Kashmiri Pulav (Microwave recipe)

Kashmiri Pulav- a flavorful pulav. Perfect for any party or any time.

Ingredients

2 cup basmati rice
1 large onion chopped
1 stick cinnamon stick (break into small pieces)
3-4 green cardamom
1/2 tps turmeric powder
5-6 almonds
5-6 cashew
3tps oil
1 tps cumin seeds
1/2 tps kesar , mixed in 1 tps milk

Method

wash and sock rice for 1 hour.
add little oil in microwave safe bowl. add cumin seeds, candamon, chinnaon in the pan.
add turmeric powder and mix well.
mix rice and add sufficient water. and let it cook in microwave on High for 10 minutes.

in a pan heat oil and fry onion , cashew, and almond till onion will become brown.

mix onion, dry fruits and kesar to rice and let it cook for 5 more minutes in microwave.

serve hot with curry or dal of your choice.

Balanced Diet by Anubha Verma

Everyone talks about balanced diet .lets start with knowing what is balanced diet .

Diet plays most imp role in controlling whole mechanism of the body. nutrients found in food help our body to function properly. a diet that contains adequate amounts of all the necessary nutrients required for healthy growth and activity is called balanced diet.

Requirement of different nutrients is different for everyone. So we must know that what should be adequate for our body to function properly.

Foods can be grouped on the basis of the nutrients contained in them and their functions in the body. Based on their functions they can be divided into three groups

·       Energy giving foods

·       Body building foods

·       Protective foods

Energy giving food

Energy is required by the body to do work and to perform all the physiological functions of the body. Carbohydrates like rice wheat, potato and fats like ghee and oil belong to this group.

Body building food

Our body needs to grow. Due to constant wear and tear in the body, new cells have to be built to repair the damaged parts. Proteins like milk, eggs, meat, cheese and dal help in body building.

Protective foods

Vitamins and minerals belong to this group. Absence of these constituents cause deficiency diseases like rickets, beriberi etc. Vegetables and fruit are rich in vitamins and minerals.

Following table Shows the three food groups and their sources

Food group according to function	Major nutrient	Food containing the nutrient
Energy giving	carbohydrate and Fat	Cereals like rice and wheat Starches like potato. Fat-ghee and oil Sugar
Body building	Protein	Milk Meat-Mutton, chiken, fish Egg white Pulses, like dals,gram,soya bean peas
Protective	Minerals,Vitamins	Vegetables specially green leafy vegetables like spinach, cabbage and Dietry fibre such as brinjal, beans and fruits

 Following table shows different food group and their normal requirement in bracket along with their main nutrients , we should try to include all the food groups in our diet so that we can get balanced diet . Vegetarian people can increase  their protien content of diet by adding pulses group in their diet .

Food Group	Main Nutrients
Cereals, grains and products (6-7 servings per day), rice wheat flour, maize, rice flakes, puffed rice and maida.	Energy, protein, invisible fat,Vitamin B, B2, folic acid, iron and fibre.
Pulses (one serving per day) legumes, Bengal gram, black gram, green gram, red gram, rajmah, soyabean.	Energy, protein, invisible fats,Vitamin B B2, folic acid, calcium, iron, fibre.
Milk and meat products (2 servings per day), milk, skimmed milk and cheese.	Protein, fat, Vitamin B2, calcium.
Meat and chicken - liver, fish, eggs, meat (one serving per day).	Protein, fat and Vitamin B2.
Fruits apples, guava, tomato ripe, papaya, orange, sweet lime, water melon.	Fibre, Vitamin C, carotenoids.
Vegetables (green leafy). Amarnath, spinach, coriander leaves, mustard leaves.	Invisible fat carotenoids, Vitamin B2, folic acid, iron and calcium fibre.
Other vegetables: carrot, brinjal, lady finger, capsicum, beans, onion, cauliflower.	Carotenoids, folic acid, calcium fibre.
Fat and sugar: Fat - 3(tsp/day) butter, ghee, hydrogenated oils, cooking oils like ground nut, mustard and coconut oil.	Energy, fats and essential fatty acids.
Sugar (2 tablespoon/day) sugar and jaggery.	Energy.

