Sizzling Pav Bhaji - A Delectable Indian Cuisine

(serves 3) Preparation time: about 35 minutes

Pav bhaji is actually one of the favourite street foods in India, specially in the city of Mumbai. It is usually considered as a snack but can be treated as a complete meal too since it is quite satisfying with heaps of vegetables added to it. It's even included in the list of junk foods because it has loads of butter! But if you want a healthier version of the cuisine skip adding butter to the gravy when serving and have plain bread instead of buttered bread.

Ingredients:

Vegetables:

3 big potatoes,

50 gms. cauliflower (separate the florets),

1 tbsp. sliced french beans (optional),

50 gms. green peas,

1/3 cup very finely chopped capsicum

about 3 tbsps. butter

½ tbsp. oil

salt to taste

Seasoning (Dry masalas)

1 tsp. Kashmiri red chilli paste (optional),

1 ½ tsp. red chilli pdr.,

½ tsp. + 1 pinch turmeric pdr.,

1 ½ or 2 tbsp. pav bhaji masala (adjust as per your taste. If you prefer spicier add more)

1 medium sized onion (finely chopped), 3 big tomatoes (finely chopped)

1 tsp. ginger paste, 1 ½ tsp. garlic paste, 1 green chilli paste, 6-7 curry leaves

Garnishing: 1 finely chopped onion (small), 2 tbsps. chopped coriander, 1 lime, a big dollop of butter

about 6 Pavs (Indian bread) (If you don't have pav use bread instead)

pav bhaji masher or ladle

Method:

1. Boil all the vegetables (potatoes, cauliflower, beans, peas but not the capsicum) in some water with a pinch of turmeric and 2 tsps. salt. Mash with a pav bhaji masher or the back of a ladle. Keep aside.

2. Heat oil and 2 tbsps. butter in a pan, add the ginger, garlic and green chilli paste and sauté for a minute.

3. Now add the onions and sauté till they become transparent.

4. Add the capsicum and sauté for a minute.

5. Put the Kashmiri red chilli paste and sauté for ½ a minute.

6. Add the dry masalas (red chilli pdr., turmeric pdr. and pav bhaji masala) and stir to combine.

7. Add curry leaves and tomatoes and sauté to mix everything. Let cook on slow flame for about 10 minutes till the gravy becomes slightly dry and the oil leaves the sides of the pan. Remove from flame. Mash this well with a pav bhaji masher/ a ladle.

8. Now add the boiled vegetables to the above gravy and stir well. Again mash this with the pav bhaji masher/ a ladle in order to mix all the ingredients properly. Add about 1 cup of water to make the consistency appropriate. Add more water if required. Add some salt.

9. Let cook for about 15 to 20 more minutes to combine all the ingredients. Check seasoning.

10. Add some water if the gravy seems thick.

11. Serve hot garnished with chopped coriander, chopped onions, a blob of butter and a dash of lime.

12. When serving, slice the pavs (bread) horizontally, apply butter on both sides and heat on a tawa or a non-stick pan for ½ a minute on each side. Serve hot with the pav bhaji gravy.

Get more delicious food recipes at http://www.kadhaee.blogspot.com/


Original article

Becoming Vegan: Tips for Transitioning to a Vegan Lifestyle

Vegans are people who do not consume animal products - meat, eggs, dairy, or honey. They also do their best to not use other animal-derived ingredients in household or personal care products. Their goal is to reduce - or even eliminate - animal exploitation in their lives.

People choose to become vegan for different reasons. Most of the time, it is out of concern for the lives of animals, our own health, the state of the earth's environment, or some combination of those three.

Making the decision to become vegan can feel both empowering and terrifying! How does one make such a huge change? People come to veganism with varying degrees of familiarity with vegan cooking, support from family and friends, and understanding of their nutritional needs.

There is no "right" or "wrong" way to transition to being vegan. Some people become vegan over the course of weeks, months, or years while others become vegan overnight. The best advice is to do what feels right and achievable to you at this point in time. Becoming vegan is an individual journey, and what works well for one person may not ring true for another.

Usually, the first question aspiring vegans have is, "What will I eat?" This is a two-fold question, as it's important to identify both a person's nutritional needs and recipes that satisfy their personal tastes.

Regarding nutrition, it is not a particularly complicated issue for most people. The most common sources of vegan protein are soy products (such as tofu and tempeh), beans, nuts, seeds, and wheat gluten (sometimes referred to as wheat-meat or seitan). It is important to eat a wide variety of fruits and vegetables. This advice is equally important to omnivores, but vegans tend to think about it more because their diet is under more scrutiny!

A bit of research online or at the local library should be enough for most new vegans to understand their basic nutritional needs and recognize that if a variety of foods are consumed, they don't need to obsess over each and every meal. For those with specific health concerns related to diet (e.g., those with celiac disease, diabetes, low iron levels, etc.), it is advisable to consult with a nutritionist who is knowledgeable about veganism. The nutritionist doesn't have to be vegan but does have to be someone who will actively support the new vegan with sound information and advice.

Figuring out what kinds of meals to prepare can feel overwhelming. But once you have a handful of "go-to" recipes, it will get much easier. It won't take long before you ask yourself, "What should I have for dinner?" rather than, "What can I make that doesn't have animal products in it?" Incorporating veganism into the diet will feel natural rather than alien.

