Mushroom Spinach Frittata

Another recipe I came across while researching on the Dukan Diet. I never liked spinach as a kid and most of my adult life. But recently, I have come across such tasty recipes of spinach. It is a very versatile vegetable.

Ingredients:

- mushrooms - I used 1/2 pack
- 3 eggs... I found them too many. 2 should have been enough
- 1/2 cup chopped spinach. When I make it again, I will use more spinach
- salt to taste
- pepper to taste
- 2 tbsp tomato ketchup
- 1 onion- chopped

- 1 tsp olive oil

- 1/2 cup water

Method:

- Heat oil in a shallow frying pan, one which is used to make omelette. Saute onions till soft

- Add the mushrooms and fry. You can add a little water if it gets a little sticky or start burning. Add the spinach leaves and saute till they become soft

- Add salt, pepper and tomato ketchup. Spread out the mixture flat in the pan

- Beat eggs in a bowl, add salt and pepper. Pour the eggs over the pan and cover with a lid

- Switch off the gas once eggs are completely cooked and serve. You do not need to flip over.

You can add more veggies- carrots, capsicum etc and oregano, basil if you want. There are so many options to this Italian omelette.

Cauliflower onion soup

I have started following the Dukan diet with modifications. The Dukan diet recommends eating proteins and vegetables for every meal. I don't plan to follow it to the 'T' because the body does need carbs and fats. The plan is to have protein/veggies as the main meal for lunch and dinner.

I came across the recipe of cauliflower soup online and decided to give it a try. It tastes very, very good... creamy, smooth, slighty sweet.

Ingredients: serves 2

-1/2 cauliflower (small)- chopped

-1 onion- chopped
- salt to taste
- black pepper to taste
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1.5 cups water
- 1 tsp olive oil

Method:

- Heat the olive oil and saute onions till soft

- Add the cauliflower and fry for 5 mins

- Add milk and water. Cover and let it cook till cauliflower is soft

- Let the mixture cool slightly and then puree in a mixer. I tried using a blender but mixer works better

- Heat the soup on the stove, add salt and black pepper

Yummy and healthy soup is ready.

Healthy burger

We were supposed to have a friend over... and I thought of burgers for dinner. The friend didn't turn up but we had leftover mixed vegetable from lunch... and I decided to make a healthy version of burger.

Ingredients:

- Mixed veggies- carrot, beans, onions, potato, cauliflower, cabbage, corn etc.

- Bread slices: 2

- Bread crumbs: 1 slice. Crush it in a mixer to make crumbs
- Egg: 1
- Mayonnaise: I used Wintergreen's garlic paste instead. For the healthy version, you can make a replacement. Add salt, garlic paste, pepper to hung curd. For hung curd, I generally put regular curd in a filter (the one used for tea) for a few mins.
- Lettuce
- Green chutney. I used Wintergreen's basil pesto paste but the coriander pudina chutney can be used instead
- Ketchup
- Spices- salt, haldi, red chilli powder
- Burger buns

Method:

- To make cutlets... boil all the veggies in a pressure cooker. I used the leftover vegetable instead. Add onions, spices (salt, haldi, red chilli powder), bread slices dipped in water to the veggies and mash everything together. Adjust any seasoning and make cutlets. Beat an egg. Dip each cutlet in the beaten egg. Roll the cutlet in bread crumbs. Heat oil in a non stick tava. Shallow fry the cutlet and place it on a paper napkin. You can also deep fry it but for a healthier version it should be shallow fry.

- Take burger buns, slice them in two and heat on a tawa. Put garlic paste/curd mixture/mayonnaise on one slice and green chutney on the 2nd slice. Place a lettuce on the bottom slice... place the cutlet and put some ketchup on top.

Yummy, healthy version of a burger. Who said healthy food cannot be tasty?

Oats Uttapam

I, rather my cook, made this last week. Very, very healthy and quite tasty. I don't remember the exact measurements of the recipe 'coz that was changed according to preference.

Ingredients:

- 1 cup oats- powdered. Powder Quaker quick cooking oats in a mixer

- 1/2 cup curd
- 1/2 cup water

- 1 green chilly

- salt to taste

-  Finely chopped Veggies- onion, tomato, carrot, cabbage and any other veggies you want to add

Method:

Mix all the above ingredients to make a loose batter like that of dosa or uttapam. Spread some oil on the non stick tawa. Spread the batter on the tawa with a spoon and cook like dosa/uttapam.

Yummy.

Macaroni Patata Sabji

This is my favorite sabji. I have grown up eating it and for the longest time did not know that macaroni is actually pasta.
It is a famous Sindhi veg.
I have taken the picture from here since I did not click a picture yesterday... was too hungry :)

Ingredients (serves 2):

- 1 large potato, cubed
- 1/4 cup macaroni
-1/4 cup phool patasha (available in all grocery stores)
- salt
- 2 chopped green chillies
- 1 tsp dhania powder
- 1 tsp red chilli powder
- 2 tsp kasoori methi (the most important ingredient)
- 2 chopped tomatoes
- Oil
- 1 cup water

Method:

- Heat oil in a cooker

- Add the chopped tomatoes and stir. Once they are completely done, add potatoes, macaroni, phool patasha and green chillies

- Add the spices- salt, dhania, red chilli and kasoori methi and mix well

- Add 1 cup water and close the cooker

- After 3-4 whistles, switch off the gas

Yummiest veg is ready.

Cranberry Molasses Cake (but without the molasses)

I came across this recipe few days back here. I had purchased cranberries for a smoothie and decided to use them for this cake instead.

Ingredients:

• Olive or canola spray oil - I used regular cooking oil
• 2 cups whole wheat pastry flour - Maida
• 1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 cup plain full-fat Greek yogurt - Used sour cream instead since greek yoghurt was not available
• 1/3 cup molasses - Too expensive (400 bucks)... used castor sugar
• 1/3 cup honey
• 2 large eggs
• 1 1/4 cup fresh cranberries or thawed frozen cranberries

Method:

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spray a 9-inch round cake pan with oil, and then line the bottom with a circle of parchment paper. Spray the parchment paper with oil; set the pan aside.

In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder and baking soda. In a separate bowl, whisk together sour cream, castor sugar, honey and eggs. Gently whisk flour mixture into sugar mixture just until blended and smooth. Fold in cranberries.

Pour batter into the prepared pan and bake 40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into center of cake comes out clean.

Cool on a wire rack 10 minutes, then remove cake from the pan and peel off parchment paper. Continue to cool completely on the wire rack.

I do not like cranberries and I realized that now. The cake turned out to be ok.

Tikkar

I think I picked up this recipe from Tarla Dalal's website sometime back. I really love it for breakfast.

Ingredients: (makes 8 tikkars)

-1 cup makai ka atta
-1 cup regular atta
-1/2 tsp ginger paste
- 1/2 onion
- 1 tsp grated garlic (I just use ginger garlic paste instead)
-2 tsp chopped coriande
-1/2 tsp green chillies
-1 tsp red chilli powder
-2 tbsp melted ghee
-salt
- I also add 1/2 tomato

Method:

- Combine flour and salt
- Add ghee, rub with finger tips till mixture resembles bread crumb
- Knead dough. Cover with muslin cloth for 20 mins
- Add all ingredients and knead
- Roll into roti and cook on tava

Yummy with curd!!!