Chickpeas & Aubergine Masala

Hello all!! I know what you all must be thinking. Chickpeas and aubergines together is a very weird combination. But believe you me, it tastes awesome. Since my venturing into healthy eating to have a control over my hypothyroidism life, i have been on a road to discovering new combinations even after being a chef for the last 19 years of my life.

Healthy chickpeas with aubergine

Ingredients-

Chickpeas- 1 cup, soaked and boiled
Aubergine- 1 cup, cut into 2 cm dices
Onion- 1 small, chopped
Tomato- 1 small, chopped
Ginger & garlic paste- 1 tsp
Salt to taste
Turmeric- 1/2 tsp
Red chilli pwd- 1/2 tsp
Cumin pwd- 1/2 pwd
Fresh coriander- 2 tbsp, chopped
Olive oil- 2 tbsp

Method-

1. In a pan, heat oil.
2. Add onions and saute well till more than translucent
3. Add the ginger and garlic paste and cook till the raw flavor goes away and it turns golden brown in color.
4. Add the tomatoes and cook well till the tomatoes are cooked properly
5. Add the dry spices and mix well. You could also add about 2 tbsp of water to mix the spices well into the onion and tomato mixture.
6. Add the aubergine and saute well and coat well in the spice mixture.
7. cook for about 7-8 minutes.
8. Now add the chickpeas and stir to mix all together.
9. Cook for another 7-8 minutes and add 2-3 tbsp water if the mixture gets stuck to the pan.
10. check for seasoning and add salt.
11. Take off fire and garnish with fresh chopped coriander.

Note- this could be served with chapati or even had with rice.

Mushroom & Baby corn Enchilada

Good morning all!!
In my previous post i forgot to mention Enchilada which is also made from corn or whole wheat tortilla.

Enchilada- is a rolled and filled corn tortilla which is then smothered in a spicy tomato salsa or sauce. It can have any number of fillings or combinations of ingredients, such as meats, vegetables or even potatoes.

I made Enchilada but without cheese and did not smother it with any sauce. Why? Because am trying to shed some of my excess baggage due to hypothyroidism. Hence am trying to eat healthy.

Mushroom and baby corn Enchilada

Ingredients-

Mushrooms-5 nos sliced
Baby corn- 5 sliced
Red bell pepper- 1/2, juliennes
Onion- 1 small, sliced
Olive oil- 1 tbsp
Salt to taste
Pepper to taste
Salsa- 2 tbsp
Corn Tortilla- 2 nos

Method-

1. Blanch the baby corn in boiling water for 2 minutes. And refresh in cold water.
2. In a pan, heat the olive oil.
3. Add the onion and saute till translucent.
4. Add the mushroom and saute till all moisture has evaporated.
5. Add the baby corn and toss to mix.
6. Add the salsa and mix well. Check for seasoning.
7. Remove and put on the tortillas and roll.

INDIAN-STYLE STIR-FRIED PUMPKIN AND POTATO WITH ONION SEEDS

This is one of the dishes that i love to eat and is also by far the easiest to make. It can be had with roti or even rice. And ias probably also a great side with roast chicken.What i like about this is the slight sweetness to this which is due to the pumpkin, which has to be a nice yellow and ripe.

Ingredients-

250 gms pumpkin, diced
2 large potatoes, diced
1/2 tsp turmeric pwd
Salt to taste
1/4 tsp sugar
1 tbsp oil
1 tsp onion seeds or nigella seeds

Method-

* In a pan, heat the oil and let the nigella seeds splutter.
* Add the potatoes and saute for 5 min.
* Add the pumpkin and coat well in the oil mixture.
* Add the turmeric, salt and sugar and stir well.
* Cover and cook on a medium flame for 10 min or till the veggies are done.
* Serve hot and enjoy!!!!

SESAME POTATOES

Ingredients-

3 large potatoes, boiled and cubed
3 tbsp toasted sesame seeds
1 tsp cumin seeds
1/2 tsp green chilli, chopped
Salt to taste
1 tbsp oil
1 tbsp coriander, chopped

Method-

* In a pan, heat the oil.
* Add the cumin seeds and let them plutter.
* Add the green chilli and saute for a min.
* Add the potatoes and coat well.
* Then add the salt and sesame seeds and mix well.
* Garnish with chopped coriander and serve hot.

TOMATO GRATIN

Ingredients-

2 large tomatooe
1 tbsp dijon mustard
salt to taste
pepper to taste
red chilli pwd to taste
3 tablespoons melted butter
1/4 cup bread crumbs
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese


Method-

* Cut tomatoes in half.
* Spread cut side with mustard and sprinkle with a little salt, pepper, and chilli pwd to taste.
* Combine melted butter, bread crumbs, and Parmesan cheese.
* Spoon crumb mixture over the top of each tomato half.
* Place under the salamander and gratinate until crumbs are browned and tomatoes are tender.
* Serve hot and Enjoy !!!!!!!!!!

