Tomato Shorba / Soup

 

          This is an incredibly simple, comforting and a wholesome Tomato Shorba, where I added few coriander stalks and mint leaves. This combination gives this dish a nice flavor and aroma. Serve along with some croutons, tortilla chips or bread sticks. 

          It is perfect for a winter night. There are many variations to it. For instance, you can add few kaffir lime leaves or curry leaves instead of coriander / mint leaves for a different flavor. So check out the step by step pictorial recipe to prepare my version of this healthy dish.  

 

               Tomato, as we know, is a rich source of nutrients, minerals, proteins and vitamins like A, C, K & B6. It is good for our eyes, fights against cancer, urinary infections, kidney problems and diabetes. 

               It also improves digestion, lowers cholesterol levels, detoxifies our body and reduces inflammation among other benefits. It is also good for babies / kids, during pregnancy and for the elderly too. 

• 5-6 tomatoes, roughly chopped
• 1 tbsp. oil
• 1 tbsp. butter
• 1 onion, sliced
• 2-3 garlic cloves, sliced
• 1" ginger, sliced
• 2 green chilies, chopped
• 1 tbsp. oats
• salt to taste
• 1/2 tsp. cumin powder
• 1/2 tsp. coriander powder
• 1/4 tsp. turmeric powder
• 1 tsp. Kashmiri red chili powder
• handful of coriander stalks
• few mint leaves
• 2 cups water 
• 1 tsp. coriander leaves, chopped (to garnish)
• pinch of pepper powder

          Heat oil and butter in a pan. Add the onion, ginger, garlic and green chilies. Sauté till light brown. 

          Add the oats and sauté for a few seconds. Now add the tomatoes and cook till it is nicely mashed.

          Then add the turmeric powder, cumin powder, coriander powder and red chili powder. Mix everything well and sauté for a minute.

          Add the coriander stalks, mint leaves and salt to taste. Give it a stir and stir fry for a few seconds.

         Add 2 cups water and pressure cook for 2-3 whistles. Keep aside to cool. Then blend into a smooth paste and strain.

          Bring the contents back into the pan and heat through. Add chopped coriander leaves and a pinch of pepper powder. 

          Garnish as desired and serve as a light comfort meal as is or with bread / soup sticks.

          

Heat oil & butter in a pan. Add the onion, ginger, garlic & green chilies. Sauté till light brown. 

                   Add the oats & sauté for a few seconds.

              Now add the tomatoes & cook till it is nicely mashed.

Then add the turmeric powder, cumin powder, coriander powder & red chili powder. Mix everything well & sauté for a minute.

Add the coriander stalks, mint leaves & salt to taste. Give it a stir & sauté for a few seconds.

                       Add 2 cups water.

                    Pressure cook for 2-3 whistles. Keep aside to cool. 

                   Then blend into a smooth paste & strain.

                    Bring the contents back into the pan & heat through.

Garnish with chopped coriander leaves & a pinch of pepper powder.

Garnish as desired & serve as a light comfort meal as is or with bread / soup sticks.

Horse Gram Pudding / Kollu Payasam / Kulthi Kheer

                   Check out this yummy and a healthy dessert recipe prepared with Horse Gram lentil. It is a great festive dessert and a party recipe too, apt for special occasions. Adjust the ghee and sweetness according to your preference. 

                   In this recipe, I have added jaggery powder. However, you may use brown sugar if preferred. Enjoy this amazing Pudding / Payasam at room temperature or chilled. So check out the step by step pictorial recipe to prepare this yummy guilt free dessert.  

            Horse Gram Lentil (Kulthi / Kollu / Ulavalu) is not too familiar and the name itself may not sound appealing to the ears. But this humble lentil contains an amazing number of nutritional benefits. 

             It is a rich source of protein, calcium, iron, fibre and is also low in fat, relieves constipation, is diabetic and heart friendly too. One can prepare a number of dishes with Horse gram, like idli, dosa, dal fry, uttapam, biryani, rasam to name a few. It can also be sprouted and made into salads and soups.

