Healthy Pav Bhaji | How To Make Healthy Pav Bhaji

 

The delicious healthy Pav Bhaji

Pav Bhaji is a delicious combination of thick vegetables which are mashed together and served with Pav also known as buns.

 

‘Pav’ means buns and ‘Bhaji' means vegetable dish, and are eaten together. Pav Bhaji is the most comforting and hearty meal and is worth enjoying any time of the day. This dish is much loved in the Maharashtra region of India.

It is extremely flavorful dish and is served in almost all the restaurants and food joints, streets, canteens across the country. It’s the most famous street food in India.

Well, I’m making the healthy version of Pav Bhaji. It taste exactly like the street version which includes lots of vegetables rich in fiber, vitamins and minerals.

It’s an all time favorite staple at our home. Make this bhaji with whatever veggies that are available in the season. Since mine is healthy version, and I wanted green veggies for my Bhaji, thankfully it was available in the season.

To make the healthy version of Pav Bhaji, I added all the green veggies like cauliflower, lauki (bottle gourd), tinda (ridge gourd), torai (apple gourd), brinjal, green beans. Carrots and beetroot for color and potatoes for taste. 

It is highly nutritious because green veggies contains lots of iron and protein. It's a wonderfully delicious and nutritious dish. It's rich in fiber, vitamins, minerals and anti-oxidants.

Making healthy Pav Bhaji is also a great idea for kids since they run away from green veggies. Your kids will definitely have a smiley face after tasting this and than gobble it up for sure.

Pressure cook all the veggies, mash them with a masher. Sauté onions in a pan and prepare the tomatoes puree, add all the green veggies, mix and a dollop of butter on the top with some fresh chopped onions and lemon juice to make the Bhaji delicious and serve along with pav or buns. Cut the buns from between and toast it on pan with butter from both the sides.

You can also add Kashmiri Lal mirch and Pav Bhaji Masala to give a nice red color. But I substituted it with cumin powder or homemade Masala powder.

The Pav are toasted in butter and are eaten along with Bhaji. The taste, aroma, flavors are super delicious so do give it a try.

You can pin this recipe if you like it.

HEALTHY PAV BHAJI | How To Make Healthy Pav Bhaji

Preparation time: 20 minutes

Cooking time: 40 minutes

Serves: 6 People

Author: The Food Root 

Ingredients

For cooking Bhaaji

2 cups of water

1/2 size Lauki (bottle gourd)

3 medium size Tinda (ridge gourd)

3-4 medium size Torai (apple gourd)

1/2 cup French beans

1/2 cup cauliflower florets

1/2 cup Green peas

1 Beetroot (optional)

1 small Brinjal

4 medium size Carrots

4-5 medium size Potatoes

For Tempering

2 tbsp - clarified butter

2 tbsp - butter

pinch of asafoetida

1/2 tbsp - crushed cumin seeds

1 inch long - ginger, grated

5-6 garlic cloves, chopped

3 medium size onions

4-5 medium size tomatoes

1 Capsicum

3 green chillies, chopped

2 medium size onions - chopped

4 medium size tomatoes - chopped

1/2 tbsp - Red chili powder

1/2 tbsp - Turmeric powder

1/2 tbsp - Coriander powder

1/2 tbsp Garam masala

1/2 tbsp - Mango powder

1 1/2 - Salt to taste

chopped coriander leaves

For Serving

1/2 cup finely chopped onions

2 lemon wedges

For the Buns

8-10 Pav (Buns)

4-5 Butter

Method

1. Chop all the veggies : Rinse, peel and chop all the veggies like potatoes, carrots, cauliflower, bottle gourd, ridge gourd, apple gourd, brinjal, green beans, beetroot and add them in the pressure cooker.

2. Pressure cook all the veggies : Add 2 cups of water. Pressure cook it for 3-4 whistles on medium flame.

3. Mash the Bhaji : Switch off the flame and remove it. Wait for the pressure to release completely before opening the cooker. Next, open the lid and mash the bhaaji with wooden or aloo masher. Do not make a smooth paste, coarsely mash it.

4. Sauté onions and garlic in a pan : Heat 2 big tbsp of clarified butter or oil and 2 tbsp of butter. Add cumin seeds and a pinch of asafoetida powder. After it crackles, add finely chopped garlic cloves, add grated ginger and fry them for 40-50 seconds. Next, add chopped onions and stir it. Keep stirring and adjusting the flame so that onions cook slightly golden brown.

