Happily Vegetarian

BROCCOLI & ALMONDS SOUP

noreply@blogger.com (Happily Vegetarian) — Sat, 20 Feb 2021 12:38:00 +0000

Hello all,

Today I am presenting a very healthy and oil free soup ,using mainly the leftover broccoli stems,which we generally throw away..Hope you all like it :)

Ingredients -

Broccoli stems- 2 cups ,cut into small pieces

Broccoli florets -1/2 cup ,cut into small pieces

Almonds - 10 ,soaked for about 2 hours and peeled

Onion - 1 medium ,chopped

Garlic -6 pods peeled and chopped

Milk -1 Cup

Cornflour - 1 teaspoon

All purpose seasoning - 1 teaspoon

Oregano -1 teaspoon

Pepper powder -1/2 teaspoon

Salt -1 teaspoon or ,according to taste

Water -1/2 cup

Preparation -

Heat a non stick pan on medium heat ,and put in chopped onions and garlic in it.Saute for one minute on medium heat.Now add the chopped broccoli stem pieces and florets ,add salt to it ,and saute for few more minutes.Add half cup water to it ,cover and cook for 5 minutes.Then remove from heat and let it cool.After cooling ,put this mix along with peeled amonds, in a mixer and grind to a smooth paste.

Now heat the pan again.Pour this mixture into the pan ,and add a cup of milk to it.

I would recommend adding a teaspoon of dissolved cornflour to the milk ,to prevent it from curdling.Now boil this mix ,stirring continuously ,for 5 minutes.Then add all purpose seasoning,oregano & pepper powder to it.

Remove from heat and serve hot ,with soup sticks .

STUFFED BRINJAL

noreply@blogger.com (Happily Vegetarian) — Tue, 11 Aug 2020 15:05:00 +0000

Presenting an easy & low oil recipe of Dry Stuffed Brinjal

Ingredients -

Small brinjals -10

Refined or Mustard oil -3 tablespoons ,for shallow frying the brinjals

Fresh Brinjals from my garden

Masala for stuffing -

Groundnuts ,lightly roasted and powdered - 1cup

Sesame seeds lightly roasted & powdered - 3 tablespoons

Cumin Powder - 2 tablespoon

Coriander Powder- 2 tablespoon

Green chillies -2

Red chilli powder -1 teaspoon

Dry mango powder ( amchoor) - 1 teasoon

Ginger garlic paste - 2 tablespoons

Water- 2 tablespoons ,for mixing the masala

Salt to taste

Coriander leaves -2 tablespoons, chopped finely

Method - Put all these masala ingredients in a blender ,add about 2 tablespoons of water or less, and blend to a smooth paste.The paste should be firm ,not runny .Keep aside.

Now slit the brinjals lengthwise ,halfway,keeping them joined at the other end. Put ample masala into the slit of brinjals ,to fill the slits properly..Fill all the brinjals this way and keep them to marinate for an hour.

Then heat a tablesoon of refined /mustard oil in a non stick pan and put the brinjals in it.Cover and cook on low flame for 10 mins. Now remove cover & flip the brinjals .Pour another tablespoon of oil ,and cook the other side too,on medium heat, for 10 more mins.

Switch off flame,garnish with chopped coriander leaves ,and serve hot.

GOLGAPPA

noreply@blogger.com (Happily Vegetarian) — Mon, 10 Aug 2020 08:33:00 +0000

Sharing here the recipe of another tasty snack of India - The Golgappa ,also known as Pani Puri

Ingredients for Poori-

Fine semolina ( sooji ) - 1 cup

Maida -2 tablespoons

Baking Soda - 1/4 th teaspoon

Salt to taste

Water for kneading the dough

Oil for deep frying

A small round lid or katori ,to cut the pooris

Method - Mix sooji,maida,baking soda & salt ,putting little water at a time ,and knead to a fine dough.Cover with a wet cloth and keep aside for half an hour. Then take lemon sized portions of the dough and roll them into big rotis.Cut out small rounds from the roti ,with the help of the small lid or katori.

Now heat frying oil in a pan, on medium flame and put the small rounds into it ,one by one. When they puff up on one side, then turn over .Fry on both sides keeping the flame medium throughout , till light brown in colour. Frying on medium flame make them crispy.

Ingredients for the stuffing -

Potatoes-3 large ,boiled and mashed

Green peas or black chana -1 cup , boiled

Onion-1 large ,chopped very finely

Green chillies-3 ,chopped very finely

Roasted Cumin powder -2 tablespoons

Red chilli flakes -1 teaspoon

Salt to taste

Method- Mix all the above ingredients of stuffing together ,and keep in a bowl.