• 1/4 cup Horse gram, dry roasted and washed well 
• 500 ml. milk
• 1/3 cup jaggery powder
• 1/2 tsp. cardamom powder
• pinch of saffron
• 2 tbsp. chopped pistachios
• 2 tbsp. chopped almonds
• 1 tsp. ghee
• 1 tsp. chopped nuts & few saffron strands to garnish

         Soak the Horse gram in sufficient water overnight. Rinse well and drain. Pressure cook in 1 cup water for 1 whistle on high flame and 8-10 minutes on a low flame. 

         Mash well with a potato masher or with the back of a ladle. You can also pulse it for a few seconds in a mixer jar. 

         In a saucepan, bring the milk to a boil. Add the mashed Horse gram, jaggery powder, cardamom powder and saffron. 

         Simmer on a low flame for 10-15 minutes by stirring at intervals. Now add the chopped nuts and ghee. 

         Continue to simmer till it turns thick or to a desired consistency. Garnish with the chopped nuts and saffron strands and serve at room temperature or chilled. 

Soak the Horse gram in sufficient water overnight. Rinse well & drain. 

Pressure cook in 1 cup water for 1 whistle on high flame and then 8-10 minutes on a low flame. 

Mash well with a potato masher or with the back of a ladle. You can also pulse it for a few seconds in a mixer jar. 

In a saucepan, bring the milk to a boil. Add the mashed Horse gram, jaggery powder, cardamom powder & saffron. Simmer on a low flame for 10-15 minutes by stirring at intervals.

                  Now add the chopped nuts .....

and ghee. Continue to simmer till it turns thick or to a desired consistency.

                 Garnish with the chopped nuts & saffron strands.

            Serve at room temperature or chilled. 

Horse Gram Paniyaram / Appe

 

           Check out my version of Paniyaram / Appe made of Horse Gram that are very crisp from the outside and soft inside. Healthy and nutritious, this is a no-rice recipe and is absolutely diabetic friendly. I have also added urad dal to the Horse Gram and this combo is a great substitute to rice. Serve them for breakfast along with coconut chutney and sambar. They can also be relished for brunch, tiffin, lunch box meal, for a light dinner or as a tea time snack /  appetizer with some mayonnaise or tomato ketchup for a change. It tastes awesome. 

         These Paniyarams are actually a snack on the go which can be dished out in a jiffy. They are quite filling and is a great kitty party / kids recipe too. So check out the step by step pictorial recipe to prepare this wholesome one-pot dish and introduce something new to your family and dear ones. Who would deny a perfectly healthy, satisfying and a guilt free breakfast?  

          Paniyaram / Kuzhi Paniyaram typically is a traditional South Indian breakfast, most popular in Tamil Nadu. In simple words they are fried idli or dumplings made of any leftover idli / dosa batter. They are prepared in a special mould called chatti. 

          Horse Gram Lentil (Kulthi / Kollu / Ulavalu) is not too familiar and the name itself may not sound appealing to the ears. But this humble lentil contains an amazing number of nutritional benefits. 

             It is a rich source of protein, calcium, iron, fibre and is also low in fat, relieves constipation, is diabetic and heart friendly too. It can also be sprouted and made into salads and soups.

Ingredients - 

• 1 cup Horse Gram, washed & rinsed
• 1/2 cup urad dal, washed & rinsed
• 1/2 tsp. fenugreek seeds
• salt to taste
• oil for shallow frying

Tempering - 

• 1-2 tbsp. oil
• 1/2 tsp. mustard seeds
• 1 sprig curry leaves
• 1 tsp. urad dal
• 1/4 tsp. asafoetida

Other ingredients - 

• oil to grease the paniyaram chatti
• coconut chutney & sambar to serve

           Soak the Horse gram, urad dal and fenugreek seeds for 7-8 hours or overnight.

          Grind to a smooth paste. Add salt to taste and adjust the consistency. Cover and keep aside overnight to ferment. 

          Heat oil in a pan and temper with mustard seeds, asafoetida, uard dal and curry leaves. Sauté for a few seconds and pour this tempering into the batter and mix well.

          Heat a Paniyaram Chatti and grease well. Drop spoonful of the prepared batter in it and cook, covered, on a low flame for 4-5 minutes or till one side is done.

