Me As Chef

  Kidney Beans and Tofu Salad is a protein, fibre and magnesium rich salad which is fulfilling and tasty as well. Eat healthy and stay healthy with such meal replacements.  INGREDIENTS: 1) 1 Can/Cup Kidney beans 2) 1 Zucchini 3) 1 Pack Firm Tofu 4) 2 Tomatoes 5) Handful spinach leaves 6) 1 Tablespoon Balsamic Glaze 7) Salt to taste 8) Black pepper to taste 9) Pinch of turmeric 10) Italian seasoning 11) 1 Teaspoon Lemon Juice 12) Spray Oil PREPARATION TIME: 10 Mins LETS MAKE IT: If taking raw kidney beans, then boil it until its soft and edible but not mushy Spray oil on a grill flat pan and grill the Zucchini slices until you get slight charred marks In a bowl take cubed Tofu and spray it with oil. Sprinkle turmeric, salt and black pepper.  Grill or pan fry the tofu until slightly golden in colour Arrange your sliced Tomatoes, Tofu, Spinach, Kidney Beans and Zucchini on a serving tray 1" deep Drizzle Balsamic Glaze generously on the arrangement.  Sprinkle Salt, Peppe...

Rose cookies is a crunchy snack which is a favourite among all generations. Its very less sweet and can be enjoyed with tea as well as after meal snack!  Its different designs makes it very popular among kids and adults.  Its origin is to be believed as an Anglo Indian snack, which is mostly made during Christmas and now since its gained popularity, its now been prepared widely during Diwali as well. Look like a gourmet snack to eat and gift friends and family during festive days. INGREDIENTS: 1 cup rice flour 1/4 cup All purpose flour 1/3 cup powdered sugar 1/4 teaspoon vanilla essence 1 teaspoon nigella seeds 1 cup coconut milk Water as needed PREPARATION TIME : 30 mins HOW TO PREPARE: Heat oil in a wok. In a bowl add rice flour, all purpose flour, and powdered sugar, mix well. Then add vanilla extract, nigella seeds, coconut milk and 1/2 cup water. Mix well until there are no lumps. Add water slowly and make a dosa batter like consistency  Dip the mould or Rose cookie ...

  Overnight oats is the Easiest, Delicious, Superfood loaded breakfast that is quickest to make. Anyone can try their hands in it. Its a favourite among young people, but its sweet. Natural sugar from fruits or honey, maple syrup, chocolate or even nuts. People do get tired of eating that much sweet early in the morning.  So here's presenting the savoury version of overnight oats, with fresh cucumber, carrot, ginger, Cilantro and pomegranate seeds. The Tadka adds to the savouriness of the dish. The Asafoetida, paprika and curry leaves add a whole lot of flavour. I know your mouth might be salivating, listening to all that deliciousness... So here is the recipe... INGREDIENTS: 1/2 Cup Oats 2 Teaspoon Chia Seeds 1 Cup Yogurt 1/2 Cup Cucumber 1/4 Cup Pomegranate Seeds Few Curry Leaves 1 Teaspoon Mustard Seeds 1 Green Chilly 1 Carrot 1" Ginger 1/4 Cup Cilantro Leaves 1 Dry Red Chilly Salt to Taste Black Pepper to Taste 1/4 Teaspoon Paprika Pinch of Hing/ Asafoetida 2 Teaspoon Oil ...

  Coconut laddoos are a popular Indian sweet made with grated coconut, sugar, and cardamom powder. They are usually prepared during festivals and celebrations. According to a popular origin story, ladoos can be traced back to 300-500 BCE. It is said that Sushruta, an ancient Indian physician used the sweet to give ayurvedic medicines to his patients.  In terms of nutritional benefits, coconut laddoos contain  moderate amounts of dietary fiber, vitamins, and minerals . Coconut is a rich source of MCT's but also high in calories and sugar, and should be consumed in moderation as part of a balanced diet. INGREDIENTS 2 cups of desiccated coconut 1/2 cup coarsely crushed nuts ( Almonds, Pistachios, Cashews) 1 cup of sweetened condensed milk 1/2 teaspoon of cardamom powder 1/4 cup of desiccated coconut (for rolling) TIME TO PREPARE: 15 Minutes HOW TO PREPARE In a mixing bowl, combine the desiccated coconut, Crushed nuts, sweetened condensed milk, and cardamom powder. Mix well u...