Ingredients for the Paani -

Clean drinking water -about 3 glasses

Mint leaves paste - 1 tablespoon

Chaat masala - 1 tablesoon

Ginger paste- 1 teaspoon ( optional )

Tamarind paste / or Lime juice - 1 tablespoon

Green Chilli paste - 1 teaspoon

Black Salt - 1 teaspoon

Coriander leaves - 1 tablespoon ,chopped very finely

Salt to taste

Method- Put all the ingredients for pani ,in the water and mix well.

Serve together - The pooris ,the prepared stuffing on a plate ,with paani in a bowl. Watch them enjoy :)

SAMOSAS

noreply@blogger.com (Happily Vegetarian) — Sun, 09 Aug 2020 13:03:00 +0000

Today I am presenting the recipe of an all time favourite, mouthwatering snack -The Samosa

Ingredients for the outer covering -

Refined Flour ( maida) -2 cups

Refined oil -2 tablespoons

Salt -1 teaspoon

Water for kneading the dough

Method - Mix all the ingredients together and make a smooth dough ,adding little water at a time.Now make small balls out of the dough, cover with a cloth ,and keep aside.

Ingredients for stuffing -

Potatoes -3 large ,boiled and mashed

Green peas -1/2 cup

Groundnuts-1/2 cup

Onion -1 large ,chopped finely

Green chilli-2 large,chopped finely

Salt - to taste

Cumin powder - 1 tablespoon

Mustard oil - 1 tablespoon

Coriander leaves -1 tablespoon ,chopped

Refined Oil -For deep frying the samosas

Method -

Heat mustard oil in a pan and add the chopped inions.Saute for half a minute ,then add the green peas and groundnut and cover for 2 mins.Then add the boiled mashed potato and salt .Saute for one more minute.Now add the cumin powder, green chillies and coriander powder.Remove the mixture from heat and allow it to cool.

Roll out the dough balls into roti shape ,and cut them in half. Put a tablespoon of the stuffing on it and bring the middle portion together to give a conical shape. Now seal the edges in shape of a samosa.,brushing the edges with a little water for sticking.

Now heat the refined oil in a pan , and deep fry the samosas on low flame ,till they are done on both sides .Serve hot .

Spaghetti Aglo E Olio

noreply@blogger.com (Happily Vegetarian) — Sun, 23 Jun 2019 17:19:00 +0000

A healthy and tasty spaghetti recipe ,courtesy my daughter :)

Ingredients :-

Dry Spaghetti -1 packet

Water- about 1 litre ,for boiling the spaghetti

Olive Oil or Refined Oil- 2 tablespoons

Garlic-8 cloves peeled and diced finely

Broccoli- 1 cup chopped

Capsicum - 1/2 cup chopped

Beans - 1/2 cup ,blanched and cut into 1 inch pieces

Black Olives - 1 tablesoon ,choped and marinated in vinegar

Parsley - 1 tablesoon ,chopped fine

Oregano- 1 teaspoon

Red chilli flakes -1 teaspoon

Pepper powder- 1 teaspoo

Salt-1 teaspoon ,or to taste

Milk - 1/2 cup

Method- Boil the water in a large vessel..Put 1 teaspoon oil in the water ,to prevent the spaghettis from sticking together...then put the dry spaghetti in it and cook for 5 mins.Now drain out the water through a strainer.

Heat the remaining oil in a pan, on medium flame ,and put the cut garlic pieces into it. Saute on very low flame for 2 mins.Then add all the chopped vegetables to it. Add salt and saute them over low flame for 5 mins.

Now add milk to it,and keep stirring for sometime.

Finally add the boiled spaghetti ,parsley,oregano,peper powder,chilli flakes ..Toss the entire contents of pan ,nicely. Garnish with olives and serve hot .

Thai Green Curry with Black Sticky Rice

noreply@blogger.com (Happily Vegetarian) — Sat, 18 May 2019 19:03:00 +0000

Presenting the Authentic Thai Green Curry here , served with Black Sticky Rice

Ingredients for Thai Green Curry Paste -

Coconut milk- 2 Cups

Lemongrass- 5 stalks

Basil leaves- 1 small bunch

Cilantro leaves ,chopped- 2 tablespoon

Green Chillies-4

Black Peppercorns- 1/4 teaspoon

Garlic-4 cloves

Ginger- 1 inch piece

Salt- to taste

Vegetables For the Curry -

Onion -1 large ,cut into 1 inch long pieces

French Beans- 100 gms, cut into 1 inch pieces

Carrot-2 ,cut into one inch pieces

Cauliflower-1 medium,cut into 1 inch pieces

Spring onion - 1 cup,chopped

Refined oil- 1 tablespoon

Method-

Put all the ingredients of the curry paste,except coconut milk, into a mixie jar and make a paste,and keep aside.