          Flip it over and cook the other side too. Make similar Paniyarams with the remaining batter and serve them hot with coconut chutney and sambar.

 Soak the Horse gram, urad dal & fenugreek seeds for 7-8 hours or overnight.

Grind to a smooth paste. Add salt to taste & adjust the consistency. 

                  Cover and keep aside overnight to ferment. 

Heat oil in a pan & temper with mustard seeds, asafoetida, uard dal & curry leaves. Sauté for a few seconds.

                     Pour this tempering into the batter & mix well.

Heat a Paniyaram Chatti & grease well. Drop spoonful of the batter in it && cook, covered, on a low flame for 4-5 minutes or till one side is done.

Flip it over & cook the other side. Make similar Paniyarams with the remaining batter.

                       Serve them hot with coconut chutney and sambar.

Nolen Gurer Oats Payesh (Jaggery Oats Pudding)

 

          Enjoy this yummy Bong dessert with the goodness of oats and Nolen Gur (date palm jaggery. This type of jaggery is available only during winter and you can dish out a wide range of sweets with it. 

         

          So this is my take on the traditional Bengali Rice Kheer that is typically prepared with a special variety of aromatic small grain rice called Gobindo Bhog and date palm jaggery. I only replaced the rice with oats, thus giving a healthy touch to this classic dish.

          Relish it at room temperature or chilled. It can also be enjoyed as an after meal dessert or as a side dish with poori / paratha. It is simply wholesome and very satisfying. So check out the step by step pictorial recipe to prepare this sweet delicacy.

• 1/3 cup oats
• 1 tsp. ghee
• 3 cups full fat milk
• pinch of salt
• 1/3 cup Nolen gur (date palm jaggery)
• 1/4 tsp. cardamom powder
• 2 tbsp. milk powder
• 1 tbsp. chopped pistachios & almonds to garnish

          Dry roast the oats in ghee till light brown in colour or till you get a nice aroma. Keep aside.

          In a pan, bring the milk to a boil along with a pinch of salt. Add all the ingredients and combine everything well.

          Simmer on a low flame and keep stirring at intervals till the payesh turns thick to a desired consistency. (keep it slightly runny as it will turn thick once it cools down).

          Garnish with chopped pistachios & almonds or as desired. Enjoy at room temperature or chilled.

Nolen Gurer Millet Payesh (Millet & Date Palm Jaggery Kheer / Pudding)

 

             Nolen Gurer Millet Payesh is a my take on the traditional Bengali Rice Kheer / Pudding / Payasam that is typically prepared with a special variety of aromatic small grain rice called Gobindo Bhog and date palm jaggery called Nolen / Notun Gur. This type of jaggery is available only during winter and you can dish out a wide range of sweets with it. 

             However, in this recipe, I replaced the rice with Foxtail millet to give it a healthy touch to the kheer. You can relish it at room temperature or chilled. It can be enjoyed as a festive dessert, an after meal dessert or as a side dish with poori / paratha. It is simply wholesome and very satisfying. So check out the step by step pictorial recipe to prepare this sweet delicacy.

• 1 cup cooked & mashed Foxtail Millet
• 1 bay leaf
• pinch of salt
• 2 cups full fat milk
• 1/3 cup Nolen gur (date palm jaggery)
• 1/4 tsp. cardamom powder
• 2 tbsp. milk powder
• 1-2 tbsp. chopped pistachios & almonds
• pinch of saffron strands soaked in 1 tbsp. water

          

          

          Bring the milk to a boil along with a pinch of salt and bay leaf. Add all the ingredients and combine everything well.

          Simmer on a low flame and keep stirring at intervals till the payesh turns thick to a desired consistency. (keep it slightly runny as it will turn thick once it cools down).

          Garnish as desired and serve at room temperature or chilled.

         Bring the milk to a boil along with a pinch of salt & bay leaf. 

                               Add cooked & mashed millet,

                                 cardamom powder, 

                                milk powder,

                                date palm jaggery,

                                 dry fruits,

                                 and saffron water.

Simmer on a low flame and keep stirring at intervals till the payesh turns thick to a desired consistency.

              Garnish as desired & serve at room temperature or chilled.