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Navratri 2022 Vrat Special  Sabudana Vada dipped in Dahi Jeera Tadka Kadhi  Sabudana Vada is the most popular dish during fasting times. While the vada can be accompanied by the dahi wali dip or chutney. Try and enjoy Sabudana Vada with the  Vrat wali Dahi Jeera Tadka Kadhi.  The jugalbandi of the two can give you same feeling as eating Dahi Vada.  Making of the Sabudana Vada  Ingredients:  1 cup soaked Sabudana 4 boiled Aloo mashed (Boil one extra Aloo for the Dahi ki Kadhi)  1/2 teaspoon roasted jeera powder 1 teaspoon ginger and green chili paste 2 tablespoon groundnut powder Salt to taste (Use fasting wala salt -Sendha namak if possible) Oil for frying  Method:  Soak 1 cup Sabudana for 2 hours to get nice soft texture. Wash the Sabudana first and then only put to the level that Sabudana gets soaked. Avoid adding too much water Take 4 boiled Aloo and mash them In a big bowl add mash Aloo, Sabudana, 1/2 teaspoon roasted jeera powder, 1...

Navratri 2022...Vrat Special  Anjeer Barfi  We all might have sweet cravings in next 9 days. Instead of indulging in heavy store bought sweets try this very easy Anjeer Barfi. This barfi has goodness of Figs and dry fruits. Anjeer makes this sweet very light and can easily be part of the calorie-controlled diet of many people. Anjeer also known as Figs is rich in fibre and many essential minerals such as magnesium, iron and can protect against hormonal imbalances and post-menopausal issues.  Ingredients:  8 to 10 Anjeer or Figs  8 to 10 pieces each of almond, cashew, pista, 1 teaspoon of charoli or chironji. You should basically get slightly more than 1/2 cup of dry fruit powder  3 to 4 tablespoon of sugar  1/2 cup milk 1/2 teaspoon of elachi powder  1/2 teaspoon of ghee  Method: In a slightly hot water soak Anjeer for an hour till they become soft In a mixture grinder make the fine powder of all the dry fruits -  pieces each of alm...

Healthy Munching during Navratri 2022 Majority follows fasting ritual for the 9 days of the Navratri. Fasting with just fruits and milk is followed by some, some prefers eating only once in a day. But there are many of us who have busy lifestyles and prefer eating fasting food to keep us going throughout the day.  Follow what best suits to you and whatever are your home customs. Every home has certain fasting rules and you can easily know them from the elders of your house.  Today onwards for next 9 days I will try to share easy fasting recipes which can be enjoyed during different times of the day. The first in the series is a healthy munching of Ghee Roasted Makhana with dry fruits and Pudina wali Chai. Now you can enjoy this tomorrow morning or as an evening snack. Choice is yours.  But I personally feel rather than eating fried Aloo chips or fried Sabudana Chivda eat the superfood Makhana and Dry Fruits. Dry fruits many a times people avoid with the fear of putti...

Boiled Moong Kadhi  Moong is very commonly used pulses in the Indian household.  Off late not just moong sabzi but moong salad, moong paratha, moong dosa is also made. But try one dish - Moong Kadhi easy to make from the boiled Moong. It goes very well with rice, roti or paratha. So do try this new type of Kadhi and let me know if you enjoyed it.  Ingredients : 1 cup boiled moong  2 tablespoon of Groundnut oil 1/2 teaspoon each of Mustard seeds, jeera, dhania seeds Few methi dana  Pinch of hing  Spices - 1/2 teaspoon each of haldi dhania jeera and garam masala powder plus 1 teaspoon of Kashmiri Chilli powder  Salt to taste (Please add separate salt of moong and curd portion. Don't add much in either)  1 cup curd 1.5 tablespoon besan 1.5 teaspoon of sugar Garnish it with coriander leaves  Method:  Boil the moong with some salt. No need to soak the moong you can boil it directly. In a pan, heat the oil add mustard, jeera once it ...

Bhindi Stuffed with Grated Aloo  Bhindi/Okra is the most favourite sabzi of the Indian households. In the last few years apart from the dry bhindi sabzi there are many variants of bhindi are becoming popular. Like for instance, besan bhindi, Crispy Bhindi, Bhindi do Pyaaza. Today just thought of doing one experiment.  Tried stuffing Bhindi with the Grated Aloo and spices and it turned out to be a yummy sabzi.  So in this season when the market is flooded with a good quality bhindi do try this dish. Remember to buy long and slight bigger in width types bhindi so the stuffing can be done easily.  Stuffed bhindi taste yum with Dal rice, roti or paratha.  Ingredients :  250 gms Bhindi 1 medium size boiled Aloo grated  Salt to taste 3 tablespoons of chopped coriander leaves  1.5 tablespoon of dhania jeera powder 1 teaspoon of Kashmiri Chilli powder  1/4th teaspoon of haldi powder 1 teaspoon of garam masala or any sabzi masala powder...