5. Prepare the tomato puree tempering : Add chopped tomatoes and sauté it for around on 7-8 minutes on low-medium flame. Next, add the spices - Red chili powder, Turmeric powder, Coriander powder, Mango powder and Salt to taste. Stir it well. Let the mixture cook, till the oil separates.

6. Add the cooked bhaaji in the pan : Now add the cooked bhaji in the pan. Add hot water if needed to adjust the consistency. Stir it for another 8-10 minutes on low/medium flame. Add garam masala and mix it well. Add 1/2 cup of green peas. Add 2 tbsp of butter and mix it well. Garnish with coriander leaves. Turn off the heat and remove it.

7. For the Pav : Slit the Pav or buns horizontally with knife on low flame. Heat butter on the frying pan and place the Pav, toast it for 1 or 2 mins from both sides until it’s slightly crisp.

8. Serve and Garnish : Now, transfer the bhaji to a serving bowl and serve the Bhaji. Since it is so much healthier just top it with butter on Bhaji. Serve bhaji with Pav or Buns and enjoy it with onions, lemons.

Notes

You can also add Kashmiri Lal mirch and Pav Bhaji Masala to give a nice red color.

You can also add Garam Masala and Red Chilli Powder which is normally available in all the super markets instead of Kashmiri Lal Mirch and Pav Bhaji Masala.

Rainbow Buddha bowl is a healthy, filling and a delicious wholesome meal. It's a colorful bowl composed of vegetables proteins, healthy grains and nutrients.

Rainbow in my bowl!!

Rainbow Buddha bowl is a satisfying bowl of goodness, filled with cooked rice, boiled red kidney beans, blanched broccoli, roasted bell peppers and sliced cucumber. I combined this with almond butter lime dressing to give it a touch of sweetness and it just turned out perfect! Buddha bowl is a simple way where you can also use your leftover food which is sitting in refrigerator. 

I had the most indulgent weekend ever. I had lots of chocolates and yummy treats, so I decided to make Buddha bowl for lunch. I picked up these gorgeous broccoli and colorful bell peppers at the farmer’s market this past weekend. Luckily, I had enough cooked rice and beans in my refrigerator to make this power-packed meal.

While each portion of this plate has its own individuality and uniqueness. Red kidney beans are full of protein, fiber, vitamin and nutrients. Though rice doesn’t offer much in terms of nutrients but is a good source of carbs. You can always switch white rice with brown rice since it has more nutrients and is relatively low in calories. I totally love the combination of broccoli and bell peppers as they add crunch, color and sweet flavor to the meal. Broccoli is one of my favorite cruciferous vegetable. It is rich in dietary fiber, minerals, nutrients and antioxidants and bell peppers are rich in antioxidants and other vitamins.

Buddha bowl is a versatile meal. To make this, obviously you'd have to make rice and beans ahead of time. I always try to make it differently, depending on what is available at my home. Follow these few simple steps to make a this beautiful Rainbow Buddha Bowl that I have listed below. 

RAINBOW BUDDHA BOWL

Serves: 2 People

Preparation time: 10 minutes

Cooking time: 40 minutes 

Author: The Food Root

INGREDIENTS

Red Kidney Beans:

3/4 cup red kidney beans

2 cups water

3/4 tablespoon salt or as per taste

Rice:

1 cup rice

2 cups water

3/4 tablespoon salt or as per taste

Broccoli:

1 head broccoli

2 cups water

1/2 tablespoon salt or as per taste

Roast Veggies:

1 tablespoon olive oil

1/2 red bell pepper, thinly sliced

1/2 yellow bell pepper, thinly sliced

1/4 teaspoon chili flakes

3-4 garlic cloves, chopped

1/4 tablespoon salt or as per taste

Chop Raw Veggies

1 cucumber, finely sliced

Dressing

1/4 cup Almond butter

1 tablespoon lemon juice

1 tablespoon soy sauce

1 tablespoon garlic, minced

1 tablespoon ginger, minced

2 tablespoons water

Salt and pepper as per taste

DIRECTIONS

1. Prepare Red Kidney Beans: Wash 3/4 cup red kidney beans, under the running water. Drain and soak them overnight or in the morning for at least 4-5 hours. After soaking the beans, rinse them with fresh water. Now place a pressure cooker, add beans with enough water and pressure cook them for at least 40 minutes on medium-low flame. After 40 minutes, turn off the heat and wait for the pressure to release completely. Add salt and stir it for few more minutes till it's properly cooked. Drain the water off the cooked beans and let it cool for some time.

