Simple Carrot Kheer

                   A simple Carrot Kheer, colourful, delicious and very simple to make. Can be improvised upon and served as a porridge too by adding in some rolled oats, dry fruits, and so on...

CARROT KHEER

Ingredients :

Finely grated carrot (or roughly minced in a mixer) - 1 cup
Milk - 1 and 1/2 cups
Condensed Milk - 1/4 cup
Cardamom powder - 1/ tsp
Roasted cashews (in ghee/clarified butter)- a few

Method :

1. Add the milk to a thick-bottomed saucepan along with the grated carrot. Cook on a low-medium flame, stirring gently and occasionally.

2. Once carrot is cooked, stir in the condensed milk and let simmer for 7-10 minutes more.

3. Remove from the flame, and add in the roasted cashews and cardamom powder. Serve hot or cold.

Crunchy Breakfast Sandwich

When a day begins on a healthy note, it keeps you charged for the whole day. And what better way to commence than with a healthy, crunchy and tasty breakfast !!

SPROUTS SANDWICH

Ingredients :

Whole green gram sprouts - 1 cup
Boiled and grated potato - 1/2 cup
Grated carrot - 1/2 cup
Finely chopped spinach - 1/4 cup
Chopped coriander - 1/4 cup
Chili powder - 1 tsp
Salt to taste
Cumin seeds(Jeera) - 1 tsp
Garam Masala powder - 1/2 tsp
Turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp
Bread slices
Olive (or refined) Oil - 1- 2 tsps

Method :

1. Heat oil in a pan and add cumin seeds. Let crackle.

2. Now add the grated carrot and sprouts, salt to taste, turmeric powder and let cook for about 4-5 minutes. We do not want to over-cook but leave the carrots and sprouts a bit crunchy. One can add chopped capsicum at this stage as well, or even fine-chopped and blanched broccoli; in fact more vegetables the better!!!

3. Now add the chopped spinach and cook for 3-4 minutes more. Add garam masala, chili powder and mix well. Remove from heat after about 2-3 minutes and cool.

4. Toast the bread slices. Place the stuffing in between 2 slices. It is optional to add cheese spread or slices as well.
Cut and serve the sandwich as desired.

Mixed Vegetables in gravy

Come winters and vegetable-shopping turns into a pleasure; carts laden with fresh cauliflower, bright-red carrots, greens in every shade imaginable!! Where summers would be a challenge about what to cook, winters would pose a different challenge - what to cook first !!!
Mixed vegetables in gravy remains one of my favourite dishes that mom makes, esp in winters. An assortment of rich veggies in a simple gravy, this preparation goes well with rice and Indian breads alike.

MIXED VEGETABLES IN GRAVY

Ingredients :

Cauliflower florets - 1 cup
Potatoes - 2 medium (diced)
Green Peas - 1 cup
Carrots - 2 medium (diced)
French Beans - 1 cup (chopped into 1 inch long pieces)
Knol Kohl - 1 medium (diced)

For the gravy :

Tomatoes - 2 large or 3 medium (chopped)
Onion - 2 medium (chopped)

For the spice paste :

Coriander (Dhaniya) seeds - 1 tbsp
Cumin (jeera) seeds - 1 tsp
Dry Red Chilies - 2
Grated coconut - 1 tbsp

Misc :
Green chilies - 2 medum (slit)
Salt to taste
Turmeric powder (haldi) to taste
Oil - 2 tbsps
Mustard Seeds - 1 tsp

Method :

1. Pressure cook the vegetables along with enough water, salt and turmeric powder, take care not to over-cook.

2. Grind together the dhaniya seeds, Jeera, dry red chilies and coconut to a fine paste using little water.

3. Heat oil in a kadhai and add mustard seeds. Add the slit green chilies and sauté.

4. Now add the chopped onions and fry till it loses its raw aroma. Add the chopped tomatoes, sauté a bit. Sprinkle salt and cover-cook till tomatoes are well done.

5. Add the cooked vegetables to the gravy and mix well. Stir in the ground spice paste as well. Let simmer for 5-7 minutes till the spices coat the vegetables. Check for salt and remove from heat.

Transfer to the serving dish and garnish with fresh coriander before serving.

