Karela is a low calorie vegetable which is acclaimed for its anti-diabetic properties. This recipe is an attempt to make them appealing. The karelas are stuffed with moong dal and served in a makhani gravy that is made using very little oil. Enriched with protein, calcium, vitamin A, vitamin C, iron and fibre, this recipe is a delectable way to savour this "not so popular" vegetable.
Toovar dal with vegetables is a wholesome dish, full of vegetables and protein-rich dal. You need not stick to the veggies i have used – just open your fridge and throw in anything you find. You will love the fact that such a tasty and sumptuous dish can be prepared with just about no oil! remember to add the jaggery and tamarind, as they provide a much needed twist to cover up the plain taste of dal.
The versatile palak, a favourite in North Indian households, can be used in a variety of preparations such as raita, soup, gravy and kofta! Here it combines with corn, to delight your senses.
The richness of any “shahi” dish usually comes from the abundance of cream. Here, I have substituted cream with low-fat milk mixed with cornflour, which tastes equally creamy and delicious. Urad dal gives a healthy fillip to this dish, as it is high in folic acid and zinc. Folic acid aids in brain development as well as boosting haemoglobin levels whereas zinc is required for life long mental strength.
Panchratni dal, the dish is a blend of dals with spices; it is a tasty accompaniment to rice, rich in protein, iron and calcium. Calcium decreases as you age and hence needs constant supply whereas iron is required to maintain hemoglobin levels, especially for women.
A Parsi delicacy modified into a healthy and easy-to-make dal. Dhan means cereals and pulses, and saak means vegetables. These combine here to make a wholesome meal!
It is traditionally served with Brown Rice to make a complete nourishing meal. Dare to add green and red pastes to send your taste buds on an enjoyable, adventurous journey! Usually oil-laden, this Gujarati favourite gets the healthy treatment through pressure-cooking and baking and replacing poha for high fat coconut!
Corn makes an interesting companion for colocasia, providing you with nutrients like calcium, iron and fibre.
Methi peps up even the simplest of dishes! This is no exception. Add salt to the methi and squeeze it well to remove the inherent bitterness of the methi leaves. You can even salt and squeeze the methi and store it in the freezer for days or even months; just defrost and use whenever you want. Just keep in mind that you should not stir this subzi too much... otherwise the tofu will crumble and the subzi will look messy.
This Bengali-style subzi features a unique combination of veggies, simply but tastily flavoured with everyday ingredients. Iron-rich chawli leaves come together with ridge gourd, which gives not just more nutrition but also a good texture and volume to the subzi. The duo is aptly flavoured with a tempering of cumin seeds, and a dash of common but effective taste-givers like onions, tomatoes, garlic paste and spice powders like garam masala. The resulting flavour and texture of the Ridge Gourd and Amaranth Shaag Bhaja is very pleasing to the palate, and this does turn out to be a very popular way to top up your iron reserves!
Soyabeans add a surprising element to this scrumptious spinach subzi!
Usli consists of a mixture of healthy sprouts that are stir fried with a little masala. A combination of 3 sprouts makes the recipe a good source of protein and iron. Sprouting aids the digestion of these pulses and also increases their nutritive value. The calcium and the fibre content of the recipe is good. It is thus very beneficial for you also keeps your taste buds happy.