Water Melon ginger Ale

An excellent drink for digestion and hydrating your body after fasting. Reciped was originally prepared by Nupur then tried by Nidhi. I loved the idea of having ginger in a fruit and couldn't wait to try it for Ramadan. The proportion of ginger can be adjusted more or less as per your spice tolerance.

Ingredients Needed
1/4 of a water melon(use grapes when melons are not in season)
1 teaspoon fresh grated ginger
1 cup water

Method
Boil water and add ginger. Let simmer for 10 minutes then strain in a bowl. let cool.

Chop and Process the melon until smooth. Strain in a pitcher and mix in the ginger infused water. Chill and serve.

Learn ginger facts.

Semolina Veggie Soup

A very simple soup with mild flavors ,ideal for Iftar(Fast break after Sunset)

Ingredients Needed
1/4 cup Coarse Semolina(Sooji)
2 cups water
1/2 a ripe tomato ,finely chopped
2 tablespoon finely chopped Onion
1/4 teaspoon each of turmeric and chilly powder
1/4 teaspoon ginger and garlic paste
1 tablespoon chopped cilantro
few curry leaves
1/4 cup crunchy topping(optional) like boondi or croutons or sev.
1 tablespoon Olive oil

To prepare the soup
Heat the oil in a saucepan on medium flame. Add the curry leaves and chopped onions.
Saute for a minute and add the g&g paste. roast for another minute and add the turmeric and chilly powder along with chopped tomatoes. Saute for another 5 minutes and add 2 cups of water. When the water comes to a boil ,add the semolina while constantly stirring ,to prevent lumps. Let simmer for 5 minutes. Serve warm with crunchy topping .

A Non-Vegetarian tip
Add a tablespoon of Minced meat(lamb kheema) while adding the tomatoes ,let cook for extra 10 minutes before adding water , that add a little protein to the soup.

Egg less Recipes

Cookies

Fruity Chunky Chocolate Cookies

Almond Cherry Banana Cookies

Pancakes
Blueberry Banana Pancakes

Bread
Vegan Pomegranate Bread

Okra Fritters

Okra is packed with so many nutrients that makes it ideal snack for Ifar(break of fast after sunset in Ramadan).Its appears like "mirchi bajji"(Chilly Fritters) from outside ,but surprisingly its a healthy stuffing of Okra.


Ingredients Needed
8 okras ,with top chopped off
2 teaspoon Chaat Masala(I used Shaan brand) or 1 teaspoon amchur powder(Dried green mango powder)
3/4 cup Gram flour(Besan)
1/4 teaspoon turmeric
1/4 teaspoon chilly powder
pinch of baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
Olive oil or vegetable oil for frying

Method
Wash and dry the Okra. Slit the Okra across and stuff each of the okras with tangy Chaat masala or amchur powder,set aside.

Prepare the batter by sifting the flour and soda in a medium bowl. mix in the chilly powder,salt and turmeric. Add just enough water(about 3/4 cup) to make a thick batter which can hold on the Okras. Whisk to get rid of any lumps.
Heat Olive oil in deep frying pan. When the oil is medium hot(test by dropping pinch of batter,if it rises while sizzling the oil is ready) ,dip the Okra in the batter and drop in the oil. Fry about 3 at a time until lightly brown and crispy about 7-10 minutes.Sprinkle little more chaat masala on top and serve.



This is my entry for Lore's Original Recipe Event

Also for Sangeeth's Eat Healthy :Calcium Rich Event

Dahi Vade and Dahi Bade(Lentil balls in Yogurt)

"Dahi" yogurt is cooling after a long days fast. "Dahi Vade" are Urad lentil balls in yogurt and "Dahi Bade" are the Gram flour lentil balls in yogurt. I make either of these two yogurty coolers during Iftar(break of fast after sunset).

Dahi Vade
Ingredients
6-8 Vadas just as in the recipe Shallow fried Indian Doughnuts(Vada).
11\2 cup of fat free yogurt
pinch of turmeric
1/2 teaspoon chaat masala for sprinkling .

For Tempering
few curry leaves
1/4 teaspoon mustard seeds and cumin seeds
2 tablespoon canola oil.

To make the Dahi Vade
In a bowl ,whip yogurt with 1/2 cup of water until smooth. Season with salt and pinch of turmeric. pour this yogurt mixture in a serving tray. Drop the vadas in to yogurt mixture. Coat well with yogurt and allow to soak for an hour after tempering.
prepare tempering by heating the oil in a small pan and add the ingredients in the list. when the mustard seeds splutter,pour the sizzling tempering over the vadas.

After an hour serve the vade on individual plates, garnish with chopped cilantro and sprinkle of chaat masala on each of the vada.



Dahi Bade

Ingredients needed
1 cup gram flour(besan)
2 tablespoon finely chopped onions
1 green chilly finely chopped
1 tablespoon finely chopped cilantro
1/2 teaspoon cumin seeds
1/4 teaspoon chilly powder
1/4 teaspoon turmeric
1/8 teaspoon of baking soda(Important! use fresh bought soda for best results)
Salt to season.
Vegetable oil for frying.

To make the Dahi Bade
Make the Pakodas
In a deep pan(kadai) start heating the oil.
For the batter ,in a bowl sift the besan and season with salt, mix in the rest of the ingredients along with 1/2 cup of water. The batter should not be runny, it should be thick enough to hold in fingers.
To test the oil,drop little batter ,if it rises with sizzle,the oil is ready. Using finger CAREFULLY drop walnut size balls in the hot oil 4 at a time. fry until lightly brown about 6-8 minutes.
Soak the Pakodas
Prepare the yogurt mixture just as above. Drop the hot pakodas in the mixture. Temper and allow to soak for at least 2-3 hours before serving. Garnish with chaat masala and chopped cilantro.


Dahi Vade is my entry for Sangeeth's Eat Healthy :Calcium Rich Event

Cooling Falooda

Originally a persian drink,very popular in India and Pakistan. The uncommon Ingredients used can be easily found at your local Asian Grocery store. It's a cooling drink especially after long day of fasting in Ramadan.
Uncommon Ingredients #1
1 tablespoon of Takmaria\Sabja\Basil seeds Soaked in water. Soaked in water for 30 minutes. These seeds are good for digestion and have medicinal value.

Uncommon Ingredient #2
3 tablespoon Rose syrup ,Roohafza or any other brand.

Uncommon Ingredient #3
bunch of Falooda Sev .Drop in hot boiling water and simmer until softened 5-10 minutes.

Remaining Ingredients
2 cups Cold milk(reduced fat)
1 scoop reduced fat Ice-cream vanilla or pistachios or butter pecan
Chopped nuts for garnish.

Method
Add the syrup to the milk and stir until dissolved. Pour it in a tall glass,drop the cooked and drained noodles and swelled up basil seeds. Top with ice-cream ,nuts and serve .

This recipe is my entry for Sangeeth's Eat Healthy :Calcium Rich Event

Are you getting the daily dose of Calcium? : Dairy-free recipes

Milk and dairy products are not the only good sources of calcium. For those who dislike milk or suffer with lactose intolerant there is good news. Daily needs of calcium can be fulfilled with eating greens like Spinach ,Veggies like Broccoli Okra,Nuts like Almonds,Sesame Seeds. Some lentils like Green mung lentil and Urad Lentil are rich in calcium. So cook up some calcium-rich dairy-free foods.

I'm re posting some of my calcium rich recipes for Sangeeth's Eat Healthy : Calcium rich event