cook the natural way

Sweetpotato - Cauliflower Fritters

noreply@blogger.com (puneetjabbal) — Tue, 16 May 2017 18:54:00 +0000

Hey everyone, how you've been? Summer here is at its peak and so it's summer vacations time. And that means kids (rather hungry kids) at home. It is very important to fill their tummies with healthy food in these harsh hot days. Well, these fritters have been one of my favourites lately, as they taste, hmmm, different! I just love the sweetness of sweet potatoes and the crunchy bits of cauliflower. It went so well with the tomato sauce and a simple cucumber salad.

Cauliflower and sweetpotato combo is just perfect and super healthy. Together they provide great doze of vitamins and minerals. They both are a very good source of B- vitamins, Vitamin C, vitamin D,magnesium, potassium and fibres. They both are easy to digest. Well, I also like to add any kind of seed available (flax, sunflower or so) to make these fritters even healthier. So do play with vegetables and try interesting combinations that taste good and add to your health. As for now try these fritters , enjoy summer and always cook the natural way!!!

You need

3 cups sweet potatoes (boiled, peeled and chopped)
2 cups cauliflower ( grated)
3 spring onions (only green part chopped)
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/4 teaspoon dried basil
3-4 teaspoon dried mango powder (or 2-3 tablespoon lemon juice)
1 tablespoon flax seed (optional)
1/2 teaspoon red chilli powder (or more)
1 green chilli (finely chopped)
2-3 garlic cloves (minced)
2 tablespoon rice flour
salt and pepper (to taste)
Oil (for shallow frying)

For tomato sauce
6-8 Tomatoes
1 green chilli
2 garlic cloves
1 teaspoon vinegar
1 teaspoon sugar
1 teaspoon EV olive oil
Salt (to taste)

Method

1. Mash potatoes with all the fritter ingredients except oil. Mix well and make 12-15 balls. Keep aside.

2. Heat oil in a pan, flatten each ball between your hands and shallow fry them on a medium flame.

3. Turn the fritters over once and fry the other side too till crisp brown.( add more oil, if needed)

4. For the tomato sauce, blend all the ingredients in a blender. (You can also strain the sauce, if you want)

5. Optionally, you can make a simple cucumber and spring onion salad. Simply toss them with rock salt and lemon juice.

6. To plate, pour some sauce, place the fritter on it and top it up with the salad. ENJOY!!

Serves 5-6

Valentine's Day Special

noreply@blogger.com (puneetjabbal) — Tue, 14 Feb 2017 15:20:00 +0000

Planning to spend your Valentine's day at home? Then try these quick and easy Valentine's day special recipes and make your Valentine extra special.

1. Coconut Chocolate truffles
They are sugar-free, dairy-free and glutenfree. The cool thing about these truffles is that you don't necessarily need to keep them in fridge to set.

2. Fruit Love

With a little effort and clever ingredients you can transform a simple fruit salad into a delicious and healthy dessert!!

3. Breakfast Smoothie Superbowl

Just give a gorgeous makeover to your regular strawberry smoothie and bring a big smile on your Valentine's face 😆.

4. Pomegranate Paneer Kababs

In this recipe, I used pomegranate as the base of the marinade. It came out so well. This recipe is perfect for lunch, I think. Just have them with any bread of your choice along with green Chutney!

5. Gooseberry Winter Lemonade

The ingredients in this lemonade helps you fight winter related illnesses.And the gorgeous pink colour makes it perfect for Valentine's day!!

6. Coffee Cupcakes

They are so divine, so fluffy, so soft and so heavenly that you won't stop at one!!These cupcakes are dairy-free too!!

7. Roasted Red Bell Pepper Pasta

This pasta recipe has an amazing taste of roasted red bell pepper that gives this pasta recipe a smokey flavoured sauce, instead of regular tomato based sauce or cream sauce, that we usually make.

Breakfast Smoothie Superbowl

noreply@blogger.com (puneetjabbal) — Mon, 13 Feb 2017 15:35:00 +0000

Have a great start of the Valentine's day with this easy fullfilling, super healthy breakfast smoothie bowl!!! Just give a gorgeous makeover to your regular strawberry smoothie and bring a big smile on your Valentine's face 😆. This breakfast has everything nuts, seeds, cornflakes and fruits ; a perfect vitamins packed breakfast!! Just use your imagination and add any available ingredients at home. In fact, you can use any smoothie of your choice and serve it this way. So try this idea and cook the natural way!!!

You need

3/4 or 1 cup strawberries (chopped)
2 cups thick yoghurt
1 tablespoon lemon juice (optional)
3-4 tablespoon honey (or any sweetness of your choice)

Cornflakes
Nuts (chopped)
Seeds (mixed)
Chopped fruits

Method

1. Blend strawberries, yoghurt, lemon juice and honey in a blender till smooth.

2. Pour the smoothie into bowls (instead of glasses)

3. Decorate the top with nuts, seeds, fruits and cornflakes. (NOTE - if the smoothie is not thick enough to hold the ingredients on top(they sink), just put the smoothie into the freezer for few minutes till the top layer freezes. Problem fixed!)

4. Don't forget to serve it with extra toppings.

Enjoy !

Serves 2

Pomegranate Paneer Kabobs

noreply@blogger.com (puneetjabbal) — Sat, 11 Feb 2017 02:56:00 +0000

The new year has begun and so is our resolution, so I am planning to celebrate this Valentine's day the healthier way (psst...except the chocolate treat 😉). And as always we gonna stay at home and enjoy the day together. Keeping the recipes simple but special, I will spend less time in the kitchen and keep more time for us. Well, I think beetroots, pomegranates, strawberries, raspberries and other reddish stuff are perfect to bring out lovely colours that can make valentine dishes attractive. In this recipe, I used pomegranate as the base of the marinade. It came out so well. This recipe is perfect for lunch, I think. Just have them with any bread of your choice along with green Chutney! No chopping, no cutting , just fuss-free relaxing afternoon!!! So try this recipe and cook the natural way this Valentine!!