Green Peas Jowar Pancakes Jowar Roti or Rotla or Bhakri is commonly made in many Indian households. Jowar also known as Sorghum is gluten free and and its a good alternative to wheat flour. Here is quick healthy breakfast option with the goodness of Jowar and green peas. This dish can be specially made in winters when we get very good quality green peas. Another key ingredient added in this recipe is green garlic which we get in winters. Don't worry you can also substitute it with normal garlic.  Ingredients:  1 cup jowar flour 2 tablespoon each of Rava/semolina and besan flour 1 cup dahi/curd Salt as per taste  as required water to adjust the consistency 1 cup boiled green peas 1 teaspoon ginger green chilli paste as required Small piece of cinnamon stick 1/2 cup each of chopped methi/fenugreek and coriander leaves 2-3 cloves Green garlic (optional) or garlic 1/2 teaspoon each of Kashmiri red chilli powder, coriander jeera powder, pinch of haldi 2-3 teaspoon oil Method: ...

Don't forget the basics - The simple Indian Meal of Roti Sabzi Dal and off course rice  Aloo Tendli, No Spice Ghee Tadka Arhaar/Tur Dal and Fulka Roti In the last few decades we have seen many new cuisines and foreign food stuff easily available in India. The result is there is massive craze for Pizza, Pasta, Burger and many other food items. Amidst all of these many are largely forgetting the basics.  The local sabzi and seasonal fruits grown in our country. While its great to experiment and explore new cuisines but don't let our local basic food die as these are the things on which our economy will grow, our farmers will get more rewards.  So here is simple thali today - Aloo Tendli, No Spice Ghee Tadka Arhaar/Tur Dal and Fulka Roti. (Rice is not in pic but yes surely eaten it wit h dal)  I know many don't like Tendli but do try eating Aloo Tendli with dal it taste yum.  This is basic thali which can be easily made in 30 to 40 mins depending on how experienced...

Rava Rice Flour Mini Uttapam  When it comes to breakfast we look forward to quick food options.  When it comes to evening snack we are tired and want something easy to fulfil our hunger pangs. So here comes a very easy Rava Rice Flour Mini Uttapam.   Instead of eating 2 min noodles or packet food make this very easy Uttapam. The don't need any fermentation can be easily made with ingredients available at home.  Ingredients :  1 cup rice flour  1/2 Rava  1.5 tablespoon of besan flour (optional) 1 small green chilli chopped 1/2 teaspoon of grated ginger  1/2 cup of grated carrot, capsicum, chopped coriander leaves  Salt to taste 1/2 cup of Dahi  Few drops of oil  Water to adjust the consistency  Sprinkle Sambar Masala on top (optional) Recipe :  In a big bowl add rice flour, Rava, besan, curd and water. Mix well and cover the lid. Keep it aside till you cut the veggies  Chop green chilli, coriander, capsi...

Pasta with No Maida, No Butter, No Cheese  When it comes to pasta we typically enjoy it with lots of Maida, Butter and cheese.  But wait we all are getting health conscious and look for replacing all of these ingredients. So here is the pasta recipe that you can definitely give a try.  In this recipe w heat flour is used for the white sauce and few drops of olive oil to sauté  and garlic with lots of veggies can give awesome taste to it.  Flavours of mixed herbs, chilli flakes and nutmeg is used.  Nutmeg yes you read it correct.  I tried adding a pinch of Nutmeg to sauce and must say it gave awesome flavour to the pasta so do give it a try.  Ingredients :  - 1 cup of Penne Paste - 1/2 cup each of sweet corn, carrot, capsicum and French  beans  - 1.5 tablespoon of wheat flour  -  1 and half cup of Milk  - 7-8 garlic cloves  - 1 green chilli  - 1 Big size Onion  - 2 tablespoon of olive oil - Salt to ...

Ranguni Vaal with Dhokli Ranguni Vaal also known as broad beans is like a pulses and commonly found in a Gujarati Thali...Please note they are different from Kadve Vaal which are small in size and has brown cover and eaten commonly in Maharashtra. This sabzi goes well with rice or roti.  Below is the pic of the Ranguni Vaal on the left and Kadve Vaal on the right (Source: Google) these are big in size compared to Kadve Vaal which has Red brown cover and that is popularly used in Maharashtrian curry.  In this Vaal you just have to soak and cook directly.   You can easily get this Vaal from Dmart, Amazon and more easily available in local grocery stores of Maharashtra and Gujarat.   Ingredients:  For the Ranguni Vaal: 2 cups Ranguni Vaal - you can easily get it in Dmart, Amazon or grocery shop. Soak it for overnight for at least  8 to 10 hours  2 tablespoon oil 1/4 teaspoon carom seeds (Ajwain) 1/4 teaspoon of mustard seeds and jeera Pinch...

