Quinoa upma

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups quinoa
3 cups water
2 cups mixed vegetables diced
1/2 onion sliced
3 green chilli finely diced
1/4 tsp turmeric
1/2 tsp pepper powder
1 tsp cumin seeds
1-2 tsp mustard seeds
1 sprig of curry leaves
2 Tbsp coconut
2 Tbsp finely chopped coriander
1/2 tsp asofoetida
2-3 Tbsp Oil
Salt

Method:
1) Add 3 cups of water to 1 1/2 cups of quinoa in a pan. Cook until water totally evaporates.
2) In a frying pan, heat oil, add mustard seeds and wait for it to splutter. Add cumin seeds, curry leaves, asofoetida, green chilli, pepper powder, turmeric powder, onion and coconut. Fry until onion starts to change colour.
3) Add mixed vegetables, salt and cook until the veggies are tender.
4) Mix in the quinoa, check for salt.
DONE!!!

Oyster mushrooms in carrot sauce

Ingredients:
10-15 oyster mushroom - oven roast
1 carrot
1/2 onion - finely diced
1 garlic pod
1 tsp garam masala powder
2 red/green chilli - finely diced
1/4 tsp red chilli powder
Salt to taste
Oil 2 Tbsp

Method:
1) Cut carrot into pieces, boil until tender and grind to smooth paste with chilli powder
2) Heat oil in a frying pan. Add garlic and onion, fry until it starts to change its colour. Add green chilli
3) Add carrot sauce, oyster mushrooms, garam masala and salt. Bring to boil

DONE!!!
Serve with hot chapathi :)

Curry with oven roasted vegetables

Ingredients:
1 garlic pod
1/2 inch piece of ginger
2 green chilli
2 tomato - cut into large chunks
1 onion - cut into large chunks
7-8 mushrooms - chopped
1 cup cauliflower florets
1/2 cup broccoli florets
1 tsp cinnamon powder
1 tsp garam masala powder
1/4 tsp turmeric powder
2 tsp cumin seeds
3 tsp coriander seeds
2 Tbsp yoghurt
Salt
Oil
Water

Method:
1) Preheat the oven to 200 degrees. Place mushrooms, cauliflower, broccoli in a baking tray. Roast until it gets crunchy and begins to turn brown. If not using an oven, take about 1 tsp of oil in a pan. Roast these vegetables on high heat until it starts turning brown.
2) Take 1 Tbsp of oil in a frying pan. Add cumin seeds and coriander seeds. Fry for a minute. Add onion and fry for a minute. Add tomato and fry for 4-5 minutes. Allow it to cool
3) Once cool, grind  the above with chilli, cinnamon powder, garam masala powder, turmeric powder, garlic and ginger
4)  Mix the paste with oven roasted vegetables, yoghurt. Add water to get the required consistency. Adjust salt to taste.

DONE!!!

Beetroot pulao

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cup basmati rice
1 medium sized beetroot - finely diced
1 medium sized onion - finely diced
1 cup mixed veggies -finely diced
1/2 cup peas
2 Tbsp mint leaves - finely chopped
1 Tbsp ginger garlic paste
2 tsp cumin seeds
1 tsp fennel seeds
1/4 tsp turmeric powder
1 tsp garam masala
4 green chilli - finely chopped
2 Tbsp oil
1 Tbsp ghee
8-10 cashewnuts
1/2 cup water
Salt to taste

Ingredients:
1) Cook basmati rice and keep aside
2) Heat oil in a pan. Add cumin seeds, fennel seeds. Once it starts to change colour - Add onion and fry for a minute
3) Add ginger-garlic paste, green chilli, turmeric powder and garam masala powder . Fry for another minute.
4) Add mixed veggies, peas and beetroot. Cover and cook on medium heat for 2-3 minutes.
5) Add mint leaves, salt. Cover and cook for a minute.
6) Lower the heat. Add cooked basmati rice and mix. Check for salt. Add 1/2cup water if needed. Cover and cook for a minute.
DONE!!!

