SALADS

CELERY ‘N’ FENUGREEK SPROUT SALAD

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This is a healthy salad made with celery and fenugreek sprouts.

Celery is one low calorie vegetable with amplified health benefits.Some do not prefer the aroma of this vegetable consumed raw.

Considering the fact that the nutrients are not lost even though celery is blanched, steamed,or sautéed,i decided to toss the vegetable in a little oil before adding to this lovely salad.

Continuing to the next healthy ingredient the fenugreek is also a seed loaded with health benefitting properties.

I usually drink fenugreek water in the mornings, and sprinkle the soaked seeds in my garden and get fresh methi leaves often.

This time I decided to store it in the fridge to get the sprouts.When it sprouts in the fridge it has more of a fresh taste.

Soaked fenugreek does not taste bitter and it does not alter the taste when added into any salad.

This type of salad can be consumed by anyone, of any age.Very beneficial for diabetics.

A teaspoon is more than enough to soak in a cup of water for one person .

Moving on to the recipe now…

INGREDIENTS

1 cup celery stalks chopped and slightly tossed in 1 tsp.of oil

1 cup cucumber cut into cubes

1 red carrot chopped

1 small tomato (seeds removed

3-4 tsp fenugreek sprouts

For the dressing

1 tbsp apple cider vinegar /vinegar

1 tsp honey

1/2 tsp pepper powder

1 tsp Worcester sauce(optional)

1/2 tsp chilli flakes (optional)

1/4 tsp mustard powder

1 tsp olive oil or sesame oil

1/2 tsp lemon juice

salt to taste

METHOD

Mix all the ingredients for dressing in a separate bowl and pour over the cut vegetables and sautéed celery

and mix well.

This salad is beneficial to diabetics and people who want to prevent diabetes’s do try this healthy salad and post in your suggestions and comments.

MINT MAYONNAISE-CAULIFLOWER SALAD

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Salad with homemade mayonnaise is one

delight you could have at any time of the day!

If you have to skip meals,this will be one

source of energy and nutrients.

Making mayonnaise at home is just minutes

away,so do try this recipe .

The vegetables can be of your choice !

Vegetables can be steamed,roasted,or boiled

before adding mayonnaise .

Try introducing herbs and fresh flavours each

time you make .

This time I made a mint infused mayonnaise,

and everyone loved it .

To start with the mint mayonnaise recipe

INGREDIENTS

1 egg

oil ( 3 times the quantity of egg)

1-2 tsp vinegar

1/4 tsp salt

1 tsp sugar

A handful of mint ground

METHOD

•First break the egg into a small cup,and note

the quantity of the broken egg.

•Add the egg into the beaker you are going to

blend in.

•In the same cup,measure oil ,3 times the

quantity of egg.

•Add the rest of the ingredients into the egg,and

blend till thick .( 3-5 minutes).

•Add ground mint and mix .

•Add to prepared vegetables.

FOR THE VEGETABLES

You could steam,boil or roast

Cauliflower florets,carrots,sprouts .

Make a paste of 1 green chilli,2 cloves garlic,

tiny piece of ginger

Salt to taste

Mix with paste and boil/ steam the vegetables.

Few more combinations

•Broccoli,carrot,sweet potato cubes

•Beetroot,pumpkin,peas/sprouts

•Chickpeas,capsicum,cucumber

Play the vegetables with your innovations to

dish out variations to surprise your family.

LOTUS STEM SALAD

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Lotus stem an aquatic plant,has many essential

vitamins and minerals.

It helps to prevent viral infections,and boosts

the Immunity system .

Considered to be a great source of VitaminC,

aids in the production of red blood cells .

This root vegetable can be made with curries,

mainly fish.Here’s the link to the fish curry.

https://calinskitchen.wordpress.com/2019/09/14/kashmiri-fish-nlotus-stem-curry/?preview=true

Stir fries made with tiny prawns,or maldive

fish is a favourite and a frequent dish in Asian

cuisines .

