Geetha's Kitchen

Simple yet luscious Chopped Salad With Non-Dairy Raita Dressing came into being when I wanted a salad to coordinate with an Indian themed meal. The salad turned out fabulous with requests for more! Chopped Salad With Raita Dressing Chopped Salad With Non-Dairy Raita Dressing is a wonderful recipe good and good for you with all the pro- and pre- biotic components. The radishes and grapes add spicy crunch and cool sweetness to this wonderful and satisfying salad. The dressing and salad (without the tomatoes) maybe prepared a day ahead and reserved in the fridge separately. Add the tomatoes and the dressing to the salad just before serving. NOTES: Watermelon instead of or in addition to the grapes is wonderful in this salad especially on a warm day or evening. Spinach or other greens maybe used instead of the romaine lettuce. 4 Servings INGREDIENTS: Raita Dressing 1/4 cup Raw Cashews, soaked in warm water for 30 minutes 1/2 cup thick non-dairy Plain Yogurt...

Checca Fresh Tomato Salad is irresistible whether they are prepared the Indian or Italian way; the basics are the same - only the choice of oil and some herbs are slightly different. Which way to go? - a tough choice since both are delicious! Indian Tomato Salaad is a delicious chopped salad redolent with lemony cilantro and perky hot green chiles. It is often served with pulavs and biriyanis (fragrant rice dishes) or with everyday meals of rice/roti, parathas, and curries. Coconut oil is optional; but great when there are lots of green chiles, especially hot ones! Italian Checca ("Kekka"), a wonderful chopped salad/sauce full of fragrant basil is delicious served in so many ways: over pasta, crostini (toasts), or as a side salad .... in short, any way you like! Whichever type you make, refreshing and delicious Checca should be prepared with flavorful fresh ripe tomatoes; sweet flavorful cherry tomatoes are particularly suited for making checca.Optional ingredien...

Chopped Salad With Yellow Bell Pepper, Cucumber, Tomatoes, Radishes, Red Onion, & Cilantro Salaad or Chopped Salad is 'the' dish to accompany a pulav (a rice dish). We loved it so much that no matter how much Salaad Amma made, it was never enough! It is typical of Indian salads in general to use fresh lime or lemon juice and little or no oil as in this salad - Very healthy! Save the oil for another dish.  The recipe below is just to give you an idea; the amounts of the veggies can be varied according to your preference. Other veggies such as radishes, bell pepper, etc may be added. Ingredients: 2 Large Ripe Tomatoes 1/2 small Red Onion 1 bunch Cilantro 4 Persian OR 1 Japanese/English Cucumbers 1 medium Lime 1 (or more) Serrano or Jalapeno Chili (Optional) Sea Salt to taste Method: Peel the onion and chop finely. Place them in a bowl and sprinkle with a pinch of salt. Cut the chilies in half lengthwise and remove the membranes and seeds with a sm...

Many Bean Salad W/Grilled Corn conjures up a big bowl of glistening jewel-like beautiful plump beans from all parts of the globe! There are an amazing number of super nutritious beautiful and colorful beans in the world; red kidney beans, nutty garbanzos, white dry or fresh green lima beans, great northern beans, lentils, cannelini beans, edamame, black beans…the list goes on. Use your favorite beans; include at least 2 or 3 kinds for a visual as well as gustatory treat. Have fun getting acquainted with a new bean or two! NOTES: Frozen corn kernels maybe used instead of fresh; pan toast until slightly caramelized and a few brown spots appear. Cool before adding to the salad. Since there are many beans in this recipe, cook a cup or pound of each type of dried bean ahead of time and save extras in ziptop bags in the freezer for future salads, Chili, soups, stews, or other dishes. Alternatively, canned beans may make it easier rather than cooking a fresh batch of each bean. I...

Here is a simple but delicious pasta salad that can go together pretty quickly. The children can choose the ingredients, help grate/chop the veggies, grind the pepper, etc and mix the salad and best of all --- eat the salad!! Hand choppers or a food processor will assist in quickly chopping and grating the veggies and herbs. 8 Main Dish Servings Nutrition Information using Orzo pasta: Each serving contains - 298 Calories; 9.58 g Protein; 48 g Total Carbohydrates; 4.2 g Fat; 4.8 g Fiber. Ingredients: 1 lb small pasta, any type - I used Orzo 1 cup cooked and drained Garbanzo beans 2 small carrots, grated 1 Red Bell Pepper, chopped 1/2 small red onion, finely chopped (Optional) 4 oz. Non-rennet Feta Cheese, crumbled coarsely or cubed 1/2 cup Italian parsley, finely chopped 1 clove garlic, peeled and finely chopped 2 Tbsp Fresh basil, torn 1 Tbsp Dijon Mustard (Optional) 2 Tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil 1 Tbsp White Balsamic Vinegar or Wine Vinegar Salt to taste Freshly ground Black Pep...

