Geetha's Kitchen

Roasted eggplant spread is wonderful to have on hand to make quick snacks, elegant meals and appetizers. Use it as a sandwich spread or sauce/topping for pasta or rice - Delicious! Eggplant Spread Ready to Serve Using a food processor to slice all the veggies make it a snap to prepare this dish. Chopped Veggies Ingredients: 1 large Globe Eggplant 1 Red Bell Pepper 1 large Red Onion 1 clove Garlic 1/2 tsp Red Pepper flakes (to taste) 2 Tbsp fresh Thyme or 2 tsp dry 1 tsp Sea Salt 1 pinch Turmeric 2 Tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil 2 Tbsp fresh basil, chopped Ready for roasting Garnishes: Toasted Almonds Sliced Green or Black Olives 2 oz. Feta or Goat cheese 2 Tbsp Fresh Parsley, finely chopped 2 Tbsp Fresh Basil leaves Method: Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Wash all the veggies and herbs. If you are using a food processor, cut the eggplants and peppers into long pieces that will fit the chute. Use the slicing plate to process. Or chop using ...

Thyme-scented Almonds are a wonderful snack or starter. They also make a delicious and different garnish for all types of dishes including salads and spreads. Herb scented almonds are very easy to make and can be made up to one week ahead. Ingredients: 2 tsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil 1 cup Almonds 2 or 3 sprigs fresh Thyme 1/4 tsp Red pepper flakes or more 1/4 tsp Sea Salt Method: Heat olive oil in a wok or skillet. Add the almonds and stir for a 3 or 4 minutes. Sprinkle pepper flakes and chopped thyme with the salt. Cook stirring until almonds are toasted and golden. Cool and store in an airtight container until ready to serve. Enjoy! Freeze the almonds for longer storage.

Tostadas are the Mexican version of Indian "chat" dishes - quick and flavorful melange of crispy bread bases with cooked or fresh veggies, beans, and piquant chutneys, etc. For tostadas, crispy, crunchy corn tortillas form the base for any number of toppings which typically include Frijoles (beans), cheese, and salsas. They are fun to serve - and eat ;P - for informal family as well as company meals as each person can tailor the meal according to individual needs/taste. Children particularly love making their own. Everything can be prepared ahead with minimal last minute fuss - a great plus for the host/hostess! I love serving tostadas for large groups as there is no need for any other dishes - all the food groups are represented. Just place everything in bowls and baskets and let the guests/diners assemble their own. Provide knives and forks to eat the tostadas even though they can be eaten without any utensils if we don't get carried away and pile them mile-hig...

Now that making various bean Sprouts have been mastered, here are some more sprouts that are just as delicious and easy to make. You can follow the same method for bean sprouts ; do plan ahead as these sprouts take a few days to become ready for eating. Typically these micro-greens are not cooked but added to salads and sandwiches for their flavorful crunch or used as a topping or garnish. They are not just good-tasting but also packed with easily digestible protein, vitamins, and minerals. They are great sources of dietary fiber and many have sizable amounts of trace minerals vital for good health. Seeds of all kinds such as Sunflower, Alfalfa, Chia, Clover, Fenugreek, Garlic Chives, Mustard, Radish, etc. all make wonderful sprouts. [Grain and vegetable seeds such as wheat, cabbage and broccoli can also be sprouted; but I have not tried them yet.] These seeds (specifically for sprouting) can be purchased in larger quantities from a health food store or an internet source. Y...

Another classic South Indian veggie dish - it is very simple but very delicious and healthful too! Keerai Masiyal (literally Spinach Puree) appears regularly for daily meals in South Indian homes as it is considered very healthy since spinach and other dark green leafy veggies contain good amounts of protein and fiber. Luxuriously velvety, good tasting, and mild, I adored it even as a child; what's not to love? Mild Keerai and some type of spicy Kuzhambu is a classic combination; in fact, Keerai Masiyal is traditionally served along with sambar or other sour and spicy kuzhambus flavored with tamarind. It is a much loved combo in our household. Other greens such as watercress, chard , etc may be used alone or in combination to make masiyal. Young and tender greens make the best tasting masiyal. And, as far I know, this is the only dish where whole toasted rice is used as a seasoning!! Nutritional Data per 1/6 of the recipe: Approximately - 23 Calories, 1.4 g Protein, 2.6 ...

Make mashed cauliflower instead of potatoes! It is guaranteed to be a taste treat and a healthy alternative to the traditional mashed potatoes. It is quite satisfying and the best thing is it is good for you! For a variation, saute one tablespoon finely chopped ginger (and more green chilies if you like it really spicy) with the onion mixture; then add 1/2 tsp turmeric and 2 finely chopped tomatoes and cook until they are soft before adding the cauliflower. Chopped cilantro is another flavorful addition stirred in just before serving. Serve hot sprinkled with one teaspoon Garam Masala or freshly ground toasted cumin seeds. Garam Masala is a spice mix which is available in Indian markets. 4 Servings Ingredients: 1 Cauliflower (about 1 lb), coarsely chopped 1 White or Brown skinned Onion 1 clove Garlic 1 Tbsp Olive Oil/butter 1 tsp Sea Salt 1 green chili, hot or mild 1 small bunch Regular or Garlic Chives Freshly ground black pepper, to serve Butter, to serve (optional) Method: Cho...

When you want something quick and healthy but also tastes fantastic, make Pizza Pronto! As Kou can attest to, quick pizzas were one of the perfectly handy after-school snacks. I could always count on dependable Pizza Pronto to assuage the ravenous hunger of Kou and his playmates. This is a great recipe for budding chefs and Do-It-Yourself meals. Any bread will lend itself to making quick pizza; although I prefer Pita bread, Naan, Lavash, English Muffins, etc., other breads will work also with good results. Just have all the ingredients ready and each diner can construct his/her own. Fun, practical, and easy on the host/hostess too :-). Here are the ingredients for 4 pita-pizzas - mangia, mangia! 4 Servings Ingredients: about 1/2 cup Marinara Sauce, homemade or store bought 3 oz. Shredded Mozzarella cheese 1 oz. Shredded Parmesan cheese 1/2 each - Bell Peppers(Capsicums) - red, yellow, or green or a combination 1 cup Roasted Veggies (Optional) 12 Cherry Tomatoes, ...