A balanced diet and physical exercise has a major role in achieving long healthy life.

1.    It helps in controlling body weight, heart rate and BP.

2.    Increase in exercise capacity and muscle performance.

3.    Improves blood sugar, lowers harmful cholesterol and triglycerides and increases the beneficial HDL cholesterol.

4.    Produces mental and physical relaxation.

Some Greek Philosopher said "Leave your drugs in the chemist's pot if you can heal the patient with food."

it was a introduction to healthy diet .I will get back soon to tell a different diets for diseases . So that by modifying your diet you can recover faster .

Take care n stay healthy

Anubha verma

Dietitian

Dal Bahar

Another change in routine Toor dal. Arahar dal with flavorful tadka and vegetables

Ingredients 

1 cup arahar dal
1 tps mustard seeds
1 tps cumin seeds
1" ginger chopped
6-7 curry leaves
10 clove garlic chopped
1 green chilly chopped
1/2 tps hing

1/2 cup gobhi
1/2 cup beans
1/2 cup carrot
2-3 dum sticks

1/2 tps haldi
1/2 tps red chilly
1 tps lemon juice
salt according to taste
2 tps oil

Method

1. Heat oil in cooker. add cumin seeds, mustard seeds, curry leaves, garlic, ginger and hing. saute for garlic will change color.
2. Add chopped vegetable. saute for 2 minutes.
3. Add dal and mix well. add 2 cup water, salt , red chilly and turmeric. let it boil once.
4. Close the lid of cooker. let it cook for two three vessels.
5. Let it cool till cooker will release pressure.
6. Open the cooker , mix it. add coriander leaves and lemon juice.
7. Serve hot with rice or chapati

Chilly Garlic Fried Rice

Ingredients

2 Onion chopped
2 green chilly chopped
10 garlic clove chopped
2 cup cooked rice
1/2 tps msg
1 tps soya sauce
1 tps chilly garlic paste
salt according to taste
2 tps oil
black pepper optional

Method

1. heat oil in the pan.
2. add onion and saute till onion will change the color
3. add green chilly and chopped garlic and saute for 1 minute
4. add chilly  garlic paste and saute for 1 minute
5. add rice , and mix well.
6. add soya sauce, msg, salt and black paper(optional). mix well
7. let it for 3-4 minute on medium flame. saute in between.
8 serve hot.

this rice can go with any Chinese dish.

Thai Green Curry -Vegetable

Last weekend i have tried marwadi cusine. This weekend I wanted to try something Thai. This curry I wanted to prepare from long. Its really nice. I can not comparem it with any other thing. It was really nice.

Ingredents

For Green Curry Paste

10 lemon grass
1 onion
1" Galangal
9-10 garlic clove
1tps lemon rind
1 small bunch corriander
1 tps corriander seeds
1 tps cumin seeds
2 green chilly

Others

1/2 cup Gobhi cut into small peices
1/4 cup cup carrot chopped
1/2 cup chopped mushroom
1/2 cup chopped baby corn
1 tps lemon juice
1 cut coconut milk
4-5 besil leaves

Method

1. make Green chilly paste by grinding all ingrednts .

2. heat the pan and add green curry paste in the pan. saute for 1 minute

3. now add vegetables and saute for 2-3 minutes.

4. take few lemon grass and tie in muslin cloth.

5. add 2 cup water and put lemon grass bundle in it. mix well. let it cook for another 4-5 minutes.

6. get the lemon grass bundle out.

7. add coconut water , salt in the pan. let for cook it all vegetable are cooked.

8 add chopped basil leaves for saute for 1 minute.