You need

250g Paneer (cut in cubes) ( HOW TO MAKE HOMEMADE COTTAGE CHEESE? )
2 cups pomegranate arils (seeds)
3 tablespoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon black salt
1 teaspoon molasses or honey
1/4 cup water
3 green bell pepper (cubed)
4-5 tomatoes (cubed)

1 tablespoon coriander powder
1teaspoon basil dried
1/2 teaspoon rosemary dried
1 teaspoon red chilli powder
1-2 tablespoon oil
1/2 teaspoon chaat masala (optional)

Method

1. Grind pomegranate seeds with 1/4 cup water and strain the juice .

2 Heat a pan, pour in the pomegranate juice and cook till it thickens (but still runny)

3. Mix salt, molasses and lemon juice to the thickened pomegranate juice and let it cool.

4. When cooled, coat the paneer (cottage cheese) with it and marinate in refrigerator for atleast 20-30 minutes .

5. In a large bowl, add vegetables, marinated paneer, coriander powder, chilli powder, basil and rosemary. Shake well and assemble each piece onto a skewer.

6. Heat oil in a pan or grill pan, cook all sides till golden brown.

7. Garnish with chives and pomegranate seeds. Sprinkle some chaat masala on top. Serve with green chutney.

Gooseberry Winter Lemonade/ Amla Nimboo-Paani (Valentine's day special)

noreply@blogger.com (puneetjabbal) — Mon, 06 Feb 2017 14:45:00 +0000

Celebrate HEALTH AND VALENTINE together with this lemonade!! Although the winters are going , still we feel the chill and If you are like me who loves to have lemonade in any season, at any time, then cheers! Isn't it so refreshing and mood changing?. And who says the lemonade is only for summers. I mean lemons help to detox your system, and we need to detoxify in winters too. The ingredients in this lemonade helps you fight winter related illnesses.And the gorgeous pink colour makes it perfect for Valentine's day!!

Now this lemonade has gooseberries which have many health benefits and are rich in Vitamin C, iron and vitamin B complex. Gooseberries are good for skin, hair, digestive system and are a powerful antioxidant.Tulsi (holy basil) is known to cure cough and cold, and so is ginger. Beet root gives this lemonade an additional health benefit and lovely colour too. So try this healthbooster drink this Valentine's day and cook the natural way!

You need

4 medium-sized gooseberries (amla)
1/4 cup lemon juice
Lemon wedges
1/2 beetroot (peeled and thinly sliced)
handful of holy basil leaves
1/4 teaspoon ginger juice (grate fresh ginger and squeeze out the juice)
2 tablespoon honey (or more)
2 tablespoon black salt (adjust)
5cups water

Method

1. Boil the gooseberries for 5-8 minutes.When cooled grind them in little water (about 1/4 cup) and strain. Keep aside.

2. In a jar, add lemon juice and holybasil leaves. Using a muddler, mix them well.

3. Now add ginger juice, honey and black salt. Mix well.

4. Lastly pour in water, add lemon wedges and beetroot slices. Mix well and enjoy right away with or without ice OR keep in refrigerator for 4hours for better infused-flavour.

Serves 5

Roasted Red Bell Pepper Pasta

noreply@blogger.com (puneetjabbal) — Thu, 22 Dec 2016 13:31:00 +0000

Hello everyone! Christmas is just few days away and the market place looks so festive and merrier. Especially the bakery shops. I tried some mini cakes but the homemade cakes 🍰 have no equals. Christmas joy inevitably indulges you into sweets, bakes, cakes or heavy meals. So a light, yet fullfilling meal is a wise choice.

This pasta recipe has an amazing taste of roasted red bell pepper that gives this pasta recipe a smokey flavoured sauce, instead of regular tomato based sauce or cream sauce, that we usually make. Adding cream is totally optional, or you can use coconut cream (or milk) instead. You can also make the bell pepper sauce ahead and store in refrigerator for upto 2 days or in freezer for upto a week. So try this pasta recipe and cook the natural way!

You need

4 cups pasta (uncooked)

2 cups spinach leaves (chopped)

5 medium sized red bell pepper (1 more red bell pepper chopped)

2-3 tomatoes

2 onions (finely choppe)

100g mushrooms (sliced)

4-5 garlic cloves (finely chopped)

8-10 cashew nuts

Handful of coriander leaves

1/2 teaspoon dried oregano or Italian seasoning

2-3 tablespoon cream or coconut cream (optional)

1 teaspoon pepper

1 tablespoon coriander powder

1/2 red chilli powder or flakes

2 tablespoon olive oil

Salt to taste

Method

1. Lightly oil the bell peppers and tomatoes. Roast them in oven or grill or directly on stove. Roast till they are charred. (if using oven, put them under broil setting to save time).Also soak cashew nuts in warm water.

2. When roasted, remove the charred skin of bell peppers and tomatoes. And roughly chop them.

3. In a blender, blend together bell peppers, tomatoes,cashew nuts and coriander leaves and puree them well. Keep aside.

4. Now boil water in a large vessel, add salt and pasta. Cook pasta till done. Reserve 1/2 cup of pasta water.

5. Meanwhile, heat oil in a pan , saute garlic and onion till pink and translucent. Add mushrooms, chopped red bell pepper and spinach and cook for 3-5 minutes.

6. Pour in the prepared bell pepper puree and coriander powder. Cook for another 5 minutes.

7.Lastly add pasta, cream, oregano, red chilli powder (or flakes), salt and pepper. Mix well and garnish with coriander leaves. Serve hot.

Serves 5-6

Coconut-Chocolate Truffles

noreply@blogger.com (puneetjabbal) — Tue, 20 Dec 2016 08:07:00 +0000

Look at these truffles, aren't they so inviting? These truffles are so addictive that they disappear the moment you serve them😁! Just 3 ingredients and you are done. These truffles are so easy, so quick and so simple to make. They are perfect for busy Christmas days! Serve them or eat them or gift them, you gonna love them!

These truffles have an amazing nutty flavour of coconut. They are sugar-free, dairy-free and glutenfree. The cool thing about these truffles is that you don't necessarily need to keep them in fridge to set. You can serve them right away. So try them and enjoy these guilt-free truffles!

