Wednesday, April 30, 2008

Semia Payasam ( Indian Vermicelli Pudding With Milk)

Semia Payasam
Semia Payasam is another wonderful pudding just like Pal Payasam (Rice and Milk pudding) that is often featured at feasts in South India; in fact no feast is complete without at least one kind of payasam. It is one of our family favorites and I love making it often. I like to offer payasams in general as a dessert as they tend to be the healthier with a low fat and low sugar content compared to other desserts. They are also easy to make with the least amount of prep work.

Semia are fine noodles made from wheat just like vermicelli; they are called 'seviyan' in Hindi.

Usually the payasam settles in the pan while cooking and is burnt very easily. I figured out the secret to making great payasams without all the constant stirring! One time I added the sugar to the milk by mistake but went ahead with the payasam rather than toss out the sugary milk. Well, that accident proved very useful! Now any time we want payasam, I just add the sugar to the milk at the beginning and forget all the stirring and fuss. No more burnt payasam :)! I have tried this method many times and the results are incredible without exception; I cook semia, sago (tapioca), and rice payasam the same way. Now the payasams turn out superb.

Happy May 1st! Celebrate with Semia Payasam! Amma always made some type of payasam or a sweet dish on the first days of each month when we were children and Semia payasam was one favorite! New Month's Day is always celebrated just like New Year's Day even if not as elaborately; it is another opportunity to start anew.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup Semia noodles
6 cups any Milk
1/2 cup Sugar
a few strands Saffron
5 to 7 Cardamom Pods

1 Tbsp Ghee or Vegan butter substitute
3 Tbsp Raw Cashew pieces
2 Tbsp Seedless Raisins

Method:

Roast the semia noodles in a dry skillet stirring constantly until golden. Alternately, roast the noodles in a 350 degree oven for about 10 minutes or until golden. Cool slightly.

Meanwhile bring the milk and sugar to a boil. Simmer for 30 minutes to an hour until the milk is reduced a little and looks creamy. You can simmer the milk even longer if desired for a creamier result. The longer you simmer the milk, the creamier it gets and the milk sugars caramelize and give the payasam a great flavor and color.

Add the toasted noodles to the simmering milk and stir well to prevent lumps from forming. Turn the heat to low and simmer until noodles are soft stirring occasionally.

Crush the cardamom pods and collect the little black/brown seeds; discard the skins. Crush the cardamom seeds and saffron strands together with a teaspoon of sugar using a mortar and pestle to a fine powder; the sugar helps to grind the spices. Sprinkle the spices over the payasam and stir well to combine. Cover.

Heat the ghee/vegan butter substitute and cook the cashew pieces until pinkish; add raisins and stir until raisins puff up a little. Remove from heat.

If you are serving the payasam right away, stir in the cashews and raisins and serve hot, warm, or cool. The nuts and raisins provide a nice contrast to the creamy soft payasam and offer intense pockets of flavor and richness.

When planning to serve the payasam later, I usually reserve the cashews/raisins and sprinkle them on top of each serving because I prefer the cashews to stay crisp.

Note: Although it is traditional to add cashews and raisins to the payasam, you can omit them; I sometimes leave them out because not everyone is very fond of them.

Corn Cakes With Tomato Chutney

Corn Cakes are utterly delectable and very easy to make. They are scrumptious with Tomato Chutney  but maybe served any time with any of your favorite accompaniments. Some even like it with ketchup! Serve the corn cakes as a light snack or lunch or dinner with roasted corn chowder or another soup, any salad or raita.

Variations: Mix 1/2 tsp (or to taste) of Sambar Powder into the batter for a nice change. And/Or stir in 1 small grated zucchini or carrot or a little of both for beautiful color, delicious flavor and added nutrition. Adjust the seasoning of the batter when adding extra ingredients.

Sambar Powder is a classic South Indian spice mix that even people who profess to dislike "curry" absolutely enjoy; it is readily available in Indian markets. My friend L is one such example who would probably balk at the thought of going to an Indian restaurant, but happily sprinkles Sambar Powder quite liberally in all sorts of dishes except of course her fabulous apple crisp :)!

Makes 6 servings. Each Serving according to the following recipe including the sprouts contains:
230 Calories; 7 g Protein; 39 g Carbohydrates; 3.5 g Fiber; 5.8 g Fat.

