VEGETARIAN

Kathirikka Rasam/Eggplant Rasam

July 18, 2020 By Asha Shivakumar

Rasam is a quintessential side dish that’s enjoyed with rice. This kathirikka rasam is a very special rasam that’s served in temples, or on special occasions. It’s a specialty in some parts of Tamil Nadu that uses eggplant and a spice paste made with coconut.

Some recipes are just meant to come your way and steal your heart.

Even if you despise eggplant as I used to, you are going to like this one. Take this from someone who used to be a staunch eggplant hater.

Many of you who follow me on Instagram know I was in India for four months during this pandemic, from March to end of June. Let’s just say it wasn’t a fun one. However, like many things in life, things happen for a reason, and I chose to see the positive in everything….

Fried Cauliflower Potato Curry in Peanut Sesame Paste

April 26, 2020 By Asha Shivakumar

This Cauliflower Potato Curry dish is perfect for a weeknight dinner and for a party! It’s loaded with delicious spices and a special paste, and comes together so easily! The flavors are unique and will WOW you.

After I posted this picture of Instagram, I got so many requests for a detailed recipe for this. And you know that another curry recipe was coming, right? Looks like you guys love curries, Chickpea with Spinach Curry, I knew I had to keep these curry recipes coming. There’s my Quick 20 minute Thai Green Curry, my Mixed Daal with Vegetables and even my favorite of the blog Navratan Korma. Now finally – this Fried Cauliflower Potato Curry in Peanut Sesame Paste. SO GOOD! This is such a different, amazing, mouthwatering and comforting curry that you’ll be making it over and over again….

How to grow mung bean sprouts

April 16, 2020 By Asha Shivakumar

Mung bean sprouts filled with nutrients and are a common ingredient in Indian homes. It’s great raw, steamed or pureed, they provide a crisp, healthy addition to any meal. Growing mung bean sprouts is easy and when done right, they are perfect in less time.

Mung Bean is a legume that is commonly used in the Asian countries. Mung Beans go by many names in different parts of India. Pasiparuppu in tamil, mung sabut in hindi, pesalu in telugu , hesarukalu in kannada, cherupayar in Malyalam. Green gram is high in protein fiber, vitamins and nutrients. Sprouting any legume increases it’s nutrition value and it’s easy on the tummy and easily digestible.

Two ways to sprout mung beans

The first method is to put in a jar or box and put a tight lid on and keep in a cool place. The second method and my favorite method is to sprout it in a cotton cloth, hanging it in a warm dry place in the kitchen.

Tips on how to sprout mung beans

Get the best high quality fresh green gram. Older stock of mung beans will not sprout well.

2. Organic mung beans, take longer time to soak and as well to sprout.

3. Hybrid variety soaks faster and sprouts faster

4. If you want your sprouts in few days, plan ahead. It take 36 hours to grow sprouts.

5. Wash and rinse the green gram with clean water 3-4 times to avoid the risk of contamination.

6. Use slightly lukewarm water to soak the green gram.

Method on how to grow mung bean sprouts

There are two methods of making sprout.

Method 1

Once you’ve washed and soaked the mung 8 hours, drain it well. You can use any clean thin cloth you have to sprout. Add the drained mung beans in the middle of the cloth and pull the sides together and tie it. Hang this on a hook in a slight warm dry place. Every 6 hours sprinkle some water on the cloth. Do NOT soak it. The cloth should be slightly damp. The sprouts will be ready in 36 hours.

Method 2

After soaking it for eight hours, drain it well. Add it to a jar or any container, cover with a tight lid. The sprouting will take again about 24-36 hours.

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Buffalo Cauliflower

February 17, 2020 By Asha Shivakumar

Oven Baked or Air Fryed Buffalo Cauliflower Bites are a fun and easy appetizer or snack made with just a few simple ingredients. Fully loaded with all the awesome flavor of chicken wings, these low carb and vegetarian Buffalo Cauliflower Bites have a soft and tender inside and crispy outside.

Buffalo Cauliflower

All the delicious, tangy flavor of buffalo wings without the mess and calories. I’ve never been a huge fan of chicken wings, so this substitution was an easy one. But even all you wing fans out there will love these spicy little buffalo-sauce-covered cauliflower nuggets.

Tossed in your favorite homemade or store-bought buffalo sauce and dipped in creamy Blue Cheese or Ranch Dressing, this healthy buffalo cauliflower is a crowd favorite and is always gone in minutes!…

Indian Veggie Quesadillas

January 20, 2020 By Asha Shivakumar

This easy Indian Veggie Quesadillas recipe is delicious and easy to make. The green chutney potatoes make for a great stuffing. SO delicious! This recipe is 100% customizable with whatever veggies you happen to have on hand. It’s also on the healthier side, quick and easy to make, and SO delicious!