2. Boil Rice: Rinse 1 cup basmati rice with cold water, soak it for about 30 minutes. Place a saucepan with double amount of water to boil. Add salt and loosely cover the pan. Reduce the heat and cook the rice for about 10 minutes. Stir it once and turn off the flame. Let the rice sit for about 5-7 minutes. Drain the rice using a colander or a strainer. Let it cool for some time.

3. Blanch Broccoli: Wash the broccoli and cut them into large individual florets. You can also cut the stem into thin circular pieces. Bring in a large pot of water to boil. When water starts to boil, add broccoli florets and a pinch of salt into it. Meanwhile, fill a bowl with cold water preferably with ice cubes in it. Set it aside. After 3-4 minutes remove the florets with slotted spoon in a colander or a sieve. Now immediately, plunge the florets into the bowl of cold water. After a minute, strain them. Keep it aside.

4. Roast Veggies: Wash the pepper, slice it into half, remove the excess seeds and slice off the thin strips length wise. Heat olive oil in a skillet, add chili flakes followed by sliced bell pepper and sauté until it turns golden brown, about 5 minutes. Sauté it and season them with salt and garlic cloves. Toss it for about a minute on medium flame and turn off the flame. Set it aside.

5. Chop Raw Veggies: Chop any raw veggies you like. It depends on your taste. I added fresh cucumber in my bowl.

6. Prepare the Dressing: To make a dressing, whisk 1/4 cup almond butter, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, 1 tablespoon soy sauce, 1 tablespoon minced garlic, 1 tablespoon minced ginger and 2 tablespoons water in a bowl, add salt and pepper to taste.

7. Assemble: Assemble your bowl, add red kidney beans, rice, broccoli, roasted bell peppers and sliced cucumber. Season the bowl with salt and pepper. Drizzle the yummy almond butter lime dressing and gently toss them to combine. Enjoy!!

ENJOY YOUR RAINBOW BUDDHA BOWL, AND LET US KNOW HOW YOU LIKE IN THE COMMENTS BELOW!

 

Paneer Tikka | Grilled Paneer and Vegetable Skewers

Tender paneer cubes and vegetables marinated in yogurt and spices, skewered and grilled to perfection!

Paneer tikka is a perfect starter for the barbecue or theme parties. They are easy to prepare, look gorgeous and adds a great variety to the vegetarian menu.

I'm addicted to paneer tikka and I can't go more than a few weeks without it. It is that one starter that I mostly order without even having a look at the menu, but it's actually really easy to make them at home.

My Mom recently surprised us with this exotic starter. It tasted super good, exactly like the restaurant one. I just couldn't resist taking a picture of this for my blog and post it for you guys! Mostly in the restaurants they cook paneer tikka in a tandoor but at home you can make them at a grill pan or in an oven.

You can use any vegetable that goes well with paneer but I'd recommend you to go with onion, peppers and tomatoes as they adds a very vibrant color to the starter and also adds a mild sweetness too.

Marination for paneer tikka is prepared with oil, spices and yogurt but it's always good to add roasted gram flour, ginger-garlic paste and lime juice for an added flavor. This marinade will give a great flavor and keep your paneer juicy. You can also substitute these spices with tandoor masala - a spice blend which creates a smokey tandoori flavor.

Marinate the paneer and veggies in the spice paste blend, toss, and set aside, for atleast an hour in a refrigerator. Meanwhile, soak the wooden skewers in water so that they don't burn while cooking. If using metal skewers, no need to soak. Next, thread the paneer and veggies and roast them into a grill pan, tandoor or oven. And, your delicious starter is ready. It's so good, that the smoky-juicy-charred flavors will just you keep going back for another bite.

I hope you give this one a try - it is worth the effort and sure to impress.