Ingredients:

1 cup Whole Wheat flour (Atta)
1 to 1 1/2 cups Non-Dairy Milk
1/2 cup yellow Corn Meal
1/2 cup Rice flour
1 cup fresh or frozen Corn kernels
1 cup fresh Mung Bean Sprouts (Optional)
2 to 4 Tbsp Fresh Cilantro, chopped
Salt and Freshly ground Black Pepper to taste
1 Tbsp Oil for brushing the pan and cooking the cakes

Tomato Chutney, salad, or raita to serve

Method:

Combine the w. w. flour, milk, and half the corn in a blender or food processor and process until almost smooth. Pour into a mixing bowl. Stir in the remaining corn kernels, the sprouts, corn meal, rice flour, and salt and pepper to taste. Mix well. Stir in the chopped cilantro. The batter should be fairly thick but easily poured from a spoon; add more milk or water to adjust the consistency of the batter.

Heat a skillet or griddle and brush with oil. Drop a small ladle of batter for each pancake; make 2 or 3 pancakes at a time depending on the size of the griddle or skillet. Drizzle a few drops of oil around the pancakes, and cook until set. Carefully turn over the cakes to cook the other side. Cook until golden brown.

Serve hot with  Tomato Chutney, salad or raita.

Enjoy!!


Tuesday, April 22, 2008

Pasta Salad With A Rainbow Of Vegetables

A lovely pasta salad with a bounty of colorful vegetables to celebrate Earth Day! Use your own favorite combination of vegetables - here is one of mine. Great for lunch bags too :)!

A fabulous variation is to use Pesto (homemade or store-bought) with a little more  olive oil to dilute it and use this to dress the salad instead of other dressing.

8 main dish servings; Each serving as prepared below contains: 320 Calories; 13 g Protein; 8.5 g Fat; 12.8 g Fiber; and 46 g Carbohydrates.

Ingredients:

1 lb Multi grain Pasta, any short type like penne or rotelle
Salt to taste
1 large clove Garlic, chopped
3 Tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 Orange or Red Bell Pepper (Capsicum)
1 Yellow Crookneck Squash
1 Zucchini
1 Leek OR 2 Green Onions OR 1 small Red Onion
1 small bulb Fresh Fennel or 2 ribs Tender Celery
10 Kalamata Olives (or any type)
2 cups Broccoli florets
4 to 6 Baby Artichokes
3 Ripe Tomatoes
1/4 cup Fresh Italian Parsley
1/4 cup Fresh Basil Leaves
2 tsp Freshly ground Black Pepper
2 to 4 Tbsp Capers (Optional)
1/2 cup Grated Parmesan OR Crumbled Feta Cheese (Made without animal rennet)

Method:

Prepare the pasta: Bring a large pot of water to a boil, add a good pinch of salt and the pasta and bring back to a boil. Turn off heat and cover and let sit for about 10 minutes; test the tenderness of the pasta. If it is tender but firm, it is ready. Drain and add a fresh cup of water (to stop cooking) and drain well again. Pour a Tbsp of the olive oil and toss to coat.

Prepare the vegetables while pasta is cooking:

Cut off the roots and most of the green part of the leek. Cut in half lengthwise and wash thoroughly checking between layers to remove all sand and grit. Drain and dry. Slice thinly crosswise into semicircles. Peel and quarter the onion if using; slice thinly. If using green onions, remove root ends and any damaged green leaves; slice thinly both the white and as much of the green as possible.

Wash and dry all the vegetables.

Slice off the stem and blossom ends of the zucchini and yellow squash; cut in quarters lengthwise and then crosswise diagonally at 1/2" intervals.

Remove most of the outer leaves from the baby artichokes until the inner creamy yellow leaves remain. Cut off about 1/3 rd of the leaf-tip and trim the stems. Keep dropping prepared artichokes into lemon water to prevent browning. Cut them into halves or quarters as desired and cook for about 5 to 6 minutes or until tender by stir frying, boiling, or steaming. Let cool.

Separate the broccoli into small bite-sized florets. Cook the broccoli in a very small amount of water or steam in the microwave just until they turn bright green; let cool.

Cut the bell peppers into half, remove the stem, membranes, and the seeds; chop into small bite sized cubes.

Remove and discard stalks and root end from fennel and cut bulb in half or quarters; slice thinly. If using celery, slice thinly including the leaves.

Cut the tomatoes into small bite-sized pieces.

Strip leaves from parsley stalks and chop coarsely. Strip the basil leaves from the stems and tear coarsely.