9. serve hot with rice or fried rice

                                                                         

Takadia- Marwadi Spicy Roti

This is my another recipe in marwadi cusine. This is a spicy roti with filling of Onion and Tomato. i never thought of filling tomatoes in roti. But it is really yummy , I would like to cook it again and again

Ingredents



2 cup Wheat flour
2 tps oil
salt according to taste

1 large onion chopped
2 medium tomatoes chopped
1 tps red chilly
1 tps jeera
2 tps fresh coriander leaves
salt

Method


1. In a bowl mix onion, tomato , bhuna jeera, red chilly. do not add salt now otherwise it will loose water.


2. mix oil and salt in wheat floor and make smooth dough


3. divide dough into 8 equal parts


4. take two part and roll small chapaties with them.


5. spread little oil on one chapati and spread onion tomato mixture on that. spread little salt on the top


6. put other chapati on top. seal the edges.


7. roll out a thick chapati.


8. heat the tawa and cook on both side till it will become golden brown.


9. spread butter or gree on the top.


10. serve hot

                                         

Dahi papad ki sabji

I wanted to try some of marwadi recipes. This recipe was on top of my list. I made this recipe on sunday lunch.

Ingredients


1 1/2 cup sour curd
2 cup water
1 tps garam masala
3/4 tps red chilly powder
1/2 tps turmeric powder
1 pinch of Hing
1 tps coriander powder
1 tps cumin seeds
3 tps oil

6 moong dal papad
2 tps coriander leaves

Method


In a container mix curd, water, red chilly powder, salt and


Heat oil in a kadai. add cumin seeds.


add hing and coriander powder. saute for 30 sec.


add curd mixture in it. let it boil.


On other burner, Roast all papads.


Break papad into 2"-3" uneven pieces.


add papad pieces in the curry. let it cook for another 1 minute


garnish with coriander leaves



serve hot with Chapati or Rice

Methi Matar Malai

I wanted to cook this recipe from long. Finally I made this today. Rich Gravy with goodness of Methi.

Ingredents


1 cup Green Peas
1 cup methi leaves
1" ginger chopped
1 onion chopped
2 medium tomato chopped
1 cup skimed milk
1 tps garam masala
1/4 tps turmaric powder
1 tps red chilly powder
2 whole red chilly
1 tps cumin seeds
3 tps oil

Method


1. wash and chop methi leaves


2. in a pan, heat oil. add cumin seeds and whole red chilly


3. add onion, and ginger. saute till it will change color


4. add tomato and saute for 2-3 minutes.


5. add peas, salt, turmaric powder, garam masala, red chilly powder. mix well. cover the pan let it cook till peas are cooked.


6. add methi leaves and mix well. saute for 2-3 minutes.


7. add milk and 1/2 cup water and cover the pan. let it cook for 5 more minutes


8. serve hot with Chapati or rice


this recipe is perfect for any dinner party.





                                        

Garlic Chilly Coriander Chutney

I always love to have this chutney. All this ingredients when mixed together , it really taste very good

Ingredients

20-25 Clove Garlic
5-6 Green Chilly
1 Bunch Coriander
Salt according to taste

Method

1. wash garlic , chilly and coriander properly
2. now add garlic , chilly and coriander in grinder
3. add little water and grind it.
4. now add salt and grind it again.

This chutney goes well with evening time snacks and I like it very much with peanut.

Achari Paneer Tikka

This Recipe is sent by one of most important contributor in the Blog, Nitu Chugani. Thanks a lot for sharing a lot of good recipes with CookWithPia.

Achari Paneer Tikka is very nice snack for your parties.... You can also make it with Tofu

Ingredients 

Paneer made out of 2 litres milk or 1 block tofu for the tofu please keep it in a kitchen napkin overnight to remove moisture (Paneer 250 Gm)

MARINADE
200 grams hung yoghurt
2 tablespoons ginger garlic paste
2 tablespoons oil from any pickle u have
1 tablespoon ACHAARI MASALA
salt to taste
juice of 1 juicy lime
1 tablespoon roasted gram flour

 Method
cut the paneer /tofu into desired bite size pieces. mix ingredients for marinade and marinate the paneer/tofu in this for about 4-5 hours.
 

heat oil in a non stick pan and grill the pieces of paneer/tofu till well grilled and a bit crispy. serve with a chop tomatoes n green chillies, add salt and lime and olive oil and refrigerate for a few hours.

