Lentil Oats Porridge with Tomatoes & Prawns

          A protein rich and a comforting porridge with the goodness of lentils, oats, tomatoes and prawns is the best one can have for a light, satisfying meal. It is a diabetic friendly recipe that can be enjoyed guilt free. I made it into a curried style and my experiment in making this amazing soup was a super hit at my place. 

          Just a dash of lime is what all you need in this yummy porridge to tickle your taste buds. Here I have used tuvar dal (pigeon pea lentil) but you can opt for any lentil of your choice. For a veg. version, prawns can be substituted with mushrooms or paneer. So check the step by step pictorial recipe to prepare this on-pot healthy meal.

• 1/2 cup tuvar dal (pigeon pea lentil), boiled
• 1/2 cup oats, dry roasted
• 2-3 tomatoes, pureed
• 20-25 prawns, cleaned
• 1-2 tbsp. olive oil / butter
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 tsp. ginger-garlic paste
• salt to taste
• 1/4 tsp. turmeric powder
• 1/2 tsp. roasted cumin powder
• 1/4 tsp. pepper powder
• 2 slit green chilies (opt)
• 3 cups water
• 1 tsp. coriander leaves, chopped
• 1 tsp. lime juice

          Heat oil in a pan and sauté the prawns for a few seconds. Drain and keep aside. 

          In the same oil sauté the onions till light brown. 

          Add the ginger-garlic paste and all the dry spices mixed with  little water. Stir fry for a few seconds.

          Add the tomato puree, oats and green chilies. Sauté for a minute. 

          Add the boiled dal and water. Bring it to a boil and add the fried prawns. Simmer for 5-10 minutes or till it thickens to a desired consistency. 

          Add lime juice and garnish with coriander leaves. Enjoy as a light dinner or whenever you wish. 
          

                      Heat oil & saute the prawns. Drain & keep aside. 

                      Dry roast the oats and keep aside .

                      In the same oil saute the onions till light brown. 

                      Add ginger-garlic paste & all dry spices mixed with some water. Stir 
                      fry for a few seconds.

                       Add the tomato puree, 

                      oats and green chilies. Sauté for a minute. 

                      Add the boiled dal.

                       Add water and bring it to a boil.

                      Add prawns & simmer for 5-10 minutes or till it thickens to a desired
                      consistency.

                    Add lime juice & garnish with coriander leaves. Enjoy as a light dinner
                    or whenever you wish. 
          

Apricot Kalakand

           kalakand is a traditional Indian sweet that is very popular in almost every special occasions, parties and festivals. It is very easy to prepare right in your own kitchen. Make them super easy and fast with some store bought paneer. Here in this recipe I have used Amul paneer. 

          So let me share Apricot Kalakand, which is a healthy version with the goodness of paneer and few dried apricots, the two main ingredients in preparing this absolutely amazing dessert. Garnish as desired and enjoy them chilled or at room temperature. So do give it a try and impress your family and friends with some homemade delicacy.

• 100 gms. dried apricot, pitted (soaked in 1 cup water overnight)
• 100 gms. paneer (I used Amul Paneer), crumbled
• 2 tbsp. milk powder
• 4-5 tbsp. powdered sugar or to taste 
• 1/4 tsp. cardamom powder
• 1 tbsp. ghee
• pinch pf salt
• 1/3 cup milk
• 1 tsp. kewra water
• 1 tbsp. chopped pistachios 
• few chopped apricots 
• few dry rose petals 

           Blend the soaked apricots into a puree along with the water in which it was soaked.

           In a non-stick pan, add the apricot puree and stir fry till dry. Add all the other ingredients (except the garnishing). Mix and stir on a low flame till it starts to leave the sides of the pan. 

          Transfer to a greased plate and garnish with the chopped pistachios, chopped apricots and dry rose petals. Allow it to cool and refrigerate for some time. 

          Cut as desired and enjoy at room temperature or chilled. Great for any festive occasion or as an after meal dessert. 

Mutton Oats Porridge

          Wish to make a non-veg. porridge for your dinner? Then try this one-pot delicacy with mutton cubes and some oats. It turns out real yummy and wholesome. An amazing dish where you can substitute mutton with any lean meat if you wish. 

          I also added tomato puree along with some basic seasonings to prepare this curried mutton oats porridge. Enjoy this great comfort food just as it is with a dash of lime or with some soup sticks. It is perfect for a light meal. So check the step by step pictorial recipe to prepare it. 

• 250 gms. mutton with bones, cubed
• 1/2 cup oats, dry roasted
• 3-4 tomatoes, pureed
• 3 cups water
• 1" cinnamon
• 2 green cardamoms
• 2 tbsp. oil / butter
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 tsp. ginger-garlic paste
• 1/2 tsp. turmeric powder
• 1/2 tsp. red chili powder or to taste
• salt to taste
• 1 tsp. coriander-cumin powder
• 1 tbsp. coriander leaves, chopped

          Pressure cook the mutton along with cinnamon, cardamoms and salt in 3 cups water for 20-25 minutes on a low flame after the first whistle. 

          Heat oil in a pan and sauté the onion till light brown. Now add the ginger-garlic paste and all the dry spices mixed with some water. Stir fry for a few seconds.

          Add the tomato puree and the roasted oats. Mix well and simmer for a minute. Add the mutton along with the stock. 

