Category Archives: Recipes

Best of 2015

I had a lot of fun in 2015 trying new recipes from around the world. There are many keepers in the list that i cooked over and over again, and I expect, will continue to do so.

Here are some of my most favorite recipes…

bajji2

APPETIZERS & SNACKS

Baked Bajji

Baked Vada

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GRAINS:

Quinoa Dosa

One-pot Mexican Quinoa

Mango Poha

Quinoa Vangi Bath

Cranberry Poha

cauli_kale_chickpe2

BEANS & LENTILS

Cauliflower, Kale, Chickpea  Curry Pot

Black-Eyed Peas and Greens with Navrattan Spices

kumquat2

JAMS & JELLIES

Anise Flavored Kumquat Marmalade

hummus1

DIPS & SAUCES

Sun-dried Tomato and Jalapeno Hummus

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WRAPS & SANDWICHES

Edamame and Zucchini Wraps

ztgratin

CASSEROLE

Zucchini and Yellow Tomato Gratin

Spaghetti Squash Casserole

Spaghetti Squash Burrito Bowl

cherry5

DESSERTS

Pumpkin Payasam

Cherry Swirl with Dark Chocolate & Cherry Bits

Baklava

air20152

BREADS, COOKIES & CAKES

Farro and Sun-dried Tomato Foccacia

Cherry and Cardamon Cake

Vegan Pumpkin Bread

Airplane Cookies

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JUICES & SMOOTHIES

Watermelon Cooler

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CURRIES & MORE

Tomato in Yogurt Sauce

Eggplant Curry with Onion

CherrySalad

SALADS

Cherry and Avocado Salad

BS1

SIDES

Honey and Sriracha Roasted Brussels Sprouts

mgs

SOUPS

Vibrant Beets Soup

Mediterranean Grain Soup

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WHAT’S POPULAR WITH YOU?

Amaranth Upma

Amaranth Dosa

Spicy Chickpea and Brussels Sprouts Soup

Valor Papdi Bean

Baked Bajji

Edamame and Zucchini Wraps

Quinoa Upma

Mango Carrot Muffins

chickpea_brusselssprouts

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Spaghetti Squash Casserole

Since I had dinner at True Food, I have been wanting to make this Spaghetti Squash Casserole dish. I finally made it this past weekend. I used less cheese than was used by the restaurant. Feel free to use your choice of meat.

squashcas

Ingredients:

1 small spaghetti squash
1-2 cups fresh home made sauce
some mozzarella cheese, sliced or grated
red pepper flakes (optional)

For the sauce:

2-3 medium tomatoes
1/2 onion, chopped
2-3 garlic cloves, minced
1 tbsp oil
1 tbsp chopped basil leaves
salt and cayenne pepper to season

Bring a pot of water to boil. Add whole tomatoes and cook for 4-5 minutes until skin starts to peel. Remove from heat and wash with cold water and peel the tomatoes.

Meanwhile heat oil in a pan, add chopped onions and garlic and fry for 4-5 minutes until translucent. Chop and add the cooked tomatoes and let simmer on low. Season with salt and cayenne pepper and continue cooking till moisture evaporate.

Preheat over to 375 degrees.

Slice the spaghetti squash in half, remove seeds and pulp. Place cut side down on a baking sheet and bake for 40-45 minutes. Remove the squash and let cool till it can be handled safely.

Transfer sauce to a baking dish. Removed baked squash carefully and using a fork remove the squash strands and layer over the sauce.  Top with cheese, sprinkle some crushed red pepper flakes (optional).

Broil on high for 3-5 minutes until the cheese is bubbly.

Enjoy warm with some fresh bread.

Vegan Pumpkin Bread

It’s October. Fall. And grocery stores have exploded with pumpkins of all sizes, shapes and varieties. I picked up not one, not two, but three different varieties!

I had family visiting the last few days, and after trying some different recipes such as this one, I decided to try my hand at making some home-made pumpkin puree and baking bread. The recipe had to be vegan, since as I learned they didn’t eat eggs!

pumpkinbread

I used the Pioneer Woman’s steps to make pumpkin puree. And loosely followed this recipe for the vegan version.

Ingredients:

1.25 cups whole wheat pastry flour
0.25 cup olive oil
0.25 cup maple syrup
1 mashed ripe banana
1 cup pumpkin puree
1.5 tbsp flax meal
1 cup + 1tbsp rolled oats
1/2 cup + 1tbsp almond meal
2/3 cup brown sugar
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
3 tbsp pepitas
some walnuts or pecans
1 tsp pumpkin spice
0.5 cup water

Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees, and prepare a loaf pan.

Mix flaxmeal with 4 tbsp water. Add pumpkin puree, mashed banana, olive oil and maple syrup. Whisk.

Add brown sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, pumpkin spice and continue to whisk.

Add water, oats, almond meal, and flour. Mix well.

Pour the mixture into a loaf pan, sprinkle some pepitas and nuts and bake for 40-50 minutes until cooked.

Serve warm. Enjoy!

Happy Fall!

Notes:

Next time, I’ll add some walnuts to the mixture.

See Also:

Pumpkin Paayasam

Cranberry Pumpkin Loaf

Haitian Pumpkin Soup 

Amaranth Pumpkin Loaf

Pumpkin Curry

Stuffed Pumpkin

 

Last of the Summer Vine: Wild Rice Pilaf

Slowly, but steadily the temperatures are dipping down into the 60’s and 50’s and the lows into 40’s and 30’s. Most of my summer plants, while still alive have stopped producing. Almost.

wrp1My late blooming yellow pepper plant has abundant peppers growing, but some menace appears to be attacking them. So this week, I decided to harvest some well grown peppers even if they are still green and haven’t changed color.  I also harvested some Italian flat beans and some red sorrel greens. Eggplant, tomato and zucchini are still alive and flowering but rarely producing fruit. Herbs are still doing great.

I used the beans and peppers to make some Wild Rice Pilaf that turned out pretty good.

Ingredients:

1/2 wild rice
2 small bell peppers
4-5 Italian flat beans
1  shallot chopped
1-2 garlic cloves chopped or minced
a small piece of ginger chopped
3-4 cloves
1/2 stick cinnamon
1 tsp cumin seeds
a few mint leaves chopped
1 sliced jalapeno
a few bay leaves
pinch of turmeric
1 tbsp oil
dash of garam masala
dash of cayenne pepper

wrp3Bring a cup of water to boil in a bowl and add the wild rice. Reduce flame and let cook for 10-15 minutes till the water evaporates and the wild rice is almost cooked.

In a separate bowl, add oil, cloves, turmeric, and cinnamon. Lightly fry for a few seconds till golden. Add chopped shallot, garlic, ginger, bay leaves, mint and jalapeno and lightly fry until golden. Add cut beans and peppers and continue to fry for 5-6 minutes. Add garam masala, and cayenne pepper and semi cooked rice and mix well. Add salt to taste. Add a little water, reduce flame to low and cover and continue cooking for 5-10 minutes until the beans and pepper soften.

Remove from flame and serve warm with some raita (yogurt and cucumber sauce).

wrp2

From garden to plate

I have two white eggplant, 1 ripe tomato, several jalapeno from my patio garden.

I have two red bell pepper that are still growing and yet to change color.

I have basil, rosemary and parsley.

I have some Mustard greens and Red Sorrel leaves…

Some Italian beans….and tomatoes .. still growing.

Typically I love to cook fresh vegetables from my patio garden without mixing other store bought grocery.

patioproduce

Any recipe recommendations?