Pav Bhaji

Home Cooked Pav Bhaji, healthy , tasty and better than market one

 Ingredients

8 Pav
3 tps of butter

1/2 cup chopped gobhi
1/2 cup peas
1/4 cup chopped beans
1/4 cup chopped cabbage
1/3 cup chopped carrots
3 medium potatoes boiled
2 medium tomato chopped
1 medium onion chopped
2 tps pav Bhaji masala(you can purchase from market or prepare Pav bhaji Masala)
1 tps Amachoor
1 tps red chilly powder
1 tps cumin seeds
2 tps oil
4 tps butter(optional)

Method
Heat oil in a pan. add cumin seeds. saute for 30 seconds
add onion, saute till onion will change color
add chopped vegetables except patatos and tomatos
add little salt and mix well. cover the pan saute in between . cook till veg are almost cooked
now add chopped tomato. saute for 2 minutes.
now add boiled potatos,little mashed . Mix well
add 1 cup water, salt , pav bhaji masala, red chilly, amchoor. mix well.
cook till water will become half. mash the bhaji so that all vegetables will be mixed well.

Cut the pav in the middle
add little butter on the heated pan.
press the pav on the tav till pav wil become crispy

for serving add bhaji in the plate. add little butter on top. serve with crispy Pav

Note -This image is indicative purpose only. It is taken from the web

Pav Bhaji Masala

Ingredients


2 tps coriander seeds(dhaniya)
1 tps cumin seeds (jeera)
4-5 dry red chillies (lal mirch)
1/2 tps turmeric powder(haldi)
1 tps dry raw mango powder(amchoor)
2 pods cardamom seeds removed (badi ilayachi)
6 cloves(laung)
1"stick of cinnamon (dal chini)
2 star anise
1 tsp fennel seeds(saunf)
2" piece of dry ginger(sauth)
1 tbsp Garam Masala powder
1/4 tsp asafetida(hing)


Method:
1. Heat a pan on medium heat.
2. Gently roast the cumin, coriander, fennel seeds, the dry red chillies, cloves and cinnamon till they turn slightly darker and start releasing their aroma.
3. Remove from fire immediately and cool.
4. Grind all the ingredients - including the Garam Masala powder ,till a fine powder is formed

Health benifits of Black Pepper

We mostly add black pepper in our cooking in whole form or in powder form. This small spice has a number of health benefits also. It is a source of manganese, iron, potassium, vitamin C and vitamin K and dietary fiber

The health benefits of black pepper include the following:


• Good for stomach:
Black Pepper increases secretion of hydrochloric acid in stomach which helps digestion. Pepper also helps to prevent formation of intestinal gas.


• Helps to reduce weight:
The outer layer of peppercorn assists in the breakdown of fat cells so peppery foods are a good way to help you reduce weight.


• Good for skin:
Pepper helps to cure skin disease Vitiligo, that causes some areas of skin to lose its normal pigment and turn white. According to researchs , Piperine ,which is present in pepper, can stimulate the skin to produce pigment.


• Relief for cough and cold:
In Ayurveda pepper is added in tonics for cold and cough. You can make a herbal tea, by adding whole black pepper, clove, ginger, tulsi leaves, and tea leaves. Cook till water will remain half. Add little milk and sugar. It is really useful in cough and cold.


• Black pepper improves dental health
Pepper helps fight tooth decay and provides relief from toothache.


• Bioavailability enhancement
Piperine increases the bioavailability of valuable phytochemicals present in other spices and can boost the activity of biochemically active compounds contained in green tea, curcumin and a variety of other spices by up to several hundred percent, depending on the molecule concerned.

 Black pepper may be consumed safely in moderate quantities. Adding pepper, along with other potent medicinal spices like turmeric, cumin, fenugreek, cinnamon and ginger is a great natural way to enhance overall body health.



