Roasted Capsicum and Tomato Sauce

I love capsicums (bell pepper), I can eat them sauteed or baked or cooked or roasted or even raw! By now you must have known I use capsicums a lot in my cooking. Be it salads, pastas or sides, capsicums are always my first choice. High on vitamin C and vitamin A, rich in antioxidant properties, low in fats and of course the tangy peppery taste, you have many reasons to eat them. Now about this sauce, I tried this sauce twice, one as a pasta sauce, and secondly as a dip with a cottage cheese recipe. it was appreciated both ways :).  So I thought why not to share it with all! It has almonds, sun-dried tomatoes(which gives this sauce a nice tangy flavour) and herbs too. Homemade food is always best-fresh, good to taste and healthy! So try this versatile sauce and cook the natural way!! Hope you like it!!

Potato-Soya (Mint)

How about potato-soya tonight for dinner?  I love soya chunks, not only they taste good but also they are good for your health too!! Soya chunks (or soy mealmaker) is a soy bean product which is very high in protein , even higher than meat!! So it can be a good option for vegetarians or vegan food lovers!! They are cheap, easily available and quick to cook!!! You can even use them as meat substitute. Soya chunks are also rich in iron, fibers, calcium and are almost fat free. So adding soya chunks to your diet is a wise idea! I love their texture, chewiness and beany taste.This recipe has a nice flavour of mint which gives a good change and newness to it! The combination of spices enhances its taste. So try this Minty recipe someday and cook the natural way!! Hope you like it!!

Potato-Broccoli Salad

So, how was your weekend? Mine was good, it was raining here and I enjoyed the monsoon shower sitting on the porch and admiring the soothing "pitter patter" of rain drops. It was very relaxing! And of course the food. Unlike the popular rainy day treat- pakora and chai (tea and fritters), I made this salad! I know this may sound boring but it was really good and healthy too. Well, we all know that broccoli is a superfood! It has more nutrition and less calories. A cup of broccoli provides 100% daily need of vitamin C and K. I love using them in salad, but blanch them to avoid any germs or bacteria.

And then there are "the poor" potatoes, they have a very bad reputation among weight watchers. But the truth is that it is also a very healthy, low calorie food which is rich in potassium, fibres, vitamin B6 and vitamin C. Minus the extra fat or deep frying, and add potatoes to your diet! Potatoes do have carbohydrates but they are easy to digest. If eaten in moderation, potatoes are very good for your health. But still if you are not convinced, use sweet potatoes instead :). I have also added beetroot for more health and to have the gorgeous coloured salad!!The combination of flavours in the dressing gives the salad its depth. So try it anyday, anytime and cook the natural way!! Hope you like it!!

Fennel Chicken Curry

Rainy season is almost here and what could be so tempting than a bowl of hot steamed rice with a delicious chicken curry poured over!!! You know,what I love about Indian food, is that, it has a whole lot of spice-drama! A single prominent flavor of any spice changes the taste of the food magically, and in this recipe, combination of fennel seeds and coriander seeds did that!  So start playing with spices and cook the natural way!!! Hope you like it!!!

Makhana-Aloo Tikki (Foxnut-Potato Patties)

I call it a healthy version of aloo tikki, why?, because unlike regular tikki, it does not have any unhealthy binding base, instead I used semolina which is healthier. Also to make these tikkis even healthier , I added fox nut (aka Makhane). Fox nuts are very healthy, light and easily digestible. They are a good source of calcium, phosphors, protiens and magnesium. These tikkis are a good option for kid's snacks and a delicious way to add the goodness of makhane into their diet. I have used italian seasoning to bring a new touch to the tikkis but you can use garam masala instead. Also you can add vegetables too.  So try these healthier aloo tikki and cook the natural way!! hope you like it!!

Mango-Sprout Salad

I love putting mangoes in salads. They make salads juicy, pulpy and interesting!! This salad is one of my favourites, I often prepare it and it is always a hit!! It is vegan, oil-free and gluten-free, so a good option for weight watchers. Eating sprouts is very beneficial for loosing weight. Sprouts can be a good source of proteins without calories. they are also rich in vitamin C and minerals. But it is important to blanch them before consuming, to kill bacteria that develop during the sprouting process. Sprouting is very easy to do at home. I will soon write a post on it!Mango-sprout combination goes so well  So try this fresh delicious salad and cook the natural way!! Hope you like it!!

Mango-Oats Ice-cream

How can we forget mango ice-cream!! I think it's a must-have, when trying mango recipes.Mangoes
 are super delicious and mango ice-cream is"heaven". To top it up, I made this ice-cream healthier and low-fat, so that all can enjoy it without any guilt!!! This recipe has all natural ingredients and no chemicals at all. It is the delicious way to add goodness of oats and you need to churn it just once!! So enjoy this mango ice-cream and cook the natural way! Hope you like it!!!

Mango Cooler

Mango Recipe#3 -Don't just get stuck with mango shake when it comes to mango drinks, try combining mango with other fruits or other ingredients for a good change.Unlike mango shake, this drink is light and refreshing and is dairy-free and vegan!! So enjoy this fresh and soothing Mango Cooler on a hot summer days and cook the natural way!! Hope you like it!!

Spicy Mango Rice

Today it is my second mango recipe post here. This challenge is making me idea-less, as mango has a fantastic taste of its own, no matter what we make out of it, it's original taste beats all!! I taste my recipe and then the mango, the mango always wins...lol!!! But still I'm in. Anyways, this rice recipe is my favorite. It literally confuses you, you can't decide whether it is sweet or hot and spicy. All the fresh and simple ingredients make this recipe really special. So give it try and cook the natural way!! Hope you like it!!!

Mango Salsa

Mangoes. mangoes, mangoes....I am sure many of you are in love with this fruit. Loaded with vitamins and minerals, this fruit is everybody's favorite!!! This week I am going to post some of  my Mango recipes and today starting with this mango salsa. I have used roasted capsicum in this salsa because I like it's taste but you can use raw capsicum if  you like. With all the fresh ingredients, this salsa is very refreshing and super delicious!!! So try it this hot summer season and cook the natural way!!! Hope you like it!!

Khati arbi (Sour Taro)

Arbi (colocasia, taro, eddo) is a tasty and healthy root vegetable. Loaded with vitamins and minerals, this vegetable is also a good source of fibers, carbohydrates and potassium. I love its creamy smooth texture. This recipe is simple and has a strong flavour of coriander which makes it really delicious. Although this recipe doesn't take much time but boiling arbi (taro) and then peeling them may take a little effort. So try this recipe someday and cook the natural way! Hope you like it!!