Today’s recipe is a salad with fried lotus stems .

Now to the recipe now

INGREDIENTS

3-4 stems lotus stems ( peeled and sliced thin)

2 onions sliced thin

2 green chillies sliced

2 tomatoes sliced thin

Pepper and salt to taste

Juice of 1 lime

1/2 tsp chilli flakes

To marinade the stems

1 tsp chilli powder

1/2 tsp turmeric powder

Salt

Oil for frying

METHOD

•First marinade the stems for few minutes.

•Fry till golden brown and set aside .

•Mix the rest of the ingredients in another

bowl,and add the fried lotus stems .

•Mix well,serve .

A good side dish with rice!

SPINACH ‘N’ BEET SALAD

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Beetroot is a wonderful nutritive root vegetable

which has to be included in juices,salads often.

Good for growing children and for those who

feel low on energy levels. Earlier I had

posted a boiled beetroot salad , which I make

very often at home.

This recipe is a grated beetroot salad lightly

tossed in oil , to get the raw taste out with

spinach leaves and sunflower seeds.

Quick,easy,and tasty too!Summer days calls for

Salads and juices , so do try these recipes and

post in your comments and suggestions !

INGREDIENTS

2 beetroots peeled and grated

A handful or more of spinach leaves

1 onion chopped fine

2-3 green chillies / capsicum chopped

2 tblsp lime juice

1/4 tsp pepper/ 1/2 tsp chilli flakes

salt to taste

1 tblsp oil

A handful of toasted sunflower / any seeds of

your choice.

METHOD

Heat oil and sauté the leaves for just one

second.

Remove from fire,and transfer to a bowl.

In the same oil add the grated beetroot and

sauté for just 3-5 minutes.Remove from fire

and mix in with the spinach leaves.

Add the rest of the ingredients,and mix well.

Nuts can be your choice of pumpkin,

watermelon seeds,walnuts,peanuts …,,..

As these seeds are a good source of VitaminD

it’s best to include in salads you make in these

present times.

RAW BANANA CHIPS SALAD

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This is a nice crunchy salad to be served with

rice.

https://calinskitchen.com/2014/10/10/bitter-gourd-salad/ click on this link to check for

bitter gourd salad which is the same as this

salad excluding pineapple.

To the recipe now

INGREDIENTS

1-2 raw bananas sliced,washed in salt water,

and marinaded in turmeric and salt .

Two big onions sliced thin

1-2 tomatoes sliced ( remove seeds)

2 green chillies sliced

Juice of 1 lemon / or to taste

A little pepper or chilli flakes

Salt to taste

Oil to fry

METHOD

Fry the marinaded banana slices till golden

brown, and set aside.

Mix the rest of the ingredients .

Add the banana chips to the onion mixture and

serve .

Best if you mix in the chips a few minutes

before you serve !

BOILED POTATO SALAD

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This is an easy salad,and will be a favourite of

potato lovers.A simple tasty dish .You can omit

the red chilli flakes, if you are serving kids.Just a

little sprinkle of pepper would be fine.

I’m going to the recipe right away!

INGREDIENTS

5-6 boiled and peeled potatoes ( lightly mashed)

1/2 cup grated coconut

1/2 cup chopped onions

2 green chillies finely

grated carrot

1-2 tblsp of red chilli flakes

Chopped coriander leaves

Lemon juice to taste

Salt to taste

METHOD

Just mix all the ingredients,and it’s ready to serve!

GUACAMOLE VARIATIONS (4)

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Guacamole  sourced  from the Mexican cuisine, is widely used all around the world as

dips,and in varieties of foods.

The  ripe avacado or butterfruit is the key ingredient in this dish.The greens added to this

differs in an individuals taste.

The authentic Guacamole is made with cilantro (coriander leaves) but spinach/palak,

basil leaves is also used in the making .

As avacado is the dominating ingredient the use of your favourite pick in leaves does not

change the taste.

I have tried with gotukola (brahmi ) leaves and it was fine.