Now take a pan and put oil in it...saute all the cut vegetables in it for 5 minutes,on low flame.Add salt and the prepared curry paste to it..Saute for 2 mins,then add the coconut milk to it.Let it boil on low flame till vegetables are tender.Thai Green Curry is ready.

Now we prepare the Black Sticky Rice-

Take 2 cups of black rice ,soaked for 4-5 hours,or overnight.Put the rice in a heavy bottomed pan with 6 cups of water (3 times of rice quantity)..Let it boil ,then lower the heat, and cook with the closed lid on low heat till all the water is absorbed and rice is cooked. Alternatively ,you can cook the in pressure cooker also,with 2.5 times water .Then let it stand for 10 mins ,before serving.The Black Rice has a chewy texture ,and slight nutty flavour.

Enjoy this Black Rice with the prepared Thai Curry.

BANANA CAKE

noreply@blogger.com (Happily Vegetarian) — Thu, 16 May 2019 04:09:00 +0000

This is a simple and healthy eggless banana cake made from wheat flour

Ingredients-

Ripe Bananas - 4

Wheat Flour - 1 1/2 cups
Butter or Refined oil - 1/2 cup
Sugar- 1/2 cup
Dry fruits (chopped)- 2 tablespoons
Baking Powder- 1 teaspoon
Baking Soda- 1/2 teaspoon
Milk - 1/4 cup ,for mixing the batter

Method-

Peel the bananas and mash them in a bowl.Add sugar to it and keep for 15 mins, till sugar melts.Now add all the ingredients to it and mix nicely. Add milk as required , to achieve the cake batter type consistency.Bake in a pre-heated microwave convection oven, for 30-35 minutes.Let it cool ,then cut into pieces and serve.

VEG CLEAR SOUP

noreply@blogger.com (Happily Vegetarian) — Sat, 02 Sep 2017 16:22:00 +0000

Hello friends..The credit for this simple and oil free recipe goes to my daughter Ishita…its her favourite too,and can be prepared in a jiffy…Do try it..

Ingredients-

Onion- 1 , chopped fine

Garlic- 6 single pieces ,peeled and chopped

Whole pepper – 1 teaspoon ,crushed coarsely

Bay leaves- 4

Salt- to taste

Water- 4 cups

French Beans- 1/2 cup cut into small pieces

Carrots- 2 ,cut into small pieces

Cauliflower- 1 medium ,cut into small pieces

Capsicum- 1 large, Cut into small pieces

Green Peas- 1/2 cup

Method-

Take water in a pan and bring it to boil.Then put the onion,garlic,pepper,salt and bay leaves in the water.Boil this for five minutes to prepare the stock..Now strain this prepared water stock to remove the onion and other seasoning ingredients from it,and get a clear vegetable stock..(You can grind the onion and garlic strained from the stock, into a paste ,and use for other gravies)..

Now put the prepared stock on heat again ,and put all the cut vegetables in it.You can add other vegetables of your choice too,apart from the ones mentioned here..Boil for another five minutes. Your oil free Veg Clear Soup is ready.Garnish it with a few coriander leaves and pepper powder..

TYPES OF PARATHAS

noreply@blogger.com (Happily Vegetarian) — Wed, 23 Aug 2017 09:08:00 +0000

Hello friends, Parathas, are a favourite food all over India.Today I will discuss the various varieties of parathas we can make,by making slight variations in their dough or stuffuing….

Mong Daal Ke Parathe-

Ingredients -

Wheat flour –3 cups

Moong daal- 1 cup soaked overnite

Salt –1 1/2 teaspoon

Carom (ajwain) seeds –1 teaspoon

Water –for binding the dough

Refined oil – for Roasting the parathas

Method -

Grind the soaked moong daal into a paste.Now mix this paste with the wheat flour and all other ingredients and make a smooth dough. Now take small balls out of ths dough and roll them into triangle or round parathas.Roast them on hot non stick pan brushing with a little refined oil. Serve hot.

