried items. They get the name from the way they are made using feasts. Muthiyas can be made with different vegetables. Here is my version of spinach and fenugreek muthiya. They taste slightly bitter and I think that’s the best part. My neighbor once said “they look green, so they must be healthy!”. Ingredients – 2 cups spinach leaves,…

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Posted in Maharashtrian, Quick n Healthy, Salad, Winter Special

बीटाची कोशिंबीर / Beetachi koshimbir / Beet Salad /

Sweet, salty, tangy, crunchy beet salad  Beets are highly nutritious and calorie friendly root vegetables. They are a unique source of phytonutrients called betalains which provide antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and detoxification support. These betalains undergo a steady loss as cooking time increases, so make sure you keep steaming time for beets under 15 minutes. Reference –whfoods.com This is a simple, easy to make, yet a tasty recipe from my mom.   Ingredients 2 cups shredded steamed beet (around 2 medium beets) 1/4 cup ground roasted peanuts 1/4 tsp fennel seeds (optional See Notes below) 1 tsp lemon juice 2 tsp तिळाची चटणी or 1 tsp sesame…

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Posted in Maharashtrian, Quick n Healthy, Salad, Winter Special

गाजराची कोशिंबीर / Gajarachi Koshimbir / Carrot Salad

Eating salad is a proven way of cutting down calories without compromising on necessary nutrients. A typical Maharashtrian Koshimbir is the best example of such a salad. Even if you don’t like raw carrorts, I bet you will enjoy this Gajarachi Koshimbir –   Ingredients 2 fresh medium carrots, grated 1 medium tomato, chopped 2 tb spoon peanut(groundnut) powder 1 tb spoon sugar 1 tb spoon fresh lemon juice 2 medium green chiliis, finely chopped salt to taste 4 springs of cilantro, finely chopped This is the simplest recipe so far. Grate carrots , chop tomatoes and ground roasted(optional) peanuts. Mix everything…

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Posted in Breakfast, Quick n Healthy, Smoothie, Spring - Summer Special

Blackberry Smoothie

Nutritious yet delicious delight The easiest way to enjoy fresh blackberries is to have thick creamy blackberry smoothie. Add fresh washed blackberries with thick greek yogurt, honey and some milk and give it a quick whisk in a blender. Nothing can be more filling than a glass of sweet creamy blackberry smoothie loaded with antioxidants.   Blackberry Benefits – 1. Blackberries are one of the top ten foods containing antioxidants. The anthocyanin, the antioxidants give blackberries their deep purple color help in memory retention and prevent the risk of hypertension. 2. Blackberries are packed with polyphenols helping to prevent cancer and…

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Posted in Maharashtrian, Subji / Curry

Moong, Kale Chane, Chavali Usal

Usal is a very common main dish in Maharashtrian homes and especially useful when you don’t have a full pantry. It contains any sprouted grains such as moong, kale chane or Chavali (black eyed peas) mixed together with sautéed onions, tomatoes, ginger and garlic. The special Maharashtrian touch comes from Goda masala + grated coconut and a bit of jaggery. This recipe can be used for any grains or combination. The other day I didn’t have enough moong or kale chane so I mixed them and it turned out just perfect! You need to soak moong and kale chane overnight…

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Posted in Breakfast, Continental, Desserts, Jams & Pickels, Spring - Summer Special, Superfoods

Blueberry Jam / Compote

I look at Jam as a way to preserve summer in a jar 😛 Every summer my mom used to make mango jam at home. She did the same thing with strawberries last summer and now I am following her tradition with yet another awesome superfood of this planet – blueberries. Ingredients: 2 pounds fresh blueberries 1 1/2 cups white sugar 1/8 cup lemon juice That’s it. Wash blueberries and let them dry completely. No need to chop blueberries, they are so tender they break down easily once heated. In a sauce pan, mix blueberries and sugar and mix it…

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Posted in Continental, Desserts, Entertaining

Old Fashioned Chocolate Cake

What could be a better occasion than your hubby’s birthday to bake a chocolate cake? It had been a while since I baked a cake. I am a big fan of Ina Garten and I had watched this show when she made this mouth watering cake. She said she practically begged her friend Michael to give her the recipe, which is originally his grandmother’s. She also tells her secret ingredient which make the cake even more chocolaty. I am glad I chose this recipe. We all enjoyed it. The texture was just perfect and the secret ingredient did its magic. I…

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Posted in Continental, Italian

Tomato Basil Pasta

Take a short trip to Italy in the comfort of your own kitchen! The biggest inspiration for this dish was the delicious pasta made by my friend in almost no time. I have promised him not to mention his name in public. I modified his recipe by adding some vegetables. But otherwise, it’s a very simple recipe and in fact I consider it to be a part of “maggie-league”. It’s that simple and yummy! I used Barilla Mezze Penne pasta but you can use any other penne pasta and boil it as per the instructions given on the box AL…

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Posted in South Indian, Subji / Curry

Potato Subji with South Indian flavors

Quick and Easy with flavors you don’t want to miss! Urad daal and curry leaves are very prominent in South Indian preparation. The two ingredients add distinct aromas making any dish instantly tempting. [purerecipe] Tip – The subji tastes better if potatoes become slightly crispy. Once potatoes become tender, remove the cover and let them cook further for a two – three minutes. This way potatoes don’t become soggy.

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