dairy free

This is my go-to recipe when I want to make a simple side dish for Rice/Roti/Poori. I usually mix these veggies together (Onion,Carrot,French Beans,Potato,Tomato,Capsicum,Cauliflower/Broccoli).They all make a fantastic combo. You can even add Cabbage,Spinach or any other greens too to make it even more healthier. Such a simple recipe but tastes absolutely delicious. Since I love crunch in the curry, I don’t add too much of water while cooking the vegetables. Since they will soften the texture. Just sprinkle few drops of water while cooking the veggies. The following measurement serves two. Adjust quantity accordingly
.

Couscous is one of my favorite ingredients and am incorporating it in many Indian based recipes too. This salad can be put together within few minutes and its vegan too. Instead of Tofu you could also add grilled halloumi or paneer too incase if you are not a vegan I have used only basic ingredients for preparing the marinade. The salad can be served cold as well. Hence you could prepare the Couscous mixture well in advance and can refrigerate for later use. Grill the Tofu just before serving

Pulikuzhambu, Kara Kuzhambu, Poondu Kuzhambu these are all various varieties of thick tamarind based curries that are most popular in Tamilnadu apart from the usual Sambar & Rasam. The consistency is the key to make a perfect poondu kuzhambu. Recently I brought around 1/4 kg of fresh garlic from farmer’s market nearby and was waiting for weekend to make the gravy. After painstakingly peeling 2 whole bulbs of garlic I looked around the pantry and realized there was no Tamarind. Tamarind pulp is an essential ingredient to this curry because it gives the right tanginess to the gravy. I blindly…

Dal is an Indian dish prepared using various Legumes or Pulses. This protein rich, vegan dish can be served as an accompaniment to Rice or any type of Flat Breads. I have used Brown Lentils (whole masoor dal). However you could substitute it with canned Chick Peas, Kidney Beans or any other legumes. While serving the dal, you could also add a tbsp. of Butter to enhance the flavor. If you would like a more soupy consistency then add extra water accordingly. Since I was serving it with Rice I added less water to get creamy consistency. 

Quinoa pronounced as ‘keen-wah’ is one of the most popular Health foods in recent days. Gluten free, rich in protein and incredibly nutritious are the reasons which makes this cereal grain the most wanted. White, Red and Black are the three main types of Quinoa and I have tried various recipes using this. However the Indo-Chinese version of Quinoa is our personal favorite. I was initially confused as what to name this dish 😉 Veg quinoa somehow sounded incomplete. Hence going by this name “Veg Quinoa Fried Rice” for the dish. The classic Chinese dish gets a makeover with quinoa….

Lassi is one of the most popular Punjabi drinks that can be prepared in two ways. Either salt or sweet. Papaya lassi is a sweet version and a great alternative to the usual Mango Lassi. This tropical fruit is loaded with antioxidants, rich in Vitamin C and fiber. It has various health benefits like lowering cholesterol, boosting immunity and is good for maintaining blood sugar levels too.

 Appam is a thin pancake that is prepared from Rice batter mixed with coconut milk. It is a staple breakfast in Kerala and in Srilanka. What makes it so special is the lacy, thin outer layer and its central layer which is soft and pillowy. The consistency of the batter is really important to achieve this right texture. Normally Raw Rice (pacharisi) is used as main ingredient. I have used Brown Basmati Rice and the story behind is explained below 😉

I always love to experiment when it comes to food. Who doesn’t love challenges 😉 Last Saturday I was planning to prepare Appam as breakfast. The classic combination for that would have been Stew, Kadala Curry, Coconut milk etc. But unfortunately few of the essential ingredients were not unavailable in the pantry. When I thought of preparing coconut chutney as sidedish, I saw this Heinz Bean Tin which we had bought a while ago. We usually have baked beans on our toast. Then immediately an idea sparked to convert the sweet readymade baked beans to a spicy curry. Balancing the…

Our morning breakfasts can be made healthier by using this Homemade Granola mix. This has no refined sugar and have added a very little amount of Natural Honey for sweetness. Loaded with nuts and dried fruits am sure you will enjoy this healthy breakfast. The following measurement yields approximate

Tofu is my new found love. Being a vegetarian I am always in search for a good protein source to include in my day to day meal. Earlier Paneer was only used widely in preparing gravies and side dishes. Nowadays I have included Tofu in salads, prepared gravy and have used in various recipes. It taste