Quinoa Appam

Ingredients:

• Quinoa [1 cup] (I usually buy organic one from Costco)

• Brown Rice [1 cup] or white rice [1 cup]

• Split Pigeon peas  (Toor Daal)  [1 cup]

• Ginger [around 1 inch piece]

• Green Chillies [approx 3-4] according to taste

• Salt according to taste

• Cumin Seeds [1/2 tsp]

• Garam Masala [1 tsp]

• Shredded Carrots [1/2 cup]

• Shredded Cabbage [1/2 cup]

• Turmeric powder [1/4 tsp]

• Shredded coconut [1/2 cup ] [optional]

• some oil for making appam

Recipe:

1.     Soak Rice, Quinoa , Lentil (Toor daal) for around 3 hours in water.

2.    after 3 hours remove excess water and grind into a paste (use some water if needed for grinding), but avoid excess of water.

3.    Mix ginger and green chili and grind again.

4.    Once grounded properly mix salt, cumin seeds, garam masala , shredded cabbage and carrots , turmeric powder, coconut.

5.    When ready Heat appam pan on gas on medium or low medium heat. pour few drops of oil in each mold.

6.    Then pour spoonful of batter in each mold, cover with a lid and cook until the lower side turns golden brown. Keep the heat on low to medium low the entire time, otherwise the outside of the appam will get dark while the inside remains uncooked. 

Flip over and cook the other side until it is cooked . Remove and serve hot with some ketchup or chutney.

Quinoa Appam

Yummy Coleslaw

Ingredients:

• Shredded Jicama [3 Cup]
• Shredded Carrot [1 Cup]
• Shredded Green Apple [2 Cup]
• Shredded Cabbage [1/2 Cup]
• Chopped Walnuts [1/2 Cup]

Dressing:

• salt to taste
• Extra Virgin Olive Oil [1 tsp]
• Vegan Miyo [2 Tbsp]
• Orange Juice [2 tsp]
• Black Pepper [1 tsp]
• Lemon Juice (optional)

Recipe:

In a big bowl mix Shredded Jicama, Carrot, Apple, Cabbage.Set aside.

In Small bowl mix together ingredients for dressing.

Mix Dressing with Mixed fruits and vegetables thoroughly. Keep in refrigerator for some time

Top with chopped walnuts before serving.

Tips: I have tried various Variations with Shredded Beetroot and chopped nuts like peanuts, cashews, roasted corn etc. Really work well as a coleslaw, don't have to be on Gluten free diet to Enjoy it :).

Yummy Tango Sweet Potatoes/Yam

Sweet Potatoes are my all time favorite Evening snack, I roast or boil a few over the weekend , and reheat over the weekday after work.You Can enjoy this any time of the day . It can be combined in soup, salad, curry or deserts.

Ingredients:

• Organic Yams (3 medium sized)
• Salt (preferably Rock Salt, you can use table salt if not available), to taste
• Freshly ground Black pepper Optional, to taste
• Chaat Masala (skip for Gluten Free), 1 tsp
• Lemon Juice (2 tsp)

 Recipe:

• Roast Yam on a pan in stove or Oven until cooked , prick with fork a few times.
• Let it cool down a bit
• Peel and cut in rounds of 1/2 inch 
• place in serving bowl, sprinkle with lime juice, salt , pepper , chaat masla (Skip if you are allergic to Gluten)
• Enjoy after cooled down or a bit warm.

Yummy Tango Sweet Potatoes/Yam

Kale , Mango, Chickpea Salad

Kale with Mango, Avocado & Chickpeas Salad

I love kale in salad, I was too tired to post recipe yesterday. It's a real refreshing salad.

Ingredient :

• Kale leaves, remove from stem, chop finely- 2 cups
• 1 mango , chopped 
• Black chick pea, soaked,boiled - 1 cup
• Avocado, chopped
• Corrionder chutney-2 tsp
• Salt, to taste
• Black pepper , to taste
• Lemon juice - 2 tsp
• Sunflower seeds - 2 tsp (optional)

Recipe:

Mix all top 4 ingredient in a bowl. Add salt, lemon juice, black paper and top with sunflower or pumpkin seeds. Someone not following gluten free diet can enjoy as we'll.

Corn Steam Cakes (Makki Idli)

Ingredients:

• CornMeal (1 Cup) I use Gluten Free Bob's Mill
• Ginger (Grated) 1 tsp
• Mustard seeds 1 tsp
• Green Chilly, finely chopped, 1 tsp
• Oil 2 Tbsp
• curry Leaf , 2 strings
• Plain Yogurt (1 cup), beaten
• Chana Daal , 1 tsp
• Urad Daal, 1 tsp
• Salt to taste
• Instant Fruit salt (1 tsp)
• Green Coriander (chopped)

Recipe:

1. Heat oil in a pan, saute both cana daal, urad daal, Mustard seed , until daal turns brown
2. Mix ginger, chilly , curry leaves saute for few seconds
3. add corn meal, saute for 2-3 minutes.
4. Take roasted corn meal in a bowl, mix beaten yogurt throughly.
5. Add salt per taste, green coriander
6. Prepare idli molds, I use one available to use in microwave. Oil the molds a bit
7. add water in the base.
8. When ready add eno salt in the prepared batter and add a spoonful of batter in each mold.
9. Microwave after covering for 8 minutes.
10. keep for 1-2 minutes, serve with green cutney, shambhar. 

Festives

Holi (Indian Festivals of Colors)

Happy Holi to all my friends , family and fellow Indians. Holi is celebrated with lots of enthusiasm in India, and all over the world where Indian Resides. I have cherishing childhood memories about holi. Playing with so many colors, water all day and eating so many sweets :). My mom used to make lots of snacks and sweets at home.

After coming to US I have celebrated holi a few times but still miss India. Bay area has lots of famous diwali events, my personal favorite is Standford holi , organized by Asha . Its amazing combination of color, food, water, Bollywood beats and dancing crowd. 

Cuisines

Middle Eastern food

Baked sweet potato Falafel with cilantro spinach Parsley

Individual Veggie-Lentil Loaves with Avocado-Tahini Sauce