PANEER TIKKA

Serve: 3-4 People
Preparation time: 10 minutes
Marination time: 1 hour
Cooking time: 20 minutes
Author: The Food Root

Ingredients

2 cups Paneer (cottage cheese) cubes, cut into 1 inch cubes
1 medium size Onion, cut into 1 inch cubes
1 medium size Pepper or Capsicum, cut into 1 inch cubes
1 large size Tomato, cut into 1 inch cubes

Marinade

1/2 cup thick Yogurt
3 tbsp Gram flour, roasted
1 tbsp Oil
1 inch Ginger, grated
4 cloves Garlic, finely chopped
1/2 tbsp Red chilli powder
1/2 tbsp Jeera powder
1/2 tbsp Mango powder
1/2 tbsp Turmeric powder
1/2 tbsp Cumin powder
1/2 tbsp Coriander powder
1/4 tbsp Garam masala
1/2 tbsp Chaat masala
1/2 tbsp Salt or as per required
2 tbsp Lime juice
Fresh Coriander leaves, finely chopped

Garnishing

1/2 tbsp Chaat masala
Lime wedges
Coriander leaves, finely chopped (optional)

Method

1. Start cutting with paneer, pepper, tomato and onion into 1 inch square cubes.

2. In a bowl, add yogurt, gram flour, oil, ginger, garlic, red chilli powder, jeera powder, mango powder, turmeric powder, cumin powder, coriander powder, garam masala, chaat masala, lime juice and salt as per required and mix it well.

3. Add pepper, tomato, onion and paneer in the marinade, then toss with a spoon until they are coated with the yogurt and spices. Next, cover the bowl and set aside, for at least an hour in a refrigerator.

4. Thread the paneer cubes, alternating with onions, peppers and tomatoes on the pre-soaked wooden skewers.

5. Drizzle 1 tbsp of oil or butter on a grill pan and place the paneer skewers and let them cook for 3-4 minutes until it turns crisp and golden brown. Next, brush them with cooking oil and flip them and let it cook for 2-3 minutes till its turn crisp and golden brown.

6. Alternately you can grill them in an oven instead of roasting them in a grill pan. Preheat the oven to 180 degrees C. Line baking tray with parchment paper or aluminium foil and coat it with cooking spray. Arrange the skewers, keeping enough space in between them and brush them with some oil.

7. Bake them for about 15-18 minutes or till you see the edges slightly browning. Rotate them halfway through the baking process. Keep a close watch after 10 minutes of grilling.

8. Remove these delicious paneer tikka on a plate and sprinkle some chaat masala. Serve them piping hot with mint chutney, lime wedges and enjoy!

Notes

1. Use homemade paneer or store bought paneer, both will work fine.

2. Add your favorite vegetables along with paneer and grill them.

3. Use 3 tbsp of flour in the marinade so that paneer doesn’t stick to the grill pan.

4. Roast the gram flour for 2-3 minutes before adding them into the marination.

5. Set aside to marinade for atleast 30 minutes or upto 8 hours in the refrigerator.

6. Soak the wooden skewers in water for atleast half an hour, else they’ll burn while cooking.

7. Customize and adjust spice levels to suit your taste.

10 SUPERFOODS YOU SHOULD BE EATING RIGHT NOW

Superfoods are the special category of foods that contain a wide variety of antioxidants, fiber, minerals and vitamins. These little fellas are great for your nervous system, offer protection against heart diseases, help in reduce inflammation, and support the immune system.

Stock your kitchen with these superfood staples. You can easily incorporate them into your everyday meals. They are easy to consume, relatively available in every supermarket and grocery store.

1. Tomato

Tomatoes are the most commonly used fruit. They are the major dietary source of lycopene, which improves the bone mass and boost immune system. It may also reduce the risk of cancer and heart diseases. Tomato contain fat-burning compound known as 9-oxo-ODA which helps with fat loss. They are both nutritious and delicious and can be easily incorporated in your diet.

Tomatoes are the important ingredient of many cuisines. They are used to make sauces, soups, salads, pizza, lasagna, pasta and many other variety of dishes. Remember the tomato soup I made last year?

2. Spinach

Spinach is the world's healthiest superfood. These dark green leafy vegetables are loaded with vitamin A, B, C, E and K. They are an excellent source of magnesium, potassium, calcium, choline and folate. Spinach can lower the risk of cancer and heart related problems, it can control the diabetes and reduce blood pressure. It plays an important role in building healthy skin tissues and promoting blood cell growth.