Remove and discard the pits from the olives and cut them into quarters lengthwise.

Peel and finely chop the garlic.

Place garlic and salt in a large bowl and mash a little with the back of a spoon. Add the rest of the olive oil and mix well. Mix in all the vegetables, pasta, cheese, herbs, capers and the freshly ground black pepper.

Let sit for at least 30 minutes for the flavors to mingle and meld. Stir well and serve at room temperature with more freshly ground pepper if desired.

Note: Capers are pickled green buds that look a little like green peppercorns. They are available in any market in small jars.

Molagushyam ( Roasted Mung Bean, Green Banana, And Taro Root Stew)

Molagushyam is another classic Kerala stew that we adored as children. Although it does not sport an impressive list of herbs or spices, it is simply divine and satisfying. I have only seen it served for family meals and never at any formal occasions. It definitely belongs in the homey, comfort food category.

It is one of Amma's favorite dishes too; she would forgo the traditional rice in favor of enjoying a little more molagushyam! I remember that although she preferred using the Indian 'thali' or stainless steel plate instead of porcelain plates or bowls in general, she would bring out the wide soup bowls with a big smile to serve the molagushyam :).

According to Ayur Veda, mung beans are restorative and strength building. Mung bean, especially the split yellow dal, generally leads the list of the "pathiam" or convalescent foods which are the traditional get-well foods which are easy to digest and nutritious. Mung beans provide high quality nutrition with great taste and easy digestibility especially for people recovering from an illness. Beans are low in fat but high in fiber (both soluble and insoluble), good sources of protein, B vitamins, Iron, and other trace minerals.

Unlike other plants, beans also enrich the very soil they grow in by a process called nitrogen-fixing whereby the bacteria present in the bean plants pull out nitrogen from the atmosphere and fix it in the soil so that it is available to subsequent crops grown at that same site. I remember that my Thatha (grandfather) used this principle to do crop rotations to enrich the soil; he would plow the old bean plants which he called "green manure" into the soil after they were finished to start the planting cycle all anew. We got wonderful beans to eat and fertile soil too for future crops - all without the use of synthetic fertilizers which are harsh on the environment. Very Earth-friendly indeed!

Caveat: Do remember that the taro (Chembu/Cheppan kizhangu in Malayalam/Tamil, Arbi in Hindi) must be well cooked until soft. See note of caution about taro/arbi in Puli Kuthi Poduthul.

Ingredients:

1 cup Whole Mung Beans
2 Moringa Pods (Indian Drumsticks) Optional
1 unripe green Plantain Banana
4 to 6  mediumTaro roots (Arbi) (Colocasia esculenta)
1 tsp Turmeric
2 tsp Salt or to taste
1 or 2 Dry Red Chilies
1 Tbsp Whole Black Pepper or to taste
1 Tbsp Whole Cumin Seeds
1 stalk Fresh Curry Leaves
1 Tsp Coconut Oil or Creamed Coconut

Method:

Sort the beans to remove any rocks or other debris. Lightly roast the mung beans without any oil in a skillet constantly stirring until just fragrant; cool. Wash well when cool and place in a large heavy bottomed pot with fresh water to cover; break the dry red chilies in half and shake out and discard the seeds and drop them into the pot. Bring to a boil, turn down heat and simmer until soft (about 40 minutes on stove top). 

 Alternately cook the beans in a pressure cooker according to manufacturer's directions; usually it takes about 15 minutes or so.

Wash and dry the vegetables. Peel only the outer green skin of the banana; cut into half or quarters lengthwise and slice diagonally at 1" intervals. Peel the arbi roots and cut in half so the pieces are approximately the same size as the banana pieces. Trim the ends of the moringa pods and cut them into 2" long pieces.

Add the vegetables, the turmeric, and salt to the soft mung beans and simmer covered until the vegetables are almost tender (about 20 minutes).

Grind the pepper and cumin to a fine powder and sprinkle over the beans and veggies. Simmer another 10 minutes or until the vegetables are soft.

Crush the curry leaves in your hand by squeezing them to release their aroma and place on top of the molagushyam. Pour the coconut oil on top and cover immediately. Let sit for 10 minutes for the flavors to develop.

Serve hot on its own, over plain hot rice, with chapatis or as desired.

Variation: Other mild vegetables such as the yard long beans or zucchini may be added to the molagushyam along with the cumin and pepper and simmered until tender. In Kerala, a true yam called Chenai also is a main ingredient.

