Author: namithaskitchen

Mango Almond Delight

Today I tried out a lovely combination of Mango and almond.

Since both have their lien natural sweetness I just had to blend the flavours to get a beautiful dessert and garnished them with small mango bits and a spoon of soaked chia seeds.

Ingredients:

Mango -1

Almonds -10-12 soaked

Milk powder – 3 tablespoons

Chia seeds – 2 tablespoons

Water -1 cup

Milk -1 cup

Corn flour – 1 spoon.

Method:

With a help of a peeler remove the peels of the mango.

Slice a part of the big chunk into little bits and refrigerate it.

Peel the soaked almonds and grind it to a smooth paste adding the water and the milk powder.

Blend the remaining pieces of mango to a fine paste.

Soak the chia seeds in half a cup of water .

In a pan preferably a nonstick one, add the almond paste and the milk and as it thickens add the cornflower mix d in an ounce water.

As it boils the mixture thickens.

Switch off the gas and allow the mixture to cool.

Take a glass bowl or tall glass and pour the mango purée and then the almond milk mixture spreading it evenly over the mango purée.

Add the mango bits of n the top and garnish with soaked chia seeds.

Refrigerate the bowl or glass for about one hour and enjoy it cold.

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Stir fried Cabbage

Cabbage , a cruciferous vegetable is low in calories and high in nutrients such as vitamin B 6, K and vitamin C.

It is anti inflammatory as well as rich in fibre.

Easy to cook and also can be eaten raw , steamed or stir fried.

It’s diabetic friendly and helps to balance the blood sugar spikes.

Can be cooked with colourful peppers and carrots to make it more tasty and colourful.

Do try this simple stir fry.

Ingredients:

Cabbage shredded – 1 cup

Carrot grated – 1 piece

Green capsicum-1/2 piece sliced thinly

Red Onions – 2 medium sized sliced finely.

Red chillies -3

Mustard – 1/4 spoon

Coconut oil – 2 table spoons.

Lemon juice – 1 tea spoon.

Salt as per taste.

Method:

In a pan heat the oil and add the mustard and broken red chilli bits.

When it splatters toss in the sliced onions and on high flame sauté them for about two minutes

Add in the cabbage shreds along with the grated cabbage and whom it’s slightly cooked add the green Capsicum slices and then the salt.

Mix well and put of the flame and add about a spoonful of lemon juice.

It can be had with roti or rice.

Please Note: you can also use tri coloured peppers.

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Green Mung Bean Idli’s

Green gram also known as Mung beans are a powerhouse of nutrients and rich in protein, vitamins and minerals.

The mung beans have been soaked and sprouted which makes it is even more nutritious and easy on the digestive system .

Also the process soaking and sprouting of the Mung beans reduces the anti-nutrients called phytic acid which blocks the absorption of nutrients in our body.

Moreover it’s diabetic friendly and super plant food…

Ingredients:

Idli Rice rava – 1.5 cups

Green Mung – 3/4 cup sprouted

Urad dal – 3/4 cup

Water to grind the batter

Salt as per taste.

Method:

Soak urad dal and green gram separately for 5-6 hours and grind together to a smooth batter.

Wash idli rava and strain the water.

Add the idli rava to the batter and mix well lightly with the ladle.

Add salt on the top and cover the utensil with a lid and allow the batter to ferment overnight.

The batter should be thick and of pouring consistency.

You may add a little water if it’s too thick.

Next day mix the batter well and grease the moulds with some oil and pour the batter into the moulds and steam them for about fifteen minutes in a steamer or in a cooker(without the weight or the whistle)

Enjoy steaming hot idli’s with coconut chutney.

namithaskitchen

Custard Biscuit Relish

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas 🎄 and a Happy and blessed 2023 .
Tried this new dessert today which has no added sugar.
I have used sugar free wheat digestives as a crunchy base for the silky smooth custard topped with fruits and toasted Nuts and raisins.

It’s a simple and easy Peasy recipe. Do try it in your kitchen and enjoy with family.

Ingredients:

Digestive Biscuits – 8-10

Butter – 2 table spoons

Custard powder – 2 table spoons.

Milk – 2 cups

Honey -3 table spoons

Black Grapes – 8-10

Sliced strawberries -4


Dry fruits – Almonds, Cashew and Pista bits (toasted) for garnishing

Method:

Crush the biscuits using a rolling pin and transfer it to a glass container.


Melt the butter and pour it over the biscuit mixture.
With the help of the spatula spread and flatten the mixture in the bowl. Keep it in the freezer for about twenty minutes to set.


In a saucepan heat milk .
Now add a few tea spoons of milk to the custard powder and mix well.
Add it slowly to the hot milk stirring continuously to avoid lumps.

once it thickens put off the flame.
Allow to cool.
Now add the honey and vanilla essence . With the help of a whisk mix well to get a smooth consistency..


Now pour the thickened custard mixture over the set biscuit mixture .



Now garnish the strawberry slices, grapes and tossed nuts and raisins and cover the container with a cling wrap or a foil and refrigerate for another two hours.
Enjoy with family.

namithaskitchen

Nankhatai

Nankhatai are soft delicious cookies prepared in almost all homes in India. The aroma of ghee fills in as they are baked.

One does not need an occasion to bake these melt in the mouth desi Indian treat.

We don’t need an oven to make them. They can be baked over a thick bottomed pan and come out as good as the baked one.

Do try them as this is a simple and quick recipe.

Ingredients:

Wheat flour – 1 cup

Ghee – 1/2 cup

Semolina – 1/4 cup

Chick pea flour (Besan) – 1/2 cup

Powdered Brown Sugar – 3/4 cup

Slivered nuts – 1 table spoon(almond, pista and cashews)

Powdered Cardamom 1/4 spoon


Baking soda -1/4 spoon

Method:

In a deep bowl over a strainer add in the Besan, wheat flour and baking soda and strain them into the bowl.

Now add the powdered sugar, semolina, cardamom and the powdered sugar and mix well.

Finally add the ghee (liquid) and mix lightly with the fingers to make a soft dough.

Now divide the dough into even sized balls and flatter each ball lightly with the help of one’s palms and garnish each cookie with the bits of the slivered nuts and press lightly.

Preheat the oven for ten minutes at 150 degrees.

Once the oven is ready place the Nankhatai leaving enough space between them so that they rise and do not stick to each other while they are baked.

Now bake them for 10 to 15 minutes at 150 degrees Celsius.

Do check them after 10 minutes as sometimes depending on your oven settings it can be ready after 10 minutes.

Once done allow to cool and the cookies are ready to be enjoyed😋

namithaskitchen

Horse-gram Idlies

Horse gram is a legume which is rich in protein and fibre. It’s mostly a native of South East Asia.

In India its mostly used in curries and also as a side dish. It’s rich in antioxidants and when sprouted is very healthy as it reduces the physic acid when it’s soaked overnight and allowed to sprout.

In the coastal region of Karnataka we prepare idlies which are nutritious and healthy too.

Ingredients:

Urad dal – 3/4 cup

Horse gram – 3/4 cup (Sprouted)

Semolina – 1.5 cups

Salt as per taste

Method:


Soak urad dal and horse gram separately for 5-6 hours and grind together to a smooth batter adding very little water.


Wash idli rava and add to the batter and mix well.


Add salt on the top.

Let it ferment overnight.


Next day mix the batter and pour the batter into the greased idli moulds and steam them for about 15 minutes.

Allow them to cool and remould them and enjoy hot steamed idlies with chutney or sambhar.

namithaskitchen