Onion and Tomato Paratha

Ingredients -

Wheat flour –3 cups

Water- for binding the dough

Salt- to taste

Pepper powder-1 teaspoon (optional)

Onions –2 cut into small pieces

Tomatoes- 2 cut into small pieces

Green chillies- 4 cut finely

Coriander leaves- 1 small bunch,chopped finely

Capsicum-1 chopped finely

Oil- for roasting the parathas

Method-

Mix the wheat flour & water to make a dough. Now take all the cut vegetables on a separate plate and mix salt and pepper powder to it .Remember to mix the salt just before making the parathas ,otherwise the stuff will give out water. Now,out of the dough ,take 2 small balls for each paratha . Roll thin chappatis of both small balls.Place one chapatti on the hot pan,take a tablespoon of stuffing and spread it evenly on the chapatti.Then cover it with another chapatti.Press at the edges to seal .Cook on low heat.Then flip the paratha carefully on the other side.brush with oil and roast till brown and crisp on both sides.

You can add other ingredients of your choice to the stuffing too ,like- corn ,broccoli,bell peppers etc.,all cut into small pieces .

Mix Vegetable Paratha - Ingredients-

Wheat Flour-3 cups

Water- For binding the dough

Onions-2 chopped finely

Green vegetables of your choice chopped finely and boiled

Salt- 1 1/2 teaspoon

Oil- for roasting the parathas

Method-

Take the flour,all the cut and boiled vegetables,salt and water to make a dough.Now take a bit bigger balls out this dough,Roll out into round thick parathas. Roast on hot pan brushing with oil,till brown on both sides.

Besan ki Sabzi

noreply@blogger.com (Happily Vegetarian) — Mon, 20 Feb 2017 05:12:00 +0000

Hello Friends,today I am sharing one of my favourite recipes, besan or gramflour vegetable,which was very yummily made by my mother.

Ingredients-

Gramflour or besan- 3 cups

Salt- 1 teaspoon

Turmeric powder- 1 teaspoon

Cumin powder- 3 teaspoons

Red chilli powder- 1 teaspoon

Asafoetida or Hing powder-1 teaspoon

Mustard oil- 2 tablespoon

Water for making the batter.

Mix all the ingredients ,except oil ,and make a smooth batter. Then heat oil in a pan and pour the batter into it.Keep stirring on low heat to avoid forming lumps.Then remove from heat and spread it evenly, on a lightly greased tray. Now cut into small squares and shallow fry them ,in a non sick pan.

Ingredients for Gravy-

Garlic cloves-6 pieces,peeled

Mustard seeds- 3 teaspoon

Green chllies-3

Turmeric powder-1 teaspoon

Red chilli powder (optional)-1 teaspoon

Red tomatoes- 2 ,large size,chopped into pieces

Salt-1 teaspoon or according to taste

Coriander leaves Chopped-for garnishing

Water-2 medium glasses,for gravy

Mustard oil- 1 tablespoon

Method-

Grind the garlic,mustard seeds and green chillies into a fine paste.Heat the oil in a deep pan and pour the paste into it, and saute for 2 minutes on low flame Then add chopped tomatoes ,turmeric powder and salt to it ,and saute for another 5 minutes.Now add 2 glasses of water and let the gravy boil for sometime.Now add the fried besan pieces to the gravy ,cover,and let it simmer for 2 minutes.Then switch off the stove. .Garnish with chopped coriander leaves and serve hot with chapatties.

Alternatively,you can serve the fried besan pieces,dry too, as a snack ,accompanied with tomato sauce and green chutney

Makai ki Roti & Sarson ka Saag

noreply@blogger.com (Happily Vegetarian) — Fri, 11 Mar 2016 18:29:00 +0000

Hi friends,presenting yet another tasty food from my kitchen –Makai ki Roti & Sarson ka Saag. We can prepare both items separately,but together they make a tempting main course for lunch or dinner.

Ingredients For Sarson Ka Saag- boiled sarson and palak leaves

Sarson leaves- 500 gms ,chopped

Palak leaves- 150 gms,chopped sarson leaves paste

Ginger paste-1 teaspoon

Garlic paste-1 tablespoon

Gren chilli paste-1/2 teaspoon

Butter-1 tablespoon

Fresh cream- 1/2 cup

Water-for boiling the leaves

Method -

Wash the chopped sarson and palak leaves and boil them in some water.Palak leaves are added to get a smooth consistency,as sarson leaves are coarse.Then drain them and churn in a mixer to a fine paste.Now heat a pan and put the butter in it.Then add the ginger and garlic paste to it and saute for some time.Then add green chilli paste ,and lastly the saag paste.Simmer on low heat for sometime.then remove from heat and add the fresh cream.