Note: The moringa pods are eaten in a similar fashion as artichoke leaves; gently squeeze the pieces to open up into 3 sections, bite firmly onto one section at a time and then scrape off the flesh by pulling between your teeth while firmly holding on with your fingers - it is a lot easier to do than describe.

Sunday, April 20, 2008

Channa Payesh (Fresh Ricotta/Paneer Cheese Dessert With Rose Water and Almonds)

Channa Payesh is an easy, breezy recipe - a wonderful make-ahead dessert based on freshly made Indian Channa or Paneer Cheese. If you use the ricotta cheese or store-bought paneer, there is absolutely no cooking involved at all! It is utterly divine with fresh berries, mangoes, peaches, etc.

8 Servings

Nutrition Information per serving as prepared with ricotta cheese without any fruit: 163 Calories; 7.1 g protein; 14.1 g carbohydrates; 8.1 g fat

Ingredients:

1 lb Whole Milk Ricotta Cheese or fresh Paneer
6 Tbsp Sugar or to taste
2 tsp Rose or Kewra Water
1/4 cup Almonds(blanched if preferred), coarsely ground
2 Tbsp Pistachios, finely chopped
Fresh fruits of your choice (Optional)
Fresh Rose Petals (Optional)

Method:

Cream the ricotta cheese with the sugar until light and creamy in a food processor. If using paneer you may need to use a few spoons of cream to moisten as necessary.

Stir in the rose or kewra water and the almonds and mix well.

Cover well and chill for at least 4 hours or overnight.

Spoon into pretty dishes- an ice cream scoop works great for this; add fruits if using, and sprinkle with a little of the chopped pistachios.

Decorate with the rose petals (make sure that the rose petals are from pesticide-free bushes) and serve cold.

Monday, April 14, 2008

Ripe Mango (Mampazha) Pulisseri (Ripe Mangoes In Yogurt Curry)

Here is a Kerala classic that is at home with fancy feasts or modest meals. My sister won a prize when she entered this recipe at the Mango Festival! According to my sister 'Parikkai Fry' (Bitter Melon Stir Fry) is the perfect dish to balance and accompany the sweet Mango Pulisseri :).

Mangoes are returning after a long winter and now is the time to try this recipe. No feast in Kerala is complete without Mango Pulisseri especially during mango season! Another one of our childhood favorites that we were always happy to eat!

Firm mature mangoes work best for this curry. Whether or not you add sugar depends upon the sweetness of the mangoes and/or how sweet you like the curry. Taste a piece of the uncooked mango first to decide. We like the pulisseri tart or sweet. With the sweet one it is nice to serve parikkai fry; with the tart one I like to serve some type of paruppu usli curry (sautéed vegetables with steamed and seasoned dal).

Note: For a dairy free dish, use tofu or plain non-dairy yogurt. Both work well here in this or other yogurt-based curries/stews.

Ingredients:

3 medium Ripe but firm Mangoes
11/2 tsp Salt
1/2 tsp Turmeric
Sugar to taste (Optional)

Grind together:
1 1/2 cups Plain Yogurt
1/2 small Fresh Coconut
4 Hot Green Chilies or to taste

Thalippu/Tadka:
1 Tbsp Oil
1/2 tsp Brown Mustard Seeds
1/2 tsp Fenugreek Seeds (Methi)
3 Dry Red Chili
1 Sprig Fresh Curry Leaves

Method:

Wash, dry and peel the mangoes into medium sized chunks scraping every bit of the flesh from the seeds; discard the seeds. Cook the mangoes with the salt, turmeric, 1 cup of water, and sugar to taste if desired in a medium sauce pan until soft (about 10 minutes).

While the mangoes are cooking, grind together the coconut, green chilies and the yogurt together until smooth.

Add the coconut mixture to the mangoes and cook on medium heat for about 5 minutes. Remove the pan from heat source as soon as the curry begins to foam and rises up a little. DO NOT BOIL because boiling will cause the yogurt to curdle.

Heat the oil in a small pan and add the red chilies, mustard and methi seeds. When the seeds begin to pop, turn off the heat, add the curry leaves quickly and cover. When the oil calms, add the Thalippu to the curry. Stir well before serving hot or warm over plain rice.

Enjoy!!