You can add them in salads, sprinkle it on pasta and add in your smoothies. You can also make a simple sauteed spinach recipe in a pan.

3. Green tea

I'm a tea-lover and a pretty regular one. I always start my day with a cup of green tea. There are lots of varieties of tea like - black, green, white, oolong but my favorite is green tea. Green tea is becoming popular specially in the fitness world. It contain all the antioxidants that boost metabolism and could help in reducing the risk of diabetes, heart attack, stoke and cancer. It contains less caffeine than coffee, helps with weight loss and keep the immune system strong.

Add it into a lukewarm water or add milk or lemon for more flavor and enjoy.

4. Yogurt

Yogurt is a dairy product prepared from the bacterial fermentation of milk, often sweetened and flavored. It can also be prepared at home. There are plenty of benefits of yogurt, they are helpful in developing stronger bones, improves the immunity and the digestion system. It's rich in calcium, potassium and magnesium.

Yogurt can be blended or served as a base of smoothies. It can be added in soups, curries and can also be cooked with tofu or paneer. You can cook kadhi, yogurt based curry or raita, common condiment eaten in Asia and India.

5. Oatmeal

Oatmeal is a perfect breakfast as it's filling and contain lots of vitamins and minerals. They are great source of fiber, potassium and calcium. Oats are natural superfood, made out whole grain and fiber which helps in reducing the cholesterol and blood pressure. They are great as a breakfast, snack, a post-work-out snack.

Eat it as a porridge replacement, sprinkle over your cereal, or your smoothie.

6. Sprouts

I love eating sprouts as it's a wonderfully high protein, low fat snack which includes all the nutrients. Sprouts are the most convenient and healthy superfood. They are energy boosting enzymes, extremely alkalizing and rich in micro-nutrients. They are loaded with protein, vitamin B1 and B6, vitamin K and minerals such as magnesium, calcium, phosphorous and zinc..

Add them in salads, coleslaw.

7. Purple carrots

Wow, now purple carrots are my favorite! As the name suggest, it has bright purple skin and flesh that comes in the shade of yellow and orange. According to an Australian study, purple carrots are the next big superfood. It's a relatively unknown superfood, filled with anti-inflammatory goodness. It is rich in anthocyanin, help in in treating neurological disorders like Alzheimer's, improving heart related problems. They are low in calories and rich in dietary fibre, vitamin C, K, potassium and manganese are a good source of carotenoids.

Add them in your salads, smoothies or can also stit-fry it.

8. Garlic

Garlic, the pungent member of the allium family is widely popular in Asian and Indian cooking. It's a great source of vitamin C, B1, B6, manganese, copper, biotin and fiber. It helps in regulating sugar level and help people with type1 and type2 diabetes. Garlic also has lot of anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties. It contains high levels of sulphuric compounds which helps in lowering down the cholesterol level, reducing the blood pressure, boosting the immune system and supporting the digestive health.

They are used to add flavor in variety of dishes like soups, dips, stir fries, stews, etc.

9. Lentils

They are practically the cheapest and the easiest superfood to prepare. These pulse are used in many Asian and Indian countries. Lentils requires a long cooking time in kitchen but they make a delicious and healthy snack. They are high in iron, protein, and other nutrients. They are known for managing blood sugar levels and keep you full for hours.

Use variety of beans to make lentil soup or curries, add them to quesadillas along with other fillings, add them to salad, eat them with Indian breads or rice, or just as a snack.

10. Beets

Beet is the most beautiful vegetable. They are blood red in color. It has a sweet and earthy flavor. It is also used as a natural coloring agent. Beet roots are high in vitamins A, B & C, Potassium, Iron, Manganese, Phosphorous and Fiber. It helps in the treatment of anemia, indigestion, cancer and heart diseases. Beets are also good for pregnant women since they are a source of Vitamin B. It's low in calories and high in carbs. Vitamin C helps in fighting cancer and helps to prevent Respiratory problems.

It is frequently added as an ingredient to salads, soups and pickle, you can also make a beetroot drink.

Which is your favorite superfood?
How do you incorporate it into your diet?

x

BLOOM WHERE YOU ARE PLANTED

 You always have to create your own path. So take some time today and enjoy nature.