Ready sarson ka saag

Ingredients For Makai Ki Roti-

Maize or Makai flour- 4cups

Hot Water-For making the dough

Method-

Heat the water and pour in into the flour.Try mixing the flour and water with a spoon and later when it cools ,then with your hands nicely.Take small quantities of this dough and roll out slightly thick rotis.Now ,heat a roti pan and put the rotis in it,one by one.Put some ghee and roast the roti on both sides.

Now serve the Makai ki Rotis hot along with the prepared yummy Saag.

Arbi (Colocasia) Leaf Crunchy Rolls

noreply@blogger.com (Happily Vegetarian) — Sun, 11 Oct 2015 18:58:00 +0000

Hi friends, I am sure you must have heard of Colocasia Or Arbi plant.Generally we make vegetable out of the Roots of the Arbi plant.But its leaves are equally delicious and can be used to make exotic dishes.Today I am presenting Crunchy Rolls, a delicious snack item made out of Arbi leaves.

Ingredients-

Colocasia or Arbi Leaves –20,medium sized,washed nicely

Gramflour ( besan) – 1 cup

Cumin powder- 2 tablespoons

Red chilli powder-1 teaspoon

Garlic paste-1 tablespoon

Salt – 1 teaspoon or according to taste

Water for making batter, and for steaming

Oil for shallow frying

Method-

Take gramflour,put in cumin powder,red chilli powder, garlic paste and salt into it. Make a very thick batter with little water. Now take an Arbi leaf and spread some besan batter evenly over it.Now place a second leaf over the first one,and again spread besan batter over it. Like this,put 5 leaves ,one atop the other,after spreading besan on each layer. Now fold the leaves together into a roll.Tie the roll with a thread to keep it folded. Similarly prepare other rolls with the remaining leaves.Now boil water in a vessel and place a metal sieve over it.Carefully place the tied rolls into the sieve and steam them for 5 mins. Now take them out and place in a plate ,to cool.Remove the threads used for tying the rolls.Then cut the rolls into small roundels.

Now put the cut roundels in a pan on stove.Brush the roundels with oil and and shallow fry them on both sides,on medium heat,for 5 minutes.

Serve hot with ketchup…

Alternatively,you can make a normal curry gravy ,and put these shallow fried roundels into the gravy. Serve hot with chapatties.

STUFFED CAPSICUMS

noreply@blogger.com (Happily Vegetarian) — Mon, 27 Jul 2015 20:23:00 +0000

Hi friends…today I am presenting a very easy method of preparing Stuffed Capsicums,with very little effort and no oil…Anyone who likes capsicums,will surely love it..

Ingredients-

Capsicums- 6 large,deseeded and cut into four or eight pieces

Potato-3 medium sized ,boiled,peeled and mashed

Cottage cheese-2 cups,crumbled

Cottage cheese or any other cheese- 1 tablespoon,grated,to beautify (optional)

Pepper –1 Tablespoon

Salt- to taste

Fresh cream-Half cup

Method-

Mix the mashed potatoes,cheese,salt,pepper & cream together thoroughly.Now fill this mixture into the hollows of capsicum pieces.Put some grated cheese on top,to decorate.Now arrange the pieces on a grilling stand, and grill them in a microwave oven for 7-8 minutes.Besides microwave,you can use any other kind of oven too,to bake these capsicums,and determine the cooking time accordingly.Just remember that less of cooking and more of grilling or roasting time is required,as capsicums cook very quickly.

In case there is no oven,you can place these stuffed capsicums in a non stick pan,on gas stove.Cover the pan and cook the capsicums over medium flame,on both sides, for 10 minutes.

Chilli Nutrela

noreply@blogger.com (Happily Vegetarian) — Sun, 19 Jul 2015 19:32:00 +0000

Hi friends…Today I am presenting a vegetarian dish of soya chunks ,high on proteins,with a chinese twist.It happens to be my daughter’s favourite dish.Hope you all like it too…

Ingredients--

Nutrela Soya Chunks- 100 gms

Cornflour-100 gms

Pepper powder-2 teaspoons

Salt-to taste

Onions-2 diced into square pieces

Carrot-2,diced into small cubes

Capsicum-deseeded and cut into square pieces

French Beans-6,cut into 1 inch long pieces

Water-1 large glass for gravy,and some for soaking the chunks

Refined oil for frying

Schezuan Sauce or Schezuan powder -1 tablespoon

Chilli Sauce-1 tablespoon

Soya Sauce-1 Teaspoon

Tomato sauce-1 tablespoon (optional)

Method-

Soak the soyabean chunks in water for an hour.Then drain them and squeeze out the excess water.Sprinkle salt,pepper,and 4 tablespoons cornflour on the chunks,and coat them nicely.Now deep fry the chunks in refined oil, till golden brown, and keep aside.

