Valentine's Day Special

Planning to spend your Valentine's day at home? Then try these quick and easy Valentine's day special recipes and make your Valentine extra special.

Cucumber -Coconut Pasta Salad

Are you bored of tomato and cheesy pasta? Then you must try this pasta recipe! I have tried this recipe many times before sharing it with you (that's what I always do) and trust me every time it got appreciated. The star ingredient here is the coconut. It adds wonder to any dish it is added to, isn't it? Although it has started raining here but still sometimes the weather gets hot, and a Pasta salad is just perfect .

Well I had been a little unwell lately, so I was kind of away all this time. But the food was always on my mind. I could hardly managed to cook and posting a recipe was way beyond for me... Hehe! But I am glad that I am curing myself through natural ways and I am so impressed by the power of every day food. I would like to share my experience in my coming posts soon. Anyways, back to the salad, this tasty pasta salad is simply quick and easy recipe. The yogurt and cucumber also make the salad perfect for summers. So try this Pasta recipe and cook the natural way!

Fruit Love (valentine special)

Ok how about a fruit salad, after breakfast, with your valentine? With a little effort and clever ingredients you can transform a simple fruit salad into a delicious and healthy dessert!! This fruit salad has my HOMEMADE FIG JAM but you can use any jam instead. Nothing is awesome than a bowl of fresh fruits, it charges you and your mood too! So make this easy and quick salad and have some sweet fruity chit-chats with your valentine!! And yes, you know it, cook the natural way!!

Dates-Mint Chutney

Finally a little relief from chilly weather here. Well whatever be the season or weather is, enjoying food must go on. And what a great way to make your food interesting than enhancing it's taste with chutneys or dips. They make any flat boring dish very perky and fun. This chutney has all the flavours in it - sweet, spicy, salty and sour.  Hmm interesting huh? Dates with mint is a great combo. This versatile chutney can go well with any kind of food, be it snacks, with meals, vegetarian dishes, meats or so on. So take out those dates lying in your kitchen somewhere, make this chutney and always cook the natural way!!

ROASTED CAPSICUMS SALAD with SUNFLOWER SEEDS

NEW YEAR RESOLUTIONS, well they sound good, but need efforts, don't they? According to a survey, more than 60% of new year resolutions are related to health and fitness. So this month, I am going to share some recipes here which may help you to achieve your set health goals. Let's kick start the new year with something healthy, nutritious and of course tasty! This gorgeous coloured salad is easy with very simple and basic dressing and no oil. But the combination of roasted capsicums, raw vegetables and fruits and pickled chillies, they all together lift up the taste of this salad.

Sunflower seeds adds to its health benefits. Sunflower seeds are a very good source of Vitamin E, magnesium and antioxidants. Eating them on regular basis will improve your health. I eat roasted unsalted seeds as a snack! So do try them and cook the natural way!!

Best of 2015

Hi everyone, hope you are having a great start of 2016!! Ok, here are some of my best recipes of 2015. Hope you like them all and get inspired to cook the natural way!!

Clink on the TITLES for the recipes.

Pomegranate-Apple Relish

Fruits are delicious on their own, they don't need a recipe but still we foodies can't resist the temptation to create something out of them. And sometimes it does work, like in this recipe. This relish is not only delicious but also healthy. The pomegranate syrup has a very dominating flavour here. I added a little sugar as I find pomegranate juice's taste a little odd. But If you don't have any problem with that, you can skip the sugar altogether. You can also cook this relish but I like it this way better. The mushy-juicy apples, the tanginess of orange-lemon juice and the juicy bites of pomegranate makes this relish a delish!! How about serving this relish to your guests this festive time or giving this away to them in a beautiful jar or something! So try this healthy tasty relish and cook the natural way!!

Kohlrabi and Leek Soup (Vegan)

 

Honestly I had never used kohlrabi in soups until I tried this soup one day ! This soup turned out so tasty and so light (it's vegan) that it is now in my "must-try recipes" list! Kohlrabi with leeks bring out a very smooth flavour and the onion tempering adds on to it's taste. This winter when kohlrabi is in a good supply, this soup deserves a try!

Kohlrabi (ganth gobhi) is a round turnip-shaped vegetable which belongs to cauliflower, cabbage, broccoli family and taste more or less like cauliflower stem but it is sweeter. This crispy, sweet, low fat, zero cholesterol vegetable is rich in vitamins, minerals and dietary fiber. It especially contains good amount of vitamin B, vitamin C, anti-oxidants, potassium, manganese iron and phosphorus. It's leaves are also very nutritious...boy do try this vegetable :)! 

Because of it's crispy texture, I tried kohlrabi often in salads but now I buy this healthy vegetable for this soup as well. So go ahead and try this soup and cook the natural way!!

