What's New Here?

Showing posts with label Microwave. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Microwave. Show all posts

Mango Jam starring in Saturday Morning Breakfast for One

THE MAGICAL MILLION
While I was waiting for the magic one millionth hit to happen, it came and went without my knowledge and now it is a million plus some 7000, but thank you my dear readers, friends, family for encouraging me and keeping me going at this blog.
Here's to a million more :)



(My posts don't seem to be appearing on the Taste of India feed list, so please subscribe to the feed on your favourite reader or by email)



I'm back home, after spending two weeks with my parents. They live in the same city as me, an hour's drive at most times. But I have rarely stayed this long. One week's stay got extended by another week thanks to a nasty cold which they didn't want me to nurse myself as DH was out traveling. Needless to say, I hardly cooked in the last two weeks, had hogged a lot of traditional lunches, and just lazed and lazed. Since I was getting back to an empty house last afternoon, I had planned for two of my friends to come over and spend the night. No cooking involved, just ordered in a couple of pizzas!

This morning, I was looking forward to having a relaxed breakfast with my favourite Saturday newspaper - Lounge (Mint). Having purchased some luscious Kesar mangoes yesterday, I thought of making some instant mango jam in the microwave, just while the bread slices were toasting on the tava and the Amul butter sitting near the stove to soften.



Initially I did think of searching some blogs for a recipe, but then the laziness of a Saturday morning prevented me from even starting my laptop. It is a mango after all, and nothing much can go wrong - so saying, I put together one chopped mango, pinch of salt, fat pinch of black pepper and a spoonful of organic jaggery powder in a glass bowl, and started nuking at high power starting with 2 minutes, kept giving 2 minute increments, and after the 6th minute it was nearly done. The jam had firmed up and yet some of the pieces held their shape, which is how I like it.

In a total of seven minutes, I had a delicious jam, bursting with flavours ready to spread itself over nicely crisped up toast spread with Amul butter.

If you still want a proper recipe, here it is.



Instant Mango Jam
Serves 2 - or enough for 5-6 pieces of toast
Time taken - Under 10 minutes

You need
1 sweet mango like Kesar - fine diced (almost a cup of cubes)
1 generous tsp jaggery powder or brown sugar ( I used Fabindia's Desi Sakkar - Organic Jaggery)
1 pinch salt
1/4 tsp ground black pepper

Combine all the above in a microwave safe glass bowl.
Nuke at high for a total of 6-7 minutes, giving it a stir 3-4 times in between.
The jam is ready when it comes together and most of the liquid has dried up.

Notes:
You can add cardamom powder or cinnamon powder instead of black pepper. I liked the salt and pepper combo going with the sweet mango taste.
If your mango doesn't have that tangy edge, you can also squeeze a few drops of lime.
You can try this with larger quantities, since this is my first try, I used just one mango. Since it is ready in a jiffy, it can be made as and when you need it.
A thinner version of this will taste yummy on some plain pancakes.

This is my entry to May Mango madness edition of Weekend Breakfast Blogging (#22) which Arundati is hosting at Escapades. Send in your entries to her by the 31st :)

Mango Jam starring in Saturday Morning Breakfast for One

Posted by admin

THE MAGICAL MILLION
While I was waiting for the magic one millionth hit to happen, it came and went without my knowledge and now it is a million plus some 7000, but thank you my dear readers, friends, family for encouraging me and keeping me going at this blog.
Here's to a million more :)



(My posts don't seem to be appearing on the Taste of India feed list, so please subscribe to the feed on your favourite reader or by email)



I'm back home, after spending two weeks with my parents. They live in the same city as me, an hour's drive at most times. But I have rarely stayed this long. One week's stay got extended by another week thanks to a nasty cold which they didn't want me to nurse myself as DH was out traveling. Needless to say, I hardly cooked in the last two weeks, had hogged a lot of traditional lunches, and just lazed and lazed. Since I was getting back to an empty house last afternoon, I had planned for two of my friends to come over and spend the night. No cooking involved, just ordered in a couple of pizzas!

This morning, I was looking forward to having a relaxed breakfast with my favourite Saturday newspaper - Lounge (Mint). Having purchased some luscious Kesar mangoes yesterday, I thought of making some instant mango jam in the microwave, just while the bread slices were toasting on the tava and the Amul butter sitting near the stove to soften.



Initially I did think of searching some blogs for a recipe, but then the laziness of a Saturday morning prevented me from even starting my laptop. It is a mango after all, and nothing much can go wrong - so saying, I put together one chopped mango, pinch of salt, fat pinch of black pepper and a spoonful of organic jaggery powder in a glass bowl, and started nuking at high power starting with 2 minutes, kept giving 2 minute increments, and after the 6th minute it was nearly done. The jam had firmed up and yet some of the pieces held their shape, which is how I like it.

In a total of seven minutes, I had a delicious jam, bursting with flavours ready to spread itself over nicely crisped up toast spread with Amul butter.