Brown Rice-Barley Pongal With 5 Dals (Brown Rice Porridge With 5 Kinds of Lentils)

Brown Rice and Barley Pongal is a very healthy and delicious food. I make it nonfat (see the directions below) so that individuals can decide to add ghee/butter if they choose.

I love to include barley in everyday cooking as much as possible. Pleasant tasting barley grains are a good source of B vitamins and soluble fiber that helps reduce cholesterol and lowers your risk of heart disease. According to Ayurveda principles, barley is good for the reproductive/urinary tract health especially in women. Barley tea or water is a highly recommended beverage to prevent swollen legs and feet for pregnant women in Southern India.

6-8 Servings

Ingredients:


1/2 cup Brown Rice
1/2 cup Barley
1 handful each: Chana Dal, Toor Dal, Masoor Dal, Split Mung Dal with skin, and Red Chori (Karamani) beans
1 tsp Turmeric
2 tsp Salt or to taste

Thalippu/Tadka:
2 Tbsp Oil, Ghee or Unsalted Butter
1- 2 tsp Whole Black Peppercorns (Mulaku)
1 Tbsp Whole Cumin Seeds (Jeera)

Method:

Roast the dals together except the karamani in a 350 F oven or in a skillet without any oil until fragrant; just lightly golden. Set aside to cool.

Wash thoroughly the rice, barley and karamani together and drain well. Heat 8 cups of fresh water to a boil and stir in the rice mixture. Bring to a boil again, reduce heat and simmer until soft, about 30 minutes or the grains are beginning to get tender.

Wash the roasted dals and stir in adding about 1 or 2 cups more boiling water if pongal looks too dry. Cook stirring occasionally until soft  about 30 - 40 minutes. Add more boiling water if necessary to get the right consistency - our family likes the pongal creamy and soft.

Coarsely grind the cumin and crack the peppercorns coarsely.

Heat the ghee in a small pan with the cumin and black pepper. When the spices sizzle and are browned a little and fragrant, pour over the pongal and mix well. Serve hot with Aviyal, Gothsu, Raita, chutneys or pickles. Enjoy!!

For a nonfat version, toast the spices without any fat until fragrant, cool and grind coarsely. Sprinkle over the pongal and mix well.

Sunday, April 13, 2008

Roasted Vegetable Sandwiches

Assorted Roasted Veggies
The roasted vegetables make for wonderfully tasty and nutritious sandwiches and wraps especially with homemade Pesto. If you roast a few extra veggies, they can be used to make the delectable Tricolor Pasta with them. Use your favorite breads and cheeses to make the sandwiches. Some of my favorite breads are Chapatis(whole wheat tortillas), ciabatta, sourdough, or French rolls, and lavash. I vary the cheeses each week; Cheddar, Jack, Cream Cheese, Goat Cheese, Feta Cheese and fresh Mozzarella among others - all are delicious :). These make great school lunches along with some crunchy sprout salad or chopped salad and a fresh fruit; I put the pasta, salads or veggie slices in a leak-proof resealable plastic bags and include a fork/spoon. Bon apetit!

In answer to a good question that came up about the use of cheeses in vegetarian cooking: I am a vegetarian too and use the specific cheeses mentioned in this recipe - they are made with only microbial rennet or are totally rennetless (please check the list of ingredients to make sure). Generally creme cheese, goat cheese, yogurt cheese, etc are made without any rennet. Some rennetless cheeses are available at the regular grocery stores and more perhaps at special markets which offer more healthful products such as Trader Joe's, Whole Food, etc.

Ingredients:

Roasted Veggies:
Chinese, Japanese, or Italian type Eggplants
Zucchinis
Red Bell Peppers
Red Onions
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Coarse Salt
Freshly ground Black Pepper

For Sandwiches:

Your Favorite Breads: Any yeast breads, rolls, whole wheat Chapatis or Tortillas
Pesto, Dijon Mustard or any kind of chutney or Indian pickles to spread on the bread
Feta Cheese, Goat Cheese, Fresh Mozzarella, or Your Favorite Cheese
Fresh Basil, Cilantro, Parsley, Watercress, Arugula leaves, or Fresh Herbs of your choice
Romaine Lettuce, Butter Lettuce, Baby Lettuce Leaves
Additional Salt and Black Pepper to taste

Method:

Wash all the vegetables well and dry them. Remove both ends of both zucchinis and eggplants and slice them lengthwise evenly into large, 1/2" thick slices. Cut the bell peppers into quarters, remove stems, seeds and membranes. Cut off the ends of the onions, peel off the skin and slice them into 1/2" thick rounds. (Alternately, chop all the vegetables into small - 1/2" - cubes and proceed as follows.)

