Moong Dal Halwa in Microwave Oven

Ingredients :

Moong Dal or Moong Dal coarse powder ( if available) : 1 Cup

Desi Ghee : 1/3 Cup
Milk : 2 1/2 to 3 cups 

Sugar : 1/2 Cup ( you can add more sugar if you want more sweetness )
Elaichi & nutmeg  powder for flavour.
Cashew nuts & Almonds for decoration.
Salt : 1 small pinch.

Recipe :

1. Take a big microwavable bowl .

2. Add 2 tsp desi ghee in the bowl. Microwave the bowl for 30 seconds.

3. Add Moong Dal powder & stir well.

4. Keep the bowl in microwave & roast the  powder till it turns brownish & you can smell sweet aroma of ghee & moong dal powder. Stir the powder after every 1 minute. It will take about 3 minutes to roast. 

5. Add remaining desi ghee, milk, sugar & stir well.

6. Keep the bowl in microwave oven for 4  minutes without covering.

7. Take the bowl out from microwave oven & stir the mixture properly. Keep the bowl again in microwave oven for 3 minutes without covering .

8. Add elaichi & nutmeg powder, stir  & again keep the bowl covering in the microwave for 1 minute , stir & again repeat the process  till moong dal cooks properly. It will take 2-3 minutes.
Give standing time of 1 minute.
This is  very quick recipe otherwise it takes long time to roast the moong dal powder & it takes lot of ghee.
Decorate the yummy  Moong dal halwa with cashew nuts & almonds  & enjoy !!

Note :
If you do not get coarse moong dal powder ( rava ) try this simple process.
Soak 1 cup Moong dal for 4-5 hours. Then pour the dal in a sieve. Discard the water.Keep the dal in the  microwave  for 2 minutes. Let it cool completely. Grind the dal in the mixer & you can get coarse powder .

Kothimbir Wadi in Microwave oven.

Ingredients :

Chopped Coriander : 2  Cups

Besan ( Gram flour ) : 1 Cup
Rice Flour : 1 tb 

Butter milk  : 1/2 Cup
Water : 3/4 Cup

2-4 Green chillis  or 1tsp chilli paste ( as per your requirement )
Garlic & Ginger paste : 1 tsp each

Roasted sesame ( Til ) seeds : 1 tb sp

Ajwain ( owa ) : 1/2 tb sp
Coarsely ground Peanuts : 2 tsp
Salt : as per taste

Sugar : 1 tsp

Oil ( any ): 2 tb sp

Mustard seeds : 1 tsp
Cumin seeds : 1 tsp
Hing : 1/2 tsp
Turmeric powder : 1/2 tsp

Recipe :

1. Take a big microwavable bowl .

2. Add chopped corriender, besan, green chilli paste, garlic & ginger paste, Ajwain , sesame seeds, Peanut powder, butter milk, water & mix well.

3. Prepare seasoning ( Tadka ) by adding mustard seeds, cumin seeds, hing & turmeric powder.

4. Add in the above mixture & mix well. 

5. Keep the bowl in microwave oven for 4 1/2 minutes covering with lid.

6. Take the bowl out from microwave oven & stir the mixture properly.

7. Keep the bowl again in microwave oven for 3 minutes covering with lid.

8. Take the bowl out from microwave oven, stir properly & check the mixture. It becomes thick when it is cooked.

Take this mixture in a greased trey or thali & spread when it is hot.

9. Cut into square shape pieces or as you like.

Shallow fry the pieces with little oil  to brown colour & enjoy hot  with chutney or Tomato sauce !!
You can eat it without frying if you like !!

Keshar,Pista, Badam homemade Kulfi without Mawa( Quick recipe )

Try this different & easy kulfi without Mawa. It turned out to be very tasty  & quick . One can not make out the ingredients that are used.  It  looks & tastes so yummy!!!

Keshar Pista Badam Kulfi 

Ingredients :

Whole Milk : 1/2 Litre ( 500 ml )

White bread : 2 slice
Milk powder : 1 tb sp
Corn Flour  :  1 tb sp
Sugar : 3 tb sp if you want more sweetness you can add more. But 3 tb sp is good enough.

Dry fruits :  Sliced Almonds & green Pistatios
Saffron ( Keshar ) : 7-8 threads
Green Cardamom ( Elaichi) : 4  (powdered)

Recipe :

1. Add milk in a heavy bottom vessel. Let it boil for 5 minutes.

2. Remove the sides of bread slices & put them in the mixer & grind fine. Add 1/4 cup of milk in bread powder  to prepare smooth paste.

