Apple Salad

Ingredients

1. 1 green Apple

2. 1 golden apple

3. 1 deep red apple

4. 1 yellow red apple

5. 1 bunch of romaine lettuce

6. 1 small cucumber and small tomato

7. Salt and Black pepper to taste

8. 3 tbsp of lemon juice

9. 1 tsp of cumin / zeera powder

Directions

1. Core the apples ( take out the seeds) and cube all the apples in bite size pieces

2. Peel the cucumber and remove the seeds otherwise salad will be wet and cube them

3. Likewise with tomato chop them without seeds.

4. Wash the lettuce leaves and then pat dry them. Now cut them roughly.

5. Now mix all ingredients in a big salad bowl.

6. Pour the lemon juice, salt pepper and cumin powder.

7. Toss it well and serve.

-Chitra

Chilled Mediterranean Hummus Salad

Ingredients

1. 2 cans of hummus / chick peas / garbanzo beans

2. 2 tbsp of sliced Spanish olives

3. 2 tbsp of chopped pickled vegetables

(See my Recipe for Pickled Vegetables)

4. Salt and Pepper to taste

5. 1 tbsp of chopped cilantro / dhaniya

6. 1 lemon, juiced

7. 1 tsp of red hot sauce

Directions

1. Drain out the chick peas and rinse it under running water in a strainer.

2. Take a large bowl add all the ingredients and stir it well.

3. Cover the bowl with a plastic wrap and let it chill for some time.

4. Serve this on hot sunny day to your family. It is full of nutrients and protein.

-Chitra

Strawberry Sorbet

Ingredients

1. 8-10 frozen strawberries

2. 5 ice cubes

3. 1 cup of Ice Tea mixed with water (I opted for Crystal light Peach flavor), you can also use any kind of fruit juice apple / orange / mango

4. 2-3 cherries to garnish

Directions

1. Blend strawberries with juice or ice tea.

2. When strawberries are blended well mix ice cubes till they turn to thick mixture.

3. Serve icy cold garnished with a cherry.

This can be done with any frozen fruit like mangoes, pineapple, berries or even water melon or mix two fruits together. Now you don’t have to spend so much on frozen treat outside and enjoy making your own.

-Chitra

Quick and Easy Cole Slaw Stir fry with Peanuts

Ingredients

1. 1 small bag of Broccoli Cole Slaw

2. 2 tbsp. of low sodium of soy sauce

3. 2 tbsp. of Orange juice

4. ½ cup of chopped onion vertically

5. ½ tsp of garlic minced (optional)

6. 2 tsp of red hot sauce.

7. 2 tsp of sesame seeds

8. 1 cup of toasted or roasted peanuts without salt

9. 1 tbsp of olive oil

Directions

1. Heat the wok or non stick pan put oil

2. Now add onions let them turn to light brown.

3. Add Garlic to it and then let garlic infused it flavor in pan.

4. Now add all the Cole Slaw and keep on stirring with tongs so that it’s light sautéed / fried all over.

5. When it is thoroughly cooked add soy sauce, orange juice. Stir it till is coated with the juice and soy sauce.

6. Take it out of heat and add red hot sauce.

7. Plate it on the serving plate and garnish with roasted peanuts and some sesame seeds .

8. Enjoy warm salad with a twist, after this you will not only be full but also you will not be guilty of eating any extra calories in regular salads. This Salad is purely full of fiber and high nutritional value as it has very very less fat.

-Chitra

Sprouts Salad

Ingredients

1. 1 cup of Moong Daal (Green) Sprouts

2. Salt to Taste

3. 1 Lemon

4. 1 cup of chopped cabbage or lettuce

5. ½ Cucumber Chopped finely

6. ½ Onion Chopped thinly

7. 1 Ripe Tomatoes thinly chopped

8. 1 tsp of Cilantro / Dhaniya chopped finely

9. 4-5 olives finely chopped

Directions

1. Mix all ingredients together and squeeze lemon.

2. Add Salt and Pepper to taste

3. Serve this Nutritious salad to everyone and stay healthy

-Chitra

Mint Chutney

Savory treat for all of you :)

Ingredients:-

· 1 cup of soaked seedless tamarind in warm water
· 2 bunches of mint / pudina
· 1 bunch of cilantro / dhaniya / corriander
· 1 jalapeno or green chili
· ½ chopped red onion
· 3 tsp. of sugar (sugar free preferred)
· Salt to taste
· 1 teaspoon of red chili powder
· Water


Directions:-

· Separate Mint and Cilantro leaves from stems.
· Now mix them in blender with onions and green chilies. If the mixture is thick to mix add little bit of water.
· Now slowly add soaked tamarind.
· When it is mixed well add salt, red chili powder and sugar.
· Enjoy mint chutney sandwiches by spreading over any kind of bread, crackers or nachos,

even with paranthas, puris or pakoras

-Chitra

Chana Daal Bhel Puri

 

Chat Pati Chaat in five minutes.....