If you still want a proper recipe, here it is.



Instant Mango Jam
Serves 2 - or enough for 5-6 pieces of toast
Time taken - Under 10 minutes

You need
1 sweet mango like Kesar - fine diced (almost a cup of cubes)
1 generous tsp jaggery powder or brown sugar ( I used Fabindia's Desi Sakkar - Organic Jaggery)
1 pinch salt
1/4 tsp ground black pepper

Combine all the above in a microwave safe glass bowl.
Nuke at high for a total of 6-7 minutes, giving it a stir 3-4 times in between.
The jam is ready when it comes together and most of the liquid has dried up.

Notes:
You can add cardamom powder or cinnamon powder instead of black pepper. I liked the salt and pepper combo going with the sweet mango taste.
If your mango doesn't have that tangy edge, you can also squeeze a few drops of lime.
You can try this with larger quantities, since this is my first try, I used just one mango. Since it is ready in a jiffy, it can be made as and when you need it.
A thinner version of this will taste yummy on some plain pancakes.

This is my entry to May Mango madness edition of Weekend Breakfast Blogging (#22) which Arundati is hosting at Escapades. Send in your entries to her by the 31st :)

Handwo - a steamed savoury cake


Grains soaking for handwo


Handwo is a Gujarati steamed delicacy. The batter is made from soaked rice and a mixture of lentils, fermented, mixed with vegetables and steamed / microwaved. A delicious tadka of sesame seeds, mustard seeds is poured on the top, the cake cut into wedges and served with a tangy green chutney.

You can do several things with this batter and each one is as tasty as the other
-Cook it in a deep non stick pan on the stove top
-Steam in pressure cooker
-Cook in microwave
-Make thick 'adais' or thin dosais on a skillet

I've blogged about the recipe in May 2006 here.

The two changes in this recipe are that I've used red unpolished rice instead of white rice and masoor dal instead of moong dal (see soaked grains picture above).


Here, I have slightly browned the microwaved wedges on a lightly oiled skillet till a little crispy on the outside. You can easily omit this step if you are short on time.

Don't have a microwave at home? No problem! Pour ladle full of batter into an oiled non stick skillet, do not spread and let it cook on sim, till golden brown on both sides. Serve with chutney or milagai podi.



Skillet cooked Handwo 'scones'

This is my entry for WBB 21 - Microwave breakfasts at 100% Microwave Cooking
This savoury cake is also my entry to Srivalli's MEC - Cakes event.



Handwo - a steamed savoury cake

Posted by admin


Grains soaking for handwo


Handwo is a Gujarati steamed delicacy. The batter is made from soaked rice and a mixture of lentils, fermented, mixed with vegetables and steamed / microwaved. A delicious tadka of sesame seeds, mustard seeds is poured on the top, the cake cut into wedges and served with a tangy green chutney.

You can do several things with this batter and each one is as tasty as the other
-Cook it in a deep non stick pan on the stove top
-Steam in pressure cooker
-Cook in microwave
-Make thick 'adais' or thin dosais on a skillet

I've blogged about the recipe in May 2006 here.

The two changes in this recipe are that I've used red unpolished rice instead of white rice and masoor dal instead of moong dal (see soaked grains picture above).


Here, I have slightly browned the microwaved wedges on a lightly oiled skillet till a little crispy on the outside. You can easily omit this step if you are short on time.

Don't have a microwave at home? No problem! Pour ladle full of batter into an oiled non stick skillet, do not spread and let it cook on sim, till golden brown on both sides. Serve with chutney or milagai podi.



Skillet cooked Handwo 'scones'

This is my entry for WBB 21 - Microwave breakfasts at 100% Microwave Cooking
This savoury cake is also my entry to Srivalli's MEC - Cakes event.



An unusual pizza for lunch


Yesterday was one of those days, when I was famished for lunch and the only thing ready was the cauliflower-potato curry made in the morning. Besides this, there was some thin crust pizza base languishing in the fridge since last Saturday, and there was the hummus that I had made a couple of days ago. I also had some ready pizza sauce( Pizza Mazza - Maggi) which I always happen to keep on hand nowadays, for these last minute affairs. (It is quite good!)

Putting all of the above together and a minute in the microwave, a delicious pizza was ready in under two minutes....and I'm all set to beat Rachael Ray at her own game - Hahahaa

Ingredients
1 thin crust pizza base
1 tbsp pizza tomato sauce
2 tbsp hummus
1 cup cauliflower-potato curry (used 1 potato instead of the peas in the recipe)
1 tbsp shredded mozzarella cheese

Directions
Start with the spreading a thin layer of tomato sauce on the base, followed by a thick layer of hummus. Spread the curry evenly over the hummus. Top with cheese (as much as you like). Nuke this for a minute at high power in microwave or bake for 5 minutes in a regular oven (if you have the patience for the pre-heating ritual). I sometimes use leftover pita bread or even leftover / frozen parathas as a pizza base, in times like these.

