Oats Bar (Nut Free)

We always pick up oat bars during our weekly shop at the market. It is an easy grab as a snack and seems to be healthy. It is not as healthy as you think it is, you would know if you took a peek at the ingredients. It's pretty easy to make at home though. This way its way healthier and cheaper. Give it a try and you will never go back to buying them.

Ingredients:

- Oats - 2 cups

- Pepitas - 1/2 cup

- Sunflower seeds - 1/2 cup

- Dried Cranberry - 1/2 cup

- Raisins - 1/2 cup

- Dried Figs chopped - 1/2 cup

- Honey - 1/2 cup

- Brown sugar - 1/3 cup

- Coconut Oil - 1/3 cup

- Egg lightly beaten - 1

- Plain Flour - 1/2 cup

- Shredded Coconut - 1 cup

Method:

- In a mixing bowl, add oats, pepitas, sunflower seeds, coconut, flour, cranberry, figs, and raisins. Mix this really well with a spoon.

- In a saucepan, add sugar, coconut oil and honey and heat while mixing till the sugar melts. Then let it cool slightly.

- Make a well in the middle of the dry mixture, add the egg and the melted sugar, honey and oil.

- Mix well so that the mixture is coated very nicely with the liquid. 

- Preheat the oven to 180 degrees Celsius.

- Line a rectangle tin with butter paper.

- Pour the mixture onto the tin and press very well so that it all sticks together. You can use a spoon to press it down.

- Bake it at 180 degrees Celsius for 20-25 mins.

- Let it cool and cut into rectangle pieces. You can store it outside for 4 days. In case you want to freeze it, pack each with butter paper before doing so.

This is a nut free school friendly version. Feel free to chop and add nuts if you want.

 

Wheat Rava Upma

Wheat Rava is wheat semolina and upma is a south Indian breakfast dish. It is a humble, healthy but filling dish that keeps you full for long.

 Ingredients:

- Vegetables of your choice cubed (1 cup). I have used, carrots, onion and cauliflower. 

- Oil - 1 tbsp

- Ghee - 1 tsp

- Curry Leaves - 6-7

- Mustard Seeds - 1 tsp

- Jeera/Cumin Seeds - 1 tsp

- Peanuts - 1 tbsp

- Wheat Rava / Bulgur - 1 cup

- Water - 3 cups

- Salt/Sugar - As per taste

- Green Chili split - 1 (optional)

 Method:

- Heat oil in a wok.

- When hot add mustard seeds, cumin seeds, peanuts, chili and curry leaves.

- When they splutter, add the veggies and fry till half cooked.

- Add this point add the wheat rava, salt and sugar and mix well for 2 mins.

- Add water, cover with a lid and let it cook on low flame. 

- Will be cooked in 15-20 mins. Keep mixing at 2 min intervals so that it does not burn/stick to the bottom of the wok.

- Add Ghee when cooked and serve hot with Sambar.

Shahi Paneer

Shahi is a Hindi word and translates to royal and Paneer is basically cottage cheese. So literal translation of this Indian curry is Cottage Cheese in a Royal Gravy. With Indian curries, there are some tricks and tips e.g., if you want the curry to have a white/royal base (Shahi), boil the onions before making a paste; if you want it red, fry the onions before making the paste; if you want the curry to be deep brown or darker in colour, cook it in an iron wok/vessel. As is evident from the pictures, this curry has a white base, hence the onions have been boiled before being made into a paste.

Ingredients:

- Onions Peeled cut into halves and boiled - 2

- Ginger and Garlic paste - 1 tbsp

- Paneer - 200 gms

- Coriander Powder - 1 tsp

- Cumin powder - 1 tsp

- Salt - Acc to taste

- Sugar - 1 tsp / acc to taste

- Cinnamon stick - 1 inch

- Bay leaves - 1

- Cumin seed - 1/2 tsp

- Cashews - 4-5

- Poppy seeds - 2 tsp

- Cream - 2 tbsp

- Any White Oil - 2 tbsp

- Yogurt - 1/2 cup

- Garam Masala - 1 tsp

Method:

- In a wok, add white oil and let it heat on medium flame for a min.

- Add the paneer and fry until golden and then set it aside..

- In the same oil add the cinnamon, bay leaves, cumin seeds.

- Make a paste from the boiled onions, make a separate paste with cashews and poppy seeds.

- Let the cumin seeds splutter and then add the onion paste.

- Fry the onion paste for 2 mins and then add ginger and garlic paste and fry until raw smell goes away.

- Then add all the powdered masalas (apart from garam masala) and a little bit of water and let all the masalas cook. 

- To this add yogurt and fry till this leaves oil on the sides.

- Add the cashew and poppy seed paste and mix well. 

- Again, fry till it leaves oil from the sides.

- At this stage add the cream and let it come to a boil. Your gravy base is ready. 

- Now add the paneer, cover and cook on low flame for 2-3 mins.

- Before switching off the flame, add garam masala powder and mix well.

- Serve hot with Roti or Naan with a side of vegetable salad.

Tip - If you want it spicy, add chopped green chili when frying the masala. 

 

Orange Cake

 

Sticking to the ritual of baking cakes every weekend for snacking over the week ahead. This time there were loads of oranges in the fruit tray and hence Orange Cake it was!

Ingredients:

- Sugar - 1/4 cup

- Olive oil - 1/2 cup

- Whole meal Self Raising Flour - 1 cup

- Vanilla essence - 1 tsp

- Eggs - 2

- Juice of 1 orange

- Grated orange rind - 2 medium sized oranges

Method:

- In a bowl add the oil, sugar and eggs and mix well.

- To this add the flour and fold it all in together.

- When mixed well, add vanilla essence, orange rind and orange juice. Mix everything together.