  Meditterean Chickpea stew is a super easy one pot recipe. Its hearty and comforting, easy on tummy yet super yummy. Its super rich in veggies. You can add any veggies like spinach, carrots, celery or even potatoes. Its healthy and delicious stew coming from the meditterean region. INGREDIENTS:  11/2 Cup Boiled Chickpeas  1 Cup Zucchini   1 Cup Eggplant  1 Cup Onion  1 Cup Tomato  2 Teaspoon Garlic   1 Teaspoon Italian Seasoning  1/2 Teaspoon Turmeric  Salt to taste  Black Pepper to taste   1 Tablespoon Olive Oil  Parsley to Garnish  PREPARATION TIME: 45 Minutes HOW TO PREPARE: Wash and cut Zucchini, Eggplant into cubes Chop Garlic, onions and Tomatoes Heat oil add chopped Garlic, saute until golden Add in Onions and Tomatoes, saute until soft Add in all chopped veggies and cook for 2-3 minutes Add Spices - Black Pepper powder, Salt, Italian Seasoning and Turmeric  Pour in 11/2 Cup of Boiled Chick...

Bharwa Lal Mirch is one of my favourite pickle. Since i've moved to US i had been craving this achchar. My Nani used to make this pickle in a very authentic Punjabi style. It was one of the staple side dishes in the breakfast with plain parathas. My mouth is watering just by writing about it, i can feel the taste ... yum This Lal Mirch or Red chilli comes in the market typically from November to March. Try this pickle, its super easy and super tasty. INGREDIENTS:  1lb Big Red Chillis  1/2 Cup Coriander seeds  1/2 Cup Mustard Seeds  1/2 Cup Fennel Seeds  1/2 Cup Cumin Seeds  1/3 cup Fenugreek seeds  1/3 Cup Onion Seeds  1/3 Cup Carom seeds  1/2 Cup Dried Mango Powder  3 Tablespoon Turmeric  Black Salt to taste  Salt to taste  Mustard Oil to cover the Chillies PREPARATION TIME: 45 Minutes HOW TO PREPARE: Wash and dry the red chillies well Cut the stalk and empty out all seeds to make it a hollow cylinder Dry roast the seeds ...

  Biryani and Pulao are both rice dishes and cooked with vegetables or meat in aromatic spices.  Here i have created Chana Veg Pulyani, which is a fusion of Pulao and Biryani. Pulyani is cooked with soaked rice with vegetables and white chana or chickpeas in rich biryani masala and aromatic biryani essence. The cooking method is just the same as pulao is cooked so tried a new name for this dish - Pulyani! Biryani vs Pulao Biryani is cooked with par boiled rice , whereas pulao is cooked with raw rice in fragnant water until rice is cooked. Biryani is cooked with an assortment of whole and grounded spices and pulao is cooked with not much spices. VIDEO  RECIPE -  https://youtu.be/dGeiWQSP740 INGREDIENTS: 2 Cup Basmati Rice 1 Onion 1 1/2 Cup White Chana / Chickpeas 1/2 Cup Corn 1/2 Cup Peas 1/4 Cup Carrot 1 Cup Beaten / Whipped Curd 2 Teaspoon Ginger Garlic paste 1 Teaspoon Cumin / Jeera Seeds 6-8 Black Peppercorns / Kali mirch 3-4 Cardamom / Elaichi 1 Star Anise / foo...