                                             

[source 1]  [source 2]  [source 3]

Palak Bhaigan ka Sag

Palak is rich source of iron. I like to have palak in any form. This is aalo palak with bringal. A very tasty and healthy

Ingredents
1 bunch palak
1 potato
1 medium bringal
1 tps methi seed
1 medium tomato chopped
2 red chilly cut into two pieces
2 tps oil
salt according to taste


Method

1. wash and chop palak.


2. cut brinjal and potato in medium pieces


3. heat the oil in the methi seeds and red chilly. saute for 30 sec


4. now add potato and bringal. saute for 2 minutes.


5. add palak, tomato, salt and mix well.


6. close the lid of pan , stirr in between.


7. cook till all water of palak is soaked.


8. serve hot with chapati or rice

Namkeen Dalia (Micowave Recipe)

Ingredients


1 cup dalia, cleaned and washed
1 tsp jeera (cumin seeds )
2 cloves
1/2 cup tomatos
1/4 cup onion chopped
1/4 cup french bean chopped
1/4 cup carrot chopped
1/4 cup cauliflower chopped
1/4 cup green peas
1 tsp chilli powder
salt to taste
2 tps oil

For the garnis
2 tbsp chopped coriander (dhania)






Method

1. In a micowave safe bowl, combine the oil, jeera, cloves, black papper and microwave on HIGH for 1 minute.


2. Add Dalia, mix well and cover it. Microwave on HIGH for 1 minute, stir once in between after 30 seconds.


3. Add vegetable, chilly powder, salt and 2 cups of hot water and mix well.


4. Cover the bowl with a lid and microwave on HIGH for 9 minutes.


5. Stir well and microwave on HIGH for 2 more minutes.


6. serve hot, garnished with the coriander.

Chana Dal Bhari puri

This Puri is part of most of festivals in my in laws place. Its really good option for brunch or heavy breakfast

Ingredents


1.5 cup Chana dal
1 tps jeera
1 tps red chilly powder
1/2 tps turmaric powder
salt according to taste


2 cup whole wheat aata
2 tps oil
salt accoding to taste

Oil to fry

Method
1. sock chana dal in hot water for 1 hour


2. add dal, red chilly powder, turmaric powder, dal , bhuna jeera in cooker. add water. it should be less because we have to make dry dal. let it cook for 4-5 vessels


3. open the cooker. and mash the dal.


4. mix salt and oil in the flour. make smooth dough


5. divide dough in 8-10 small portion.


6. make small chapati from one portion. take little mashed dal fill in center. make like ball by closing corners.


7. make puri from that. dont make too thin .


8. Fry in enough oil.


9. serve hot with curd or aalu sabji
 

Note - Image is indicative purpose only.this image is take from web

Vegetable Kadi

 Ingredients

1/4 cup gobhi chopped
1/4 cup beans chopped
1/4 cup capsicum chopped
1/4 cup carrot chopped
2 tomatoes chopped
1 onion chopped
2 tps oil.
1 tps mustard seeds
6-7 curry leaves
1 cup besan
1.5 sour curd
3/4 tps turmeric
1 tps red chilly powder
salt according to taste



Method
1. heat oil in pan. add mustard seeds and curry leaves. when curry leaves will start changing color add onion.


2. saute onion till it will change color.


3. add mix vegetables. saute for 1 minute. add little salt. mix well. add cover on the pan. and let it cook till all vegetables and cooked well. saute in between


4. add chopped tomatoes. cook for 2 minutes.


5. in a big bowl, add besan, dahi, salt, turmeric powder, and red chilly powder. add 1 cup water. mix well.


