Recipe: Chinese-Style Vermicelli - A twist to regular Vermicelli Upma

Desi- Chinese the Indianized version of Chinese cuisines is popular throughout India. This great fusion is accepted and relished by everyone. I am also fond of Chinese cuisines and prepare them quite often in my kitchen. "Namkeen Sewaiyan" or "Vermicelli Upma or Pulav" is a popular evening snack or breakfast. I thought why  stick to only noodles so  I gave the vermicelli recipe a twist from the regular onion-tomato version and created the Chinese version of vermicelli. Check out the recipe:

You may find these recipes interesting: 

Banana Strawberry Smoothie

Spicy Pasta Arrabaita

No Bake Homemade Granola Bar

Chinese-Style Vermicelli:

Preparation time: 10 minutes
Cooking Time: 10 Minutes
Serves : 2

Ingredients:

3 Cup Vermicelli (I used the Bambino brand)
1/2 cup finely chopped Cabbage
1/2 cup finely chopped Carrot
1/4 cup finely chopped Capsicum
1 Green chilli
1 small size Onion (optional)
2 Tablespoon Soy sauce
1 Tablespoon Vinegar
3 Tablespoon Ching's Noodles Masala
2 Tablespoon oil
Salt to taste

Method: 

Boil vermicelli, when cooked drain the excess water using a sieve and keep aside.
In a pan add oil, green chilli and all the vegetables. Saute it for 5 minutes.
Add the boiled vermicelli, ching's noodles masala, salt and all the sauces.
Mix everything well and cook it for 3-4 minutes on high flame (keep mixing)
Serve immediately

Enjoy !

Follow below for Pictures:

Recipe: No Bake Homemade Oats/Granola Protein Bar without Honey

With people becoming more health conscious these days their focus has also shifted to Protein rich diet which is highly recommended for all the weight watchers who struggle to shed off some extra pounds. To capitalize this opportunity the market is flooded with protein bars these days. They are becoming popular because it's very convenient to have them in your snack or breakfast and you don't need to compromise on your protein nutrition. But, that's also true that  these protein bars are priced very high. So, I thought why not make these bars at home and eat healthy everyday. There are two versions of these bars with protein supplement powder (easily available in market ) and without protein powder. Try out this recipe and let me know how it turned out to be. I have made it without honey as people say honey looses its nutritional properties on heating. This is the 'No Bake' version of the Granola Bars.

Homemade Oats/Granola Protein Bar without Honey: 

Total Time: 60 Minutes

Cooking Time: 20 Minutes

Serves : 10 Bars

 
Ingredients:

1    Cup Cornflakes

1    Cup Instant Oats

1/2 Cup Chocos

1/2 Cup Sliced Almonds

1/2 Cup Raisins 

1    Cup  Jaggery

1/4 Tablespoon Vanilla Essence

8    Tablespoon Protein Powder  

Method:

1.) Dry Roast Oats, Cornflakes, Sliced Almonds and Raisins till the raw smell goes away then keep it aside.

2.) In a deep pan add the jaggery and allow it to melt, keep stirring till it melts completely and thickens.

3.)Add vanilla essence and turn off the flame then add the roasted mixture with the protein powder.

4.) Mix immediately and ensure the mixture is coated well with jaggery.

5.) Grease a plate and spread over this mixture to cool down.

6.) Refrigerate it for half and hour.

7.) Cut in the rectangle or square shape. 

8.) Store in airtight container and enjoy as snack or breakfast with a glass of milk.

 

Recipe: Spicy Chicken Wrap - Healthy and Tasty !!

I am a lover of wraps because I believe they are full filling and kind of complete meal in themselves. Making wraps have no fixed rules you can add as many veggies, sauces, cheese or  meat to it to make it richer or healthier. These days I am exploring the healthier version of the food. As definitely by  adding cheese, butter, mayo to the dish do make wraps and sandwiches yummy but what if we don't add it...Well, you can still enjoy it. Find the simple and easy recipe to make the chicken wrap at home without much hassle.