3. Add milk powder & corn flour in a bowl & prepare smooth paste in the milk.

4. Prepare powder of green cardamom along with 4-5 threads of saffron.

5. Add bread paste, corn flour paste & powder of cardamom & saffron in the boiling milk.

6. Again let it boil for 5 minutes.

7. Milk becomes thick. Add sugar as per taste.

8. Turn off the flame. Let it cool for 10 minutes. 

9. Pour  the mixture in  kulfi matka or you can use kulfi moulds. Cover matkas with aluminium foil.

10. Keep in freezer for about 8 hours or overnight.

Enjoy this yummy low cal kulfi without Guilt !!!

Baigan (Eggplant) Bharta in coconut milk

This is a different kind of baigan bharta ,we always prepare. Its very tasty. Try it !!!

Ingredients :

Eggplant ( Baigan ) : 1  about 1/2 kg
Finely chopped Red onion   : 1/4 Cup

Scrapped coconut : 3/4 th Cup

Green Chili paste :  1 tbsp 

Ginger paste  : 1 tb sp

Handful of finely chopped fresh green coriander 

Salt : 1 tb sp or as  required

Sugar : 1/2 tb sp or as per individual taste
water for grinding coconut in mixer :1/2 cup

Recipe :

1. Dry roast eggplant on the gas stove or in a thick bottom vessel by applying little oil.

2. Remove the skin of eggplant & mash it in a bowl.

3. Add finely chopped onion, chili paste, ginger paste.

4. Add salt & sugar as per taste.

5. Grind coconut in the mixer by adding water.

6. Add this coconut milk to above mixture.

7. Mix properly.

8. Garnish with finely chopped coriander.

Enjoy this different kind of eggplant bharta with hot phulka or bhakri !!!
This bharta does not require tempering. 

Ragi Idli

Ingredients :

Ragi flour : 1  Cup

Idli Rice  ( boiled rice or ukda rice ) 1 Cup

Urad dal ( Black Gram ) : 3/4th Cup

Chana  dal  (Bengal Gram )  : 2 tb sp

Methi  (Fenugreek seeds)  : 1/4 th tb sp

Pinch of Soda bicarb ( optional )

Oil : 2 tb sp
Rai ( mustard seeds) : 1 tb sp

Jeera ( cumin seeds )

Hing (asafoetida ) : 1/2 tb sp
Curry leaves : 8-10
Salt : as required

Recipe :

1. Soak Idli rice for 4-5 hours in a bowl

2. Soak Urad dal , Chana Dal & methi seeds in another bowl for 4-5 hours.

3. Drain the water. But do not throw it. Use it for grinding.

4. Grind all the ingredients to very smooth batter. Add ragi flour while grinding the other ingredients.

5. Pour the batter in the vessel & mix it thoroughly.

6. Keep this batter overnight for fermentation. Take large bowl otherwise batter will come out after fermentation.

7. Add salt as per taste & mix batter gently.

For tempering :
Heat the oil in a pan . Add mustard seeds, cumin seeds, asafoetida & curry leaves.
Let it cool for some time. Tempering is optional as per individual taste. I prepare plain idlis.

8. Add this tempering in the idli batter.

9. Grease the idli mould & pour  the batter into it.

10. Steam the idlis in pressure cooker (without keeping pressure) or in the steamer for 10 to 15 minutes

.

Serve the steaming hot idlis with tomato chatni, coconut chatni, green chatni & sambar.

Kajurachi kheer ( Date Porridge )

Ingredients :

Seedless dates ( Khajur ) : 1  Cup

Almond Powder :  2-3 tb sp
Chopped Almonds :  1 tb sp for garnishing

Green Elaichi powder  ( Green cardamom ): 1/2 tsp

Saffron threads :  7-8 for garnishing

Milk : 2 ½ Cup 

Desi Ghee or unsalted Butter 2 table spoons.

Recipe :

1.  Add desi ghee or unsalted butter in a heavy bottom pan.

2. Cut Dates in small pieces.

3. When ghee or unsalted butter melts add dates.

4. Fry for 2-3 minutes.

5. Add milk & stir thoroughly to cook the dates.(it takes about 2-3 minutes)

6. Add almond powder & elaichi  powder.

7. Let it boil for 2-3 minutes. It becomes thick .

8. Turn off the flame. 

9. Serve warm or cold garnishing with almond flakes & saffron.

If you have very sweet tooth you can add sugar. I have not added sugar for this recipe.

Try this very simple recipe . It takes only 10 minutes. Enjoy with hot phulka or puri.

Or you can eat it as breakfast option by adding any cereal.