Chinese Style Stuffed Dosa

Tired of the normal dosas, I decided to experiment with some different stuffing. With some cabbage and carrots in the fridge, the first thought was Chinese!! A dash of this and a sprinkle of that...not a bad idea.... What can one not do when you have the right sauces at home :)


                                            CHINESE STYLE STUFFED WHEAT DOSA

Ingredients :

For Dosa :

Wheat flour - 2 cups
Soya flour - 2 tbsps
Rice flour - 1/2 cup
Maida - 1/4 cup
Curd - 1/2 cup (whisked)
Water as required
Salt to taste

For Stuffing :

Shredded Cabbage - 1 cup
Grated Carrot - 1/2 cup
Chopped Capsicum - 1/4 cup
Grated Paneer - 1/2 cup
Schezwan Sauce - 2 tbsps
Red Chili Sauce - 1 tsp
Soya Sauce - 1 tsp
Salt to taste
Oil - 2 tsps

Method : 

1. Mix together the flours and salt to taste, gradually add the whisked curds and stir well leaving no lumps. Add enough water to make a thin dosa batter. Leave aside for 5 minutes.

2. For the stuffing, heat oil in a pan. Add the cabbage and sauté for 2 minutes. Add the carrot and sauté for 2 more minutes. Do not cook too much, we need the vegetables 1/4th crunchy.

3. Now add the capsicum. Add the Schezwan sauce and Red chili sauce and mix well.

4. Tip in the paneer and mix again. Add the soya sauce and salt to taste. Be careful with salt as the sauces would have some salt in them already. Sauté for just 1 minute more and remove.

5. Heat a dosa tawa and grease with a little oil. If the dosa batter is a bit thick add little more water. Pour a ladle-ful batter on to the tawa and spread evenly. Cook with a little oil till cooked and golden brown on both sides.
Note : Always make a small tester dosa first to make sure it comes out OK. If too sticky or if it tears, add a little rice flour.

6. Place the stuffing on one end of the dosa and roll carefully. Serve hot with spicy ketchup.

Beetroot Carrot soup

Next in the healthy and quick soup series....

                                                        BEETROOT-CARROT SOUP

Ingredients :

Beetroot - 1 (medium)
Carrot - 2 (medium)
Water as required
Salt to taste
Crushed black pepper to taste
Coarsely crushed Dhaniya seeds to taste (optional)

Method :

1. Wash, peel and roughly chop the beetroot and carrots.

2. Pressure cook till soft. Remove and let cool.

3. Blend in a mixer and refrigerate till ready for use, i.e, when you actually want to prepare the soup.

4. Strain the blended mixture using up to 2 cups water. Add to a thick saucepan and bring to a boil.
Add salt and crushed black pepper to taste, optional to add some crushed dhaniya (coriander) seeds.

Serve hot as desired.

Eggless Peanut butter Carrot Cake

A healthy eggless carrot cake made with a combo of butter and peanut butter.

                                               

EGGLESS PEANUT BUTTER CARROT CAKE

Ingredients :

Finely grated carrot - 1 cup
Chopped/grated dates -2
Softened butter -1/4 cup
Peanut butter - 1/2 cup
All purpose flour - 1/2 cup (75gms)
Whole wheat flour -1/2 cup (75gms)
Baking powder - 1/2 tsp
Salt - a pinch
Vanilla essence - 1/4 tsp
Milk - 1/4 cup
Sugar - 1 cup
Brown/Demerara sugar - 1/2 cup
Melted chocolate - for garnish

Method :

1. Pre-heat oven @ 180 deg C.

2. In a bowl mix together butter, peanut butter and both the sugar and whisk till sugar dissolves and mixture is light and creamy. Mix vanilla essence and mix again.

3. In a separate mixing bowl sift together the all purpose and wheat flours along with a pinch salt and baking powder.

4. Gradually add the flours to the butter mix and fold gently. Add milk as required to get a thick cake batter.



5. Grease a cake tin or use a silicon mould and pour the batter into it. Bake for 12-15 minutes.
Note : check after 10 minutes using a clean knife or toothpick to see if done, if not continue baking a bit more.
Using a microwave, I first baked @ 200deg C for 4 minutes and then @ 180 deg C for 7 minutes more.