  Cranberry Jam is sweet and sour bread spread. It has a rich and vibrant color that kids or even adults fall for it. Try this recipe for this Thanksgiving. Cranberries are in season now but are very sour and leaves a bitter taste when eaten raw. Tried this jam with fennel or saunf, to give it a very earthy aroma. Its easy to make with just 5 ingredients. Cranberries is a popular superfood with 87% water content, 12% Carbs and moderate levels of Vitamin C and Dietary fiber. It has antioxidants which are good for immunity, reduces blood pressure. It reduces the risk of certain cancers and UTIs. As its holiday time and families get ready for Thanksgiving and Christmas festivities, this Cranberry Fennel Jam can be a nice delish addition to the festive dinner table. A video link to cranberry jam recipe - https://youtu.be/gEZcQCkNpg4 INGREDIENTS: 2 Cups Cranberries 1 Cup Sugar 1 Cup Water 1 Teaspoon Fennel Seeds 1 Teaspoon Cornflour PREPARATION TIME: 15 Minutes HOW TO PREPARE: Boil 1 Cu...

 Soups is kind of liquid food which is served either hot or cold. Its primarily water boiled with pureed fruits, vegetables or meat until the flavours are extracted or infused in water. Tomato soup has tomatoes as its main ingredients. Its rich, luxurious and silky in taste. To give it another texture i added noodles this time. You can substitute noodles with rice noodles, rice or even pasta.  Its topped with dry mint to give it a nice minty flavour. Check out other soup recipes: Tomato and Carrot Soup Peas and Mint Soup Mixed Veg Lemon Soup Chicken Clear Soup TOMATO NOODLE SOUP INGREDIENTS:  6 Red Tomatoes chopped 1 Onion Chopped 5 – 6 Cloves of Garlic Chopped 1 Cup Noodles 2 Teaspoon Butter/Ghee 1/2 Teaspoon Sugar Salt to taste Black Pepper to taste 3 Cups of Water 2 Tablespoon Fresh Cream A Pinch of Dry Mint PREPARATION TIME: 15 minutes HOW TO PREPARE: Pre boil noodles to  70 % Melt butter in a pan and add chopped garlic Once garlic is turned brown add chopped Oni...

  Chutney is an essential part of any meal. They are made up of different fruits and vegetables or sometimes even the peel of the vegetable.  Its a pureed form or paste form of any fruit or veggie with spices and even a tempuring sometimes. Chutneys add a extra taste or dimention to a meal. Today its Mango chutney, which is sweet in taste and is made up of half ripe or ripe mango. I have added paprika or red chilli too, for a spicy taste.  Looks so delectable and tempting. You can use Mango Chutney as a spread on bread or as a marinade for various meat cuts. Mango Chutney goes well with chicken wings, pork, and beef too. I have not used vinegar as i am making in a small quantity to last a few days or probably a couple of weeks in refrigerator. Lets get started! INGREDIENTS: 2 Ripe Mangoes 2 Tablespoon Oil 1/2 Cup Sugar /Jaggery 2 Dry Red Chillies 1 Teaspoon Panchphoran ( A mix of Cumin, Fenugreek, Fennel, Black Mustard and Nigella Seeds) 4-5 Peppercorns 1 Bay Leaves 1/2 T...

  Tinda is a famous south asian vegetable which belongs to the gourd family.  Its a Indian squash or baby pumpkin which is green in colour.  It holds the shape of an apple so also known as Apple Gourd. It is a superfood full of health benefits. It has many anti-inflamatory agents which helps in controlling blood pressure and heart diseases. It is full of fiber and has increased water content which keeps body cool and healthy. It also increases urinary flow and helps relieve toxins from the kidney. INGREDIENTS: 250 gms Tinda / Apple Gourd 1 Large Onion 1 Tomato 1 Teaspoon Jeera / Cumin Seeds 1/2 Teaspoon Haldi / Turmeric 1 Teaspoon Jeera / Cumin Powder 1/2 Teaspoon Dhaniya / Coriander Powder 1/2 Teaspoon Lal Mirch / Red Chilli Powder 1/2 Teaspoon Amchoor / Dry Mango Powder Salt as per taste 2 Tablespoon Oil 1/2 Cup Fried Onions Fresh Coriander or Mint for Garnish Fresh Green Chilli for Garnish PREPARATION TIME: 20 Minutes WATCH VIDEO RECIPE (Tinde ki Sabzi) –  https:/...

