Savoury Spinach Muffin

                             


      The original recipe is here. That is actually a cup cake recipe, I added salt and pepper instead of sugar and added shredded carrots and chopped walnuts instead of pine nuts.

       This one is ideal for evening snacks. The measurements in this recipe make 8 muffins which can be stored in an air tight container for a few days, and is quite satisfying for an evening snack, especially for people like me who raid the kitchen every evening! :(
                   
                                          

Recipe:

11/2 Cups all purpose flour

1 tsp of salt (adjust as you like)

1 tsp of black pepper (adjust as you like)

1 tbsp baking powder

11/4 cup milk

2 tbsp olive oil

1 lighly beaten egg

2 cups chopped uncooked spinach

1/2 cup chopped red onion 

1/2 cup shredded carrots

1/4 cup chopped walnuts

 Preheat oven to 175 degree celcius.Mix together, chopped spinach, carrots, red onions,baking powder, flour, salt and pepper. Make sure the flour is coated over all the chopped veggies. In a separate bowl whisk together egg, oil and milk.

Pour the wet ingredients slowly over the dry mixture and fold everything together. Grease a muffin pan. Pour the mixture onto 8 cups in the pan, add the chopped walnuts on top and bake for 25 mins.

Once done, (till a knife inserted comes out clean), let it sit for 5 minutes and cool before serving.

Bharwa Karela/Stuffed bitter gourd

Some days we have that intriguing curiosity to explore and try recipes from other cuisines and feel happy about the grand success :)

On one such day I tried making this stuffed bitter gourd recipe and I swore that day that whenever i m going to make bitter gourd hereafter its going to be Bharwa karela. 

Its one of those promises thats written on water! :) Hunger rules always, Isnt it? Not to mention this recipe is a little time consuming!

To prepare this we need:

bitter gourd: About 1/2 kg

1/4 tsp Turmeric powder

1 tsp Garam masala

1 1/2 tsp Chilli powder

1 1/2 tsp Amchur powder

1 tsp ginger garlic paste

one large onion chopped

2 tomatoes chopped

salt as needed

Bharwa karela another pic: 

Slit the bitter gourds lengthwise, without cutting it into two pieces! And take out the seeds. Cook the bitter gourd in boiling water and drain. Use as little water as possible to preserve all the nutrients. Remove any moisture from the bitter gourds using paper towel.

To prepare the stuffing:

Take a pan and heat abt a tbsp of oil and fry onion. While the onions turn translucent, add ginger and garlic paste and keep stirring till the raw smell goes. Add tomatoes and all the other powder ingredients.  Keep cooking till the oil separates. Put off the stove and stuff the karela's with the stuffing prepared thus, tie the bitter gourds and shallow fry them.

The amchur powder in the stuffing makes this dish extra delicious! Don't miss out adding this particular ingredient, it adds a tangy taste which is the essence of this dish and complements the mild bitterness of the karelas well.

Yes, and I should mention that easily the quantity of consumption increases by cooking bitter gourd this way!

Veggie sticks with Avacado dip!


 To make this you will need:

One big ripe Avacado, 1 chopped green chilli, abt 1/4 tsp black pepper powder, 1 tomato chopped into smal cubes, one small onion, chopped into small cubes, few cilantro leaves, chopped. salt to taste. juice of 1/2 a lemon and a tsp of Extra virgin olive oil. 


 Scoop out the pulp from avacado and mash it very well, combine all the other ingredients and mix well.

Serve with Carrot and beet sticks. This is a very healthy and tasty evening snack. Make sure you use a big avacado, or the dip wont be just enough! :)

Karamani Vadai/Black eyed peas Fritters

One of my friends made this for a potluck and that was the first time I had it. It tasted soo good and I also make it frequently as this makes a very healthy snack too!

Ingredients:

Black eyed peas - 2 cups

toor dhal - 2 tbsp

onion - 1, chopped

curry leaves - chopped

green chillies - 4

cilantro leaves - few,chopped

salt, and a pinch of asafoetida and a pinch of turmeric

Method of preparation:

Soak the black eyed peas in water for about 3 hrs. Heat a pan, add a tsp of oil and fry all the remaining ingredients (Onion, toor dhal, chopped green chillies, turmeric, salt,curry leaves and cilantro.) just till the raw smell goes off. Add this with the soaked and drained black eyed peas and add the asafoetida, and coarsely grind the mixture. Make small balls and deep fry in oil. Serve hot with cilantro dressing! I also added a tbsp of rava to add to the crispness. Tastes yumm!!! :)