Here's lovely Warm Black Bean Salad With Limey Mojito Dressing with a Southwest flair; a delicious and filling meal in a bowl! Rich in phytonutrients of anthocyanins, antioxidants, black beans, vegetables, and the herbs provide a vitamin, mineral, and fiber rich fare. We love piling the salad into warm tortillas or Romaine leaves taco style or scooping it with chips.  NOTES: Instead of romaine, other greens or baby lettuce and herb mixtures maybe used. This is an oil-free salad; if you wish you may add a little Extra Virgin Olive Oil to the dressing and for cooking the onion-chile mixture. 4 Servings INGREDIENTS: Dressing: 1 small clove Garlic, minced 2 Tbsp fresh Cilantro, chopped Pinch of Salt 1-2 Limes, juiced (about 3 tablespoons) 1/2 tsp Kosher Salt 1/2 tsp freshly ground Cumin 1/4 teaspoon Chili powder (the spice mix) 2-3 Tsp Maple Syrup Salad: 1-2 Jalapeno or Serrano Chiles, deseeded, and minced 2 large Shallots OR 1/2 small r...

This is not a joke; you really can make a delicious salad with bitter melon :D. But to give you fair warning, it is a salad for Bitter Melon afficianados or at least those who enjoy veggies with a bitter flavor. It is really very simple to make; the trick is to cut the bitter melon and all the other veggies very thin - the thinner the better; a mandoline or a food processor is a great help with this. The preserved lime/lemon adds a fabulous touch; so do use it if you can. You may substitute middle eastern preserved lemon rind for the pickle. The traditional thalippu/tadka is another way to add to the taste. Whether you add thalippu or not, bitter melon makes a delicious salad. 2 Servings Ingredients: 1 medium young Bitter Melon, very thinly sliced 2 Shallots, thinly sliced 1 hot green Chile, cored and thinly sliced 1 Tbsp rind from Lime/Lemon Pickle , finely chopped (optional) 2-3 Tbsp fresh Cilantro, chopped 1/2 Lime/Lemon, juiced Sea Salt Thalippu/Tadka: (Optional) 1 tsp oil 1 pinc...

As you may have already guessed, we are crazy for salads these days! So to make the everyday salads exciting, I make them with a different international flair each day. :) (Check out the Pad Thai Salad ) The nice thing about all these salads are that you can prep them ahead of time and assemble at the last minute.  Kale Bhel salad is as tasty as it is healthy (mostly :-}) with a little addition of Bhel Puri Mix - an Indian snack mix readily available in Indian markets! Any crunchy veggie may be used in this salad. For the dressing, mix fresh lime juice with some green and sweet chutneys. Other greens also may be used in this salad. For a mild salad, remove the core from the hot chile or omit it altogether; if you like it spicy, leave the core and seeds in and/or use more chiles. Our family loves this salad; when I made the traditional Bhel Puri , it was not difficult to add a few more greens and veggies to make it healthier. If the little addition of the Bhel Mix helps ever...

Potato Chat With Radish Salad & Green Chutney Roasted potato starters are a treat for the eyes as well as the palate! And Very Yummy without extraneous calories to make one feel guilty to boot.  These are so good, I make a meal of them just like baked potatoes! Make the salads and the roasted potatoes a day ahead; then heat the potatoes to serve when you are ready.  Also, if it is too much to make all three of the salads, make the one you like.  Roasted potato chat is an adaptation of Sheelu's recipe. Simply superb! Some radishes (both daikon and regular) tend to be a bit spicy; the lemon, salt and spices tone it down. Sometimes I like to add either fresh turnips or Jicama to the radishes to tone it down for those who prefer a milder salad. Sheelu added a little chat masala to the mooli (radish) salad also.  Any leftover salad may be served with other meals. Chat Masala is a mixture of spices and salts used to sprinkle on fruit and veggie salads; it...