To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow.
- Audrey Hepburn

Sending you some spring vibes!!! Though it's hot here in North-India but I cannot wait to share this beautiful picture with you all. This is the picture of my courtyard garden. Not only it's green but it's bold and vibrant. It's simple, but it intrigued me the most. I can't get over this palette of the spring colors. I love the vibrant fields with spring flowers and the magnificent banana and guava trees. I think they'll need few more trimmings in coming week. I can't explain you the joy of waking up to these every single morning. I love spending my morning time in the garden with a cup of tea.

As much as I love food, nature is my second biggest passion (and decorating home is my third). Over the years, I've developed true interest in gardening. Earlier my world revolves around social media, movies, job. I was not aware of things that truly matters in life. I'm happy that I recognize the things that values me the most today but I feel it's a learning process.

Where flowers blooms, so does hope.

While talking about flowers, marigolds are the first flowers I remember growing. Not only they are easy to grow, but they are breathtakingly beautiful. They always make you smile. I simply love the fragrance of these! This is a glimpse of our terrace garden. I have planted a lot of marigolds in my courtyard and my terrace garden. It's easy to grow them outdoors but you can also grow them indoors. I always make a beautiful marigold centerpiece and decorate my home.

Some important things to remember before planting a Marigold flower!

• Mostly grown in springs and summers.
• Need bright sunlight and proper watering.
• Generally take about seven weeks from seeds to bloom.
• Seeds can be sowed in pots or raised nursery beds.
• Can be grown in wide range of soils.
• Keep pest away (I always grow them with basil and tomatoes).
• Do not need a lot a fertilizer either.
• Poor soil can also be benefited by adding in the organic granular fertilizer. 
• You just need to prepare the soil by digging down 5-6 inches to loosen it and add the organic granular fertilizer. 

I hope you will be inspired to create your own garden.

Happy Gardening!
Namaste!

VEGETABLE HAKKA NOODLES

Vegetable Hakka Noodles - Smoky, Steamy and Incredibly Spicy!!

Starting off this week with this delicious plate of Vegetable Hakka Noodles.

By the way, I chopped so many veggies for this that now my fingers refuse to move. I think, I need some help getting off my bed and writing down the blog post for you all. Hahaha

Aheeeem, coming back to the post, Hakka Noodles is an easy Indian-Chinese recipe which combines the goodness of colorful veggies and sizzling sauces! It's basically a fusion between Indian flavors and Chinese Noodles. This is a must try recipe for the chilli lovers. These Noodles are super easy to make and they taste delicious. You can serve them with Manchurian, Chilli Paneer or any Chinese style gravy for a complete wholesome meal.

It's an open end recipe and it's variations are endless. You can always toss a few extra veggies and add brightness to your noodles! It can happily adapt to other vegetables too.

The key is to toss, until the veggies are tender but still crisp. Fresh ginger and garlic adds a great burst of flavor and make it taste even better. I used soy sauce and vinegar in my noodles. They are easily available in the market. If they are not in your kitchen cabinet, you can stir in the contents from the sachet (which comes with the noodles packet) and can pour some tomato ketchup, it will taste great!

In order to get a restaurant like taste it need to be cooked in a certain way. Parboil the noodles in the salted water for 4 minutes or as per the instructions written in the noodles packet. DON'T OVERCOOK THEM. To give the steamy and smoky flavor to the noodles do all the cooking in the large wok and stir fry the veggies on high flame.

Hope you give it a try and love it as much as I do!

VEGETABLE HAKKA NOODLES

Preparation time :10 minutes
Cooking time : 20 minutes
Serves : 4 people
Author : The Food Root

INGREDIENTS

1 packet of hakka noodles or 150 grams of thin rice noodles

3 tablespoons - Olive oil

1/2 inch - ginger, peeled, grated

5-6 garlic cloves, finely chopped
Pinch of cumin seeds (optional)
2 small onions, thinly sliced

2 medium carrots, cut into thin matchsticks

1 large bell pepper, thinly sliced

1/2 cup beans, chopped
handful of peas
1 big tomato, chopped

2 green chillis, chopped

1 teaspoon - Salt or as per taste

1/4 teaspoon - Turmeric powder
1/4 teaspoon - Pepper

1/4 teaspoon - Red pepper flakes

2 tablespoons - Rice vinegar
1/2 tablespoon - Soy sauce

Chopped coriander leaves

METHOD

1. Bring in a large pot of water to boil. Once the water starts boiling, add 1 tsp of salt and noodles, cook for 3-4 minutes. Don't overcook them. Drain off the excess water and rinse them under the cold running water. Leave them in a colander, toss in 1 tsp of oil on the noodles to prevent them from sticking and set aside.