Eat as hot as your tongue can take it. I did, that's why I kept those cold cucumber slices by the side, for first-aid.

Burp!

That reminds me, we won two movie tickets thanks to DH reviewing a restaurant on Burrp that got selected as review of the week. We love this site, that is an exclusive restaurant review website, covering many of the Indian cities. Each time we have to decide on a place to eat out over the weekend, this site along with the Times Food Guide is a great resource.

[Disclaimer: I have not been paid to say this. And I have been using the site much before we won any prize there :) Just want to bring it this helpful website to the notice of my Indian readers! ]


And this is what has kept me busy all of today morning...I was planning to make Foccasia to take to a friend, and a search lead me to these hot cross buns...I have already devoured one piece of the 12 with a spot of orange marmalade and it's yummy - will share recipe in next post! I know one of my dearest blog friends has made this too in the near past, and i hope we end up posting this together - like how true soul sisters should :)

An unusual pizza for lunch

Posted by admin


Yesterday was one of those days, when I was famished for lunch and the only thing ready was the cauliflower-potato curry made in the morning. Besides this, there was some thin crust pizza base languishing in the fridge since last Saturday, and there was the hummus that I had made a couple of days ago. I also had some ready pizza sauce( Pizza Mazza - Maggi) which I always happen to keep on hand nowadays, for these last minute affairs. (It is quite good!)

Putting all of the above together and a minute in the microwave, a delicious pizza was ready in under two minutes....and I'm all set to beat Rachael Ray at her own game - Hahahaa

Ingredients
1 thin crust pizza base
1 tbsp pizza tomato sauce
2 tbsp hummus
1 cup cauliflower-potato curry (used 1 potato instead of the peas in the recipe)
1 tbsp shredded mozzarella cheese

Directions
Start with the spreading a thin layer of tomato sauce on the base, followed by a thick layer of hummus. Spread the curry evenly over the hummus. Top with cheese (as much as you like). Nuke this for a minute at high power in microwave or bake for 5 minutes in a regular oven (if you have the patience for the pre-heating ritual). I sometimes use leftover pita bread or even leftover / frozen parathas as a pizza base, in times like these.

Eat as hot as your tongue can take it. I did, that's why I kept those cold cucumber slices by the side, for first-aid.

Burp!

That reminds me, we won two movie tickets thanks to DH reviewing a restaurant on Burrp that got selected as review of the week. We love this site, that is an exclusive restaurant review website, covering many of the Indian cities. Each time we have to decide on a place to eat out over the weekend, this site along with the Times Food Guide is a great resource.

[Disclaimer: I have not been paid to say this. And I have been using the site much before we won any prize there :) Just want to bring it this helpful website to the notice of my Indian readers! ]


And this is what has kept me busy all of today morning...I was planning to make Foccasia to take to a friend, and a search lead me to these hot cross buns...I have already devoured one piece of the 12 with a spot of orange marmalade and it's yummy - will share recipe in next post! I know one of my dearest blog friends has made this too in the near past, and i hope we end up posting this together - like how true soul sisters should :)

Diwali Delicacy: 5 minute Besan Laddoos


Ta da....presenting a couple of Diwali delicacies for you after the long silence.

Talking about Laddoos, i have never been too fond of them, except for Moti Choor Laddoo, which I would never dream of making at home. Any part of India and you'll find several varieties of them made with a variety of flours, and methods. As far as I can understand, for any laddoo made from using flour, the flour needs to be roasted till aromatic and during the roasting process, a certain amount of fat like ghee is used to cook the flour while roasting. Some more fat is used to bind the sweetened roasted flour into round shapes and a laddoo is born.

Not being the Laddoo liking girl, and my husband also not being a guy who is especially fond of them, I have never tried making them. When this particular discussion on Diwali treats went on and on about the quick and easy, microwave besan laddoos, I had to make this to take to my parents and aunts for Diwali, because this is something they all love.

Each batch makes 10. The first batch I followed the recipe to the T, just increasing the microwave time as the flour did not seem roasted to my satisfaction as per the given time in the recipe. In the final stage of binding it into laddoos, I realised that the ghee quantity can be considerably reduced from the original 1/3rd cup as I have seen the laddoos made in my family to be much drier.

Microwave Besan Laddoos
Active time: 5-7 minutes
Makes: 10 pieces
Category: Festival sweet
Source: Adapted from Samsung Microwave recipes

Ingredients
1 cup besan [gram flour]
1/4 cup ghee
1/2 cup powdered sugar (sold in Bombay during festival times as 'Pithi Saakhar')
1/2 tsp cardamom powder
10 halves of cashew nuts fried in a little ghee for decoration

Directions
1. In a large microwave safe bowl, mix the besan and ghee. Microwave on HIGH for 5 minutes stirring well every one minute. [increase 2 more min if your machine power is low]

2. Once the flour seems slightly darker in colour and richly aromatic, remove from oven and allow to cool completely. This will take upto half an hour.