Another fantastic corn salad utilizing the bounty of summer produce! Naturally gluten free, we simply adore Grilled Corn Salad With Smokey Hatch Chiles; again, a great use of leftover grilled corn after a barbecue just like the Grilled Corn Salad With Maple Dressing ! If you don't have leftover grilled corn, grill fresh ones or use pan toasted fresh or frozen corn kernels. Grilled Corn Salad With Smokey Hatch Chiles Although Corn Salad With Smokey Hatch Chiles is a fabulous stand alone as well as a side salad, it is fabulous with dishes like Frijoles , Black Beans , Cilantro Lime Rice , etc.  When you make a large batch of these recipes, they make many a lunch or dinner bowl for one or many effortlessly. Grilled Corn Salad is delicious served with warm corn tortillas or chips too. Use your favorite type of tomatoes - cherry or regular - for this colorful, fresh tasting, and delicious salad. 4 Servings Ingredients: Salad: 3-4 ears grilled Corn, cooled ...

We love having fresh falafel! Making falafel from scratch can seem intimidating; but not if the stepwise directions are followed. When you have all the prep done ahead, all that remains on the day you want to eat is cooking the Falafels! Planning your prep really pays off when making Falafel. Prepare Tahini Sauce and chop the Salad ingredients but keep them unseasoned and unsalted until ready to serve. Falafel makes a great starter or snack in smaller quantities. About 6-8 Servings INGREDIENTS: Falafel: 2 cups Dry Chick Peas, soaked  2 Cloves fresh Garlic 2-3 Hot Green Chile (Serrano or Jalapeno), or to taste 1 small bunch Fresh Parsley, coarsely chopped 1 small bunch Fresh Cilantro, coarsely chopped 1 small Onion, finely chopped 1 tbsp ground Cumin seeds 1 tbsp ground Coriander seeds 1/4 tsp ground Cardamom seeds 1 1/2 tsp Kosher Salt 1 pinch Turmeric 1/2 tsp Baking Soda 3 T Besan (chickpea flour) Oil for Deep-frying (neutral tasting oil) 6-...

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 mi...

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 sma...

Cran-Fruit Salad Here is a bright and beautiful Cranberry Salad that is refreshing as well as tasty - and guilt-free! I like to chop the fruit/jicama by hand for neat diced pieces whereas the food processor makes it more like a relish. But if you prefer, go ahead and use a food processor - the salad will be ready in no time at all. It is the perfect make ahead salad for a family or special company meal whichever way it is made! Frozen cranberries are even better as they chop easily rather than get mushy. It is not necessary to peel the apple. Other fruits that are delicious in this salad are fresh pineapples, persimmons, and firm regular pears. The salad will last fresh for a few days; in fact it tastes better after marinating together for a few hours. Ingredients: 4-6 oz. Fresh or frozen Cranberries 1  small Jicama, Asian or Regular Pear, Peeled 1 Apple, cored 1 Orange 1/4 - 1/2 tsp Sea Salt 1 small Pomegranate, seeded 1 Tbsp Agave Syrup, Sugar or oth...

Colorful and nutritious, Quinoa Pulav is delicious! We love it with fresh and juicy  chopped salad  or sprouted bean salad . Serve with curries, a raita and chutneys or Indian pickles too if you like. Papadams (Indian lentil wafers) go well with this pulav also.  This is a basic recipe; the veggies may be varied according to availability, the season, or individual preferences. I change it up a bit by using diced zucchini, colorful peppers, corn, etc in addition to or in place of some of the veggies in the recipe. Here is a picture of the pulav with sprout salad; it is not a great one but gives one the idea. Quinoa Pulav with Sprouted Bean Salad 6 servings Ingredients: 1 cup Quinoa 2 tsp Oil 1/2 tsp Brown Mustard Seeds 1 Tbsp Chana Dal 1 pinch Asafetida 1 small Onion, finely diced 1 Tbsp Ginger, finely minced 1 Green Chile, cored and minced 1 stem Fresh Curry Leaves, leaves sliced finely 1 big pinch Turmeric 1 tsp Sambar...