Chimichurri Sauce

If you love fresh herb sauces or chutneys, then this is the sauce you must give a try to and I am sure if you try it once, you will make again. First of all,  I just love it's name "chimichurri" --say it, one more time-- it's fun, isn't it?....lol!!! Chimichurri, a green pesto- like sauce using parsley, coriander (cilantro), garlic with other ingredients, is originally from Argentina. Once I had a good amount of parsley and before it went bad, I looked for a way to use it, and then I came across this recipe. I love that fact that this sauce can be used in many ways.
Some of the popular uses are-
1. as a dip
2. as a marinade
3. as a sauce (popularly with grilled steaks but perfect with fish, chicken)

Now some of other way I use it, are-
1. Toss a tablespoon with stir fried veggies (not while cooking but as a final touch)
2. as a salad dressing.
3. as a sauce in sandwiches and burgers
4. a little drizzle on soups or gazpachos
5. with pasta too

There must be more, do share if you know. Well, I have used banana pepper as I find it perfect, not too hot and not too blunt. But if you like it spicy hot, use your desired chilli. Also I have added water to it, just to make it lighter, but you can use same amount of oil instead. With oil the sauce can be stored a little longer. Now just go and try this versatile sauce and cook the natural way!!!!

Boiled Peanut Salad

Hope you are having a great start of the weekdays! I have mixed feeling on Mondays, sad because weekend is gone and excited because life is back on track...hehe!! If weekends relax you, weekdays keep you going and organized. Well, now about the salad. Salads are not only healthy but they make you feel healthy also. The more I try salad recipes, the more I fall in love with them. I don't about others, but I feel so good after having salads, it changes my mood. This salad has boiled peanuts. I never tried boiled peanuts until 2006, and since then I use them often. Peanuts are one of the tastiest heart-healthy super food. They are rich in vitamin E, proteins and minerals like magnesium, iron, zinc etc. With all the fresh ingredients, this salad is super tasty. So, try this some day and cook the natural way! Hope you like it!!

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-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!!

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 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!!

Tomato Love Sips (valentine's day special)

 

Tomato love sips, whether it is the love for tomatoes or the time you spend with your loved one, sipping it! I don't know why this name hit me first and I like it! This is not actually a soup (or may be), it's neither thick nor creamy, it is something you can enjoy the way you enjoy coffee or tea, sip by sip! The recipe is so damn easy and takes very little time (remember less time in the kitchen and more time for togetherness), perfect for valentine!! I have also added cherry tomatoes as they have a very unique sweetness, but you can skip them if not available! So make it and enjoy it with you loved one on a cold romantic evening! Hope you like it!!!

Sautéed Chickpeas Salad

New year means new start, new resolutions (which mostly stays into the serious mode till one or two months and then.....you know what I mean :D). This salad recipe might be a help for weight-lose resolutions! Chickpea is a very healthy and fulfilling food. It's nutty flavour is not only tasty but also loaded with vitamins and minerals. It is an excellent option for weight watchers as it is very high in fibres and keep you full for long and thus controlling your appetite. Also it is high in proteins and iron. This salad has cottage cheese (another good source of protien) and veggies, that make this salad even healthier!! I like my salads to be fresh, mouthful, savoury with some crunch and a beautiful dressing, and this salad is just perfect! Hope you like it!!!

Strawberry-Apricot Relish

My love for jams made me try this recipe, though its a relish and can be taken in many ways, but I love to have it on a crisp toast (with some fresh cream). This relish is a fresh, healthy and tasty way to satisfy your sweet taste buds and can be a good Christmas gift option for your family and friends! Apricots and strawberries are loaded with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and dietary fibres and this relish is good way to add them in your diet. If you don't like apricots (huh?...really!! :P), you can use dates, figs, sultanas or raisins, in fact just play with any juicy berries or fruit, with any chewy dried fruit. This relish is easy to prepare and so divine! If you are gifting it to somebody, do specify the best before time (see step-6 below). Hope you like it!!!!

Spicy Plum Sauce

Plums are a juicy, sweet and tart taste power food. They are an excellent source of antioxidants and have a good amount of vitamins and minerals. I like having them raw but using them in recipes, is a good experience. They have a very unique tarty, sweet and sour taste which brings a new touch to your recipes. Well, this sauce recipe is quite easy and very spicy and I always use it as a sandwich spread with any filling at hand. Last week, I tried these salami sandwiches using this sauce. They were very tasty.

Everybody loves peanut butter and a good combo of peanut butter and plums gives this sauce a nice creamy texture and a nutty taste. Nothing is as good as homemade peanut butter, which is so easy to make (soon I'll post it). So the freshness of plums, goodness of peanut butter and the spiciness of chillies makes this sauce a worth try. Hope you will like it!!! Get the recipe here!!

Corn Week Day 5--Tangy Corns

So yesterday it was independence day holiday, I enjoyed it fully. The weather was good, everybody was out, celebrating the day. Well, I tried this recipe a few days ago and trust me it is "the best" corn recipe I've ever tasted. The recipe is simple but the combination of flavours makes it so delicious. The first word came to my mind for this recipe was TANGY, the perfect explanation to this recipe. The sweet, salty sour, mouth watering taste, will sure stuck to your mind for hours. Try this someday. Hope you'll like it too!!! Get the recipe here

Corn WeeK Day 3-- Corn Salad in cashew Dressing

So the third day is for this yummy salad. I just love the creaminess of this salad dressing. Cashews are loaded with energy, antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. Vegetables, fruits and cashew, this salad is a nutritional blast!!! This recipe is vegan, fresh and easy to make. So go ahead, try this. Hope you like it!! Get the recipe here!