Chicken Wrap :
Serves 4 wrap
Takes 40 minutes

Ingredients:

400 gms Boneless Chicken Pieces
1 Tomato
1 finely chopped onion
2-3 cloves garlic
1/4 tsp Turmeric powder
1 1/2 tsp Everest Chicken Masala
1/2 tsp Garam Masala
1/2 Coriander powder
1/2 tsp Cumin Seeds
1 tsp red chilli powder( adjust acc to your taste)
Salt as per taste


For Toppings:
Coriander leaves
1/2 Sliced Onions
1/2 cup Cabbage


Method:

Make regular wholewheat chapatis/ rotis.
Heat 1/2 tsp oil in a pan, add cumin seeds after 1 min add onions.
Saute onion for 2 mins add finely chopped garlic. Saute for 5-7 minutes till the colour change to golden brown.
Add all the masala and allow it to cook for 8-10 minutes.
When the color of the masala changes and it starts leaving the pan add the chopped tomato cubes.
Allow it to cook till the tomatoes are cooked and have become mushy. Add the small chicken pieces and salt.
Allow it to cook till the chicken are done. Cook till the water evaporates and the mixture turns dry. Just make sure you don't make it too dry so that you can still enjoy some gravy which would act as the sauce.
Let the mixture cool for some time.
Spread the mixture on the chapati and top it up with some cabbage and onions. (You can add other veggies too as per your preference)
Roll it up and you can grill it on Tawa or Sandwich maker. I did it on Sandwich maker .
You can brush some oil over the roll before grilling. (Optional)

The step wise pictures are as follows:

And your wraps are ready. Enjoy it with some chutney or sauce of your choice.

 You can use any leftover vegetable or curry in the wrap. You can have it as any meal as per your preference.

Please share your feedback/suggestions and comments.


Enjoy !!

Recipe: Sambar - Yummy and Healthy !

Sambar is one of the main items of South Indian cuisines. Sambar is served in various combinations with rice, idli, dosa, etc. I am a big sambhar lover and can have it as soup in my any meal. It is very nutritious as the pulses are loaded with lots of vegetables and at the same time it is  tasty too. Lots of people make Sambar in a different style. I am sharing my version of Sambar, hope you will like it. And yes, feel free to get in touch if have any questions or suggestions.

Sambar
Serves 4
Takes 40 minutes

Ingredients:

 1 and 1/2 cup Tur Daal
2 Tomatoes
1/2 tsp Turmeric powder
1 finely chopped onion
2 cup bitter goud
1 brinjal
1/4 cup tamarind
2-3 cloves garlic
1 carrot ( medium sized)
3 tsp Everest Sambhar Powder
1/2 Coriander powder
1/2 tsp Cumin Seeds
 1 tsp red chilli powder( adjust acc to your taste)
Salt as per taste
Pinch of Hing powder

For Seasoning:
1 and 1/2 tsp Mustard seeds
7-8 Curry Leaves


Method:

Soak daal for 10 minutes. Pressure cook daal and add 1 tomato, turmeric and salt to it. Make sure it is cooked.
Heat some oil in a pan and add cumin seeds after 1 minute add onions, fry for next 2 minutes.
Add chopped garlic, tomatoes, and all the vegetables you want to add to sambar.
Add sambar powder, salt, red chilli powder, coriander powder. Cook the vegetables for 15 minutes at low flame.
Now add all the cooked vegetables to the cooker containing tur daal.
Pressure cook daal along with vegetables again for next 10 minutes.
Open the cooker and add tamarind or lemon as per the taste.
Add tempered mustard seeds and curry leaves.

Taddaaaa.... Tasty sambar is ready. You can adjust the consistency as per your taste. I like the soupy one. Now, enjoy the delicious sambar with idli or dosa.

Recipe: Palak Paratha....Simple and Healthy !

Palak Paratha is an interesting options for those who don't like to have it in the form of sabzi in any meal( like me..:p)
I am always in search of some interesting recipes to make spinach worth eating. Here is one of such colorful paratha which I can have in any meal of the day.
Below is the recipe to make this paratha.

Palak Paratha
Serves 3 (makes 10 medium sized )
Takes 20 minutes

Ingredients:

 2 cup Wheat Flour
1/2 tsp oil
2 green chilies
4 garlic cloves
A handful of coriander, chopped
1 cup Spinach chopped
1 tsp  Ajwain/Carom seed
Water, for kneading
Tata salt lite, to taste
Ghee/oil to grease the pan.

Method:

Blend together all the ingredients spinach, coriander,garlic and chilies to make a paste.( Don't add water).
Add this paste to the wheat flour, add salt to taste, ajwain and oil to the mixture and knead together to make to a smooth dough.
Take a  medium sized ball from the dough, flatten & sprinkle some flour over it.
Roll to a size of a roti.
Heat the non-stick tawa and place the rolled paratha on the tava.
Flip  a couple of times to get the parathas browned and cooked well.
Usually well browned and crisp parathas are preferred, so we brown them more.

Taaddaa.... the parathas are ready. You can pair them up with any curry ( like I paired with aloo matar) of your liking or simply enjoy the with chutney.

Enjoy !!