Ranguni Vaal Sabzi Ranguni Vaal also known as broad beans is like a pulses and commonly found in a Gujarati Thali...Please note they are different from Kadve Vaal which are small in size and has brown cover and eaten commonly in Maharashtra. This sabzi goes well with rice or roti.    Below is the pic of the Ranguni Vaal on the left and Kadve Vaal on the right (Source: Google) these are big in size compared to Kadve Vaal which has Red brown cover and that is popularly used in Maharashtrian curry.  In this Vaal you just have to soak and cook directly.   You can easily get this Vaal from Dmart, Amazon and more easily available in local grocery store of Maharashtra and Gujarat.  Few things to note before I share the recipe:  1) I  have not added any onion garlic or tomato to this dish....you can add them but I will suggest enjoy the taste of the pulses in this manner 2) Adding of    imli pulp or kokum or lemon juice is the most imp...

Easy Kaddu (Pumpkin) Sabzi infused with flavours of til (sesame seeds), methi dana (f enugreek Seeds) and basic spices In today's fast paced life we all are looking for quick easy cooking.  But in doing so we have to ensure to eat healthy and helps us to stay fit to meet the daily challenges of life. So here is a very nutritious Kaddu or Pumpkin Sabzi infused with  flavours of til (sesame seeds), methi dana (f enugreek Seeds) and basic spices.  Pumpkin is loaded in  vitamins, minerals and antioxidants and helps to boost   immune system, protect your eyesight, lower your risk of certain cancers and promote heart and skin health .  Sesame Seeds are  excellent source of manganese and calcium , both of which help your bones grow healthy and strong.  Lastly the methi dana which is fenugreek seeds helps in regulating blood sugar levels,  improving cholesterol and blood pressure. Note this Sabzi does not require any onion, garlic, tomato or gre...

Khaman Dhokla -   Soft and Fluffy Gujurati Snack made from just one cup of Besan  Khaman Dhokla is very popular Gujarati Snack. Often people buy it from outside as they feel it is complicated dish to make. But next time you feel like eating the dhokla do try out this recipe.  I have given the stepwise recipe today to make the process simple.   Best part of Khaman Dhokla is it is made with easily available ingredients  at home. Key ingredient  is besan.  Many add Rava or sooji as well but traditionally dhokla is made of besan only.  As you can see in the pic with use of besan only you can soft, jhali wala and fluffy dhokla.  But j ust like cake making.. making a dhokla requires a perfect measurements and some easy techniques ..so here is the recipe... please note that mkt ones are very sweet.. this recipe is spicy, khatta and slightly sweet. Recipe:  STEP 1 : In a bowl add 1 cup of besan,  2 pinch of haldi (don't add ...

DAL DHOKLI  - A Traditional Gujarati One Pot Meal  Dal Dhokli is a very famous Gujarati dish which has tur or arhar dal and wheat flour as a main ingredient .  It is a one pot meal typically enjoyed on Sundays in the Gujarati Household.  Just one dish can be satisfying and need no other companion or a side dish.  Here is my Mother's Dal Dhokli recipe  cooked in my house.  I request don't skip any of the ingredients  listed below so that you get yummy Dal Dhokli. Most of the ingredients  are easily available at home.  Ingredients  For the Dhokli:  Make a dough from 1.5 cup wheat flour 1/2 tsp haldi powder 1/2 tsp Kashmiri red chill 1/2 tsp of dhania jeera powder 2 tsp oil Salt to taste Water to knead the dough (You can to make the dough similar to one you make for the roti)  For the Dal  1.5 cup tur/arhar dal 1 tablespoon of oil  1 tablespoon of ghee  1/2 teaspoon each of mustard seeds and jeera 2 pinch ...

Lauki Khoya Modak This time tried something new again with natural ingredients and no colors or ghee added.  Addition of Lauki makes this modak less heavy compared to other Modak.  Instead of processed sugar I have added Kalpi / Khaadi Shakkar (Rock sugar) which was powder.  Ingredients:  (Please check the notes below to find the substitute for below mentioned ingredients 1 cup of Grated Lauki 2 cups of Milk 1 cup minus 1.5 tablespoon of Kalpi / Khaadi Shakkar (Rock sugar) which was powder ½ cup of unsweetened Khoya (You can substitute it with coconut as well or Cashew nut powder) For flavors and garnish – Some rose petals and ½ teaspoon of elaichi powder    Method: In a thick bottom pan boil the milk for 7 to 10 mins.   Once the milk is boiled add the Grated Lauki. Remove the skin of the Lauki and grate it Cook the Lauki with the milk till it becomes soft and milk dries up.   Once done add khoya, sugar and elaichi powder. Mix everyt...