Namaste

Namaste and a warm welcome to all.

As you can see my blog is about food and recipes. I love eating and trying out new recipes all the time.

Very often we mum's think of healthy and interesting food options that we can make for our kids especially when they are back from school knowing that their lunch boxes never come back home empty. Hence I always feel its important to give them a healthy and wholesome snack once they are home. When my kid comes home from school I always try and give him some source of carbohydrate combined with proteins along with this, a fruit and milk, or puddings made from milk. Kids normally can't eat too much at one time, so the portions can be small but giving them a little from each of these food group ensures a balanced meal.

I have some interesting ideas that I'd like to share with you all. You might find some of my recipes very basic but I am hoping that my blog is helpful not only for Indians but for people all around the world! Indian food is quite popular and enjoyed by most, so hopefully you can attempt recipes from here and make it yourself now, in your kitchen. Please do go through my recipes and give it a shot at trying them. Let me know how things turned out and if you enjoyed your experience of cooking.... Feel free to get in touch, share your experience, leave a comment or ask any questions you may have. Thank you for stopping by and taking a look! I do hope its helpful.

Happy cooking!

Friday 1 June 2012

Navratan Sabzi

This dish is made with nine vegetables and hence the name "Navratan" (Nav meaning nine).

Ingredients:
1 tbsp of chopped garlic. You can also use 1 tbsp of grated ginger along with the garlic or use any one. I have used only garlic.

A handful kasuri Methi (available in all Indian stores).

You can take equal quantities of all vegetables (around 100 gm each).
1) Eggplant or bottle gourd/Lauki. I have used eggplant. You can use any one.

2) Chopped carrots.

3) Chopped french beans.

4) Chopped capsicum.

5) Chopped cabbage.

6) Tindli (Ivy gourd). Take off the top and bottom portion and cut lengthwise into two equal parts.

7) Green peas.

8) Chopped cauliflower.

9) Around 2 medium sized chopped tomatoes.

Freshly chopped coriander for garnishing.

1 tsp of mustard seeds.
1 tspn of cumin seeds (Jeera).
1/2 tsp Turmeric powder.
Salt as per taste.
1-2 green chillies.
1 tsp of red chilly powder.
1-2 tbsp of oil.

Method:
Heat oil. Instead of oil you can use ghee (clarified butter) or butter. It gives a much better and richer flavor.

Once the oil becomes hot add mustard seeds, cumin and garlic. Let them sizzle a bit and then crush the kasuri methi into a powder with your hand and stir well. Keep the flame low or else the ingredients may all start to burn.

Stir for about 10 seconds and add all the vegetables one by one keeping the flame on low.

Stir once and add capsicum.

Add cabbage.

Tindli.

Cauliflower.

Green Peas.

Chopped eggplant and stir.

Add salt, turmeric powder and red chilly powder.

Add green chillies (chopped or full).

Stir all the vegetables well.

Cover with a lid and allow to cook on a medium low flame.

Open to check after about 6-8 minutes.

The vegetables should be half cooked by now. Add finely chopped tomatoes on top and do not stir. Cover and allow to cook on a low flame so all the flavors blend well.

Open after about 5-6 minutes and stir. The vegetables should be cooked by now and the tomatoes will have become soft. If not, cover and cook on low flame for some more time till all the vegetables are cooked. However be careful not to overcook the vegetables or make them mushy.

Garnish with freshly chopped coriander and serve hot with Paratha or Rice.



NUTRITIP:
Vegetables are low in fat but contain good amounts of vitamins and minerals. All the Green-Yellow-orange vegetables are rich sources of calcium, magnesium, potassium, iron, beta-carotene, vitamin B-complex, vitamin-C, vitamin A, and vitamin K.
Vegetables are also home for many antioxidants that; firstly, help body protect from oxidant stress, diseases and cancers, and secondly, help body develop capacity to fight against these by boosting immunity. In addition, vegetables contain soluble as well as insoluble dietary fiber known as non-starch polysaccharides (NSP) like cellulose, gums, mucilage, pectin...etc, that absorb excess water in the colon and retain good amount of moisture in the fecal matter, thereby helps its easy passage out of the body. Thus helpful in conditions like hemorrhoids, chronic constipation, rectal fissures...etc.








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