Coat the vegetables with a small amount of olive oil (1 or 2 tsp) just enough to coat them and place them on oiled baking sheets; sprinkle lightly with salt and freshly ground pepper. Bake at 400 degrees F for about 10 minutes; turn the vegetables over and bake for about 5 more minutes until soft and lightly browned.

Let cool, remove from the baking sheet and store in a covered container in the fridge until ready to use.

Assembling the Sandwiches: If using slices of bread, toast them if preferred. If using rolls, cut in halves. Spread a little of the Pesto on one side of the bread pieces; add layers of lettuce, herbs, cheese and the roasted veggies as desired. Sprinkle with salt and pepper if desired and cover with another slice of bread and cut in half diagonally. If using chapatis, roll up tightly after filling and cut in half. Wrap tightly with plastic wrap to use in lunch bags. Serve at room temperature with cucumber or carrot slices, sprout salad or chopped salad and fresh fruits or as desired.

Amma's Godumai Bajji (Spicy Whole Wheat Flour Fritters)

These are not true bajjis; they probably belong to the pakoda category. Traditionally bajjis are vegetable slices or pieces dipped in batter and deep fried whereas pakodas are made from a dough formed by mixing all the ingredients including finely chopped veggies.

I made these recently for teatime to celebrate congenial company. It is an old recipe from Amma and it is absolutely delicious. I have only eaten them at our house so this recipe seems to be another one of Amma's clever creations. Amazing to say the least, Amma was incredibly inventive; if one ingredient was not available, she found a replacement that worked just as well or even better. It is my guess that perhaps she substituted the whole wheat flour for the traditional besan for some reason - I am glad she did :)!

Using whole wheat offers a delectable change from the typical bajjis made with besan (chick pea or garbanzo flour). Do include the rice flour for crispness; otherwise the bajjis will be softer. The sprouts add to the crunch too - especially the ones on the outside. The cashews enrich them and take them beyond the ordinary. These bajjis are to live for! Very easy and very quick - perfect for when you want great snacks at a moment's notice - Enjoy :)!

12 servings

Ingredients:

2 cups Whole Wheat Flour (Atta)
1/2 cup Rice Flour
2 Tbsp Coconut, grated - Fresh, frozen, or 1 Tbsp dessicated 
1/4 cup Cashew nuts or Peanuts (coarsely chopped)
1/4 - 1/2 tsp Ground Dry Hot Red Chilies (Cayenne)
1 or 2 pinches ground Asafoetida
1 tsp Salt or to taste
1 cup finely chopped Onion, any type (Red, Green, Brown, etc.)
4 Tbsp Plain Yogurt
1 hot Green Chili, minced (Optional)
1 or 2 Tbsp grated Fresh Ginger (Optional)
1/2 cup Fresh Sprouts (Optional)
1 small or medium Zucchini, finely chopped or grated (Optional)

Oil of your choice for deep frying

Method:

Start heating the oil in a Kadai (Indian Wok) or other suitable pan for deep frying.

Place all the ingredients in a bowl, sprinkle 1/2 cup of water and mix. Add more water a few tablespoons at a time if needed and mix thoroughly to make a soft dough. The dough should be soft and sticky but not runny like that for Dosas or pancakes.

When the oil is hot, carefully drop a tiny bit of the dough into it. If it starts to sizzle and brown within a few seconds, it is hot enough. Take big spoonful of dough and push off little bits of dough (about 1 or 2 teaspoons) into the oil with a teaspoon. The blobs of dough should be ragged shapes to assure a large cooking surface which allows them to cook quickly and also become crispy. Do not crowd the pan. Cook the bajjis for about 3 to 4 minutes turning them once to cook evenly. When they are deep golden brown, remove from oil using a slotted spoon and drain well by placing on absorbent towels.

Proceed with the rest of the dough to make more bajjis as described above. If you find that there is too much dough for your immediate needs, you can save it in a covered container in the refrigerator for 2 or 3 days.

Serve hot accompanied by any kind of fresh chutneys, pachadi/raita, ketchup, hot sauce, etc. as desired.

Note: I generally add the fresh sprouts and/or chopped zucchini to boost both taste and nutrition. You can vary the vegetables such as eggplant, sweet and hot peppers, summer squashes, Opo squash/bottle gourd, etc according to the season or your preference.