Today i will be sharing, few of the variations.

I have added egg in different ways along with this.

Believe me ,its soo…amazing it is off my table within seconds.

So try this recipies with this healthy and amazing fruit.

img_20191016_1859466713647693863814388033.jpg

For the basic guacomole 

1 -2 ripe avacado/butterfruit

1 cup chopped cilantro/palak

1 onion chopped fine

2-3 green chillies

2 tomatoes chopped

pepper powder (depending on your taste)

salt

juice of 2 limes

a little nutmeg powder (optional)

Method

Remove the pulp and mash lightly.Add the rest of the ingredients and mix well.

For the variations.

img_20191016_1852145998515864742685718842.jpg

1. Steamed/baked egg and guacomole bun

Beat 4-5 eggs ,2 tblsp milk ,pepper,salt,a teaspoon of flour together and steam or bake till done,

4-5 buns (any buns of your choice) buttered lightly

Stuff with the salad and pieces of steamed or baked egg.

You could use poached eggs too for another day.

 

2. Double decker sandwich

img_20191016_1908503685753923384807633301.jpg

One side with the salad and the other with egg slices .

 

3.Chappathi wrap

img_20180907_081216125-16118380162305324764.jpg

Beat some eggs and smear on the chappathi while making.Add the salad and wrap.

Tortilla ,Pita wraps could be used.

 

4. You could use for BRUSSHETA (Toasted bread)

Do try these healthy and tasty recipies .Best for lunch box category.

Send in your comments and suggestions..

 

 

 

CAPSICUM ‘N’ RAW PAPAYA CHUTNEY

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Papaya and capsicum is another healthy chutney you have to try.I have posted the benefits

and recipes of capsicum in my previous posts.Now it’s with the combination of raw papaya.

Raw papaya is good to burn fat,controls bowel movements.It is a good remedy for indigestion

heart burn,stomach ulcers,gastric problems,controls proper flow of blood and maintains

blood pressure.So,considered good for heart patients too.You can slice the raw papaya and

cook with dal,make pickles,jam,juices,salads,mallum or poriyal with coconut.

Today I’m going to bring you the recipe for raw papaya and capsicum chutney.You can

combine with other veggies like,chow chow,carrot,green tomato,red tomato,coriander leaves

ginger,garlic,raw mango……..You could start your culinary expertise,and inventions to get into

some more combinations …..Do share your suggestions and comments.

To the recipe..

INGREDIENTS

2 green capsicum

1 cup peeled and chopped raw papaya

3-4 garlic with peel on

7-8 red chillies

2 tblsp.coriander seeds

1 tsp cummin seeds

2 tblsp channa dal (kadala parippu)

Few curry leaves(optional)

Salt to taste

Small piece of tamarind

1 tblsp oil.

METHOD

Heat oil in a pan and roast the bold listed ,till the dal turns light brown.

In the same oil,sauté the capsicum and raw papaya for 5-10 minutes.

Grind all together to a paste.Serve with Iddli,dosai ,rice,or rotis.

Note:If you like you could temper.

POTATO COCONUT SALAD

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Potato for some is a misconception that it makes you fat.Of course if you are taking potato

mixed with butter(potato mash),french fries,fried potatoes will definitely play the role of

making you fat.People who want to gain weight can opt for food like that.It is always

important to take food according to your own body structure and requirements.

Potato is one of the common and important food which carry a wealth of health benefits.

This seems to be a staple diet for many around the planet.The research so far shows that

potato helps to reduce cholesterol,boost heart health,immunity,eye health,skin and many

more healthy facts.Potato is a storehouse for energy,minerals and vitamins .Potatoes store

70-80 percent of water content of it weight,so regular intake of this vegetable,ensures you

with a good supply of water and ions in the body.whew..!