One of the most requested recipes is: easy-healthy meal ideas, bachelor meals, college meals or school lunch ideas, and this is one that ticks all the boxes. Veggie quesadillas!

You can make these Indian veggie quesadillas with any leftover vegetables. They are the perfect way to empty out your crisper drawer of any leftover veggies, just make sure to use sturdy starchy veggies. Plus these veggie quesadillas are easy to make, super-delicious and healthy to boot.! All you need are some potatoes or any veggie, (I highly recommend adding a sweet potato to the mix, for extra heartiness and flavor), tortillas and cheese (whichever kinds you prefer), chutney and finally, your favorite salsa (and/or guac) for serving or a sweety chutney. Simply cook the potatoes with the chutney, assemble the quesadilla, and give them a quick sauté on the stove. Then the yummiest Mexi-Indian dinner will be yours to enjoy in no time….

Honey Walnut Cauliflower

January 4, 2020 By Asha Shivakumar

Honey Walnut Cauliflower will change the way you look at cauliflower. Vegetarian version, crispy baked cauliflower tossed in a creamy, sweet sauce topped with caramelized walnuts! Tastes just like take-out, but BETTER.

We love Chinese food. I could eat it on any given night, and whenever we order take-out, the honey walnut shrimp always makes it home. It’s my little ones favorite.

While I do make shrimp for the boy at home, I prefer the vegetarian version and healthier version more. Eat it without feeling guilty and for those days you crave vegetarian or if you are a vegetarian, this is perfect.

Now this dish involves baking the cauliflower to crispy perfection tossed in a creamy, sweet sauce along with some candy-glazed walnuts….

20 TASTY Quick Healthy Recipes Ideas

January 1, 2020 By Asha Shivakumar

Here are my top 20 tasty quick healthy recipes to get you back on track for the new year, or to give you some ideas to change up your menu to keep eating healthy, interesting, and exciting.

Here we are in 2020, and many of your New Year’s resolutions may surround health or fitness. To have a sustainable healthy lifestyle, you cannot cut one group of food completely. In fact, doing that might just make you crave that particular section more. Unless you are allergic to certain foods, I would not recommend cutting out anything. I personally believe in eating everything as long as you’re conscious. If you like desserts, try making healthier desserts with coconut sugar or maple syrup and have just a small portion of it to satisfy your sweet cravings. Eating is important! Fueling your body with good food is good for your body and mind….

Leeks and Spinach Phyllo Triangles with Feta Sauce

December 26, 2019 By Asha Shivakumar

Spanakopita Triangles filled with spinach and three cheeses take your cocktail party from semi-homemade to gourmet. Spinach and feta cheese belong together! These Leeks and Spinach Phyllo Triangles with Feta Sauce taste delicious in this healthy, hearty, and wholesome breakfast wrap!

Friends, you have been very, very good to me. For the past few years, you’ve been stopping by to see me on a regular basis, cooked from the blog and you’ve said some pretty nice things about the contents of my kitchen and my dinner plate.

I can hardly believe it’s the end of December. It’s the time of year we begin planning and looking back on this year, large and small achievements. We start planning our small gatherings. Before we know it, we’ll be gathering in our circles, engaging in every kind of conversation under the sun. We’ll awkwardly small talk with co-worker’s families. We’ll ring in the new year with joyful anticipation.

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10 BEST recipes with Beets

December 3, 2019 By Asha Shivakumar

“THE BEET IS THE MOST INTENSE OF VEGETABLES. BEETS ARE DEADLY SERIOUS.”- TOM ROBBINS.

Beets have a inherently woodsy taste to them. I’ve had them in desserts as well as really spicy dishes, it can be very adaptive. I happen to love this vegetable. Didn’t know I love it this much. Here are my top 10 BEST recipes with Beets.

BEET BIRYANI

This easy and delicious beetroot vegetable biryani is my go-to on days when I feel like having a healthy biryani. A one-pot meal of rice, vegetables, and aromatic spices, it’s rich in flavor and elaborate enough to take center stage at parties or just for the family. Each bite is suffused with spice, veggies, or caramelized onions—deep and layered in flavor….

Cozy Vegan Autumn Veggie Potato Creamy Soup

November 28, 2019 By Asha Shivakumar

This Cozy Vegan Autumn Veggie Potato Creamy Soup Soup is full of hearty seasonal vegetables and wild rice, it’s wonderfully creamy and comforting, and easy to make in the Instant Pot, Crock-Pot or on the stove top.

For those days when you’re craving a cozy, creamy, comforting bowl of soup…I have the perfect new recipe for you.

It’s a riff on a dish I grew up and love. A coconut milk stew. I’ve loaded this soup up with lots of seasonal veggies, but you can add shredded chicken to it too. And added in some bolder savory seasonings. The coconut milk is creamy and delicate, instead of heavy cream. And the result?

Basically the most delicious, hearty, sweet-and-savory, thick-and-creamy, comforting soup a girl could ask for. ♡…