          Bring it to a boil and simmer for 5-10 minutes or till the soup thickens to a desired consistency. Garnish with coriander leaves and serve as a light meal or enjoy whenever you wish.

                     Pressure cook mutton with cinnamon, cardamoms & salt in 3 cups water 
                     for 20-25 minutes on a low flame after the first whistle. 

                        Dry roast the oats for a minute.

                       Heat oil & sauté the onion till light brown. 

                     Add ginger-garlic paste & all dry spices mixed with some water. Stir fry
                     for a few seconds.

                      Add the tomato puree 

                      and the roasted oats. Mix well and simmer for a minute. 

                     Add mutton along with stock. Bring to a boil & simmer for 5-10 minutes
                     or till soup thickens to a desired consistency. 

                        Garnish with coriander leaves.

                                Serve as a light meal or enjoy whenever you wish.

Bread Pinwheel Sandwich

          This kid friendly recipe is just irresistible for young and old alike. A very easy and a yummy preparation, it is ideal for a kids party / breakfast, any kitty party, tea time snacks or for a kid's lunch box meal. They can be served cold, baked or pan fried. This is the latter version. Enjoy just as it is or with some chutney, mayo or ketchup. Choice is yours. So check out the step by step pictorial recipe to prepare it. 

          You can prepare these bread pinwheel sandwiches in many ways. You can mix and match with any filling of your choice and dish out this amazing sandwich. Any veggies not liked by your kiddo can be camouflaged and made into these appealing sandwiches. 

          For the veg. version, paneer, cheese, mashed potato, sliced / shredded mixed veggies, etc. can be used and for the non-veg. version, salami, cold cuts, omelette, sliced sausages, etc. works just as fine to make these healthy snacks. 

• 6 bread slices (I used brown bread)
• 2 tsp. butter
• 2 tsp. green chutney
• 2 tsp. ketchup
• 4 tbsp. grated cheese
• 2 pinches of pepper
• 1 tbsp. crushed peanuts
• 1 tsp. chopped pistachios
• 1 tsp. coriander leaves
• 2 pinches of oregano
• 1-2 tbsp. butter / olive oil to pan fry

        

           Cut all the edges from the bread slices (use up these later for making breadcrumbs or upma).

          Roll them as thin as possible with a chapatti roller so that it can be rolled easily without breaking. 

          Apply butter, green chutney and ketchup over the bread slices. Take a ketchup slice and place the butter slice over it. 

          Spread half of the cheese, followed by the crushed peanuts, pepper powder, oregano, chopped pistachios and coriander leaves. 

          Now place the chutney slice over it and gently roll it tightly to make a pinwheel. Wrap around a foil / cling wrap and refrigerate for some time.

          Cut the rolls into 1" pieces and keep them aside. Heat some butter / olive oil in a tawa / pan and pan fry the cut pinwheels for 1-2 minutes on both sides.  

          Drain on a kitchen towel and serve them just as it is or with green chutney, sauce or mayo.

                       Cut all the edges from the bread slices.

                       Roll them as thin as possible with a chapati roller. 

                       Apply butter, green chutney & ketchup over the bread slices. 

                       Take a ketchup slice and place the butter slice over it. 

                      Spread half of the cheese, followed by crushed peanuts, pepper powder, 
                      oregano, chopped pistachios and coriander leaves. 

                       Now place the chutney slice over it. 

                       Gently roll it tightly to make a pinwheel. 

                        Wrap around a foil / cling wrap & refrigerate for some time.

                        Cut the rolls into 1" pieces and keep them aside.

                    Heat some butter/olive oil & pan fry cut pinwheels for a min. on both sides. 

                        Drain on a kitchen towel.

                        Serve them just as it is or with green chutney, sauce or mayo.

Grilled Chicken Steak

            Grilled Chicken is an all time favorite with one and all and is perfect as an appetizer with green chutney or as a light and healthy meal, accompanied with some salad. So this is a simple and an easy grilled chicken recipe which is a complete wholesome meal. So go ahead and give it a try and I bet your family and friends will simply love this gourmet delight. Do check out the step by step pictorial recipe to prepare it.

        

          These homemade, tempting and delicious grilled chicken is not only easy to make but it is completely hassle free. This is a healthy variation to any fried chicken and is a one dish meal in itself for any weight watchers too. They are a perfect treat for any in-house party too and is a great accompaniment with cocktails and mock tails.

• 2 chicken breasts, sliced into half
• pinch of salt
• 1 tsp. red chili powder
• 1 tsp. lemon juice
• 1 tbsp. mustard oil 
• 2 tbsp. yoghurt
• 1/2 tsp. garam masala powder
• 1/2 tsp. roasted cumin powder

          Marinate the chicken fillet with all the above mentioned ingredients for a minimum of 2-3 hours or preferably overnight. 

          Line a baking tray with aluminum foil and arrange the marinated chicken over it. Grill for 30-35 minutes or till done on both sides. 

          Halfway through turn the steak and baste with the leftover marinade. Serve these grilled delicacies with some salad as accompaniment for a healthy and wholesome meal.

                      Marinate chicken fillet with all mentioned ingredients for 2-3 hours or
                      preferably overnight. 

                      Line a baking tray with aluminum foil & arrange marinated chicken 
                      over it. 

                      Grill for 30-35 min. or till done on both sides. Halfway through turn 
                      the steak & baste with the leftover marinade. 

                               Serve with some salad as accompaniment for a healthy meal.