3. Once cooled, add 1/2 cup powdered sugar [NOT icing sugar], with cardamom powder into the roasted flour. Knead well to mix and shape into 10 balls pressing a slice of fried cashew on top.

4. These will harden as they cool. Store in airtight container.


This is my entry to Meeta's Monthly Mingle - Traditional Feasts and well as Anna's [Morsel and Musings] Festive Fair 2007.


Tee at Bhatukli has blogged about Microwave Besan Laddoos too.

The next Diwali Delicacy is a joint project between me and Raaga. I shared the recipe with her and we decided to do it together in our respective kitchens. It was fun, though we did not do it on the same day together. I made it on Saturday and she's just done making it so that's coming up in the next post. Keep guessing!

Diwali Delicacy: 5 minute Besan Laddoos

Posted by admin


Ta da....presenting a couple of Diwali delicacies for you after the long silence.

Talking about Laddoos, i have never been too fond of them, except for Moti Choor Laddoo, which I would never dream of making at home. Any part of India and you'll find several varieties of them made with a variety of flours, and methods. As far as I can understand, for any laddoo made from using flour, the flour needs to be roasted till aromatic and during the roasting process, a certain amount of fat like ghee is used to cook the flour while roasting. Some more fat is used to bind the sweetened roasted flour into round shapes and a laddoo is born.

Not being the Laddoo liking girl, and my husband also not being a guy who is especially fond of them, I have never tried making them. When this particular discussion on Diwali treats went on and on about the quick and easy, microwave besan laddoos, I had to make this to take to my parents and aunts for Diwali, because this is something they all love.

Each batch makes 10. The first batch I followed the recipe to the T, just increasing the microwave time as the flour did not seem roasted to my satisfaction as per the given time in the recipe. In the final stage of binding it into laddoos, I realised that the ghee quantity can be considerably reduced from the original 1/3rd cup as I have seen the laddoos made in my family to be much drier.

Microwave Besan Laddoos
Active time: 5-7 minutes
Makes: 10 pieces
Category: Festival sweet
Source: Adapted from Samsung Microwave recipes

Ingredients
1 cup besan [gram flour]
1/4 cup ghee
1/2 cup powdered sugar (sold in Bombay during festival times as 'Pithi Saakhar')
1/2 tsp cardamom powder
10 halves of cashew nuts fried in a little ghee for decoration

Directions
1. In a large microwave safe bowl, mix the besan and ghee. Microwave on HIGH for 5 minutes stirring well every one minute. [increase 2 more min if your machine power is low]

2. Once the flour seems slightly darker in colour and richly aromatic, remove from oven and allow to cool completely. This will take upto half an hour.

3. Once cooled, add 1/2 cup powdered sugar [NOT icing sugar], with cardamom powder into the roasted flour. Knead well to mix and shape into 10 balls pressing a slice of fried cashew on top.

4. These will harden as they cool. Store in airtight container.


This is my entry to Meeta's Monthly Mingle - Traditional Feasts and well as Anna's [Morsel and Musings] Festive Fair 2007.


Tee at Bhatukli has blogged about Microwave Besan Laddoos too.

The next Diwali Delicacy is a joint project between me and Raaga. I shared the recipe with her and we decided to do it together in our respective kitchens. It was fun, though we did not do it on the same day together. I made it on Saturday and she's just done making it so that's coming up in the next post. Keep guessing!

A healthy cake in 15 minutes

A no-bake, no-eggs, no-sugar cake and it is delicious

Whenever I see a dessert recipe whose ingredient list does not feature sugar and a gazillion calories worth of butter, I almost try it out on the same day...firstly too see if it would still taste good and secondly, it is quite difficult to resist such a recipe. When I chanced upon a steamed 'rava' (semolina) - banana cake, it seemed too good to be true. When my newly married cousin in Bangalore tried it out and gave me a really bright green signal, I had to try this out. Shilpa of Aayi's Recipes has something similar on her blog, an authentic Goan recipe sent to her by a reader, but her recipe uses sugar instead of jaggery.
I've made slight modifications to the original recipe, in terms of microwaving the batter instead of steaming, and I did it on a trial and error basis, because my kitchen doesn't have a big enough steamer to take the whole batter in one go.

Using the microwave for this recipe did seem to have its advantages:
1. Lesser cooking time (7 minutes as against 25 minutes of steaming)
2. Lesser cleaning up - just one microwave safe dish other than the wok used to mix ingredients
3. Even your kids can handle the recipe from the assembled-ingredients stage

Semolina-Banana-Coconut Cake (No bake)
Time taken - Under 15 minutes
Serves 6-8 people or more
Category - Healthy dessert, Festival food, Neivedyam



Ingredients
1-2 tbsp ghee (clarified butter, see notes) If you don't have this, use unsalted butter
1 1/4 cup semolina (buy the finer of the varieties)
3/4 cup jaggery (see notes)
3 bananas - medium sized
1 pack thick coconut milk (I used Dabur's 200 ml pack)
1/2 cup water
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking powder

Directions
1. Grease a 9" or so microwave safe flatware with some ghee on your fingertips. Keep aside.