You need

2 cups dates (deseeded and chopped)
1 cup desicated coconut (plus more for coating)
1/4 cup cocoa powder
2-3 tablespoon fresh cream (optional)
Water as required

Method

1. Soak dates in warm water for 5 minutes. Keep aside.Discard the water later.

2. Add 2-3 tablespoon of boiling water into the cocoa powder.Keep aside.

3. Now add all three ingredients (with or without cream) into a blender and blend well till dough-like appearance.

4. You can make the balls right away or keep the mixture into the fridge for an hour.

5. Make 24 equal sized balls (use tablespoon) and coat them with coconut. Serve right away or store them in fridge for 1-2 days.

Makes 2 dozen

Lemon-Thyme Brined Chicken

noreply@blogger.com (puneetjabbal) — Thu, 15 Dec 2016 13:37:00 +0000

Hello everyone, Happy day to you all! I know you must be very busy with your Christmas preparations. Be it home or a room makeover, make-ahead meals, shopping, guests, to name a few, . Still you need to keep the home festive-ready, need to cook festive treats and need to entertain guests. So few no-fuss recipes is what you need to make your work easier. And this recipe, with few ingredients, would just serve the purpose. Although it has very few ingredients, the way it is cooked, is what brings out an amazing taste!

Lemon with any herb is a heavenly combination, isn't it? This chicken recipe has a beautiful lemoney flavour with the freshness of thyme. It is not a very spicy dish, but has a mild-elegant taste. And brining, yes the magic factor, takes any meat recipe to another level. I wet-brined for this recipe. With few spices, the brining creates a smooth spicy hint to the dish. So get the recipe down below and try it out and impress your family and friends. Wishes from cook the natural way!!!

You need

6 chicken breasts

For brine

1/4 cup salt

2 tablespoon sugar

1 star anise

4 cloves

2 bay leaves

few pepper corns

ice (enough to cool the water)

For marinade

3 tablespoon lemon juice

1 tablespoon fresh thyme (or 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme)

3-4 tablespoon olive oil

1/2 teaspoon lemon zest

1/2 teaspoon pepper (or more)

salt (1 tablespoon or more)

Method

1. Prepare the brine :- In a large vessel, heat enough water to cover the chicken (do not boil the water). Add the spices too.

2. Turn off the heat and add enough ice to cool the water. Let the water cool completely (Never add chicken to the warm water). Keep the brined chicken into the refrigerator for a day or at least for 8 hours.

3. Once the chicken has totally absorbed the flavours, discard the brine (water). Pat dry the chicken pieces well.

4. Prepare the marinade and marinate the chicken for atleast 2 hours.

5. Preheat the oven at 220 C.

6. Arrange the breasts on a baking sheet( with the marinade). Place same lemon wedges and thyme springs on each breast.

7. Cover the baking sheet with aluminium foil. Bake for 30-40 minutes.

8. During the last 10 minutes, uncover the chicken and put under broiler till brown on top. Serve with any green chutney.

Serves 6

Almond-Choco Cookies

noreply@blogger.com (puneetjabbal) — Tue, 13 Dec 2016 07:38:00 +0000

Christmas without cookies 🍪 is incomplete, and freshly home baked cookies is what makes the home smells so festive. Whether baking them for the family or gifting them, home baked cookies bring so much joy and satisfaction. Diwali and Christmas are two of my favourite festivals that I love to celebrate to the fullest.Winters, Christmas, cakes, cookies, celebration, oh What a great time of the year!! Well with this recipe, I am starting my Christmas 🎅🎄 special series. Hope you like it.

These cookies, as the name suggests, have the goodness and the richness of almonds . They add a beautiful sweetness and taste. And chocolate, who on Earth doesn't like chocolate cookies?! I have also used "cut out method" to shape the cookies (for a cleaner look) and with a slight difference, they came out perfect, a little crispier than the molded ones. You will also notice in the recipe that I have used cream instead of butter, Reason?- it makes softer cookies. Crispy outside and soft inside, these cookies make a great gift for your friends and family! So go-ahead and prepare these delicious cookies. Happy holidays, enjoy the food to the fullest and for a while forget to cook the natural way 😉! hahaha!

You need

1 and 3/4 cup all purpose flour (maida)

1 cup powdered sugar

1/2 cup almond meal

1/4 cup coco powder

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

3/4 cup fresh cream

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Few almonds (cut in halves) for garnishing

Method

1. Preheat oven at 150 C.

2. In a bowl, mix all the dry ingredients well.

3. Add vanilla and cream. Mix together into a crumbled dough. Gather the dough into a ball and wrap it in a plastic bag. Refrigerate the cookie dough for 1-2 hours.

4. Now either make 12-15 balls, flatten them into 1/2 inch thick cookies. Press an almond on top. Place them on a greased baking sheet, about an inch apart and bake for 8-10 minutes. Let them cool completely on a wire rack.

Roll the dough 1/4 thick, cut out desired shaped cookies. Press an almond on top. Place them on a greased baking sheet, about an 1/2 an inch apart and bake for 5-6 minutes. Let them cool completely on a wire rack.

Enjoy with milk, coffee or tea!

Makes 12-15 (hand-formed cookies)

Makes 2 dozen (cut-out cookies)

SPICY PINEAPPLE FRITTERS with CASHEW CHUTNEY

noreply@blogger.com (puneetjabbal) — Sun, 04 Dec 2016 09:27:00 +0000

I love pineapples🍍, they have a very addictive taste. The flavour is so refreshing and distinct. But cutting a pineapple has always been a big task for me, Thanks to the tips and tricks on internet on "How to cut a pineapple" , that made things a lot easier. This tropical fruit is loaded with Vitamin C and manganese and is also a good source of potassium, copper, calcium, B6, thiamin and folate. It has an enzyme called Bromelain, which aids digestion and reduces swelling. In fact, this enzyme is used in making medicines also. But people who are taking blood thinning pills should avoid this fruit. Well, the center stalk that we usually throw away, has the maximum benefits and it is tasty too. And the outer tough skin can be used as stirrers in drinks! (good idea💡, isn't it?).

