Chilled Milkshake

Cold Cocoa Milkshake

Need an excuse to start your day with some chocolate? add it to this cocoa milkshake! this cold confection makes a good substitute for coffee, especially when the weather is hot and you don’t fancy a hot beverage or a cooked breakfast.

Preparation Time: 5 mins
Makes 4 small glasses

Ingredients

2 1/2 tbsp cocoa powder
2 cups chilled full-fat milk
1/4 cup sugar
10 ice-cubes

For The Garnish

2 tbsp grated chocolate

Method

1. Combine all the ingredients and blend in a juicer till the mixture is smooth and frothy.
2. Pour equal quantities of the milkshake into 4 individual glasses.
3. Serve immediately garnished with chocolate.

Recipe Source: Cold Cocoa Milkshake

Healthy Fruity Salads

Fruits in Mango Dressing

Dressed to kill, a salad that thrills! walnuts contain beneficial fatty acids (linoleic acid) that nourish and strengthen the arteries of the heart.

Preparation Time: 15 mins
Makes 4 servings

Ingredients

1/2 cup chopped mixed fruits
3/4 cup lettuce leaves

For The Dressing

2 tbsp mango pulp
1 tbsp fresh low fat curds (dahi)
1 tbsp low fat milk
salt to taste

For The Garnish

4 tbsp pomogranate seeds (anardana)
1 tbsp chopped walnuts (akhrot)

Method 

For the dressing

1. Whisk all the ingredients well.
2. Store in the refrigerator and use within 12 hours as required.

How to proceed

1. Spread the lettuce leaves at the bottom of a large bowl and arrange a layer of mixed fruits over them. Refrigerate.
2. Just before serving, pour the dressing on top and toss well.
3. Serve immediately garnished with pomegranate and walnuts.

Recipe Source: Fruits in Mango Dressing

Quick Thai Rice

Chatuchak Fried Rice

You could well call it ‘phat-a-phat’ fried rice, as this sweet and sour thai rice preparation can be readied in a jiffy with leftover rice. With colourful veggies and tangy sauces, the chatuchak fried rice is a meal you will enjoy!

Preparation Time: 15 mins
Cooking Time: 7 mins
Makes 4 servings

Ingredients

2 1/4 cups steamed rice (chawal)
1/4 cup finely chopped onions
1/2 tsp finely chopped garlic (lehsun)
1/2 tsp grated ginger (adrak)
1 tsp finely chopped red chillies
1/2 cup thinly sliced capsicum
1/4 cup boiled green peas
1/4 cup tomato cubes
1 cup bean sprouts
1/2 cup blanched and diagonally cut baby corn
2 tbsp tomato ketchup
1/2 tsp soy sauce
1 tbsp oil
salt to taste

For The Garnish

lemon wedges
chopped coriander (dhania)

Method

1. Heat the oil in a wok, add the onions, garlic, ginger and red chilli and fry for a few minutes.
2. Add the capsicum,peas, tomato, brinjals delete , baby corn and bean sprouts and cook on a medium flame for 1 to 2 minutes.
3. Add the rice, ketchup, soya sauce and salt and mix well and cook on a medium flame for 2 minutes.
4. Serve hot garnished with lemon wedges and coriander.

Recipe Source: Chatuchak Fried Rice

Zero Oil Snacks

Momos

This is undoubtedly an innovative low calorie snack! flour wrappers are filled with a healthy filling of broccoli and bean sprouts, and steamed to make an appetizing snack. Follow the exact procedure and make the world's best momos!

Preparation Time: 20 mins
Cooking Time: 15 mins
Makes 8 momos

Ingredients

For The Momo Wrapper

1/3 cup plain flour (maida)
salt to taste

To Be Mixed Into A Filling

1/3 cup blanched and finely chopped broccoli
1/4 cup chopped bean sprouts
1/2 tsp ginger-green chilli paste
1 tsp finely chopped garlic (lehsun)
2 tsp plain flour (maida)
1/2 tsp sugar
salt to taste

Other Ingredients

1 tbsp plain flour (maida) mixed with 1 tbsp water

Method 

For the momo wrapper

1. Sieve the flour and salt together.
2. Add warm water gradually and knead well to make a soft dough.
3. Knead for a while till the dough is quite smooth and keep aside for 30 minutes, covered with a damp muslin cloth.
4. Divide the dough into 8 equal portions.
5. Roll out each portion into a 75 mm. (3") diameter circle to make a momo wrapper.
6. Keep aside, covered with a damp muslin cloth.

How to proceed

1. Place a momo wrapper on a flat dry surface and put 2 tsp of the stuffing in the centre.
2. Apply the flour paste along the edges and fold over to make a semi-circle.
3. Pinch at the outer rim.
4. Repeat with the remaining momo wrappers and stuffing to make 7 more momos.
5. Arrange the momos in a steamer plate and steam for 10 minutes.
6. Serve hot.

Recipe Source: Momos

Holi Special

Besan Sheera

Since gram flour is generally known for its thickening properties, besan sheera is very easy and quick to make. You can easily prepare it for functions, party or for sudden but special guests. Just ensure you roast the gram flour well to avoid a raw smell. Also, take care to serve hot.