Uddina vada

Ingredients (Serves 2):
1 cup black dal (uddina bele)
2 Tbsp shredded coconut
1 tsp crushed pepper
3 green chilli - finely diced
1  tsp grated ginger
1 Tbsp finely chopped curry leaves
1 Tbsp rice flour
Salt
Pinch of baking soda
Oil for deep frying

Method:
1) Soak black dal in water for 2-3 hours. Remove excess water and grind it into fine paste. Do not add more than 3 Tbsp of water while grinding
2) Mix this with the rest of the ingredients. Check for salt.
3) Cut a baking paper into a square 4x4 inch square and oil it. Take about 2-3 tbsp of the paste and press it into a circle. Make a hole in the centre
4) Gently drop this into heated oil and fry until golden brown.

Serve with sambar and coriander chutney

Papdi chaat

Chickpea and potato mash:
Ingredients:
3 medium sized potatoes
1/2 cup of chick peas
2 tsp Kasoori methi
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp finely grounded pepper

Method:
1) Soak chickpeas overnight. Boil along with potato until tender. Peel the skin off the potato and mash it.
2) Place kasoori methi on one palm and rub it with your thumb. Brings out the aroma and flavor (Thanks Praveena aunty for the tip!). Mix this with potato mash, chickpeas, salt, pepper
DONE!!!


Tamarind date chutney:
Ingredients:
15 pitted dates
1 cup water
1/2 tsp chilli powder
1/2 tsp black salt
1 lemon sized tamarind

Method:
1) Soak tamarind in a hot water for 5 minutes
2) Add about 1/2 cup of water to the dates and microwave for 2-3 minutes to soften it. Else boil it on a stove until soft.
3) Squeeze the juice out of tamarind and add it to the mashed dates. Mix with chilli powder, black salt remaining water.
4) Microwave for another 2-3 minutes. Refrigerate it.
DONE!!!

Green chutney:
Ingredients:
1 bunch coriander leaves
3 green chilli
1 tsp cumin
1/2 cup water
1 tsp Salt
1 tsp sugar
3 Tbsp lemon juice

Method:
1) Grind the ingredients above

DONE!!!! :)

Sweetened curd:
Ingredients:
2 cups curds - If using thick yoghurt dilute with water
2 tsp sugar
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp garam masala

Method:
1) Mix all the ingredients above
DONE!!! :)

Papdi and sev:
Buy it! ;)



The final ensemble:
Ingredients:
All of above
1/2 onion - finely diced

1) Arrange 4-6 papdi in a plate. Place about 1 Tbsp of chickpea-potato mash on it.
2) Add 1 tsp of tamarind date chutney on each of the papdi. Add more to sweeten
3) Pour 2-3 Tbsp of sweetened curds
4) Drizzle with green chutney.
5) Garnish with onion and sev

DONE!!! :)

Vegetable noodle soup

Ingredients (Serves 2):
2-3 cups chopped mixed vegetables
1/2 cup soy
1 shallot - sliced
3 garlic pods - chopped
1 can creamed corn
3 green chilli - chopped
1-2 cups vegetable stock
2 cups water
2 tsp cumin seeds
2 bay leaves
3 Tbsp olive oil
3 Tbsp soy sauce
1 tsp grated galangale
2 tsp chopped coriander
Salt to taste

Ingredients:
1) Heat oil in a wok, add garlic and fry until it turns golden brown. Add onion and fry until it turns translucent. Add green chilli, cumin seeds, bay leaves and fry for 2 minutes
2) Add vegetable stock, water, creamed corn and mixed vegetables. Bring to boil.
3) Add soy sauce, check for salt. Boil for another 5-10 minutes
4) Add noodles and wait for it to be done as per instructions.
5) Remove from heat, garnish with chopped coriander leaves and serve
DONE!!!