Well, now how I got the idea of adding them into Fritters (aka tikki, or pakora). Whenever I go to any barbecue restaurant, there is one skewer I always wait eagerly for, and that is the pineapple skewer. I just love the bomb of flavours bursting in my mouth (spicy, salty and sweet). So one day I decided to use this amazing flavour, and tried this recipe. OMG, it was soo good and now it is in my "must try recipe list". Every time I prepared these fritters, every time it got appreciated! And the cashew chutney goes very well with them. I kept the chutney less spicy, so to balance the spiciness of the recipe. So Go and try them and cook the natural way!!

You need

1 cup heaped pineapple (chopped) (approx. 1 medium pineapple)
4 medium potatoes (boiled and peeled)
bunch of fresh coriander leaves (chopped)
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon lemon zest
1 and 1/2 onion powder
1-2 green chilli (chopped)
4 tablespoon rice flour
2 tablespoon coriander powder
1/2 teaspoon red chilli powder
1/2 teaspoon red chilli flakes (optional)
1//4 teaspoon pepper
salt to taste
oil for shallow frying

For chutney
1 cup yogurt
1/3 cup cashewnuts
1 green chilli
2 garlic cloves
bunch of coriander leaves
salt to taste

Method

1. Put all the fritter's ingredients (except oil), in a bowl. Mix well .

2. Divide the mixture into 8-10 balls. Now flatten each ball and shallow fry both sides till golden brown. (you can also bake them in oven at 180 C till done. Coat them with little oil and place them on a baking tray. Make sure they don't touch each other on the baking tray. Also line the baking tray with butter paper. )

3. For the chutney, add all the chutney ingredients in a blender and blend till smooth.

4. Enjoy the fritters with chutney over a cup of tea or coffee.

Makes 8-10 Fritters

VEGETABLE SANDWICH in CHEESY SAUCE

noreply@blogger.com (puneetjabbal) — Mon, 28 Nov 2016 18:11:00 +0000

Winters make me eat a lot 😋😋, I become a food freak, and it is not the regular meals that I crave for, but I want "something special" to satisfy myself. And this encourages me to try different recipes! I have prepared vegetable sandwiches many times before, but these sandwiches stole my heart and that's why I am sharing them with you. I wanted to make sandwiches which had more vegetables and less butter or cream or mayo, but still creamy and delicious. So I added brinjal (eggplant), yes eggplant 🍆. It made the sandwiches "melt in mouth creamy" and the cheese sauce doubled the taste! You can use any vegetable of your choice but don't forget to add the star ingredient ( that is the eggplant) to these sandwiches The crusty bread outside and creamy filling inside, oh it was so delicious!

Well the year is heading towards it's end and Christmas is on it's way. So I am gonna warm myself near my oven and try out my baking skills. This year I had frequently been "on and off " on my blog for so and so reasons, but I am really glad to find all my friends here, still in touch with me. I love you all for that 💗. So I hope you like the recipe and always cook the natural way!!

You Need

good quality bread ( of your choice)
butter to spread (optional)

2 bell peppers (chopped)
1 large eggplant (chopped) (with or without skin)
2-3 tomatoes (chopped)
3 spring onions (green part)
1 green chilli (chopped finely)
3 garlic cloves (minced)
1/2 teaspoon cumin powder
1/2 teaspoon red chilli powder (or more)
little oil (for sauteing)
1/2 teaspoon salt
dash of pepper
1/4 cup water

For the sauce
1 tablespoon butter
1 tablespoon all purpose flour (maida)
1 and 1/2 cup milk
2 tablespoon mayonnaise (optional)
1 cup grated cheese
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon pepper
salt to taste

Method

1. Heat oil in a pan, saute all the vegetables for a minute. Pour the water in and cook covered for 4-5 minutes or till the vegetables are soft. Season with red chilli powder, cumin powder, salt and pepper. Keep aside.

2. In another pan, melt butter and add flour. Keep stirring till the mixture turns into a paste. Gradually add milk and cook till the sauce thickens (avoid making lumps but if you fail to do so, simply run a hand blender for a smooth consistency). Now add cheese, mayonnaise, oregano, salt and pepper.

3. Next mix the vegetables and the sauce together. Check seasoning. Your filling is ready!

4. Now butter one side each of two bread slices, put the prepared filling on the non butter side of a slice and top with the other slice (butter side up). Make a sandwich and grill or toast both sides of the sandwich till crisp brown. (you use a grill pan or a regular pan, but make sure to press the sandwiches with the help of a ladle, to get desired results)

5. Enjoy with or without your favourite sauce!

Makes 8-10 sandwiches

Corn-Celery Soup

noreply@blogger.com (puneetjabbal) — Sun, 13 Nov 2016 16:51:00 +0000

Hi everyone!! It's getting cold here and what a better way to comfort yourself is to have a warm bowl of soup. And if it is healthy, it's great ! I know everybody loves corns and this soup has it's beautiful combination with celery. The sweetness of bell pepper and the creaminess of cashews make this soup a treat in itself. If you are vegan, you can use olive oil in place of butter. So welcome winters with this golden yellow soup and cook the natural way!!

You need

2 cup corns
2-3 stalk celery (with leaves) (1 and 1/2 cup)
2 medium yellow bell pepper
2-3 garlic cloves (chopped)
1 spring onion (chopped)
1/4 cup cashews
handful of coriander leaves(or basil leaves)
1 tablespoon lemon juice

1 teaspoon honey
1 tablespoon butter
1/2 teaspoon pepper (or more)
4 cups of vegetable stock (or water)
salt to taste

Method

1. Soak cashews in warm water.

2. Boil corns and then blend them (use a little water) in a blender. Strain the corns and keep aside.

3. Meanwhile, melt butter (or oil) in a pan, saute onions and garlic till light brown (do not burn them).

4. Add celery, bell pepper and the soaked cashews, cook till tender.

5. Cool and blend the mixture .( you can strain the celery mixture if you want, I didn't)

6. Now in the same pan add corn puree, celery mixture, and vegetable stock. Bring to a boil.

7. Season with honey, lemon juice, pepper and salt. Cook on simmer for 5-8 minutes.

8. Garnish with coriander leaves and serve hot!!

Serves 4

Cucumber -Coconut Pasta Salad

noreply@blogger.com (puneetjabbal) — Mon, 05 Sep 2016 17:55:00 +0000

Are you bored of tomato and cheesy pasta? Then you must try this pasta recipe! I have tried this recipe many times before sharing it with you (that's what I always do) and trust me every time it got appreciated. The star ingredient here is the coconut. It adds wonder to any dish it is added to, isn't it? Although it has started raining here but still sometimes the weather gets hot, and a Pasta salad is just perfect .