6. Remove and let cool slightly on a wire rack.  Then invert on to a serving dish and decorate/serve as desired.

Mixed Red Chutney

This morning Mum opened the fridge, found a quarter red pumpkin, half a red capsicum, 1 carrot that had very cleverly escaped its family and lodged itself at the bottom of the vegetable tray. Sound familiar? Well...fret not, let's turn all these into an interesting accompaniment that goes well with most dishes. Yup, a chutney.
My mother added a twist to it as well...some watermelon rinds. This is the greenish-white portion in between the outer peel and inner red pulp.
The ingredients used for this are common to most spicy chutneys, we are just using them to our advantage here (and clean the fridge too!!!)

                                                       MIXED RED CHUTNEY

Ingredients :

Chopped Red Pumpkin - 1/2 cup
Diced Capsicum - 1/4 cup
Carrot - 1 (chopped)
Chopped Watermelon rinds - 1/2 cup
(Note :  The above are optional, i.e, it is not mandatory to have all four to prepare this chutney)
Spices :
Split Urad Dal - 1 tbsp
Dry Red Chili - 1 large
Hing (Asafoetida) - a pinch
Imli (Tamarind) - size of a half a lemon
Salt to taste

Method :

1. Heat 1/4 tsp oil in a pan. Add the urad dal and red chili to it. Fry for about 2 minutes, taking care not to let it blacken. Remove and add the hing. Mix lightly. Let cool.

2. Heat another 2 tbsps oil to the same pan, add the chopped pumpkin, watermelon rinds, carrot and capsicum and saute. Sprinkle a little salt and cover cook on a low flame till the veggies become slightly soft.
Remove and cool.

3. In a mixer jar, add the urad dal, red chili mixture and grind well to a fine powder. Now add the vegetables along with the tamarind piece and salt to taste. Grind to a fine paste without adding any water.
Transfer to a bowl and serve as desired. This can be stored for up to a week when refrigerated.

Instant Carrot Pickle

India is a country famous for many of its signature pickles, the popular varieties being Mango, Lime and Vegetable. During my early life in Delhi, I had the wonderful privilege of eating at the famous shops - Punjab Sweet Shop and Roshan Di Kulfi in Karol Bagh. Their Chole Bhature was out of this world, and am sure is still the case!!! But this recipe I am about to share is about the simple and instant carrot pickle they would serve with the Chole Bhature and would compliment the main dish wonderfully.
Typically most North Indian pickles use Mustard Oil; I have used sesame oil which is an equally good preservative.
This pickle is very quick and easy to make; I am listing below two methods to prepare the pickle; one uses green chillies and the other red chilli powder. Rest assured, both turn out fantastic :)

                                                     INSTANT CARROT PICKLE

TYPE I

Ingredients :

Tender Carrots - 7 to 8
Green chillies - 2
Sesame Oil - 1 tbsp
Yellow Mustard - 1 tsp
lemon Juice - 1 tsp
Turmeric powder - a pinch
Salt - 1 tsp

Method :

1. Cut the carrots into 1 inch long sticks. Slit the green chillies lengthwise

2. Add the two to a mixing bowl. Add the lemon juice, turmeric powder and salt and check for taste.

3. Heat oil and add the mustard seeds. When they crackle, pour over the pickle and mix well. Let rest for 1/2 hour and serve.
This pickle can last out for 2 to 3 days when refreigerated.

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TYPE II

Ingredients:

Tender Carrots - 7 to 8
Fenugreek (Methi) Seeds - 1/4 tsp
Oil - 1 tbsp
Salt - 1 tsp
Mustard Seeds - 1 tsp
Asafoetida powder (Hing) - a pinch
Turmeric powder - 1/2 tsp
Chilli powder - 1 tsp

Method :

1. Cut the carrots as in the first method. Add to a mixing bowl.

2. Heat a pan and dry roast the fenugreek seeds. Cool slightly and grind to a coarse powder

3. Heat oil in another pan, add the mustard seeds, ground fenugreek powder, asafoetida powder, turmeric powder and chilli powder.

4. Pour this tempering over the carrots and mix well. Add salt to taste and let rest for 1/2 hour before serving. Lemon juice can be added for little tanginess as well.
Shelf life, when refrigerated is 2 to 3 days.