- Preheat oven to 165 degrees celcius (temperature may vary based on your oven).

- Line a baking tray and add the batter.

- When oven is preheated, put the tray in (middle shelf) and bake for 30 mins.

- Let it cool and snack for the week is ready.

Carrot, Apple and Oats Muffins

Have a busy week ahead? Don't have time to cook breakfast? Not to worry!! Bake these healthy muffins during the weekend and grab and go breakfast is sorted.

Ingredients:

- Rolled Oats - 1.5 cups

- Grated Carrot - 1 cup

- Grated Apple - 1 cup

- Vegetable Oil - 1/4 cup (You can use any white oil).

- Baking Powder - 1 tsp

- Egg -1

- Vanilla Essence -1 tsp

- Sugar - 1/4 cup (I like keeping it less sweet as the apples and carrots add some sweetness too! Feel free to add more sugar if you want breakfast to be sweeter and less healthy!)

- All Purpose Wheat Flour - 1/4 cup (For binding, you could use self-raising flour too.)

- Milk - 2 tbsp or more based on consistency of batter.

 

Method:

- Mix all the wet ingredients i.e., sugar, oil, egg, vanilla essence in a mixing bowl.

- Add all dry ingredients (flour, baking powder, oats) to it and fold the mixture in.

- At this point you should have ribbon like consistency for the batter. If you dont then add milk and mix again.

- Add in the carrot and apple and mix well.

- Preheat oven to 160 degrees Celsius.

- Line your muffin tray with muffin cases, leave 1 muffin section. 

- Fill the muffin cases halfway through with the batter.

- One muffin hole that you left empty, fill it halfway through with water. This helps keep the muffins moist when baking. 

- Bake for 30-35 mins.

- Let it cool and enjoy with honey. Can be stored in an airtight container and left in the pantry in winter. In summers storing in the refrigerator would make more sense. Grab one or two when running late and have no time for breakfast.

Ragi/Finger Millet Idli

I have grown up eating a lot of south Indian food. The primary reason for that being my Dad's love for south Indian cuisine. Idli was very common at our breakfast table during my growing up years. Same was reflected in my kitchen when I started cooking. To add to the likelihood of South Indian cuisine finding a place in my kitchen, was the fact that we lived in Hyderabad for 12 years. Hyderabad is the capital of Telangana and an Indian city we hold very close to our hearts as a family. Thats where we started our life together, where our daughter was born. So many first times of my life in this city!

I was introduced to Ragi Idlis in Hyderabad. Idli is traditionally prepared with Idli Rava (Semolina) and Urad Dal (split black lentils), but this recipe basically replaces the Idli Rava with Ragi flour making it healthier. All millets including Ragi is very high in fiber making it an ideal weight loss ingredient. Ragi is rich in iron, calcium, minerals and vitamins. Ragi is also known to help with muscle growth. This recipe also calls for fermentation of the batter hence making the end product good for gut health.

Ingredients:

- Urad Dal / Split Black Lentils - 1/2 cup 

- Ragi Flour - 1 and 1/2 cup

- Methi Seeds - 1 tsp

Method:

- Wash Methi seeds and Urad Dal in a bowl and soak them for 8-12 hours.

- To another bowl soak Ragi flour for 1-2 hours (optional).

- Once soaked, take the urad dal and use a mixer grinder to turn it into a thick, fluffy and frothy batter.

- To this batter, add the soaked ragi flour and mix well.

- Cover and keep in a warm place. Leave for 12-14 hours or overnight.

- When fermented, you will not get the raw smell of ragi or urad dal instead you will get a mild fermented flavor. Yet you will not get a sour smell.

- At this stage the batter is ready. 

- Take your idli steamer (you can buy one at any Indian Store), fill the pot with a cup of water and bring it to a boil on the stove.

- While the water comes to a rolling boil, grease the idli plates and pour the batter in.

- Cover and steam the Idlis for exactly 10-12 mins.

- Open the lid of the Idli steamer and scoop the idlis out.

- Serve hot with Sambar or Chutney or both. 

Chicken Kasha

Chicken Kasha is a much-loved Bengali delicacy generally served in lunch or dinner with a side of Pulao or Naan. This oily and spicy chicken curry is a must try if you are a fan of Bengali cuisine. The deep brown colour is because the dish is traditionally prepared in an iron wok, dont worry if you dont have one. You can prepare it in whichever wok or pan you have.

Ingredients:
-  Chicken (curry Cut) - 1 kg. Feel free to use any cut available.
- Plain / Greek Yogurt - 1 cup
- Onions finely chopped - 3
- Garlic Paste - 2 tbsp
- Ginger Paste - 1 tbsp

- Mustard Oil - 6 tbsp

Powdered Masala - Take it in a bowl and mix with 2 tsp of water to make a paste
- 1 Tsp. Turmeric Powder
- 1 Tsp. Kashmiri Red Chili Powder
- 2 Tsp. Cumin Powder
- 2 Tsp. Coriander Powder
- 1 Tbsp. Sugar
- 2 Tsp. Salt 
Khara/Gota Masala
- 2 Bay Leaf
- 3 Dry Red Chili
- 3 Green Cardamoms
- 1 Inch Cinnamon Stick
- 1 tsp Jeera

 Method:

- Marinate chicken with the Masala Paste, yogurt, onion, ginger garlic paste and half the oil for at least 1 hour, overnight is best.

- In a wok or pan (best if iron), heat the remaining oil.

- When hot, add all the Khara Masala and let it splutter.

- At this point add the marinated chicken.

- Let it cook, stir Occasionally.

- Let all the water dry, and the masala leave oil. 

- You can garnish with coriander leaves and serve hot with Pulao or Ruti/Naan.