Ingredients

1. 1 pound Roasted Chana daal/lentils ($5 per pound from Indian Store)
2. 1/2 cup of finely chopped red onion
3. 2 tsp. of chopped cilantro/dhaniya
4. ¼ cup of lemon juice
5. 2 chopped green chilies
6. ½ tsp of ginger
7. ½ cup of cucumber
8. ½ cup of finely chopped tomato without seeds
9. Salt and pepper to taste
10. ¼ vinegar (optional)
11. 2 tsp. of hot sauce
12. 3tsp. of Ketchup (any brand)

Directions

1. Take a big bowl and add Chana Daal with all dry ingredients. Mix together and keep it aside before your guests arrive. You can make this ahead of time and keep in cool place.
2. Now before serving add Lemon juice and hot sauce and garnish with chopped cilantro.

   -Chitra

   
   

POHA LAJWAAB

 
Poha/ Powa/ Chidwada/ Flattenned Rice :-

From western India, Poha, made from flattened rice, is an easy-to-cook, very nutritious snack. It is often eaten for breakfast or brunch. Add extra zing to Poha by serving it with Vinegar or Mint-Coriander Chutney! My Mom use to make this many times when we were kids, it is loved by all kids and all moms as it is quick lunch meal for their kids.

Ingredients

· 4 cups Flat/Pressed Rice/Chidwada/ ppha mix
· 1 cup Roasted peanuts (without oil)
· Salt & Red chili powder to taste
· 3 tsp. of Vinegar
· 1 cup mix vegetables
· 1 chopped onion
· 1 tsp. of cumin
· 1 teaspoon turmeric powder

Directions

· In a non stick flat deep dish pan heat 2 tsp. of oil and add cumin & onion to it.
· When onion turns pink add mix vegetables.
· Till mix vegetables get little fried wash your flat rice and soak for 2 minutes in warm
water.
· After two minutes drain water from flat rice and add with Mix vegetables.
· Now add all dry spices.
· Now in last add peanuts and let all mixture cook till 5 minutes. Just remember this
mixture should have no moisture.
· Now serve hot or cold by garnishing vinegar and Jalapenos (optional)

-Chitra Pal

Nachos and Cucumber Salsa

A quick snack for unexpected guests with ingredients from your refrigerator and pantry.My friend was always worried with her unexpected children friend's, specially when they are vegeterian.So I came up with this idea and instead of regular tomoato salsa, this is cucumber salsa.Cucumber is very good alternative in summers, it cools you down within no time.

Ingredients

• 1 chopped cucumber
• 1 chopped tomato
• 1 medium chopped onions
• Salt & black pepper to taste
• 2 tsp. of Lemon Juice
• 1 tsp of Hot sauce
• 1 tsp. of any Vinegar (not balsamic vinegar)

Directions

• Add everything in a large bowl and mix together.
• Garnish with Chopped cilantro (optional)
• Serve with Store bought Nachos chips any shape any color and serve a cool
healthy smoothie or drink.

Your children and their friends will be more than happy :)


-Chitra

Vegetarian Pulao

 

A very easy dish to make with leftover Rice

Can make in less then ten minutes and everyone will enjoy this, nobody will know that these were leftovers twisted in with fancy garnishing.

Ingredients

1. Two cups bolied rice
2. Salt to taste
3. 1 cup Mixed vegetable (cube size peas, carrots, corn, green beans)
4. 1 cup cubes of cottage cheese/ Paneer
5. 2 tsp. Cumin / Zeera seeds
6. 2 tsp. Vegetable oil / Olive Oil

Directions

1. In a non stick pan put oil and add Cumin seeds.
2. When Cumin seeds splutter add mixed vegetables.
3. As soon as vegetables get light brown add Paneer cubes.
4. Add Salt and turn flame to low.
5. Add Rice into the pan and stir thoroughly with fork, be careful they should not stick to each other.
6. Serve hot over red cabbage leaf with green salad on the top.

Njoy n ssshhhh dont tell anyone these were leftovers :)

-Chitra