2. Heat olive oil in a wok or a pan and add ginger and garlic, continue cooking until fragrant, about 40 seconds. Add cumin seeds. Sauté the cumin until they crackle.

3. When the cumin starts crackling, add onion and cook on medium-high flame, stirring occasionally, until lightly softened, about 3 minutes.

4. Add carrot, beans and peas and cook for for 4-5 minutes on high flame. Stir it occasionally. (If your veggies starts sticking to the pan or wok, you can reduce the heat.) Add tomatoes, bell pepper and green chillis, stir it for next 3-4 minutes.

5. Season it with a pinch of salt, pepper, red pepper flakes and turmeric powder, mix it well.

6. Add in the cooked noodles to the wok and toss to coat.

7. Drizzle some rice vinegar and soy sauce. Stir fry to combine!

8. Garnish them with chopped coriander leaves and transfer immediately to a serving bowl. Serve it hot and enjoy!

NOTES
1. Parboil the noodles in the salted water for 4 minutes or as per the instructions written in the noodles packet.

2. Do not overcook the noodles.

3. To give the steamy and smoky flavor to the noodles do all the cooking in the large wok and stir fry the veggies on high flame.

4. Use the right condiments to add in the noodles.

5. In case they are not available, you can stir in the contents from the sachet which comes with the noodles packet and can also pour some tomato ketchup, it will taste great!

VEGETABLE FRIED-RICE

Indulge in this one pot meal dish and take your tastebuds on an interesting ride...!!!

This hearty and wholesome one pot meal dish is loaded with garden fresh veggies, vinegar, dark soy sauce and assorted spices. Flavored with the aroma of cumin seeds, cardamom, cloves, cinnamon and bay leaf, this is an extremely delicious recipe for rice lovers and a simple satisfying meal for a lunch, dinner or any kind of occasion!

Vegetable fried rice is a Chinese dish of cooked rice, mixed with vegetables, sauces and spices that has been stir fried in a frying pan. It's one of the most popular Chinese dishes, consumed mainly in Asia and Middle East regions. It's often served as a complete dish or can also be enjoyed with fresh yogurt, salad or your favorite curry!!

Fried rice are mostly prepared with the leftover rice but can also be prepared with the freshly cooked rice. It's a complete dish on it's own and is just like what you get at your favorite Chinese restaurant. I love eating vegetable fried rice. It's absolutely one of my favorite things to eat. It's easy to prepare and a great recipe to use up the leftovers!!

It's a simple delicious meal made from white rice. I have worked with aged good quality basmati rice. You can use any type of white rice in the dish. I have used freshly cooked rice but it's advisable to use the leftover rice because there is more moisture in the freshly cooked rice whereas the leftover rice are little more dried and are easy to work with.

It's versatile meal. I always try to make it differently, depending on what is available at my home. You can add your favorite veggies and your favorite stir-fry sauces. Spices like cumin seeds, cardamom, cloves, cinnamon and bay leaf can be avoided. You can make it according to your taste and requirements.

Hope you give it a try and love it as much I do!!

VEGETABLE FRIED RICE

Cooking time of Basmati Rice - 
Soaking time : 30 minutes               
Boiling time : 10-12 minutes
Resting time : 30 minutes

Preparation time : 15 minutes
Cooking time : 20 minutes
Serves : 4 people
Author : The Food Root


INGREDIENTS
200 grams or 2 cups Basmati Rice
4 cups - water
1 tablespoon - salt
2 tablespoon - oil
1/2 teaspoon - crushed cumin seeds (jeera)
1 - green cardamom (choti elaichi)
1- bay leaf (tez patte)
3-4 cloves (lavang)
1/2 inch - cinnamon (dalchini)
1/2 teaspoon - crushed cumin seeds
1 inch long - ginger, grated
5-6 - garlic cloves, chopped
1 - onion, chopped
1/2 cup - beans, chopped
1 - carrot, chopped
1- potato, chopped
3/4 cup - cauliflower, chopped
1/2 cup - green peas
2 - green chillis, chopped
1/2 teaspoon - red chili powder
1/4 teaspoon - garam masala
1/2 teaspoon of salt or as per taste
4-5 cashews, chopped (optional)
5-6 raisins (optional)
1 tablespoon - soy sauce
1 tablespoon - vinegar
chopped coriander leaves


METHOD
1. Rinse the basmati rice with cold water and soak it for about 30 minutes.

