WaterMelon Smoothie-Holi Special Rcipes

I wish all my readers a very Happy,Safe and Colourful  Holi.Holi is a time for fun and lots of tasty food.I have tried to post some recipes that and not only tasty but also healthy.
This smoothie is a simple and quick to make recipe.

Ingredients:
Water Melon-1 medium size
Suger free powder-1tablespoon
Hung curd/Curd-2 tablespoons
Vanilla ice-cream -1 scoop
Water melon-deseeded and cut into long slices

Method:
-Peel the water melon and de-seed it.
-Cut it into small chunks.
-Take a mixer jar and put the cut water melon,curd,sugarfree powder and ice-cream and blend to make a smooth juice.
-Take a tall glass and pour the smoothie into the glass and garnish with long slices of cut water melon.

Split Green Moong Khichri-Unpolished lentils and rice mix

Khichri is a preparation of rice and lentils and is generally considered as a comfort food.Lentils and rich in protein and khichri is also considered good for growing children.There are several ways of making a khichri and each state in India has it's own version.Today I am sharing an easy to make khichri recipe.

Ingredients:
Unpolished Split green moong dal-1/2 cup
Rice-1.5 cups
Cumin seeds-1/4 teaspoons
Hing-a generous pinch
Beans-5-6,finely chopped
Carrot-1small,grated
Green peas-1/2 cups
Ginger-1/2 teaspoon,grated
Curry leaves-4-5
Red chilli powder-1/2 teaspoon(optional)
Turmeric powder-1/2 teaspoon
Salt to taste
Water-3.5 cups
Ghee/any vegetable oil-1 teaspoon

Method: 
-Soak the split moong dal and rice separately in enough water for 2-3 hours.
-Heat a pressure cooker and add oil to it.
-Add cumin seeds and let it splutter.
-Now add curry leaves and hing.
-Add the finely chopped vegetables and stir for 3-4 minutes.
-Drain the water from he rice and dal and add them to the cooker.
-Now add 3.5 cups of water and salt,turmeric powder and red chilli powder.
-Let it pressure cook on medium flame for 3-4whistles .
-Let the pressure completely escape from the cooker.
-Serve the hot khichri with fresh yogurt,roasted papad and any pickle.

Banana Tikki-Shallow fried green banana cutlet

In my previous post i have already mentioned the awesome health benefits of banana.
Today's recipe is a simple boiled raw banana mashed with boiled potato to make a tikki.This recipe can be served with any green chutney and can also be had as a starter.It is shallow fried with a lite oil and is extremely nutritious for kids.

Ingredients: 
Raw banana-2,boiled and peeled
Potato-1 big,boiled and peeled
Onions-1 small,finely chopped
Green chilli-1,finely chopped
Coriander eaves-2 teaspoons,finely chopped
Aamchur powder-1/2 teaspoon(optional)
Salt to taste 
Oil to shallow fry the tikkis-Olive/vegetable oil

Method: 
-Peel the banana and the potato and mash it in a bowl.
-Add all the above ingredients except oil to it and mix well.
-Heat a  pan and add 1 teaspoon of any oil.
-Take small portion of the mashed paste and make a round ball and gently flaten it on your palms to give the shape of a tikki.
-Place the tikkis on the pan and cook till both sides and done.
-Remember to cook the tikkis on low flame.
-Serve hot with green chutney. 

Whole Wheat Veggie Crepes

Whole wheat vegetable crepes are packed with the goodness of carbohydrate and vitamins.It's easy to make and makes a good breakfast recipe.

Ingredients:
Whole wheat flour-2 cups
Carrot-1 medium,grated
Drumstick leaves-a handful,finely chopped(optional)
Onions-1 small,finely chopped
Green chilli-1,finely chopped
Salt to taste
Water-4 cups
Olive oil-1 teaspoon for each crepe

Method:
-Take a big bowl and add the wheat flour and salt along with the above ingredients except oil and water.
-Mix well and slowly add water.
-Mix to make a thick batter.Make sure the batter is not thin.You can add a little flour if the batter is runny or add more water if you find the batter very thick.
-Heat a pan and add little oil and take 2 ladle spoons of this batter and spread it on the pan to make a small pancake/dosa.Add a little oil on the sides of the crepe.
-Let it cook for 2-3 minutes on medium flame and flip it and let the other side cook.
-Repeat the above step for the rest of the batter.
-Serve the crepes hot with fresh yogurt and stir-fried vegetables.

Vegetable Sevai Upma-Vermicelli with vegetables

Sevai upma is another quick and healthy breakfast recipe.It is a popular South-Indian breakfast recipe which is also simple and easy to make.You can serve it with fresh home-made yogurt or pickle or just have it without any accompaniment.Sevai upma can also be served for dinner as it's rich in fibre and is therefore light and easy to digest.Add finely chopped vegetables to make your upma more nutritious.

Ingredients:
Vermicelli/Sevai-2 cups
Green peas-1/4 cup
Grated carrot-1 small
Onion-1 medium,finely chopped
Green chillies-2,finely chopped
Capsicum-1/2,finely chopped
Cauliflower-2-3 florets,finely chopped
Curry leaves-2 sprigs
Ginger-a small piece,grated
Mustard seeds-1/2 teaspoon
Turmeric powder -1/4 teaspoon
Oil-2 table spoon
Water-2.5 cups
Salt to taste
Coriander leaves-2 teaspoons,finely chopped

Method:
-Take a pan and dry roast the sevai for 2-3 minutes on low flame.If you are using the roasted sevai then skip this step.
-Heat oil in a pan and add the mustard seeds.Let it splutter.Now add the finely chopped green chillies,curry leaves,onions,grated ginger and saute for 1-2 minutes.
-Add the vegetables and add salt and turmeric to it and stir well.Let the vegetables cook.
-Now add .5 cups  of water and let it boil.
-Add the sevai to the boiling water and cook on medium flame for 4-5 minutes till the sevai is properly cooked.
-Garnish with fresh finely chopped coriander leaves.
-Serve hot with yogurt and pickle.

Happy New year!!!

Wishing you all a very Happy and Prosperous New Year.

Mooli-Methi Fry-radish and fenugreek leaves stir fry

Winter is the time for some fresh green seasonal vegetables like radish.This recipe is a combination of radish and fenugreek(methi) leaves which is nutritious as both are great sources of some essential vitamins and minerals.

Ingredients:
Radish-4,medium sized;finely chopped
Methi leaves-2 bundles
Onion-1,small;finely chopped
Dry red chillies-2,broken
Garlic-5-6 cloves,crushed
Mustard seeds-1/4 teaspoon
Fenugreek(methi) seeds-a pinch
Turmeric powder-1/4 teaspoon
Salt to taste
Oil-2 teaspoons

Method:
-Make sure you wash the methi leaves in running water 2-3 times to remove the dirt and then finely chop the leaves.
-Peel the radish and finely chop them.
-Heat oil in a pan and add mustard seeds,methi seeds,dry red chillies and let it splutter.
-Now add finely chopped onions and saute for 2-3 minutes and then add the crushed garlic.
-Add chopped radish and mix well and let it cook for 3-4 minutes on medium flame.
-Add chopped methi leaves  and mix well again and cover the lid and cook on low flame for 3-4 minutes or till the radish is cooked.
-Serve hot with rice or chapati.

My Notes:You can also use the radish leaves along with methi leaves to make the dish more healthy.