6. add this mixture in the pan. mix it. cover the pan cook for 8-10 minutes. saute in between


7. serve hot with Rice

AACHARI PANEER

This recipe is sent by Nitu Chugani. Thanks a lot for this yummy recipes

Ingredients 

200 gm Paneer
2 large onions chopped
1 tablespoon ginger garlic paste
1 onion chopped fine
1/2 tsp. turmeric powder
1 tablespoon SHAAN ACHAARI MASALA ( or more this masala is HOT.... so use it accordingly )
1 cup sour yoghurt
lots of chopped coriander leaves
Method

1. heat butter/ghee in a frying pan and add the onions and ginger garlic paste 
2. and a bit of salt.
3. sauté till transparent and then add the tomato. 
4. cook till well mashed,. 
5. add all the spices. cook again then add the yogurt and cook till u get a nice gravy,
6.  taste and add more aachari masala if u feel like. 
7. add the cubed paneer ( u can even deep fry the paneer if u wish) add a little water 
8.  cook till paneer is well coated with the  masala. 
9. serve hot with rotis

                                             

Tomato Coconut Chutney

3 I always like to have red chutney that is served with dosa and other South Indian dished. One day Coleage has brought is same chutney in her lunch box. I asked her for the recipe. I tried the same as soon as I got time. This chutney is tamilnadu style because it has more chillies.

Ingredents

4 medium Tomatoes
1 cup coconut
10-12 garlic clove
3-4 red chillies
salt according to taste
2 tps oil

Method

1. add half tps in pan. add garlic and saute till it will change colour. keep it in a bowl

2. add another half tps oil in pan. cut red cillie in half. and add it in the pan. saute for 1 minute. transfer it to bowl.

3. add 1 tps oil in pan, now add tomatos. cook till it will become soft or half cooked

5. in a grinder. add garlic, red chilly , tomatos and coconut. grind it. now add salt and grind again.

6. Serve it with Idli or Dosa.

Health benifits of Onion

There are  a number of verity present in the onion. White, Yellow, Red, Green and some other verities are also there.  Many times onion makes your eyes water when you cut them, when the organic Sulphur, that is present in Onion, released.

Nutritional Benefits

There is a variation in composition of Nutritional Composition between different varieties of onion .

Onion is a Good anti-septic which is rich in vitamin A, B and C.  It is also source of folic acid, calcium, magnesium, chromium, phosphorus, iron and dietary fiber.  

Health Benefits

These are some of Health benefits of Onion

Anemia:  

Onion is rich source of Iron, which is  beneficial for the treatment of anemia.

Anti-coagulant: 

 Just eating a small raw onion daily can significantly lower cholesterol and also help prevent heart attacks.

Anti-septic: 

 Fights infection some of bacteria and is effective against tuberculosis and infections of the urinary tract.

Blood pressure: 

 Onions,in raw or cooked form,  help to lower blood pressure.  It also thins the blood, dissolve blood clots and clear the blood of unhealthy fats.

Cholesterol: 

Eating a small onion daily helps to correct thrombosis, lower the LDL cholesterol and prevents heart attacks significantly.

Constipation and flatulence: 

Add onion in food to help relieve chronic constipation and flatulence.

Diabetes: 

Chromium in onion helps diabetics' cells respond appropriately to bringing down the insulin level and improve glucose tolerance.

Hair loss: 

 Applying onion juice on scalp twice a week for 2 months will cause hair regrowth. 

Immune booster: 

Useful in cold weather to ward off infection, reduce fever and sweat out colds and flu.

Osteoporosis: 

Beneficial for women who are at risk for osteoporosis as they go through menopause. 

Respiratory: 

Mix equal amounts of onion juice and honey and take 3-4 teaspoons of this mixture daily.  It helps liquefy mucus and prevents its further formation.  It is also one of the best preventive potions against common cold.

Nutritional Values of Fresh Green Onions
Serving Size: 1/2 cup chopped (stalks and bulbs)

Calories	16
Fat	0 g
Saturated Fat	0 g
Cholesterol	0 mg
Carbohydrate	4 g
Protein	1 g
Dietary Fiber	1 g
Sodium	8 mg
Vitamin A	498 IU
Vitamin C	10 mg
Iron	1 mg
Carotenoids	867 micrograms

You can consume Onion in raw form, in salad, or In Gravy. Onion is always a important Ingredient of Most of Indian Cuisine. I am presenting some of Recipes in CookWithPia that has a good amount of onion

Shahi Paneer

Punjabi Chole Bhature

Stir Fried Vegetables

[Source1]  [Source 2]