Sour yogurt is great for this recipe; so if you have some old yogurt with no place to go, it would be perfect here.

Thursday, April 3, 2008

Tricolor Pasta (Pasta with Greens and Red Bell Pepper)

The white pasta, delectable bright red roasted bell pepper, and the succulent greens make a lovely presentation of the Italian flag colors but includes an international cast of vegetables such as Italian Zucchini, Japanese Eggplant, and Chinese Bok Choy :)!

The fact that the vegetables can be prepared ahead of time makes it very convenient. The bell peppers, eggplant, broccoli, and zucchinis can be roasted one or two days before and refrigerated until ready to use. In fact you can bake extra veggies when preparing Roasted Vegetable Sandwiches and save the extra for this dish or vice versa. Wash, dry and slice the greens and herbs one day before. Then on the day of serving, cook the pasta, the garlic and tender greens, and combine all together.

Use gluten free pasta if you wish; cook them according to package directions.

8 Servings

Ingredients:

1 lb dry pasta, any type
1/2 lb Baby Bok Choy
2 large Red Bell Peppers
2 medium Japanese or Chinese Eggplants
2 medium Zucchini
1 medium bunch Broccoli Rabe, blanched or regular Broccoli
1 small bunch Basil
1 small bunch Italian Parsley
1 small bunch Arugula
1 medium Red Onion
2 or 3 cloves of Fresh Garlic
2 sprigs fresh Marjoram (1/2 tsp dry)
1/2 tsp dry Red Chili flakes
Salt to taste
Freshly ground Black Pepper
1-2 Tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil


Method:

Wash and dry all the vegetables.

Roast the bell peppers or broil until all sides are slightly charred. Put in a brown bag or a container and keep covered to sweat and cool. When cool, hold over a plate or bowl to catch the flavorful juices, remove the stem and seeds and peel off the skin. Keep aside until ready to use. If made ahead, keep refrigerated in a covered container.

Cut the eggplants in half lengthwise; slice crosswise diagonally into bite sized pieces. Peel and slice the onions thinly. Combine eggplant pieces and onions with a tiny bit of oil and a pinch of salt. Spread in a thin layer and roast for 15 minutes or until eggplant is soft and lightly browned.

While the eggplant is cooking, prepare the zucchini and broccoli. Cut into bite sized pieces and coat with a little oil and sprinkle with salt. Roast for 10 minutes.

All the cut veggies maybe roasted at the same time; zucchinis maynot need as long so add them after 5 minutes of roasting the others.

While the vegetables are roasting, wash the bok choy and the arugula. Slice the bok choy coarsely. Strip the leaves and tender tips of arugula; discard the stems. Peel and slice the garlic thinly. Strip the leaves from the herbs and chop coarsely.

While cooking the veggies bring a large pot of water to boil with a Tbsp of salt and stir the pasta in. Bring to boil again and turn heat off. Let the pasta cook covered undisturbed for about 10 minutes or until tender but still firm to the bite. Drain the pasta reserving about a cup of the cooking water.

Heat a large skillet or wok with the rest of the olive oil and stir in the red chili flakes. Stir for a few seconds and add the garlic with a pinch of salt and some pepper and cook until they turn slightly golden. Stir in herbs, bok choy and arugula and cook until wilted.

Stir in the hot pasta with the cooking liquid and all the roasted veggies into the greens and herb mixture. Stir to combine well. Serve hot with Chile Sauce and freshly ground pepper. It is delicious at room temperature or even cold - great for lunch bags too :)!

Enjoy!!

Variation: Cut the bell pepper in half; remove stems, seeds and membranes. Cut into bite sized pieces. combine with the eggplant and onions with a little of the olive oil (about 1 tsp) and a pinch of salt. Place in a single layer in an oiled baking pan and roast in a 400 degree F oven for about 15 minutes or until soft and lightly browned.

All of the vegetables can also be stir fried in batches instead of roasting to make this dish.

Sprouted Bean Salad (Salad with Sprouted Legumes With Lime Dressing)

Mixed sprout salad

As the season warms I am longing for lighter foods like simple, crunchy, munchy, sprout salad that is not only healthy, but also delicious. Makes a wonderful snack for lunch bags too! Snacks like these are sold by street vendors all over India. There is absolutely no cooking involved - the sprouts are raw! so the salad goes together very quickly. You can use homemade sprouts or buy them from the store. If you are not a fan of raw sprouts, steam them lightly.