Well I had been a little unwell lately, so I was kind of away all this time. But the food was always on my mind. I could hardly managed to cook and posting a recipe was way beyond for me... Hehe! But I am glad that I am curing myself through natural ways and I am so impressed by the power of every day food. I would like to share my experience in my coming posts soon. Anyways, back to the salad, this tasty pasta salad is simply quick and easy recipe. The yogurt and cucumber also make the salad perfect for summers. So try this Pasta recipe and cook the natural way!

you need

200 g pasta (any shape)
3/4 cup thick yogurt
2 tablespoon honey
2 cucumbers (thinly sliced)
1/3 desiccated coconut
2-3 garlic cloves (finely chopped)
2 tablespoon black currants
few almonds (sliced)
handful of fresh mint leaves (chopped)
handful of fresh coriander leaves (chopped)
1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
2 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil
1/2 teaspoon white pepper powder
Salt to taste

Method

1. Cook pasta as per the instructions given on the pack. Keep aside to cool completely.

2. In a large bowl, mix together yogurt, honey, garlic, oregano, oil, salt and pepper.

3. Now add cucumbers, mint and coriander leaves. Toss well.

4. Lastly mix pasta, coconut and black currants. Transfer the salad on a tray or bowl and garnish with almonds and coriander leaves.

Serves 4

Paneer Lababdar

noreply@blogger.com (puneetjabbal) — Tue, 28 Jun 2016 17:04:00 +0000

So finally my vacations are over, now back to routine! let's start with this popular Indian Paneer recipe- PANEER LABABDAR. Yummmm the name itself is so tempting, isn't it? This dish has many variations. I love the one which is the easiest of all, hehe! So enjoy this recipe with naan, roti or rice and cook the natural way !!

You need
250 g Paneer (cottage cheese) MAKE HOMEMADE COTTAGE CHEESE
3 medium onions
1 inch long ginger
7-8 cloves garlic (medium)
8-10 cashewnuts
6 medium tomatoes
1 medium capsicum (chopped)
1 teaspoon coriander stem
2 green chillies

1/2 teaspoon cumin seeds
2 green cardamoms
1 black cardamom
2 pieces star anise (not the whole)
2 bay leaves

1 teaspoon turmeric powder
1/2 teaspoon red chilli powder
1 teaspoon garam masala (strong)
1 tablespoon coriander powder
1 teaspoon sugar
salt to taste

1 cup water
1-2 tablespoon cream
2 tablespoon oil (plus 1 tablespoon more)

Method

1. Wash and make a slit on tomatoes. put them in boiling water for few minutes. Drain and peel the skin off. Blend the tomatoes to make a puree and keep aside.

2. In another pan, add 1 tablespoon oil and fry onions, ginger, garlic, chillies and cashewnuts till a little brown colour. Cool and grind into a paste.

3. In a wok (kadai), heat 2 tablespoon oil. Add cumin seeds, cardamoms, bay leaves and star anise. Fry till fragrant.

4. Now turn the flames low. Add coriander stems, coriander powder, turmeric, chilli powder and a little salt. Fry for few seconds and add prepared onion-cashew paste. Cook on medium flames till the onions leave the oil to the side.

5. Add capsicum and tomato puree. Mix well and pour the water and season with salt. Cook till you get the desired thickness of the gravy.

6. Lastly add sugar, salt, garam masala cream and cottage cheese. Cook for another minute and garnish with coriander leaves and ginger julliennes. Serve hot with naan or rice. Enjoy!!!

Serves 5

Beet-Sweet Potato Stuffed Prantha

noreply@blogger.com (puneetjabbal) — Thu, 19 May 2016 17:57:00 +0000

Hello everyone, I couldn't write about the little break that I took, in my last post. So here I am after a month or so. But my blog has always been on my mind. Well, today I am very happy to share this recipe. Actually one day my friend asked me to give an idea to add beetroot in paranthas (flat bread) for her kid. And the challenge was not to make the kid realise it. So I thought it over n over n over. Without anything on my mind to start with, I went buying vegetables.

And when I reached to beetroots, I saw SWEET POTATOES next to them and voilà, I got the right combination to work with. It clicked me that very moment what to add more into the stuffing :-) The sweetness of sweet potatoes can easily overtake the distinctive taste of beetroots. So I went home excitedly to try it out. And that was just the thing I wanted. It was a big hit at my home too. So you see sometimes you get the inspiration from anywhere.

Well, talking about sweet potato, this versatile, inexpensive and easily available vegetable is a must-have in my diet. It is super rich in B6, vitamin C, Vitamin A and Vitamin D. I didn't know about the viatmin D until I learned about it one day and hence I found one more good reason to love sweet potatoes.Vitamin D is very important for our bones and immune system. And since there are just countable food that are rich in Vitamin D, Sweet potato is a tasty option. Sweet potato is also high in iron and magnesium. And the beetroots also, rich in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. So this recipe is now in my must-try list. These pranthas have a very nice sweet and tangy flavour and goes so well with the green chutney. Try it someday and as always cook the natural way!!!

You need

For stuffing
2 cups chopped sweet potato (boiled and peeled)
3/4 cup beetroot (peeled and grated)
handful of mint leaves
handful of coriander leaves
2 tablespoon lemon juice
1 green chilli (chopped finely)
1-2 garlic clove (grated)
1 teaspoon dried mango powder (optional)
1/2 teaspoon pepper powder
salt to taste
oil for frying

For pranthas
1 & 1/2 cups whole wheat flour. (plus more for dusting)
water to knead
pinch of salt (optional)

Method

1. Knead the flour using enough water to make a soft dough (add the water little by little). Knead for 2 more minutes and keep aside.