  Soya Chunks are made of soy flour from which oil has been extracted. Soya Chunks are rich in Omega 3, polyunsaturated fats, proteins, calcium and iron. Soy has a high fibre content which increases metabolism, keeps stomach full for a long time and aids in easy digestion. But taking them in large quantities may damages liver as it increases the uric acid in body . I have added other veggies too to complete  or increase the nutrient content. This is easy recipe and can be made for parties as well or made regularly. Its a one pot meal recipe so less utensils are used! INGREDIENTS: 2 Cups Basmati Rice 1 Cup Soy Chunks 1 Large Potato 1 Onion 1/2 Cup Peas 1/2 Cup Carrots 1/4 Cup Beans 1/4 Cup Corn 1-2 Bay Leaves 2-3 Cloves 2-3 Cardamom 1 Star anise 1 Teaspoon Cumin Seeds 1 Teaspoon Ginger Garlic paste 1 Teaspoon Cumin Powder 1/2 Teaspoon Red Chilly Powder 1/2 Teaspoon Turmeric 1/2 Teaspoon Garam Masala Salt as per taste 2 Tablespoon Oil Coriander for Garnish PREPARATION TIME: 45 M...

  Laddoos  or a small sweet ball, originated in Indian Subcontinent. It is made out of  a combination of flour, nuts, ghee, and sweetner. It was originally used for medicinal purposes. Laddoos are delectable to the tongue and is liked by all ages. Laddoos are of many varieties and each fulfill a nutrient in the body. basically these laddoos are immunity and strength builders.  One can make Ragi laddoos (whole wheat +ragi), Mueseli Laddoos (whole wheat + Mueseli) , Methi laddoos ( Whole wheat + Methi powder) etc. Laddoos are also known as panjiri laddoos or Jaape ke laddoos. This variety has a number of ayurvedic or natural strenght giving ingredients like Cloves, Nutmeg, mace, Kamarkas Edible gum etc.  It is the most common variety as its given to new mothers or lactating mothers. Today we are preparing Whole Wheat and Flaxseed Laddoos! Flaxseeds are rich in Omega 3 and dietary Fiber. Flaxseed improves Cholestrol and Lowers Blood Pressure. INGREDIENTS:  2 1...

  Karahi is nothing but a heavy bottom pan in a big bowl shape. The Karahi recipes are all made in this pan and thus named after it. The origins of karahi recipes can be found in Pakistan, so named this dish Lahori Murg Karahi. Chicken is also known as “Murg” and here i have used small cuts of chicken thighs. Chicken thighs are juicy and is easy to chew. It doesn’t get chewy unlike the breast pieces., but whole chicken can also be used. Lahori Murg Karahi is made in thick rich tomato gravy and various spices to give it its aroma and flavour! Karahi recipes are generally dry but i like keeping a little thick gravy , which makes it even more tastier and fingerlicking. Lahori Murg Karahi is served with Roti, Naan, Parathas or Rumali rotis. INGREDIENTS: 2lb/1 kg Chicken Thighs boneless 4 Tomatoes 1 Onion 2 Teaspoon Ginger Garlic Paste 1 Cup Curd/ Yogurt 3-4 Cloves / Long 6-7 Black Peppercorns / Golki 3 Green Cardamoms / Elaichi 1 Teaspoon Cumin/ Jeera Powder 1 Teaspoon Coriander Powder...