Chat Masala is readily available in Indian Grocery Stores. You can use just salt and pepper and a little ground roasted cumin seeds or other herbs/seasonings instead as another option.

4 servings
Nutrition Information (As prepared below): 38 Calories, 1.6 g Protein, 5 g Carbohydrates, 0.15 g fat

Ingredients:

1 cup fresh sprouts, any kind or a mixture
1 medium Carrot, diced
1 small Red Bell Pepper, diced
2 Tbsp Fresh Cilantro(Coriander Leaves) and/or Italian Parsley, chopped
1 small cucumber, diced
1/2 small Red Onion, finely chopped
1/2 tsp Chat Masala (spice mix from India)
1 Lime/Lemon

Method:

The vegetables should be diced slightly larger than the biggest sprout used.
Place all the ingredients except the lime/lemon in a bowl. Cut the lime/lemon in half and squeeze the juice from one piece over all. Mix and taste. Squeeze the other piece of lime/lemon if you like a tangier salad. Mix and serve right away or chill until ready. Serve the salad with additional Chat Masala if desired.

Variations: An oil and vinegar dressing (or your favorite kind) can be used instead of the lime juice and chat masala. You can also add chopped ripe tomato or other vegetables to the salad.

For those who like their food spicy, add a thinly sliced or finely minced hot green chili such as Serrano or Jalapeño.

Sprouts (How To Make Sprouted Beans or Peas)

Lentils, Peas, Red Chori, Mung, Brown Chick Peas
Dry ones in the foreground; soaked ones behind
It is very easy to sprout various dried beans and peas. Sprouting does take a little planning though; it takes about 2 to 4 days from start to sprout (in warmer weather the seeds sprout quicker). This is also an educational and fun "cooking" activity for children - they can eat their experiment :) !! As you probably know, children will most likely eat what they help prepare.

You don't need any special equipment for sprouting; just any bowl and a clean piece of cloth will do. I like using glass jars for my sprouts; I love watching the progression from seed to sprout. It is fun to have a few types going at the same time. I sprout and store the different types of beans in their own containers and mix them for specific dishes as needed. Sprouts make a nice addition to all types of dishes - salads, Chundal, Bajji, Adai, Corn Cakes, Molakootal, Kootu, stir-fries, curries, etc.

One word of caution: some beans such as kidney beans should not be eaten raw as they contain certain enzymes which need to be cooked well in order to make them digestible.

Here is how it goes:

Ingredients:

1/2 cup of any of the following: Mung beans, lentils, brown chick peas, red chori beans (adzuki beans), or dried whole peas
Or use a few tbsp of 2 or 3 different kinds

Method:

Choose one kind of beans/peas or a few at a time; sprout the different kinds in separate containers as the sprouting time varies for the different types.

Sort the beans and remove discolored ones, stones, etc. Wash thoroughly in two or three changes of fresh water and soak in plenty of water to cover in the container of your choice.

Leave the beans/peas to soak overnight or even up to 24 hours at room temperature.

Rinse the soaked beans/peas and drain thoroughly. You will see that the well hydrated beans/peas will be plump and lighter in color than the dry.

Cover the container loosely with a clean piece of cloth or a dish towel.

Rinse the beans/peas with fresh water twice a day; once in the morning and again in the evening. Little white sprouts will emerge in a day or two.

When the white sprouts are visible in pretty much most of the beans/peas, wash and drain well and start using them in your favorite recipes.

Store the unused portion in a covered container in the refrigerator. Rinse the sprouts and drain thoroughly once daily to keep them fresh. The sprouts will stay fresh for about a week or up to 10 days.

Yields about 1 to 11/2 cups of sprouts - the larger the size of beans/peas, the more sprouts.

Caution: I find that some Mung beans do not sprout or even hydrate and remain hard; so I check to make sure all the beans have sprouted before adding to dishes.

All of the mung beans were soaked for the same length of time;
but those in the white bowl stayed rock hard!
There is a very easy way to remove the hard beans: just place all the beans/peas in a large bowl with plenty of fresh water; the hard ones stay sunk at the bottom while the sprouts float. I just remove the top layers of the sprouts for salads and snacks and save the hard ones on the bottom for soaking longer or cooking.

The other way to remove hard, unsprouted legumes is to sort them on a large tray or baking pan; this can be done quite easily and quickly.