2. In a blender / mixer, place the 3 peeled bananas with the jaggery, make a smooth paste and keep aside.

3. Heat the remaining ghee in a heavy bottomed wok, put in the semolina. On medium to low flame, constantly stir it around until it turns lightly golden. This part requires your full attention for 5-7 minutes and the slightest burnt semolina will spoil the taste of the cake.

4. Once the semolina turns golden, turn flame to lowest possible, pour in the banana-jaggery paste, stir till it is nearly absorbed by the semolina. This will take 30 seconds to a minute. Take the wok off the flame.

5. In a jug, whisk well the coconut milk, water, salt, baking powder, cardamom powder and pour it into the semolina mix in the wok. Stir well till ingredients are blended through.

6. Pour this mix into the greased microwave safe dish. Garnish with any nuts /dried fruits or candied fruit to make it more appealing to kids.

7.Microwave at 100% for 5 minutes. Check the degree to which the cake is cooked and then depending on that microwave at 80% for 2 minutes or so. Remove, cool and cut into squares /diamonds.

8. Serve warm.

Health tip:

This cake needs to be refrigerated because of its coconut milk content which may go rancid if left out for longer time. You can warm it by nuking it for 20 seconds or so. It makes an excellent dessert idea for the tiffin box for your kid or your spouse.
Jaggery is known to be rich in iron because of the huge iron vessels in which it is processed, hence better that sugar which is just empty calories. Diabetics, please be informed that eating jaggery does nothing better than sugar for your blood sugar levels as they both have the same glycemic index - calorie-wise and carbohydrate-wise, both are nearly the same. If you have to choose between the two, jaggery is just a slightly better choice because its more natural and nutritive than plain sugar.

Notes:
1. You will find jaggery, rava and ghee in any store selling Indian groceries.
You can also make ghee at home from unsalted butter - instructive posts here, here & here.
2. In case you do not have a microwave, you can surely steam this cake as per original recipe's instructions.
3. A lighter coloured jaggery will yield a paler cake and a dark brown jaggery will give you the rich brownier one. If you do not find jaggery, by all means use brown sugar or even white sugar.
4. My cousin tried this with whole wheat flour instead of semolina and said the results were as good. Just increase the baking powder a tad bit.
5. Try it out with spices of your choice. I love the taste of cardamom and hence it found its place in this recipe. You could try out cinnamon or clove powder or even all spice powder.
6. This quick recipe can also fit into the 'Neivedyam' category, which is the offering to Gods made in most Indian homes for festivals and auspicious days as it has no eggs. And from what I hear, most Indian Gods and Goddesses love jaggery as well as bananas :) , and we love them for that.

(This was written for the Family-Lifestyle blog Daily Tiffin)

A healthy cake in 15 minutes

Posted by admin

A no-bake, no-eggs, no-sugar cake and it is delicious

Whenever I see a dessert recipe whose ingredient list does not feature sugar and a gazillion calories worth of butter, I almost try it out on the same day...firstly too see if it would still taste good and secondly, it is quite difficult to resist such a recipe. When I chanced upon a steamed 'rava' (semolina) - banana cake, it seemed too good to be true. When my newly married cousin in Bangalore tried it out and gave me a really bright green signal, I had to try this out. Shilpa of Aayi's Recipes has something similar on her blog, an authentic Goan recipe sent to her by a reader, but her recipe uses sugar instead of jaggery.
I've made slight modifications to the original recipe, in terms of microwaving the batter instead of steaming, and I did it on a trial and error basis, because my kitchen doesn't have a big enough steamer to take the whole batter in one go.

Using the microwave for this recipe did seem to have its advantages:
1. Lesser cooking time (7 minutes as against 25 minutes of steaming)
2. Lesser cleaning up - just one microwave safe dish other than the wok used to mix ingredients
3. Even your kids can handle the recipe from the assembled-ingredients stage

Semolina-Banana-Coconut Cake (No bake)
Time taken - Under 15 minutes
Serves 6-8 people or more
Category - Healthy dessert, Festival food, Neivedyam



Ingredients
1-2 tbsp ghee (clarified butter, see notes) If you don't have this, use unsalted butter
1 1/4 cup semolina (buy the finer of the varieties)
3/4 cup jaggery (see notes)
3 bananas - medium sized
1 pack thick coconut milk (I used Dabur's 200 ml pack)
1/2 cup water
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking powder

Directions
1. Grease a 9" or so microwave safe flatware with some ghee on your fingertips. Keep aside.