Mexican Style Street Corn Salad, vibrant with the flavors of the roasted corn, lime juice, fresh and crisp greens, and zippy south of the border seasonings, is a truly delicious salad.This is a naturally gluten, dairy and oil free recipe. Mexican Style Street Corn Salad is filled with tasty morsels of corn, peppers, assorted greens and nutty seeds. The mango is the perfect cool sweet touch to the refreshing and spicy fresh flavors of the other ingredients. Mexican Style Street Corn Salad with Mangoes Notes: Canned chipotle chiles in adobo sauce is available in most markets; puree the contents of the can and store in jars in the fridge. Frozen corn maybe used instead of fresh; pan toast in a skillet until slightly browned. Some markets sell frozen roasted corn which just needs thawing out. Chipotle Crema Dressing dressing is lovely slathered on barbecued corn on the cobs or toasted frozen corn kernels; so save any extra in a covered container. Instead of vegan mayo...

Chickpea Spread is a wonderful in so many ways - not just on regular sandwiches and wraps but as a salad and filling for a cool lettuce taco or as a dip to scoop with your favorite veggies or chips! Stuff pretty little peppers, tomatoes, lettuce cups, endive, celery, etc. for a delicious and easy snack or starter. Cook your own chickpeas or use canned; I cook a big batch so there is enough for a couple of different recipes as well as freeze a portion or two for another day as they freeze well. Notes: 1. I do the whole thing using the food processor; if you like the veggies chunkier, the carrots and celery may be finely chopped with a knife and added at the end and pulsed once or twice just to mix. 2. Homemade or purchased vegan mayo works quite well. 3. Other herbs like basil, cilantro, chives, etc may be added instead of or in addition to the parsley. INGREDIENTS: 1 Handful raw or roasted Almonds, around 1/4 cup 2 ribs Celery include leaves, coarsley chopped 1 ca...

Matar Pulav With Minty Chopped Salad Fresh peas are showcased in this saffron-scented mild pulav! A simple and easy recipe, awesome accompanied by succulent Chopped Salad, roasted papadums, chutneys or pickles. Most saucy curries are delicious served alongside -  try Okra (Bindi)-Capsicum Salaan, Aviyal , Korma , any bean dishes like Chole  or Rajma , etc. If fresh ones are not an option, use frozen or cooked rehydrated dried peas. Notes: Keep the chiles whole for a mild pulav and fish them out and discard before serving; another option is to core and mince the chiles, or use a bell pepper. Keep the core and seeds for a spicy dish. Do add the mint and cilantro for a delicious pulav; when cooked, mint imparts a lovely mellow flavor. If you wish the peas to remain bright green, saute them in a tiny bit of oil and a sprinkling of water if needed; cook stirring and shaking uncovered for just a couple of minutes or until done to your taste. Season with a pinch of salt an...

Confetti Lime Rice with Tapioca Papadam, Lotus root fries, and chopped Salad I love to make the classic lime rice but often add lots of veggies not only for their beautiful looks but also for the taste and nutrition that they impart. This Lime rice is perfect for company meals as well as potluck contributions. These specific veggies were chosen as they do not discolor upon the addition of lime juice. Lemon juice may be substituted for the lime juice if limes are not available. 6 - 8 servings Ingredients: 1 cup Basmati or other long grain Rice 1 tsp Sea Salt or to taste Thalippu/Tadka: 2 Tbsp Ghee or Oil 4 Tbsp raw Peanuts or Cashew pieces 2 Dry Red Chilies 2 Tbsp Chana Dal 2 Tbsp Urad Dal 1/2 tsp brown mustard seeds 1 pinch Asafoetida (Hing) 1 sprig Fresh Curry Leaves 1/2 tsp Turmeric 1/2 a small Cabbage, coarsely shredded 1 cup Corn kernels, fresh off the cob or frozen 2 medium carrots, coarsely shredded 1/2 tsp Sea Salt or to taste 1 to 2 Ripe Limes ...

This week I see red everywhere - food that is :-)! Since I have a humongous red cabbage sitting in the fridge waiting to be eaten, I thought I would make some salad with it. Perhaps Waldorf salad with apples and walnuts. Or I could make a really red salad with beets, fennel, and capers. A rainbow salad! Or a spicy Indian relish salad. Or may be a warm slaw with the Bengali spice mix "panch phodan" = "five poppers". So many possibilities ....... so little cabbage ...... :-). Whichever of the above recipes you choose, you will be rewarded with a yummy salad/slaw loaded with nutrients - especially anthocyanins. For info on anthocyanins, click here . These recipes guarantee chewy/crunchy satisfaction while filling the tummy with wholesome and flavorful food. Here is a recipe for Really Red Cabbage & Beet Salad: This salad is fabulous after a couple of days if you can wait that long :P. 4 - 6 Servings Ingredients: 1 small Red Cabbage, shredded 1 Medium B...