Deep Fried Nutrelas

For Gravy-

Now take one tablespoon refined oil in another pan.Put in the diced onions,carrot,capsicum,french beans ,and saute for 2 minutes.Put in salt and schezuan sauce or powder on the vegetables,and saute for two more minutes.Now pour water into it and let it come to a boil.Now mix 2 tablespoons cornflour separately with a little water ,and pour this mix into the gravy,Keep stirring continuously for 5 minutes.Now add the chilli and soya sauce,and tomato sauce(optional) ,to it.Add the deep fried nutrela chunks to the gravy.Serve hot.

Mango Milk Shake

noreply@blogger.com (Happily Vegetarian) — Sat, 04 Jul 2015 17:39:00 +0000

Hi friends, many of us have mango trees in our house,which are full of mangoes in this season…I too have a few mango trees in my courtyard. Even after distributing the mangoes to near and dear ones,there are many still left, all ripened at the same time..So ,here I am presenting an easy way to utilise the ripe mangoes…even kids who don’t eat mangoes,will fall for this shake…it happens to be my kids’ favourite too :)

Garden mangoes

Mango tree in my garden

Ingredients -

Ripe Mangoes –4 ,peeled and cut into pieces

Milk-1 glass

Sugar- 2 tablespoons

Crushed Ice –1 cup

Method-

Put the mangoes,sugar and milk in a blender and mix it nicely.Now put crushed ice into the mix, and stir.Pour out into glasses .Put some crushed ice on top,to enhance the look,and serve chilled.

Raw Banana Kofta

noreply@blogger.com (Happily Vegetarian) — Thu, 04 Jun 2015 16:27:00 +0000

Hi friends,presenting another simple dish from my kitchen.Raw bananas are easy on the stomach,so ideal as a summer vegetable.Here,I am presenting the Raw bananas from my kitchen garden,in Kofta form.

INGREDIENTS – for Kofta Balls

Raw bananas- 8 pieces,boiled

Potatoes- 2 medium size,boiled

Gramflour or Besan-2 tablespoon

Cumin powder-2 teaspoon

Onion-1 ,chopped finely

Green chillies- 2 ,chopped finely

Refined oil for deep frying

Method-

Peel the boiled bananas and potatoes,and mash them nicely. Add all the other ingredients to it.then make small balls out of the mixture.Then heat refined oil in a pan and deep fry the koftas,till golden brown.

Ingredients for the Gravy-

Onions- 3 large sized,chopped roughly

Garlic-8 small pods,peeled

Ginger- One inch long piece ,peeled

Tomatoes-2 large ,chopped roughly

Green chillies-2

Garam Masala Powder-1 teaspoon

Fresh cream-1/2 cup

Salt to taste

Oil-2 tablespoons for frying the masala

Water-2 Glasses

Method for Gravy-

Put onion,garlic,ginger,tomatoes and green chilli in a mixer and grind them to a fine paste.

Now heat two tablespoons of oil in a pan ,heat it ,then put the ground masala paste into the oil.Shallow fry the masala on medium heat,till light brown.Now put salt and garam masala powder into it.Pour water into the masala pan and let the gravy boil.Lower heat and simmer it for 10 mins.Now put the koftas into the gravy and let it simmer for two mins.Then switch off the heat,pour cream over it ,and cover with a lid.Serve after 10 mins of standing time ,allowing the koftas to soak in the gravy.

Raw bananas, from the Banana tree in my garden

FARM FRESH SALAD

noreply@blogger.com (Happily Vegetarian) — Sat, 18 Apr 2015 18:48:00 +0000

Hi friends ,today I am presenting a simple and healthy steamed salad with dressing.It can be had anytime ,as the main course or as a side dish.

Ingredients :-

Broccoli –1 medium sized,cut in florets

Spring onions or baby onions- 4

Carrot –2 ,diced in strips

French beans-a few,cut in longish pieces

Baby corn –10 ,cut into halves lengthwise

Zucchini –cut into thin pieces

Macaroni boiled in salted water-1 cup

Capsicum –cut into thin long pieces

Similarly you can put in other vegetables of your choice too,all cut into similar longish shape.