Now for the simple recipe.(no butter/oil)

Ingredients

200-250 gm boiled potatoes

2 green chillies chopped

3-4 stalks of spring onions chopped fine

3/4 cup coconut grated

1 tsp.chilli flakes

1/4 tsp.pepper powder

a pinch of nutmeg grated

juice of 1 lemon or 1 tsp.amchur powder(dry mango powder)

salt to taste

Method

Mix all these together .Do not mash well.Break the potatoes with your fingers.This can be

served with any meal.Good for a wrap,nuggets,or filling for samosas,or toasted

sandwiches

VALATHANDU RAITA

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This is a good accompaniment with pulaos,biriyani or any rice.As stated in my previous posts of prawn biriyani  this is a body cooling food

1 small piece of valalthandu (cubed into tiny pieces and boiled for 10 minutes)

1 onion cubed

1 green chilli

1 small carrot grated

a little chives

a pinch of sugar

salt to taste.

curd .

Mix all together.Add enough curd  to cover the vegetables.Add salt to taste.Add the water remaining after boiling the stem.

VALLARAI KEERAI /BRAHMI LEAVES /GOTUKOLA SALAD(Indian pennywort)

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This leaf is known for its medicinal properties ,and it is very good for diabetic patients,good memory enhancer,and is also used in ayurvedic medicine.
image

The recipe for the salad
http://calinskitchen.com

I bunch (1 cup)leaves sliced fine

3 green chillies sliced fine

12-15 sliced small onions /2 big onions chopped fine

1 tomato sliced fine.

1 carrot grated

1/2 lime

1/4 tsp pepper

salt to taste.

2-3 tblsp. coconut milk(optional)

Mix all ingredients together .Add lime juice.Its a very good salad to serve with rice.

My versions of serving:

Bruschettas can be made with this salad

Chappathi filling –Make egg chappathis and roll with this salad.This is an excellent snack which i love very much.
image

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Top fried chicken with this salad.

Flaked or baked salmon (fish) can be topped with this salad with a sprinkle of pineapple cubes.

CHICKEN ‘N’ PINEAPPLE SALAD

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500-750 gm chicken

1 cup pineapple cubes

1 carrot grated

2-3 flakes of garlic chopped

a small piece of ginger chopped fine

1 onion chopped fine

lettuce leaves

1+1/2 cups thousand island dressing(see recipe below)

Boil chicken with skin in salt water.Add ginger,garlic,and onion.remove the skin from the chicken and shred.mix in thousand island dressing and chill in fridge.Serve on a bed of lettuce and grated carrot.

Thousand Island Dressing.

1 cup mayonnaise

1 tblsp.tomato sauce

1 tsp.chilli sauce.

1 tblsp.capsicum chopped

1 tblsp.onion chopped

1 tblsp.chopped cucumber

salt if needed.

Mix all with mayonnaise.bottle and store in fridge.Use when required

BITTER GOURD SALAD

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Those who don’t like the taste of this vegetable,will really love this salad  no doubt!

INGREDIENTS

2-3 bitter gourd seeds removed and cut

thinly(round or strips)

1/2 tsp chilli powder

1/2 tsp.pepper powder

2 green chillies (sliced fine)

1 tomato (sliced fine)

1-2 tblsp.coconut milk

1/2 cup pineapple chopped ( optional)

salt to taste

1-2 tblsp.lime juice

Coriander leaves for garnishing

Add chilli powder and salt to the bitter gourd,set aside for 5 mins.

Fry to a golden brown color.

Drain on kitchen paper.

Mix all other ingredients.Serve with rice/fried rice.

Note:Once fried the bitterness of this vegetable will be minimal.

Tip to remove bitterness:

1.Don’t put away the water you wash rice with,instead use it to soak the    cut gourd for 10 minutes. Wash again and use.From my experience i think this is the best method for removing the bitterness.

2.Mix with turmeric powder and set aside for 5 mins.Wash and use.

3.Soak in buttermilk.wash and use.

4.Use tamarind water to soak.wash and use.

 5.Use jaggery water to soak.wash and use.

6.Cut and just put it on the clean counter top for some time.

These are some of the options i have tried.Do

send me your comments.