Cheesy Baked French Beans

          At times it's nice to indulge in some no-frills and easy to make dish. So this cheesy baked beans is what came to my mind. As per my preference, I added some curry leaves and sambar powder, apart from the other ingredients for a South India flavour. It is a perfect side dish to any grillet meat / fish or just garlic bread. So check out an easy step by step pictorial recipe to prepare this amazing baked delight. 

• 250-300 gms. French Beans, cut into 1" pieces (steamed)
• 3/4 cup grated cheese
• 2 tbsp. olive oil
• 1/2 tsp. mustard seeds
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1" ginger, chopped
• 2-3 garlic cloves, chopped
• 1-2 green chilies, chopped
• 1 sprig curry leaves
• 1/2 tsp. salt or to taste
• 1/4 tsp. turmeric powder
• 1/2 tsp. coriander powder
• 1/2 tsp. sambar powder

          Heat oil in a pan and temper with mustard seeds. After it stops spluttering, add the onion, ginger, garlic, curry leaves and green chilies. Sauté till the onion is translucent.

          Add the steamed beans and all the dry spices. Give it a stir and switch off the flame. Sprinkle the cheese all over.

          Bake in a preheated oven at 200 degrees C. for 10 minutes. Serve with some toasted garlic bread, grilled meat or fish. 

                     Heat oil & temper with mustard seeds. Then add onion, ginger, garlic, 
                     curry leaves & green chilies. Sauté till onion is translucent.

                      Add steamed beans & all dry spices. Give a stir and switch off flame. 

                       Sprinkle the cheese all over.

                       Bake in a preheated oven at 200 degrees C. for 10 minutes. 

                                  Serve with some toasted garlic bread, grilled meat or fish. 

Sugar Free Whole Wheat Banana-Dates Loaf Cake

          I would like to dedicate this cake to all those who are looking for something healthy and that which can be relished guilt free. So here you are. This yummy cake is prepared with whole wheat flour and sweetened with banana and dates. 

          An absolute baked delicacy for the weight watchers too. Enjoy it as a tea-time snack, as an after-meal dessert or whenever desired. So check out the step by step pictorial recipe to prepare it. 

• 1 cup whole wheat flour (atta)
• 1 tsp. baking powder 
• 1/2 tsp. baking soda 
• 1/4 tsp. cardamom powder 
• pinch of salt
• 2 banana, peeled & cut into pieces 
• 10 dates, deseeded & soaked in warm water for 30 minutes
• 1/2 cup oil
• 1 tsp. rose water
• 2 tbsp. raisins & chopped pistachios

          Blend the banana, dates, oil and rose water in a mixer to a fine paste. Keep aside. Pass all the dry ingredients through a sieve and add the raisins and pistachios.

          To it add the banana-dates paste and mix until well incorporated. Now transfer to a greased cake tin and bake for 40-45 minutes at 180 degrees C. in a preheated oven. 

           Check if it is done by inserting a toothpick. Allow it to cool on a wire rack before cutting. Serve warm or at room temperature. 

                               Pass all the dry ingredients through a sieve. 

                               Add the raisins and pistachios. 

                               To it add banana-dates paste & mix until well incorporated.

                    Transfer to a greased cake tin & bake for 40-45 minutes at 180 degrees 
                    C. in a preheated oven. 

                               Serve warm or at room temperature. 

Apple Crumble with Indian Flavour - Fusion Style

          Any leftover apples sitting in your fridge? Then dish out this simple, easy and yummy dessert - Apple Crumble with an Indian flavour.. I added cardamom powder and saffron instead of cinnamon powder and vanilla essence. It turned out simply amazing.

           I also used whole wheat flour instead of plain flour and was not too generous with sugar. So increase the quantity mentioned, accordingly. You can drizzle some homemade custard or rabri to the end product or enjoy with some ice-cream topping. So go ahead and indulge in this luxurious dessert by following a step by step pictorial recipe to prepare it.

• 2-3 apples, chopped
• 1/2 cup whole wheat flour (Atta)
• 1/4 cup oats, lightly roasted
• 2-3 tbsp. butter
• 1/4 cup + 2 tbsp. sugar
• 1/4 tsp. + 1 pinch cardamom powder
• pinch of saffron
• few sliced apples to garnish

          In a pan cook the apples, 2 tbsp. sugar, pinch of cardamom powder and 1/4 cup water for 2-3 minutes or till the apples turns slightly soft.

          In a bowl, mix together whole wheat flour, roasted oats, remaining sugar, remaining cardamom powder and butter with your fingertips till they resemble bread crumbs.

           Add the cooked apples in a baking dish and cover it with the crumbled flour-butter mix. Bake in a preheated oven at 180 degrees C. for 20-25 minutes till the surface turns slightly brown.

          Garnish with the saffron and sliced apples. Serve this yummy dessert, hot, at room temperature or chilled.

                                  Chop apples into small pieces.

                  Cook apples, 2 tbsp. sugar, pinch of cardamom powder & 1/4 cup water for 
                  2-3 minutes or till apples turns slightly soft.

                             Mix flour, oats, remaining sugar, remaining cardamom powder 

                                 and butter 

                                 till they resemble bread crumbs.

                    Add cooked apples in a baking dish. Cover it with crumbled flour-butter mix. 

                             Bake in a preheated oven at 180 degrees C. for 20-25 minutes. 

                                 Bake till surface turns slightly brown.

               Garnish with saffron & sliced apples. Serve hot, at room temperature or chilled.