Dal Makhani (Kali Dal)

Dal makhani (Kali Dal) is a famous dish from Punjab. This dish is made from a combination of whole black grams & kidney beans. The dals are cooked for hours until they get a creamy texture.

Here is a slightly simplified version of the recipe.

Ingredients

2 cups whole black gram (black urad dal)
1/4 cup kidney beans (rajma beans)

1 medium onion, finely chopped
1 medium tomato, finely chopped
small piece ginger, finely chopped
1 green chilli, finely chopped (optional)
1 tsp garam masala
1 tsp red chilli powder
2 tbsp sour cream
1/4 cup cream
2 tbsp butter
salt to taste

Whole garam masala (cinnamon, cloves, bay leaves)

Method

• Soak the dals overnight. Next day, pressure cook the dals for 4-5 whistles until the dals are cooked.
• In a pan heat butter. Add the whole garam masala, then the chillies & ginger. Saute & add onions. Once onions are slightly golden add the tomatoes & the masalas. Cook until the tomatoes are mushy.
• Add the cooked dals, sour cream & salt and simmer on low flame for 10-15 minutes.
• Top it off with cream. Garnish with chopped cilantro. Serve hot with rotis/ naans.

Egg Noodles

This is a simple Noodle dish with eggs. Here is the recipe

Ingredients

1 packet Egg Noodles

2 eggs

1 clove garlic, finely chopped

2 tbsp peanut oil

1/2 cup chopped green onions

2 tbsp soya sauce

black pepper powder to taste

crushed chilli flakes to taste

salt to taste

Method

• Cook the noodles as per instructions on the packet.
• Heat oil in a wok/kadai . Add garlic, then green onions. Saute it for a minute. Add the eggs & stir until they are well cooked. Toss all other ingredients (soya sauce, chilli flakes, black pepper, salt).
• Add the noodles & toss until evenly mixed. Serve hot.

Avacado soup

Avacado is the one fruit which has a high amount of fat (roughly 25-35 grams) & averaging about 300 calories per fruit. Nutrition Facts show that a typical avocado might have 30 grams of fat but 20 of those are grams of fat that promote health. Monounsaturated fats and oleic acid are good for you.

Avocados are a great source of Vitamin K. They also offer things like folate, copper and potassium, fiber, Vitamin B6 and Vitamin C.

It has a mild flavor & blends easily with any salads and dips. Here is the recipe of a healthy avacado soup which is quite filling too....

Ingredients

1 medium size avacado, ripe

1/2 cup chopped green onions

1/4 cup corn (or more if you are a corn- lover :-))

1 clove garlic. minced

1 green chilli, minced

1 medium size tomato, chopped

1 cup vegeatable stock

1/2 cup milk

1 tsp cooking oil

salt & pepper to taste

few drops lemon juice

Method

• Cut the avacado into half, remove the pit, scrape the flesh with s spoon. Add few drops of lemon juice & set aside.
• In a saucepan, heat oil, add the garlic. Add the green onions & corn. Saute it for a while. Add the tomatoes & saute it until slightly mushy.
• Transfer half of the sauteed ingredients & avacados into a blender and grind to a smooth paste with the vegetable stock.
• Transfer the pureed mixture to the saucepan, add the remaining vegetable stock & milk. Season with salt & pepper. Add more milk if the soup is too thick.
• Let the mixture come to a boil. Then turn off heat.
• Serve the soup hot garnished with some green onions.

Namak Para (Salty crackers)

A very simple & easy to make tea-time snack item.

Ingredients

3 cups all purpose flour

3 tbsp butter, melted

3 tbsp curd

3 tsp ajwain seeds

1 tsp cumin seeds

salt to taste

water to knead dough

oil to fry

Method

• Mix butter, curd, salt, ajwain & cumin seeds with the all purpose flour. Add little by little water & knead into a medium stiff dough.
• Let it rest for 10-15 minutes.
• Make small lemon sized balls. Roll them out to the thickness of quarters. Cut into 1/2" strips lengthwise & then into 2" length across.
• Heat oil to medium heat. Add the strips & fry on medium flame until golden in color.
• Store in air-tight containers.
• Enjoy during tea-time :-)