2. In a bowl, mix all the stuffing ingredients and mash them all well. Divide the stuffing into 4 (or 5*) equal parts.

3. Make 4 (or 5*)equal sized balls from the dough.

4. Now heat a tawa (flat pan). Using some loose flour (to keep it from sticking to the surface), flatten a ball using a rolling pin and stuff it with one part of the stuffing. And then pinch in the edges to seal, as shown here

5. Now again using some loose flour and rolling pin, flatten the prantha into a round shape.

6. Put the prantha onto the hot tawa, flip it after 30 seconds and brush some oil on top, flip again. Now oil the other side as well. Turn the flame to low setting, flip the prantha one last time and cook till it is ready.

7. Repeat the process with other pranthas also and Enjoy with some green chutney.

* The number of pranthas depend upon the size. This recipe makes 4 large pranthas and 5 medium sized pranthas.

Serves 4-5

Fig-Almond Milk

noreply@blogger.com (puneetjabbal) — Tue, 22 Mar 2016 08:53:00 +0000

So, the Holi is just one day away. Many must have prepared the guest's list, set the menu or done with the shopping. Here is a quick recipe to enjoy this colourful festival a little more. It will be great to serve this drink to your guests as a welcome-drink to get them charged for the festival fun!!

This milk drink is just perfect for holi, I think, because it is quite heavy on stomach, so it means you will be getting enough energy to enjoy the festival easily. After all you have to run after each other to get them (or get yourself) colored....hehe! Honestly I don't like getting coloured, but once I get trapped, I fully enjoy the spirit of holi to the fullest. It is just the start that seems so difficult to me, what about you? :D

Well, this drink has the goodness of figs and almonds. The crunch of fig seeds what you get while sipping, is truly fun. The addition of HOMEMADE CONDENSED MILK gives it a nice rich depth. Well, not only for festivals, but also for your health in general this drink is very nutritious. Just skip the condensed milk and add honey instead to avoid refined sugar. So don't wait to try this awesome drink anytime and cook the natural way!!

HAPPY HOLI TO ALL OF YOU!!

You need

1 cup dried figs (chopped)
1 star anise
1/2 cup water
seeds of 3 green cardamoms

4 cups milk (cold) (use almond milk for vegan)
1/2 cup condensed milk (use 1/4 cup honey for vegan) (HOW TO MAKE HOMEMADE CONDENSED MILK)
1/4 cup almonds
1/4 teaspoon vanilla essence
water for grinding (as required)

Method

1. Soak almonds in warm water for 10-15 minutes. Later peel them and chop them.

2. Meanwhile, in a pan, add figs, star anise, cardamom seeds and 1/2 cup water. Cook till water evaporates. Discard star anise and Keep figs aside to cool.

3. When cooled, grind figs and almonds into a paste. Add enough water to make grinding easier (if needed).

4. Now in a large vessel, blend together milk, condensed milk, fig-almond paste and vanilla essence. I used hand blender for this step.

5. Keep in refrigerator to cool. Garnish with almonds and serve chilled. ENJOY!!!!

SERVES 4-5

APRICOT RICE PHIRNI | APRICOT RICE PUDDING

noreply@blogger.com (puneetjabbal) — Fri, 18 Mar 2016 18:30:00 +0000

Hello everyone, I think Holi without kheer or phirni is incomplete. Holi is a festival of fun, frolic and of course food! Gujjia, malpuas, sweets and snacks all bring out the festive magic. Well, this phirni recipe has a brilliant touch of apricots. I love to cook this phirni on special occasions. It's a heavenly treat. This creamy delicious phirni will be a delish for your friends and family this holi. So don't forget to try this awesome phirni this holi and cook the natural way!

You need

For apricot purée
10-12 dried apricots (roughly chopped)
1 teaspoon sugar
3 tablespoon water
2 small pieces of star anise (not the whole)

For phirni
1/2 cup rice
1 cup water (for soaking)
1/4 cup water (for grinding)
5 cups milk
6 green cardamoms
1/4 cup sugar (or less)
1/2 cup condensed milk (HOW TO MAKE HOMEMADE CONDENSED MILK)
1/2 cup dessicated coconut (or 3/4 cup fresh grated coconut)
1 tablespoon ghee (clarified butter)
1/3 cup nuts of your choice

Method

1. Wash rice and soak them in 1 cup water for atleast 2 hours. Later drain them and grind them with 1/4 cup water into a grainy paste.

2. In a pan, add apricot purée ingredients and cook till water evaporates. Discard star anise pieces and grind the apricots into a purée. Keep aside.

3. Now in a heavy bottom pan, heat ghee and fry cardamoms till fragrant. You can fry nuts too at this stage.

4. Add rice, sugar and milk. Stir vigorously to avoid any lumps. Cook covered and keep stirring every now and then to prevent it from burning. It.may take 15-20 minutes.

5. Check if rice cooks completely, then add apricot purée, coconut and condensed milk. Mix well and cook for another 5 minutes. (you can add more milk if the consistency is very thick)

6. Garnish with chopped apricots (add some dessicated coconut to avoid the apricots sticking to each other) and serve hot or chilled! ENJOY!

Serves 5

Sooji-Nariyal Ladoo | Semolina-Coconut Balls

noreply@blogger.com (puneetjabbal) — Wed, 16 Mar 2016 09:23:00 +0000

Holi (the festival of colours in India) is round the corner and the food blog world is flooded with delicious and tempting sweets. And here is mine. Well, now when we have learnt to make HOMEMADE CONDENSED MILK, let's use it to make these delicious ladoos. I think when we add Coconut to any recipe, it creates a magic. The food tastes amazing. What do you think? In these ladoos (balls) also coconut is dominating. I have also added cashews that give these ladoos a very distinct taste. So, you can say, it is a combination of kaju katli (cashew fudge) and nariyal ladoo (coconut fudge). It is an easy and very popular sweet here. So try these ladoos (balls) this holi and cook the natural way!