2. Next, cover a saucepan with a lid to bring 4 cups of water to boil. Add 2 cups of basmati rice, followed by 1 tablespoon of salt and loosely cover the pan. Reduce the heat and cook the rice for about 10-12 minutes. Don't overcook it. Stir it once and turn off the flame. Let the rice sit for about 5-7 minutes. Drain the rice using a colander or a strainer let it cool for sometime.

3. Heat 2 tablespoon of oil in a pan and add crushed cumin seeds, cardamom, bay leaf, cloves and cinnamon. Wait till they crackle. Then add grated ginger, chopped garlic and a chopped onion. Sauté it on a lower flame till it turns golden brown.

4. Add peas and the other chopped veggies (beans, carrot, potato, cauliflower) in the frying pan and stir it for 2-3 minutes on a high flame. Mix it well.

5. Cover the lid and let the mixture cook for 7-8 minutes on a lower medium flame. Stir it occasionally. The vegetables should be tender yet still have a crunch

6. Next, add chopped green chillis followed by the spices - red chili powder, garam masala and salt and stir it well.

7. Then, sprinkle some cashews and raisins in the mixture. Stir it gently on a low flame.

8. Next, add the cooked rice in the pan, toss it with vegetables and continue to mix together for 3-4 minutes on a medium flame. Make sure to check nothing is sticking to the bottom.

9. Pour in some soy sauce and vinegar and toss to combine. Turn off the flame and remove it.

10. Now, transfer the vegetable fried rice to a serving bowl and garnish it with fresh coriander leaves.

11. Serve them as a complete dish or enjoy it with fresh yogurt, salad or your favorite curry!!


NOTES
1. Soak basmati rice or any type of white rice for 30-40 minutes.

2. I have used freshly cooked rice but it's advisable to use the leftover rice because there is more moisture in the freshly cooked rice whereas the leftover rice are little more dried and are easy to work with.

3. Do not overcook the rice.

4. This recipe works best with aged good quality basmati rice.

5. You can add your favorite veggies and your favorite stir-fry sauces.

6. Spices like cumin seeds, cardamom, cloves, cinnamon and bay leaf can be avoided. You can make it according to your taste and requirements.

SIMPLE JOYS!

What a stunning harvest!!! This is my first batch of tomatoes!! I can't thank my garden enough for feeding us with these delicious cherry red tomatoes. No one can beat the taste of a red, ripe tomato straight out of the garden!!!

I got a taste of how refreshing it can be to grow your own fruits and veggies in an era where food has become so processed and devoid of nutrients and flavor. Now that I have some time on my hands, I am setting up an organic fruits and vegetable patch in my garden. I've planted tomatoes, beetroots, eggplants, radishes, peas and spinach seeds in my garden. I'm working on it from last couple of weeks. I just can't wait to share the progress with you all!!

I think my plant is ready for another harvest!! For those who will be heading into Spring, do give it a try!!

Tomatoes are not difficult to grow. They are easy to care and are rich in vitamins A, B and C. You can plant marigold or basil with the tomatoes. Marigolds enhance the growth of tomatoes and it helps to keep bugs away and basil helps in improving the flavor of the fruit.

Growing tomatoes indoors or out is an easy and rewarding experience. I've grown this plant in a big pot on my terrace. If you want to maintain or harvest healthy plants, make sure the soil is properly conditioned. Adding compost and gardening soil is very beneficial. It enhances the fertility of the fruit. Remember to remove the yellow branches and mulch well. Tomatoes need plenty of sunlight and proper watering. Give them the much needed water and provide them with an area that is protected from wind and harsh weather.

So many tomatoes in just two plants, I can't wait for my another harvest!!! I'm amazed by how quickly and easily these tomatoes grow. Don't miss that luscious spinach, so vibrant and so green!!!

I hope you enjoy these pictures and I promise I'll be posting more!!

Have a great weekend and GO ORGANIC!!!