Invest in a few vegan cookbooks or visit your local library to borrow vegan cookbooks, and look online to find a wide selection of vegan recipes. When choosing recipes, consider your personal tastes as well as how much time you want to spend preparing food and what kinds of ingredients are readily available at your local supermarket. There are a wide variety of vegan recipes featuring different ethnic cuisines, cooking methods, and ingredients.

Be advised that some products that appear to be vegan may not be vegan at all. There are some "fake meats" and "fake cheeses" that are vegetarian but not vegan. Check all labels for ingredients such as whey, egg whites, casein, and gelatin. You can find extensive lists of animal ingredients by looking online.

While the issue of what to eat each day is the most pressing concern, new vegans face other lifestyle choices as well. For those who own leather, wool, or other animal-derived products, a choice has to be made about what to do with them. Some people donate these items immediately; others cannot afford to buy new vegan items and decide to continue using the non-vegan items they own until they are able to purchase replacement products.

Similar decisions must be made regarding household and personal care items. It may be tempting to simply throw away various cosmetics, lotions, soaps, and cleaning products; but throwing these items in the trash does nothing other than create more waste. It would be preferable to either give these products to someone who will use them or use them yourself and then replace the items with cruelty-free products.

Some people have to decide whether or not they can afford the cruelty-free products, since they often command a higher price. If an aspiring vegan cannot afford the more expensive products, that doesn't mean they're not vegan; it is simply a reflection of their economic reality. Vegans do their best to reduce animal exploitation, and our best is not always ideal!

A major challenge can be the lack of support for a new vegan. Some people have supportive families and friends; others have some support, though their families and friends may not really understand their desire to become vegan; others have overtly hostile families and friends.

Seek community and support for your new vegan lifestyle. There are many vegan groups online, but you may also be fortunate enough to live in an area with an active vegan or vegetarian community. These groups can offer information, advice, and camaraderie as you transition to veganism and may continue to play an important role in your life even after you are comfortable and established in your vegan lifestyle.

Becoming vegan is a tremendous journey that benefits you, animals, and the environment. The transition to veganism may include some challenges, but they are all achievable and well worth it. Having some easy-to-prepare, tasty recipes, solid information about your nutritional needs, and a supportive community will make your transition to a vegan lifestyle much easier!

About the Author
Valerie Bloom first became vegan in 1992. For more articles about the vegan lifestyle, please visit her website, Vegan Journey.


Original article

Healthy Mohantal or Chickpea Flour Fudge

'Silence after the storm'..the last few days of high decibel sound, screaming and running around the road to burst crackers has finally come to rest. Even the intermittent spell of rain did not dampen the spirit of festivity for my kids & hubby for whom my garage was the make shift center for bursting crackers. And no, I will not crib about the land, noise, water and air pollution which was left after the festival of lights was over. When I am not able to influence anyone in my home even after 16 years of marriage, against indulging in sugary sweets, oily savories and buying crackers at exorbitant prize (which could actually get me a dedicated server for God knows how many years) then who am I to complain...'to each his own'.

Anyway, I tried my hands making a healthy version of a popular traditional Indian fudge. Often made during festivals and very common in India especially Rajasthan, its called Mohantal. Made with chickpea flour, the ratio of ingredients in this traditional and scrumptious sweet will make your diet chart stumble. With one cup each of chickpea flour, sugar and clarified butter I never got interested to try it at home, but have eaten it many times at my grandmothers' home. And believe me you can't stop with just one piece of traditionally made Mohantal.

I tried to reduce the clarified butter to a great extent and replaced palm sugar with white sugar. The resultant fudge is in no way inferior to the traditional one, and the best part is that I could indulge in it guilt free. Palm sugar gave a distinctive raw and fruity flavor to the fudge.

Preparation time:

20 minutes

Cooking time:

30 minutes

Serves:

4 persons

Ingredients:

11/2 cup chickpea flour

1 cup palm sugar

2 tbsp. clarified butter

2 tbsp. nuts (Charoli/almonds/cashew)

1-2 tbsp. milk

1 tsp. cardamom powder

Preparation:

Heat a thick bottom kadai/wok and pour the butter or ghee in it. Add the chickpea flour (besan) and fry it at low heat. Keep the flame low and fry the flour for about 15-20 minutes till it becomes golden brown in color.

Add palm sugar and cardamom powder and mix it well. Take off from the flame and add 1 tbsp. of milk in it. Mix it well and check the consistency, if it becomes a mass of solid dough the fudge is ready. If it is slightly loose or dry add another tsp. of milk till you get a pliable dough.

Grease a rectangular baking tray or any plate with clarified butter or spread a butter paper on it.

Take the dough and spread it in the greased baking tray or any flat plate. Press it evenly with the back of a ladle or greased hands and make it flat.

Cooking:

I pressed the fudge in a shallow baking tray to get thin and diamond shaped pieces. Let it cool for about 20 minutes and make slices with a knife. Easy to prepare with very few ingredients this fudge makes a wonderful gift option for those looking for some nutritious and yummy treat. Pack the chickpea flour fudge in decorative boxes and share some healthy treats with your loved ones.

Lite recipes for right health. Quick-to-cook, easy and healthy recipes for busy couples, bachelors and all those for whom time is precious. Articles on health and eating right will help you combine nutritional benefits of various food in your cooking.

http://www.litebite.in/

In case you like to indulge on food, do visit my other site for exotic and grand recipes, or read about places to visit in India;

http://sanjeetakk.blogspot.com/


Original article