You need

1 cup suji (semolina)
3/4 cup dessicated coconut (or 1 cup grated fresh coconut)
(plus more coconut for coating)
1/3 cup cashew nuts
seeds of 3 green cardamoms
1 and 1/2 cup milk
3/4 cup condensed milk (How to make HOMEMADE CONDENSED MILK)
1 tablespoon ghee (clarified butter)

Method

1. Grind together cashew nuts and cardamom seeds into a coarse powder. Keep aside.

2. In a heavy bottom pan (or kadai or wok), heat ghee. Add semolina and keep stirring till the semolina appears golden brown and popped.

3. Once the semolina (sooji) is ready, add coconut and cashew mix. Stir for another minute.

4. Pour milk and stir vigorously to avoid making lumps. Lastly add condensed milk and mix well.

5. Take off the burner and spread the mixture on a flat surface to cool.

6. When cooled enough to handle, make equal sized balls.

7. Roll and coat each ladoo (ball) in coconut. ENJOY!!

Makes 20-25 ladoos (balls)

Makhane-Khajoor Ladoo | Foxnut-dates Energy Balls (Vegan)

noreply@blogger.com (puneetjabbal) — Mon, 14 Mar 2016 12:08:00 +0000

Well you don't need any occasion to enjoy these Ladoos (balls). They are so delicious and healthy too. Why healthy? They are refined sugar-free, give you energy and have the goodness of dates and foxnut (makhane). When I was a kid, I used to relate foxnut with popcorns....hehe! Well foxnuts (makhane) are actually lotus flowers seeds which are puffed. They are very nutritious and has medicinal properties too!They are low in calories and high on vitamins and minerals. Foxnuts are a good source of antioxidants, protein, magnesium and fibre. They can be eaten raw or roasted or can be blended with other ingredients. It has almost a nude taste, but distinctive, so they blend well with many ingredients. And they are gluten-free as well. I used them in powdered form to make these dates energy balls (khajoor ladoo) even healthier. These ladoos (balls) has a very nice sour and sweet taste. The addition of lemon brings out a fun element in these ladoos (balls). And they are vegan and gluten-free too! So try them this festive season and cook the natural way!!

You need

2 cups dates (deseeded and chopped)

1 tablespoon raisins (heaped)

2 cups foxnuts (makhane)

1/4 cup cashewnuts (coarsely grounded)

1 tablespoon coconut oil (or ghee)

seeds of 4 green cardamoms (crushed)

1/4 cup water

Method

1. In a pan, dry roast fox nut (makhane) on medium flames till they are crisp . Keep on stirring to avoid getting them burnt. It may take 4-5 minutes. Keep aside to cool. Once cooled, grind them into powder. Keep aside.

2. Now in a blender, blend together dates and raisins with water and make a thick paste (chunks of dates (if there) are fine).

3. In a pan, heat oil (or ghee), fry cardamom seeds till fragrant. Then add dates paste and lemon juice. Cook for 2 minutes or until it gets thicker. Turn off the gas and spread the dates mix onto a plate to cool.

4. When cool enough to handle, add cashewnuts and fox nuts (makhane).. Mix well and make equal sized ladoos (balls). Enjoy!!

Makes 12-15 ladoos (balls)

Homemade Condensed Milk

noreply@blogger.com (puneetjabbal) — Mon, 07 Mar 2016 14:56:00 +0000

Celebrations are on it's way, so let's get ready with the festive recipes! First thing first, make condensed milk and get yourself well equipped, as many Indian sweets get their amazing mood lifting taste from it! Condensed Milk is really easy to make at home, although it needs a little time and effort, but it is worth doing so. Why?? Well,

1. It costs lesser.
2. You can adjust the amount of sugar or butter according to your preference.
3. Canned condensed may contain added synthetic stabilizers to increase the shelf-life, you can avoid them!
4. Lastly and importanly, it is really satisfying!!

You can use condensed milk in almost any dessert to get an amazing taste and texture! Even a generous layer of condensed milk on a toast is a dessert for me :) !! So get ready and let's cook the natural way!!

You need

2 and 1/2 cups milk (whole milk)
1 cup sugar (or less)
1 tablespoon butter (optional)
pinch of salt (skip if using salted butter) (optional)

Method

1. In a heavy bottom pan (or wok or kadai), boil milk. On boiling, add sugar and salt.

2. Now if you want to make it quick then keep the milk boiling on high flames till it thickens (but still runny). Stirring in between and scraping the sides too. The milk may take 15-20 minutes to get ready. (you can't leave the milk unattended)

3. Or you can let the milk boil on very low flames till it reaches the right consistency , however you still have to keep a check on it. It may take an hour to get ready.

4. Stir in the butter and pour the prepared condensed milk into a airtight glass jar. Cool it and store it in refrigerator. Keeps up to a week in refrigerator and keeps up to a month in freezer.

Makes about 1 cup

Beetroot-Strawberry Smoothie

noreply@blogger.com (puneetjabbal) — Thu, 03 Mar 2016 15:50:00 +0000

Happy Thursday everyone! Well, if you are my regular visitor (rather my blogger friends), you know that I am addicted to smoothies. Blending healthy ingredients together to satisfy the body and soul, is just a smoothie all about. What I like the most about smoothies, is that it gets ready in no time. Now, this smoothie is not just healthy it is super delicious too. Beetroots strengthens your immune system, strawberries provides antioxidants, banana helps loose weight, milk & yogurt make bones stronger. Plus the goodness of all the vitamins and minerals. This smoothie is a health blast in a glass to kick your day ahead! It is sugar-free too!! So gather the ingredients listed below, make this smoothie and cook the natural way!!