Healthy Pav Bhaji

All of us love Pav Bhaji!. Our Bhaji is always full of carbs as in go lots of potatos!  I tried a Pav Bhaji with different ingredients in which veggies & proteins are balanced with reduced amount of carbs. It turned out very tasty !!! Here's the recipe.

Ingredients :

Cauliflower cut into small florets  : 1  cup

Broccoli cut into small florets  : 1 cup 

Spinach chopped : 1/2 cup

4 tomatos chopped  or amounts to 1 cup
Chopped carrots :1/2 cup
Fresh or frozen green peas : 1/2 cup
Green pepper (simla mirch): 3/4 cup
2 big potatos boiled & mashed or 3/4 cup

Chopped onion : 1/2 cup

Black eyed beans  ( chowli ): 1/4 cup

Green whole Moong : 1/4 cup

Whole Lentil (Masoor ) : 1/4 cup
Small boiled & grated beat root piece

Garlic paste : 3 Tea spoon
Ginger paste : 2 Tea spoon
Pav bhaji masala : 4 tb spoons or as required
Red chili powder : 1 tb spoon or as required 

Salt : 2-3  Tea spoon or as required

Vegetable Oil : 2 Tb spoons
Butter : 1 Tb spoon
Finely chopped  coriander and onion, Cheese (optional) , Lemon slices
Grated carrot, Red & Yellow pepper for decoration. 

Recipe :

1. Mix Black eyed beans, Whole moong & Lentils & soak for 2-3 hours. You can directly pressure cook these by adding 2 cups of water. After cooling grind in mixer or food processor to a coarse paste.

2. Cut cauliflower, broccoli , carrot in cubes.  Pressure cook them separately. Mash them or grind in mixer or hand blender.

3. Boil green peas & spinach to soft.

3. Cut green pepper, onoin & tomato into small pieces.

4. Heat 2 tb spoon of oil .

5. Add garlic & ginger paste . Saute for some time and add chopped onion, tomato & green pepper.  Mix well & cook till it becomes soft.

6. Add pav bhaji masala & red chili powder & mix well.

7. Add ground lentils , cauliflower, broccoli, smashed potatoes, green peas, spinach & mix well.  Add 1/2 cup of water.  Cook for 10 mins.

8. Add 1 tb spoon of butter. Smells delicious!

9. Turn off the flame .

10. Sprinkle  delicious pav bhaji  with chopped coriander and chopped onion(optional).  Serve with cheese and lemon slices on the side.  Don't forget the butter roasted  pav.

Enjoy this healthy & yummy pav bhaji as much as you want without guilt !!!

Red pumpkin & whole wheat flour cake

We use to prepare sweet puris with red pumpkeen . we call these sweet puris as Gharge. I tried this   simple recipe in the form of cake using same ingredients  & it turned out soo yummy!! No frying, very delicious & healthy !!

Ingredients :

Wheat flour : 1 cup

Semolina ( fine Rava ): 1/4 cup
Red Pumpkin grated : 1 cup
Jaggery : 1/2 cup. If you have very sweet tooth then add more.
Poppy seeds (khaskhas):  2 tsp
Vegetable oil : 3 tb sp
Desi Ghee or unsalted Butter 2 tb sp
Warm Milk  : 3/4 cup or (as required)
Dry fruits as per individual taste. ( I used  Almonds, Walnut & seedless Black Raisins.)
Cashew nuts : 4-5 halves for decoration

Elaichi (Green Cardamom) or Jayphal (Nutmeg) flavor as per taste.

Baking soda: 1/2 tsp
Baking Powder : 1/2 tsp

Small pinch of Salt.

Recipe :

1. In a  heavy bottom vessel add 3-4 tb sp of water and jaggary  & mix well. Heat for 5 min. on medium flame till jaggery melts.
2. Add grated pumpkin in that mixture. Keep on low flame with lid  for 5-10 min. or till pumpkin becomes little soft. Let it cool for some time .
3. Add wheat flour , semolina , Vegetable oil, Elaichi or Jayphal (Nutmeg) powder & warm Milk till the consistency becomes little thicker than Idli batter. Set the mixture aside for 5 minutes.
4. Add dry fruits. ( Almonds, Walnut & seedless Black Raisins.)
5. Add baking soda & baking powder. 
6. Grease the non-stick pan with ghee/unsalted butter. Keep the cashew halves in the pan & pour the mixture into the pan and spread it evenly. Add a few drops of Ghee on top so the cake won't stick to the Tava when you flip it. When you flip the cake the cashews will come on upper side.
7. Keep the pan  on Tava (Griddle) & cover it with lid . Keep on low flame.
8. Check on the cake with a knife or tooth pick after 10-15 min.  You should smell sweet goodness by this time! The cake should be golden brown by now. At that time flip it on the Tava (Griddle) which is kept below.
9. Turn off the flame after 2 mins as the Tava (Griddle) is already hot. Keep it for a few minutes until the lower side of the cake becomes golden brown .
10. Cut into pieces as you like & enjoy this yummy recipe !!!