  Bottle gourd or Lauki is a healthiest and the most versatile vegetable to use. It can be used in a curry, in a stir fry, in a dessert, health juices and in soups. Its easy on the stomach and easily digestible. Bottle gourd or Lauki belongs to the cucumber family and enables weight loss. As per Ayurveda, Lauki is a must have, wholesome food that helps our body fight with infections and dieseases. Lauki has various vitamins like A, B, C, K and E. It is also rich in minerals like manganese, potassium and iron. Bottle Gourd aids in weight loss as it is easily digestible. Lauki has no calories, no saturated fats and is made up of 90% water. This recipe is a quick and easy recipe of Lauki. It uses only salt, turmeric and black pepper as spices. Whenever you are tired make this instant lauki and enjoy a wholesome and nutritional meal. Watch the video of this recipe –  https://youtu.be/9W_Hb6cefdY INGREDIENTS: 4 Cup Diced Lauki / Bottle Gourd 1 Tomato 1 Green Chilli 1 Teaspoon Jeera...

  Pearl couscous are little edible pearls that were developed in Israel in 1950’s. Its a machine made rounded kind of pasta made from semolina or suji. It is ideally used as a base in a grain salad or risotto as it has a slightly chewiness just like any other pasta. INGREDIENTS: 1 Cup Pearl Couscous 1/2 Cucumber 1 Tomato 1/2 Cup fresh Coriander 1/2 Lemon Juice 4-5 Garlic pods Black pepper to taste Salt to taste 1 Tablespoon Oil HOW TO PREPARE: Cook pearl couscous as written on its packet. Generally its boiled in water. 1 Cup measure of Couscous takes around 1 3/4 th cup water. Boil the water and add couscous, let it cook for  10 mins until they swell up.  They should break easily between two fingers. Once done, drain excess water and keep it covered for  5 mins. Then fluff up with a fork. Heat oil in a wok, add garlic pods and let it get browned or burnt to get a smokey garlicky flavour. Throw in the couscous, salt and pepper and give everything a good mix Take it of...

  Moong Daal ki Kachori is nothing but a deep fried stuffed snack originating in the Indian Subcontinent. It is stuffed with daal or lentils, onions, potatoes or even mixed vegetables. Generally it was originated to fulfill hunger pangs of a traveller or  a vendor who travelled along the spice route for his business. Kachoris or these stuffed round balls can be stored for couple of days in fridge. It is served with Hing flavoured aloo ki sabzi or dubki wale aloo along with tamarind chtney or green chutney. It can also be served in a form of chaat with chutneys, spices and a layer of chilled curd. INGREDIENTS: FOR KACHORI: 2 Cups of Maida / All Purpose Flour 1 Teaspoon Salt 3 Tablespoon Oil / Ghee Water as required FOR FILLING: 1 Cup Moong Daal / Yellow Lentil 1 Teaspoon Jeera / Cumin Seeds 1 Teaspoon Coriander Seeds 1 Teaspoon Fennel Seeds 1/2 Teaspoon Black Peppercorns 1 Teaspoon Red Chilly powder 1 Teaspoon Jeera / Cumin powder 1 Teaspoon Coriander powder 1 Teaspoon Amchoor ...

                                         Lemon drizzle cake is super easy and super moist cake from British cuisine. This cake is light and most favourite of Brits. Best as Breakfast, snacks, High tea or just desserts. The drizzle icing too is easy to make and i have added black Sesame seeds as a new texture and twist to the drizzle. INGREDIENTS: 1 Cup Fresh Cream 1 Cup Curd 1 1/4 Sugar granulated 1/2 Teaspoon Soda bi Carbonate 1 Teaspoon Baking Powder 2 Cups Maida / All Purpose Flour 3-4 Drops of Lemon Essence 2 Teaspoon Lemon Zest 1 1/2 Tablespoon Lemon juice A Pinch of Turmeric A Pinch of Salt FOR DRIZZLE ICING 8 Teaspoon Powdered Sugar 2 Teaspoon Lemon Juice 2 Teaspoon Water 1 Tablespoon Black Sesame seeds Few Glazed Cherries and Mint Leaves PREPARATION TIME: 90 Minutes HOW TO PREPARE: In a bowl take fresh cream, curd and sugar, beat till frothy and fluffy Add Maida, Baking powde...