You need

4-5 strawberries (chopped)

2 bananas (peel and chopped)

1/4 cup beetroot (peeled and chopped)

1/4 cup fresh mint leaves

1 tablespoon raisins

1 tablespoon honey (more or less as needed)

1 cup milk

1/2 cup yogurt

Method

1. Add all the ingredients in a blender and blend till smooth.

2. Pour into the glasses and that's it :) Enjoy!!

Serves 2

Dried Fenugreek Potatoes

noreply@blogger.com (puneetjabbal) — Sun, 28 Feb 2016 13:40:00 +0000

Here is my lazy Sunday fix. Sundays should be relaxing, what you you think? On Sundays I have a mental set back and I feel so spoiled! Even Kitchen seems to be an uninviting place, hehe! At least there should be a complete "chill-out day" in a week. Even studies have proved that having a lazy day in a week can help reduce stress, high blood pressure, stroke! Wow, I get a great boast when I learn about such cool things *happy face*. Well, still you have to cook sometimes and that is the time when you start thinking about all those rescue recipes- easy and quick. This recipe will do just that thing for you. Potatoes with fenugreek are one of the best combinations and every Indian household must have tried it once or more. I tried to bring out a nice change to the recipe. The perfect blend of choicest spices will sure make you try this again and again. It is easy, vegan, glutenfree, healthy and super tasty!
Potatoes, or rather poor potatoes, have a very bad image among weight watchers. But having potatoes once in a while will NOT make you look bad, trust me. It is not the poor Potato who is the culprit, it is the way that you cook it, makes the difference. Be it the deep fried chips, fries or even baked but with lots of cheese and oil will bring more harm than health. In fact potatoes are low in calories and high in fibres! They are a very good source of vitamins and minerals, easily available and easy to digest. So you can try eating potatoes with this less oil healthy recipe (though I have also added cream which is totally optional) and always cook the natural way!

You need

10-12 potatoes (boiled and cut)
2 medium onions (finely chopped)
1 green chilli (finely chopped)
4 garlic cloves (finely chopped)
3 tablespoon dried fenugreek leaves

1 teaspoon cumin seeds
1/2 teaspoon mustard seeds
1/4 teaspoon carom seeds (ajwain)
1/4 fennel seeds (saunf)
1/4 teaspoon hing powder (asafoetida)

2 teaspoon dry mango powder (amchur)
1 teaspoon curry powder (or coriander powder)
1/2 teaspoon red chilli powder (or more)
1/4 teaspoon turmeric powder (optional)
1/4 teaspoon pepper powder
1 tablespoon lemon juice
salt to taste

1-2 tablespoon oil
2 tablespoon cream (optional)

Method

1. Heat oil in a pan, fry cumin, carom, mustard, fennel and hing till fragrant.(do not burn them)

2. Add onions and garlic and cook till onions turn translucent pink.

3. Put the cut potatoes, mango powder, chilli powder, pepper, turmeric, curry powder and salt. Mix well and cook for a minute.

4. Now add Fenugreek leaves and cream (if using). Lastly add lemon juice. Mix well and serve with any bread of your choice.

Serves 4

Corn-Broccoli Fritters

noreply@blogger.com (puneetjabbal) — Wed, 24 Feb 2016 14:17:00 +0000

Hi, my valentine hangover is finally over at last, hehe!! Well, last week was ultra busy. Anyways, I am a little obsessed with vegetables. It is hard for me to even think about cooking without them. And always find new ways to eat them but of course in a healthy way. Today I am here with this healthy and tasty fritter recipe. Broccoli with corns, what a nice combination! Broccoli's health benefits now needs no introduction. The world is enjoying this vitamin C and vitamin A enriched green vegetable in many ways. Broccoli also contains anti-oxidants, fibers and other vitamins and minerals. It helps to protect against many diseases .But thyroid patients should avoid it. Well, these fritters not only look tempting, they are delicious too!! The perfect blend of herbs and spices makes these fritters really tasty. They are vegan, gluten-free and with less-oil. So enjoy these fritters with a cup of tea or coffee and cook the natural way!! Happy Snacking!!

you need

250g broccoli (grated)

1 cup corns (boiled and coarsely crushed)
handful of fresh mint leaves
6 potatoes (boiled and mashed)

2 tablespoon dry mango powder (amchur)
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1 teaspoon chilli powder (or less)
1 teaspoon cumin powder
2 teaspoon coriander powder
1/4 teaspoon dried oregano

4 garlic cloves (minced)
1/2 inch long ginger (minced)
1/4 cup corn meal (makki ka atta)
1 teaspoon oil + more for shallow frying (adjust)

Method

1. Heat 1 teaspoon oil in a pan, fry ginger and garlic till golden brown. Add cumin powder and coriander powder. Mix well and take it off the flames. Keep aside to cool enough to handle.

2. In a mixing bowl, mix all the other ingredients and add the prepared ginger-garlic mix.

3. Mash everything well and make 12-15 balls. Flatten the balls with hands.

4. Grease a pan with oil and shallow fry the fritters from both sides, turning once. Serve with green chutney or tomato sauce.

Makes 12-15 fritters

Valentine's Day Special Recipes

noreply@blogger.com (puneetjabbal) — Sun, 14 Feb 2016 15:18:00 +0000

Let's celebrate valentines's day with these easy and quick recipes!

1. Beetroot Cheela | Beetroot Gramflour Panrolls

2. Fruit Salad

3. Oat-Cardamom Parfait

4. Tomato Love Sips

5. Coffee Cupcakes

6. Chocolate Brownies

7. Heartbeet Cutlets

Fruit Love (valentine special)

noreply@blogger.com (puneetjabbal) — Thu, 11 Feb 2016 10:30:00 +0000

Ok how about a fruit salad, after breakfast, with your valentine? With a little effort and clever ingredients you can transform a simple fruit salad into a delicious and healthy dessert!! This fruit salad has my HOMEMADE FIG JAM but you can use any jam instead. Nothing is awesome than a bowl of fresh fruits, it charges you and your mood too! So make this easy and quick salad and have some sweet fruity chit-chats with your valentine!! And yes, you know it, cook the natural way!!

You need

6 strawberries (chopped)

3 kiwis (peeled and chopped)

1 cup grapes

3 dried apricots (chopped)

2 tablespoon black currants

2 tablespoon coconut cream or regular fresh cream

1 tablespoon honey

1 tablespoon fig jam (or regular jam) (How to make fig jam at home?)

1/4 teaspoon lemon zest

Method

1. Mix cream, honey, lemon zest and jam together.

2. Put fruits in a bowl and add the cream dressing. Mix well and enjoy !!

Serves 2