   You can bake this cake in oven at 180 C for 40 minutes.
           

Fenugreek (Methi) seeds & Tuvar Dal usal

Ingredients :
1. Sprouted Fenugreek (Methi) seeds : 1 cup
2. Tuvar dal : 1/2 cup
3. Onion finely chopped:  1 cup 
4. Tomato chopped 1/2 cup
5. Ginger : 1 tsp 
6. Chilli paste:  1tsp
7. Garlic chopped or paste  : 1 tsp
8. Handful of coriander finely chopped
9. Salt as required
10. Jaggery : 2 tsp
11. Fresh coconut : 1/2 cup
12. Goda masala : 2 tsp
13. Red Chilli powder : 1 tsp
14. Oil : 3 tsp
15. Cumin ( jeera):  : 1 tsp
16. Mustard (mohri) seeds : 1 tsp
17. Asatefida  :1/2 tsp
18. Turmeric powder (haldi): 1/2 tsp
     

Prepping (prior to preparing the usal):
1. Soak Fenugreek seeds overnight in 2 cups of water
2. Next morning, drain excess water and keep the Fenugreek seeds covered in a sieve for one day
3. Fenugreek seeds should have sprouted. In winter, it may take upto 2 days for the seeds to sprout
4. The day of preparation, soak Tuvar dal for 4 hours. Drain excess water
                     



Recipe:
1. Heat oil in a vessel
2. Add mustard & cumin seeds once the oil gets hot
3. Add asatefida & turmeric powder
4. Add ginger,chilli & garlic paste and red chilli powder.
5. Add chopped onion, tomato and give a good stirr.
6. Add fenugreek seeds & Tuvar dal once the onions become translucent
7. Add shredded fresh coconut & goda masala.
8. Cook covered till all the ingredients become soft.
9. Add jaggery & salt and cook for another 5 minutes 
10. Transfer usal in a serving bowl, sprinkle generously with chopped coriander 
          Try this simple & healthy recipe with hot phulkas & enjoy !!!

Microwave Masala Peanuts

Peanuts are a healthy snack, to make it more interesting I tried a quick, healthy and tasty Microwave Masala peanuts recipe without frying!

Masala peanuts or Sing bhujia is a popular snack which is traditionally fried, making it unhealthy. But here is a healthy version for guilt free snacking!  Amazingly tasty, easy to make and no frying required. This is truly a wish come true.

Ingredients :

Peanuts : 1 Cup
Gram floor (Besan ) : 1/3 Cup
Red chilli Powder : 1 tea spoon
Garam Masala     :   1 tea spoon
Chat Masala        : 1 tea spoon
Dried Mango Powder ( Amchoor ) : 1 tea spoon
Cumin powder ( Jeera Powder ): 1/2  tea spoon
Coriander Powder ( Dhana powder) : 1/2 tea spoon
Asafoetida ( Hing ) : 1 pinch
Water : As needed
Oil : 2 tea spoons or Pam spray

Recipe :

1. Mix gram flour, red chilli powder, garam masala, dried mango powder, cumin & coriander powder in a large bowl and set aside.
2. Do not add chat masala .
3. In another bowl, add peanuts  and water until the peanuts are covered with water. Then pour the water along with peanuts in a sieve. This step is required so that peanuts get wet and excess water gets drained
4. Add the moist peanuts to the dry mixture in the first bowl. Mix the peanuts thoroughly in the gram floor mixture. If you feel the peanuts are very dry then add 1-2 spoons of water & mix . All the peanuts should be coated nicely with the gram flour mixture.
5. Grease the microwave safe dish with 1 tb spoon of oil or Pam spray .
6. Pour the peanuts into the dish & spread evenly.
7. Keep the dish in microwave oven for 3 minutes.
8. Remove the dish & stir the peanuts. Separate them with the help of spoon & again spread evenly.
9. Keep the dish  in microwave oven for another 2 minutes. Follow the step  again.
10. Repeat the procedure for one more time for 1 or 2 minutes or till the peanuts become crispy.
11. Remove the dish from oven. Sprinkle the chat masala on peanuts & let them cool.
12. Upon cooling peanuts will be crispy. Store in a air tight container & enjoy !!!