2. In a blender / mixer, place the 3 peeled bananas with the jaggery, make a smooth paste and keep aside.

3. Heat the remaining ghee in a heavy bottomed wok, put in the semolina. On medium to low flame, constantly stir it around until it turns lightly golden. This part requires your full attention for 5-7 minutes and the slightest burnt semolina will spoil the taste of the cake.

4. Once the semolina turns golden, turn flame to lowest possible, pour in the banana-jaggery paste, stir till it is nearly absorbed by the semolina. This will take 30 seconds to a minute. Take the wok off the flame.

5. In a jug, whisk well the coconut milk, water, salt, baking powder, cardamom powder and pour it into the semolina mix in the wok. Stir well till ingredients are blended through.

6. Pour this mix into the greased microwave safe dish. Garnish with any nuts /dried fruits or candied fruit to make it more appealing to kids.

7.Microwave at 100% for 5 minutes. Check the degree to which the cake is cooked and then depending on that microwave at 80% for 2 minutes or so. Remove, cool and cut into squares /diamonds.

8. Serve warm.

Health tip:

This cake needs to be refrigerated because of its coconut milk content which may go rancid if left out for longer time. You can warm it by nuking it for 20 seconds or so. It makes an excellent dessert idea for the tiffin box for your kid or your spouse.
Jaggery is known to be rich in iron because of the huge iron vessels in which it is processed, hence better that sugar which is just empty calories. Diabetics, please be informed that eating jaggery does nothing better than sugar for your blood sugar levels as they both have the same glycemic index - calorie-wise and carbohydrate-wise, both are nearly the same. If you have to choose between the two, jaggery is just a slightly better choice because its more natural and nutritive than plain sugar.

Notes:
1. You will find jaggery, rava and ghee in any store selling Indian groceries.
You can also make ghee at home from unsalted butter - instructive posts here, here & here.
2. In case you do not have a microwave, you can surely steam this cake as per original recipe's instructions.
3. A lighter coloured jaggery will yield a paler cake and a dark brown jaggery will give you the rich brownier one. If you do not find jaggery, by all means use brown sugar or even white sugar.
4. My cousin tried this with whole wheat flour instead of semolina and said the results were as good. Just increase the baking powder a tad bit.
5. Try it out with spices of your choice. I love the taste of cardamom and hence it found its place in this recipe. You could try out cinnamon or clove powder or even all spice powder.
6. This quick recipe can also fit into the 'Neivedyam' category, which is the offering to Gods made in most Indian homes for festivals and auspicious days as it has no eggs. And from what I hear, most Indian Gods and Goddesses love jaggery as well as bananas :) , and we love them for that.

(This was written for the Family-Lifestyle blog Daily Tiffin)

Bulgur patties - Crispy bulgur burgers

Regulars on my blog know that I have been cribbing endlessly about the heat in Bombay. I have almost forgotten how to make perfect round rotis, because it's clearly been a while since I made them. That doesn't mean I've been hogging rice for all my meals, which would have been the best thing to happen to me.

Bulgur
is called Lapsi or Dalia in India and it is the perfect substitute for rotis. After all, it is the same wheat in another form.We often eat this with traditional Tambram accompaniments like Sambhar, Koottu and even yogurt. With the strong flavours of the accompaniments, we hardly miss the rice. Since then, I have taken for granted that I can substitute lapsi for rice just about anywhere and get away with it. After having tried rice patties with left over rice in my early blogging days, this recipe came to my mind today. It's wheat plus veggies in one dish, served with a portion of salad and it is a whole meal without any slaving over the stove and sweating it out making rotis.

Ingredients
1 cup cooked bulgur (1/2 cup dried, medium grain)
1/2 cup grated carrots
1 chilli sliced
1 tbsp gram flour
1 tbsp semolina
1/2 tsp red chilli powder
1 tbsp chopped mint
1 tbsp chopped coriander leaves
Juice of a lime
1/2 tsp salt / to taste
Pinch of turmeric powder

Sliced shallots and thawed frozen peas for garnish

1 tbsp oil to grease pan

Directions

Mix all the ingredients in a bowl. Knead well to release flavours from spices and herbs. Refrigerate for 15 minutes or so.

Shape into patties of 3-4 cm diameter, about 1/2 inch thick.

Heat a non stick pan. Grease it with cooking oil.

Place 3-4 patties at a time on the medium hot skillet and let each side cook for about 3-4 minutes until crispy and brown.

Flip them over and let it cook for another 2-3 minutes.

Garnish with sliced shallots and serve hot.