PESTO ROASTED TOMATOES

Ingredients-

1 cup cherry tomatoes
2 tbsp pesto
3 tbsp olive oil
Salt to taste
Pepper to taste
Parchment paper or kitchen foil

Method-

* In a bowl mix the pesto and olive oil.
* Season with salt and pepper.
* Wash and dry the tomatoes and make small cuts on the bottom.
* Mix with the pesto.
* Make a small bowl with the foil.
* Put the tomatoes in the foil.
* Bake in a pre-heated oven at 120 C for about 7-10 min.
* Serve hot. Can be used in a salad or with meats.

GINGER ASPARAGUS

Ingredients-

1 bunch asparagus, cut into 2 inch peices
1 tbsp soya sauce
2 tbsp oyster sauce
1 tsp ginger, chopped
1/2 tsp olive oil

Method-

* Heat a non-stick pan with olive oil.
* Saute the ginger.
* Add the asparagus and toss well.
* Add soya and oyster sauce.
* Mix well.
* Check seasoning.
* Serve as a side dish with any roast meat.

HARISSA ROASTED POTATOES

Ingredients-

250 gms potatoes, peeled
2 tbsp harissa (more or less, on preference)
2 tbsp olive oil
1 1/2 tsp coarse sea salt
1 tbsp toasted sesame seeds
Juice of 1/2 lemon

Method-

* Preheat oven to 200 degrees C.
* Dice potatoes and place into large bowl.
* Add harissa, olive oil, salt, and sesame seeds, and toss well to combine.
* Spread out in single layer in a greased baking dish or on a foil lined baking tray.
* Place into oven, and bake 25-30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until potatoes are tender and golden brown.
* Remove from oven, and stir in lemon juice.
* Serve and enjoy!

CARAMELISED PUMPKIN

Ingredients-

Pumpkin, sliced in desired length
Olive oil
Sage
Garlic, chopped
Chilli flakes
Balsamic vinegar
Sugar
Water

Method-

* Marinate the pumpkin in olive oil, salt, garlic, sage and chilli flakes.
* Arrange in a tray and roast in oven.
* Or can be grilled.
* Take sugar and water in a pan.
* Add chilli flakes and balsamic.
* Caramelise the sugar mix.
* Coat the cooked pumpkin in the caramel mix.
* Can be served as a side to a main course.
* Or can be used in a salad.

SUN-DRIED TOMATO AND WALNUT POTATOES

Ingredients-

Potatoes, boiled
Sun-dried tomatoes
Walnuts, toasted
Mayo
Rosemary, chopped
Lemon juice
Garlic, chopped
Olive oil
Salt
Pepper

Method-

* Chop the sun-dried tomatoes and the walnuts.
* Saute the garlic in the olive oil. Or you can also use the oil from the sun-dried tomatoes.
* Then add the rosemary.
* Then add the potatoes, sun-dried tomatoes and the walnut.
* Mix all well and add the mayo.
* Then add the lemon juice.
* Check for seasoning.

BACON MASHED POTATOES

Ingredients-

Potatoes-3 large
Bacon rashers-3
Spring onions-3 stalks
Cream -2 tsp
Salt
Pepper

Method-

* Peel and roughly cut the potatoes.
* Boil and strain.
* Chop the spring onions.
* Grill the bacon rashers in a pan.
* Remove and chop the bacon and reserve the fat.
* In the same pan add the potatoes, bacon, spring onions.
* Mix well.
* Add cream and check for seasoning.
* Serve hot.

STIR-FRIED COCONUT AND BEANSPROUTS

Ingredients-

Onion, sliced
Beansprouts
Spring onions, sliced(white and green)
Fresh coconut, sliced thinly
Salt
Pepper
Fish sauce

Method-

* Saute all the above in sesame oil.
* Season well.
* Can be served as it is with fish or can also be filled into crepes and served.

MUSHROOM MASHED POTATOES

Ingredients-

Mushrooms
Butter
Garlic
Salt
Pepper
Cream
Olive oil

Method-

* Boil the potatoes. Drain and mash.
* Heat oil and saute chopped garlic.
* Add the mushrooms and saute till liquid evaporates.
* Add potatoes and the cream.
* Beat together with a hand held blender.
* Season with salt and pepper.

MINTY MASHED POTATOES

Ingredients-

3 medium sized potatoes, peeled and roughly cut
Few stalks of mint leaves
8-10 Spring onion greens
1 tbsp butter or cream
Juice of 1 small lemon
Salt
Black pepper, freshly crushed

Method-

* Boil the potatoes with the mint stalks till done.
* Drain and put back in pan.
* Crush lightly and add the butter or cream
* Add the spring onion.
* Add the lemon juice and season with salt and pepper.
* Serve on side with meats and fish.