Non fried Sabudana wada

Ingredients :


Sabudana : 1 cup 
Quinoa : 1/2 cup ( optional because it is not easily available in India)
Mashed potato:   1/2 cup
Yam or sweet potato : 1/4 cup
peanut powder:   1/4 cup (coarsely ground )
Roasted flax seed powder ( javas or alsi ) : 1/4 cup ( optional)
Ginger & chilli paste : 2 tsp
Handful of coriander finely chopped
Salt : 1 tsp
Sugar : 2  tsp
 Desi Ghee or oil : 2 tsp
 Cumin seeds : 1tsp
 Cumin powder : 1/2 tsp
 Lemon juice : 2 tsp

     Recipe:

1. Soak sabudana in 3 cups of water for about 4 hours. It should become soft. Pressure cook quinoa for 2 whistles.
2. Mix  sabudana, cooked quinoa & all other ingredients  except ghee & cumin seeds.
3. In a non stick vessel add ghee & keep it on medium flame.
4. Add cumin seeds in it when it becomes hot.
5. Add the mixture of sabudana in that , stir well & keep for 5 min. on slow flame covered with lid it.
6. Turn off the flame & keep for another 5 min.
7. Open the lid , when mixture becomes cool again mix well with hand & prepare small balls of the same.
8. Grease the griddle ( I use non stick appe-pan which is easily available) with little ghee.
9. Put the balls of sabudana mixture in appe pan & keep it covered on low flame. After 2 min. turn on the balls . When all the sides become golden brown then sabudana wadas are ready.
10. Serve with  chutney .   
11. I arranged some sabudana vadas pressing them flat & baked for 10 min. at 180 C. That also turned out very well.

          Try this simple  unusual chutney  !!!
 Try this different kind of chutney.( 1 medium size green bell paper (simla mirch), 2 tb sp coarse peanut powder, 1/4 cup fresh coconut,2 tb sp plain yoghurt, 1 green chilli, corriender, salt & sugar as per taste.)

Enjoy sabudana wada with this tasty chutney!!

Eggless Ragi Cake recipe without oven

This is a very simple & healthy recipe of Ragi (Finger Millet) Cake which is baked on nonstick Tawa (Griddle) by keeping  nonstick vessel on top.
You can bake the cake in oven for 30-35  min. at 180 C.

Keep non stick vessels like this on the gas stove with low flame.

Ingredients :

Ragi flour : 1  Cup

Dates : 3/4 Cup ( seedless or remove seeds.)

Dry fruits as per individual taste. ( I use Almonds, Walnut & seedless Black Raisins.)

Semolina ( fine Rava ) : 1/4 cup

Baking soda : 1/2tsp
Baking powder: 3/4 tsp

Yogurt ( plain Dahi ) : 1/2 Cup

Warm Milk : 3/4 cup
Vegetable oil or butter  : 1/4 cup

Desi Ghee or unsalted Butter can be used.
Vanilla Essence : 1 tsp or you can add Elaychi powder or Nutmeg Powder instead. 

Small pinch of Salt.

2 Tea spoon sugar or Gul (Jaggery) as per taste. If you want more sweetness you can add more Sugar as per taste. I have not added any sugar or jaggery for above measurements. Sweetness of dates is good enough.

Recipe :
1. Soak dates in warm milk for 1/2 hour. Dates become soft. Then grind to a smooth paste along with milk. Preserve 3-4 dates & chop them.

2. Add vegetable oil, Yogurt & grind again so that  mixture becomes homogeneous. 

3. Sieve Ragi flour, baking soda & baking powder. Add suji in the mixture.Add the above mixture in this flour. Fold it properly. Add chopped  Dates to the batter. Add Sugar or Jaggery if required.

4. Add dry fruits. ( Almonds, Walnut & seedless Black Raisins.) & flavour as you like. 

5.  Pour the mixture into the greased vessel and spread it evenly. Add a 1/2 tsp of Ghee on top so the cake won't stick to the Tava when you flip it if you are baking the cake on gas stove.

6. Keep the vessel  on Tava (Griddle) & cover it with lid . Keep on low flame.

7. Check on the cake with a knife or tooth pick after 10-15 min.  You should smell sweet goodness by this time! The cake should be golden brown by now. At that time flip it on the Tava (Griddle) which is kept below. Try to use non stick pan & non stick griddle for baking. Cake will come out nicely.

8. Turn off the flame after 2 mins as the Tava (Griddle) is already hot. Keep it for a few minutes until the lower side of the cake becomes golden brown .

9.Decorate with strawberry & oats.

10. Cut into pieces as you like & enjoy !!.

You can bake the cake in the oven at 180 c for 25-30 minutes.