Olive oil –2 tablespoon

Garlic –4-5 cloves lightly roasted & crushed

Black peppercorns crushed–1 teaspoon

Lemon juice-1 teaspoon

Lemon rind grated –half teaspoon

Salt –1 teaspoon or according to taste

Dried Crushed Basil –a small pinch

Method :-

Boil some water in a container.Take all the cut vegetables in a metal sieve,and place the sieve on the boiling water container, and cover it with a plate.Thus steam the vegetables for five minutes.Then remove from heat and let the cut vegetables cool.Add separately boiled macaroni to the steamed vegetables.Now take the olive oil in a bottle and put in salt,crushed pepper,crushed garlic,lemon juice,basil,lemon rind.Close the bottle’s lid and shake it vigorously.Now pour this dressing on to the steamed vegetables and mix nicely.Serve hot or cold.

PUA

noreply@blogger.com (Happily Vegetarian) — Fri, 06 Mar 2015 17:40:00 +0000

Hi friends, Happy Holi to All of you…Holi can never be complete in Bihar,without the traditional Sweet Dish- ‘Pua’…So here I am presenting a simple way to make ‘The Pua

Ingredients :

Refined Flour –2 cups

Sugar –1 cup

Sooji (semolina) –2 tablespoons

Dry fruits chopped-1/2 cup

Cardamom seeds crushed-1 teaspoon

Milk –About 1 1/2 cups,for making the mix

Ripe bananas –2 mashed(optional)

Refined Oil - For deep frying

Method :

Mix all the ingredients together in a bowl,except bananas ,and make a nice batter of dropping consistency.Leave the batter for two hours.Now add the mashed bananas (if you add bananas initially they might turn the batter dark).So its better to add bananas,just before frying.

Now heat refined oil in a deep pan and put one large spoonful of mix into the oil. The consistency should be such that the mix spreads, taking a round flat shape,in the oil. Now,put the flame to medium . Once the shape is formed,flip the pua to other side.Deep fry on both sides,on medium heat,till it turns slightly brown.Now remove from heat and serve hot.

Green Peas Kachori

noreply@blogger.com (Happily Vegetarian) — Fri, 30 Jan 2015 12:58:00 +0000

Hi friends,today I am presenting another easy dish,The Green Pea Kachori. Since green peas are available in abundance during winter months,so this dish is a must at least once,during the season.

Green Pea Kachori

Ingredients-

Fresh green peas- 2 cups

Cumin seeds- 1 teaspoon

Asafoetida- 1 pinch

Mustard oil- 1 teaspoon

Salt –to taste

Wheat flour –2 cups

Refined Oil for Deep Frying

Method-

Heat the mustard oil in a pan and add cumin seeds to it.When they splutter,add the asafoetida and then green peas to it. Saute the peas for sometime ,then add a pinch of salt to it. Cook for 5 mins and remove from fire. Let the peas cool,then grind them to a fine paste.

Now take the wheat flour and mix it with water,to a fine dough. Take a small ball of the dough and flatten it . Put a spoonful of the peas paste on it as filling, and seal the edges of the dough ball. Now roll out the filled dough ball into small puri. Similarly fill and roll out other puris too. Now heat a pan or tawa, and lightly roast the puris dry,on both sides ,and keep aside. This helps the puris to absorb less oil when they are deep fried later.Roasting them previously also saves time during deep frying.

Now,heat oil in a pan,and deep fry the puris on medium heat, ,till they puff up and turn golden brown on both sides.Serve with vegetables of your choice ,or pickles and chutney.

Butter & Pepper Broccoli with Sooji Ka Chila

noreply@blogger.com (Happily Vegetarian) — Tue, 20 Jan 2015 15:45:00 +0000

Hi friends,today I got a fresh broccoli from my kitchen garden,and decided to make a simple yet tasty dish with it..

Butter & Pepper Broccoli -

Ingredients :-

Broccoli- 1 medium size,cut into small florets

Butter- 1 tablespoon

Black Pepper corns- A few

Garlic- A few small pods peeled

Carrot- 1 small,diced

Tomato- 1 medium,chopped

Onion- 1 medium,diced

Salt- to taste

Method-

Heat the butter in a pan on medium heat,and put the diced onions in it.When they turn pink ,then add the carrot, broccoli , tomato and salt, to it .Saute them for 2 mins.Crush the garlic and peppercorns together,and add to the broccoli.Cover and cook on medium heat for about 5 mins.Serve hot.