Notes:
  • This can be served with a green salad as a light dinner.
  • These bulghur patties also make great finger food for a party, and hey no deep frying too!
  • If you don't mind wheat in wheat, then nothing can stop you from building a burger around these spicy, yummy beauties!
  • You can make the same recipe with left over rice. Take care that the rice isn't too dried out or the patties wont hold their shape. If the rice has turned dry, then you can sprinkle some water and microwave it for a minute until soft.
  • Since bulgur has a low glycemic index of 46, it is very good for diabetics as a substitute for rice. The high fiber and low GI causes gradual rise in blood sugar.
  • How to cook broken wheat? -Wash the bulghur well several times in running water in a colander. Soak it in 1 1/2 cups of hot water for 15 minutes. After this, you can microwave the bulghur in the same water for 3-4 minutes on HIGH or pressure cook until you hear one whistle. 1/2 cup dried broken wheat yields over a cup of cooked grain.
  • For difference between bulgur and cracked wheat, read here.

Bulgur patties - Crispy bulgur burgers

Posted by admin

Regulars on my blog know that I have been cribbing endlessly about the heat in Bombay. I have almost forgotten how to make perfect round rotis, because it's clearly been a while since I made them. That doesn't mean I've been hogging rice for all my meals, which would have been the best thing to happen to me.

Bulgur
is called Lapsi or Dalia in India and it is the perfect substitute for rotis. After all, it is the same wheat in another form.We often eat this with traditional Tambram accompaniments like Sambhar, Koottu and even yogurt. With the strong flavours of the accompaniments, we hardly miss the rice. Since then, I have taken for granted that I can substitute lapsi for rice just about anywhere and get away with it. After having tried rice patties with left over rice in my early blogging days, this recipe came to my mind today. It's wheat plus veggies in one dish, served with a portion of salad and it is a whole meal without any slaving over the stove and sweating it out making rotis.

Ingredients
1 cup cooked bulgur (1/2 cup dried, medium grain)
1/2 cup grated carrots
1 chilli sliced
1 tbsp gram flour
1 tbsp semolina
1/2 tsp red chilli powder
1 tbsp chopped mint
1 tbsp chopped coriander leaves
Juice of a lime
1/2 tsp salt / to taste
Pinch of turmeric powder

Sliced shallots and thawed frozen peas for garnish

1 tbsp oil to grease pan

Directions

Mix all the ingredients in a bowl. Knead well to release flavours from spices and herbs. Refrigerate for 15 minutes or so.

Shape into patties of 3-4 cm diameter, about 1/2 inch thick.

Heat a non stick pan. Grease it with cooking oil.

Place 3-4 patties at a time on the medium hot skillet and let each side cook for about 3-4 minutes until crispy and brown.

Flip them over and let it cook for another 2-3 minutes.

Garnish with sliced shallots and serve hot.

Notes:
  • This can be served with a green salad as a light dinner.
  • These bulghur patties also make great finger food for a party, and hey no deep frying too!
  • If you don't mind wheat in wheat, then nothing can stop you from building a burger around these spicy, yummy beauties!
  • You can make the same recipe with left over rice. Take care that the rice isn't too dried out or the patties wont hold their shape. If the rice has turned dry, then you can sprinkle some water and microwave it for a minute until soft.
  • Since bulgur has a low glycemic index of 46, it is very good for diabetics as a substitute for rice. The high fiber and low GI causes gradual rise in blood sugar.
  • How to cook broken wheat? -Wash the bulghur well several times in running water in a colander. Soak it in 1 1/2 cups of hot water for 15 minutes. After this, you can microwave the bulghur in the same water for 3-4 minutes on HIGH or pressure cook until you hear one whistle. 1/2 cup dried broken wheat yields over a cup of cooked grain.
  • For difference between bulgur and cracked wheat, read here.

Dudhi ki sabzi - Bottle gourd in gravy

Dudhi ki sabzi


There are some vegetables that never make it to our favourites' list. Most gourds, especially the bitter gourd for obvious reasons, and also the bottle gourd for being so tasteless. DH is absolutely a non-fussy eater but gourds deter him too. When I tried out an experiment with the bottle gourd for my lunch, inspired by what our friend in Bangalore had made for us, it turned out so good, that it was entirely report-worthy and repeat-worthy. I made an effort to spare some for dinner, and when I gingerly served some to DH, he said - "Is there more of that??". That moment, the poor dudhi had recorded it's place in the annals of our household.

I must give due credit to an Andhra recipe which our friend had shared with me verbally. Since I couldn't recollect much of it, what went into this recipe, were ingredients thrown in by intuition, in my own approximations. The idea of dudhi in a thick gravy is her traditional recipe though.

Before I share this zero-oil, tasteful wonder with you, I must announce that a good friend Manasvi has started his own food blog called - From the Bachelor's Kitchen. As good ladies we must encourage a man's efforts in the kitchen, shouldn't we ;)


DUDHI / LAUKI KI SABZI
Bottle gourd in gravy - a zero oil recipe

Category: Vegetable, low-carb, zero-oil, diabetic recipe
Time taken: Under 15 minutes
Serves: 2
Source: Adapted from a friend's recipe

Ingredients
1 small dudhi -peeled cut into cubes (to make 2 cups of cubes)
pinch of turmeric powder and asafoetida each, 1 tsp salt
1/2 cup water

For masala
2 red chillies - broken into small pieces
1 heaped tablespoon sesame seeds (white ellu)
1 tbsp tur dal
1 tsp coriander seeds
1 tsp saunf or fennel seeds (substitute with jeera if you dont have this, but good to use fennel)
2 peeled garlic pods (optional)
PLUS
1/4 Cup roasted peanuts

Coriander leaves for garnish

To prepare masala
Dry roast the ingredients - red chillies through garlic.
Once the tur dal turns golden, remove, cool and dry grind in small mixer with handful of roasted peanuts. If you dont have roasted peanuts, then first roast peanuts separately as it takes longer than other ingredients. Grind to a coarse powder, keep aside.