Preparation Time: 15 mins
Cooking Time: 20 mins
Makes 4 servings

Ingredients

3/4 cup besan (bengal gram flour)
3/4 cup milk
5 tbsp melted ghee
3/4 cup sugar

For The Garnish

1/4 tsp cardamom (elaichi) powder
3 tbsp blanched and sliced almonds (badam)

Method

1. Combine the besan, 2 tbsp of milk and 1 tbsp of ghee in a bowl and rub thoroughly and knead like a dough and keep aside for 10 minutes.
2. Using a grater, grate it very thinly and keep aside.
3. Heat the remaining ghee in a broad vessel, add the grated dough mixture and cook on a slow flame for approx. 8 to 10 minutes, while stirring continuously. Keep aside.
4. Heat the remaining milk and ¾ cup of water in a deep kadhai, add the flour mixture and cook on a medium flame for 2 to 3 minutes, while stirring continuously.
5. Add the sugar and cook on a medium flame for 4 to 5 minutes, while stirring continuously.
6. Serve hot garnished with cardamom powder and almonds slices.

Recipe Source: Besan Sheera

Party Snacks

Hara Bhara Koftas

Ever popular koftas. Serve them this holi to your guests!

Preparation Time: 20 min.
Cooking Time: 20 min.
Makes 15 koftas. 

Ingredients

3 potatoes, boiled and mashed
1/3 cup finely chopped french beans
1/3 cup finely chopped carrots
1/3 cup spinach leaves, broken into pieces
2 tbsp chopped coriander (dhania)
2 tbsp chopped green chillies
1 tbsp chopped ginger (adrak)
1 tsp fresh bread crumbs
a few drops of green colour
a few drops of lemon juice
salt to taste
oil for deep-frying

Method

1. Mix all the ingredients together and shape into round balls.
2. Deep fry the koftas on a high flame.
3. Serve hot.

Recipe Source: Hara Bhara Koftas

Sweet Halwa

Doodhi Halwa

A traditional mithai that everybody has a reason to like—some for the taste, some for the goodness of doodhi and milk, and some for the warm feeling it instils on a rainy day! i know some busy-bees who would stop over at a sweetmeat stall, have a cup of halwa and a samosa in lieu of a meal, and continue their work with full energy!

Preparation Time: 5 mins
Cooking Time: 10 mins
Makes 2 servings

Ingredients

1 cup grated bottle gourd (doodhi / lauki)
1 1/2 tsp ghee
1/4 cup sugar
2 tbsp milk
1/2 cup grated khoya

For The Garnish

1 tbsp chirongi nuts (charoli)

Method

1. Heat the ghee in a deep non-stick kadhai, add the bottle gourd and sauté on a medium flame for 2 to 3 minutes.
2. Add the sugar and milk and cover and cook on a slow flame for approx. 4 to 5 minutes,till the bottle gourd is soft.
3. Add the khoya, mix well and cook on a medium flame for 1 to 2minutes, while stirring continuously.
4. Remove from the flame, garnish with chirongi nuts and allow to cool completely.
5. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
6. Serve chilled.

Recipe Source: Doodhi Halwa

Healthy Salads

Bulgur Wheat Salad

This is a simple yet different way of adding a nutritious cereal like bulgur wheat to your meals. Being loaded with high fibre and nutrient dense veggies and dressed with a low fat curd dressing, this salad is, by all means, one of the best-suited salads for people with heart disease or high blood cholesterol levels.

Preparation Time: 15 mins
Makes 4 servings

Ingredients

For The Salad

1/2 cup broken wheat (dalia)
1/4 cup finely chopped carrots
1/4 cup finely chopped tomatoes
1/4 cup finely chopped capsicum
1/4 cup chopped spring onion greens
1/4 cup finely chopped mint leaves (phudina)
1/2 tsp lemon juice
salt to taste

To Be Mixed Together Into A Dressing

1/2 cup low-fat curd
1/4 tsp garlic (lehsun) paste
salt to taste

Method

1. Clean and wash the broken wheat thoroughly, parboil the broken wheat with 2 cups of hot water for 3 to 4 minutes. Drain and keep aside.
2. Combine all the ingredients along with the dressing in a bowl and mix gently.
3. Serve immediately.

Recipe Source: Bulgur Wheat Salad

Quick Snacks

Hariyali Samosa

Crisp patti samosas filled with a spicy green peas and french bean mixture. Ready-made samosa pattis which are available at most provision stores will help you to assemble this snack quickly.

Preparation Time: 5 mins
Cooking Time: 9 mins
Makes 6 servings

Ingredients

6 samosa pattis
2 tbsp plain flour (maida)

For The Filling

1/2 cup green peas , boiled and crushed
1 cup french beans , finely chopped and boiled
1/4 tsp carom seeds (ajwain)
2 tsp green chilli paste
2 tsp lemon juice
1 tsp sugar
2 tbsp beaten rice (poha)
1 tsp oil
salt to taste

Other Ingredients

oil for deep-frying

For Serving

sweet chutney

Method

1. Heat the oil in a pan and add the ajwain, green peas, french beans and green chilli paste and sauté for 2 to 3 minutes.
2. Add the lemon juice, sugar, poha and salt. Mix well and keep aside.

How to proceed

1. Mix a thick paste using the plain flour and water. Keep aside.
2. Fold each samosa patti into a cone (as shown in the diagram below) and stuff with the filling.
3. Seal the edges using the flour paste.
4. Repeat with the remaining pattis and filling.
5. Deep fry the samosas in hot oil over a slow flame till golden brown in colour.
6. Drain on absorbent paper.
7. Serve hot with sweet chutney.

Recipe Source: Hariyali Samosa