Semolina OR Sooji Ka Chila -

Ingredients :-

Semolina Or Sooji –1 cup

Milk- 1 1/2 cups,normal temperature (not hot)

Salt- 1 teaspoon

Black Pepper Powder- 1 teaspoon

Onion- 1 large,chopped finely

Green Chillies-4,chopped fine

Coriander Leaves- Washed & chopped fine

Refined Oil- 2 tablespoons

Method-

Mix the semolina,milk ,salt and pepper together and keep it for one hour,so that the semolina gets soaked .The mixture should be of dropping consistency ,after soaking .If the mixture seems too thick ,add some more milk or water to it. Then add the chopped onion,green chillies and coriander leaves to the mixture. Now heat a non-stick pan and pour a large spoonful of the mixture.Spread it evenly in the pan.Brush up the sides with some oil.When the chila is cooked on one side,flip it and cook on the other side. Serve with the prepared broccoli.

Nenua Ke Phool Ke Pakode

noreply@blogger.com (Happily Vegetarian) — Mon, 01 Sep 2014 13:29:00 +0000

Have you ever seen a Sponge Gourd plant,commonly known as ’Nenua’ in Bihar?....Well, it’s a real treat to look at the green plant,covered with pretty yellow flowers,besides of course the long nenuas hanging from the creeper plant. Normally we make vegetables with the nenua...But actually,tasty pakodas can be made of the sponge gourd flowers too.

Nenua Phool Ke Pakode

Ingredients-

Nenua Flowers- picked along with the green tiny balls that grow below the flowers

Onion-2 medium, chopped finely

Green Chillies- 4,chopped

Tomato- 1,cut into small pieces

Raw banana- 3 ,boiled ,peeled & mashed

Gramflour- 1 cup

Rice flour -2 tablespoons

Salt- 1 ½ teaspoon

Refined oil-for deep frying

Method-

Wash the nenua flowers ,along with the green gram like balls,nicely. Now mix all the ingredients together nicely.The mashed banana is added to give a spongy texture to the pakodas.Now make small patties out of the mixture and deep fry them on medium flame,till light brown. Serve hot with sauce and pickles.

Mix for the Pakodas

PITHA and ALOO CHUTNEY

noreply@blogger.com (Happily Vegetarian) — Tue, 19 Aug 2014 18:25:00 +0000

Hi ,I am Shweta and I am literally-"Happily Vegetarian"!!With both kids well settled ,i suddenly realised I have ample time now to concentrate on my own interests-the result is this blog! A special thanks goes to my neice ,who encouraged me and helped set up this blog.I shall start with one of my favourite delicacies from Bihar-The Pitha with Aloo ki Chutney

Pitha

Ingredients-

Wheat flour- 3 cups

Chana daal- 2 cups soaked overnight

Garlic-8 pods,peeled

Green chillies-4

Salt-1 teaspoon or as desired

Asafoetida-a pinch

Method-

Knead the wheat flour with water to a soft dough and keep aside.Then take chana daal and rest of the ingredients together and grind them to a thick paste,without using water.

Chana daal paste,for filling

Now take small portions of the wheat flour dough and roll out into puries.Put the daal mixture on one half of puri and cover with the other half.Press the edges together and roll them slightly inwards,as we do in gujhias,so that the edges don’t open up while getting steamed.Now,boil some water in a pan ,put a metal sieve or cloth on the container and put the pithas in the sieve.Cover with a plate and steam the pithas for 10-12 mins.Take them out and serve hot,Oil free delicious food is ready!Serve with aloo chutney.

Steamed Pithas

Alternatively you can serve the pithas in a different way.Take a teaspoon of refined oil in a pan.Put some mustard seeds in it .When they splutter,add some curry leaves,slit green chillies.Cut the steamed pithas into thin strips and add to the pan.Saute for one min.Serve with aloo chutney and coriander chutney.

Fried Pitha

Aloo Chutney

Ingredients-

Potatoes-5 medium sized

Turmeric powder-1 teaspoon

Red chilli powder-1 teaspoon

Mustard powder-1 teaspoon

Salt-2 teaspoon

Mustard oil-1 teaspoon

Lemon juice-1 tablespoon

Coriander leaves

Coriander leaves and 1 green chilli chopped –for garnishing

Method-

Boil,peel and mash the potatoes.Then add all the ingredients and mix nicely.Garnish with chopped coriander and green chilli.

Aloo Chutney