Directions
Heat 3/4 cup water in a heavy pan. Bring to a boil with turmeric, salt and hing. Add the dudhi cubes and boil for 5-7 minutes until the pieces are soft but retain shape. They may be some water left over, but do not drain it.
OR
Microwave for 3 min on high

Add masala powder to the cooked gourd pieces in the same pan. On a low flame, mix the cooked gourd with the masala. The excess water will be absorbed by the powder. Add a little more water if necessary.

Check for salt and garnish with coriander. This dish with pair fantastically with chapatis or even dosai, may be even bread.


Note
You wont miss the oil at all here, for the natural oils in sesame seeds and peanuts give it a rich taste
You can try this with any other squash or gourd, for eg. Zucchini
Bottle gourd is low-carb as are many others from this family, this makes an excellent diabetic recipe as well as a low-carber's recipe.
You can use the saved bottle gourd peels to make a chutney by sauteeing it with spices and dried lentils, and pulsing it in the blender.


Dudhi ki sabzi - Bottle gourd in gravy

Posted by admin

Dudhi ki sabzi


There are some vegetables that never make it to our favourites' list. Most gourds, especially the bitter gourd for obvious reasons, and also the bottle gourd for being so tasteless. DH is absolutely a non-fussy eater but gourds deter him too. When I tried out an experiment with the bottle gourd for my lunch, inspired by what our friend in Bangalore had made for us, it turned out so good, that it was entirely report-worthy and repeat-worthy. I made an effort to spare some for dinner, and when I gingerly served some to DH, he said - "Is there more of that??". That moment, the poor dudhi had recorded it's place in the annals of our household.

I must give due credit to an Andhra recipe which our friend had shared with me verbally. Since I couldn't recollect much of it, what went into this recipe, were ingredients thrown in by intuition, in my own approximations. The idea of dudhi in a thick gravy is her traditional recipe though.

Before I share this zero-oil, tasteful wonder with you, I must announce that a good friend Manasvi has started his own food blog called - From the Bachelor's Kitchen. As good ladies we must encourage a man's efforts in the kitchen, shouldn't we ;)


DUDHI / LAUKI KI SABZI
Bottle gourd in gravy - a zero oil recipe

Category: Vegetable, low-carb, zero-oil, diabetic recipe
Time taken: Under 15 minutes
Serves: 2
Source: Adapted from a friend's recipe

Ingredients
1 small dudhi -peeled cut into cubes (to make 2 cups of cubes)
pinch of turmeric powder and asafoetida each, 1 tsp salt
1/2 cup water

For masala
2 red chillies - broken into small pieces
1 heaped tablespoon sesame seeds (white ellu)
1 tbsp tur dal
1 tsp coriander seeds
1 tsp saunf or fennel seeds (substitute with jeera if you dont have this, but good to use fennel)
2 peeled garlic pods (optional)
PLUS
1/4 Cup roasted peanuts

Coriander leaves for garnish

To prepare masala
Dry roast the ingredients - red chillies through garlic.
Once the tur dal turns golden, remove, cool and dry grind in small mixer with handful of roasted peanuts. If you dont have roasted peanuts, then first roast peanuts separately as it takes longer than other ingredients. Grind to a coarse powder, keep aside.

Directions
Heat 3/4 cup water in a heavy pan. Bring to a boil with turmeric, salt and hing. Add the dudhi cubes and boil for 5-7 minutes until the pieces are soft but retain shape. They may be some water left over, but do not drain it.
OR
Microwave for 3 min on high

Add masala powder to the cooked gourd pieces in the same pan. On a low flame, mix the cooked gourd with the masala. The excess water will be absorbed by the powder. Add a little more water if necessary.

Check for salt and garnish with coriander. This dish with pair fantastically with chapatis or even dosai, may be even bread.


Note
You wont miss the oil at all here, for the natural oils in sesame seeds and peanuts give it a rich taste
You can try this with any other squash or gourd, for eg. Zucchini
Bottle gourd is low-carb as are many others from this family, this makes an excellent diabetic recipe as well as a low-carber's recipe.
You can use the saved bottle gourd peels to make a chutney by sauteeing it with spices and dried lentils, and pulsing it in the blender.


Blogger templates. Proudly Powered by Blogger.
back to top