The moment somebody hears the word ‘makhani’, it reminds them of a rich and buttery gravy and they immediately strike it off their diet-friendly list! However, this innovative recipe shows that you can recreate the same buttery experience using apt ingredients and cooking methods, in a pretty much diet-friendly way. This is indeed a makhani gravy but we have not even used a spot of high-saturated, fat-laden butter, but used a little bit of oil instead. The koftas are also unusual, made using iron-rich nachni for binding, instead of corn flour. Putting our heads together to make the Cabbage Nachni Koftas in Makhani Gravy as healthy as possible, we decided to steam the koftas instead of deep-frying them. This makes the dish healthier, without compromising on flavour. This low-salt recipe is sure to be a healthy treat for those with high blood pressure. You can also try other low-salt subzis like the Mili Jhuli Subzi and Bengali Mixed Vegetable Dry Sabzi .

lentil and spinach soup recipe | masoor dal palak soup | healthy masoor dal vegetable soup | with 25 amazing images. lentil and spinach soup is a vitamin A rich healthy Indian soup. Learn how to make masoor dal palak soup. lentil and spinach soup is a hearty and nutritious soup that combines the earthy flavors of masoor dal with the vibrant green goodness of spinach. This soup is typically made by cooking lentils, with a variety of vegetables, herbs, and spices, and then adding fresh spinach near the end of the cooking process. To make lentil and spinach soup in a pressure cooker add the tomatoes, masoor dal along with 2 cups of water, mix well and pressure cook for 2 whistles. Allow the steam to escape before opening the lid. Keep aside to cool. Once cooled, blend in a hand mixer to a smooth purée.Heat the olive oil in a deep pan. Add the garlic and onions and sautée for 2 minutes. Transfer the purée , add the spinach, milk, chilli powder, salt and 1 cup of water, mix well and bring to boil. Cook on a medium flame for 2 to 3 minutes, while stirring occasionally. Serve lentil and spinach soup hot with whole wheat bread sticks. lentil and spinach soup is a popular choice for a healthy and filling lunch or dinner, especially during the colder months, and it can be enjoyed on its own or paired with a slice of crusty bread for a complete and satisfying meal. lentil and spinach soup is rich in vitamin C, vitamin A, folic acid, vitamin B1, calcium, Dietary fiber and protein. lentil and spinach soup can be enjoyed by diabetic, weight loss, pregnant women and heart patients. Pro tips for lentil and spinach soup. 1. In a pressure cooker put roughly chopped tomatoes. Tomatoes add a touch of acidity and brightness to the soup, cutting through the richness of lentils and balancing the earthy notes of spinach. Tomatoes are a Pregnant woman's friend and are rich in Folate or Folic Acid which helps your body to produce and maintain new cells, especially red blood cells. 2. Add masoor dal (split red lentil), washed and drained. Masoor dal cooks quickly and breaks down easily, contributing to a smooth and creamy texture in the soup, making it more enjoyable to eat. 1 cup of cooked Masoor dal gives 19 grams of protein. Being rich in phosphorus it works with calcium to build our bones. NOTE. When you soak 3/4th cup of masoor dal you will get 1 cup soaked masoor dal. That is what will be used in the recipe. 3. Once cooled, blend with a hand blender to a smooth purée. A hand blender is ideal for this recipe because it can easily handle larger volumes and blend directly in the pressure cooker, saving you from transferring ingredients. 4. Add finely chopped spinach (palak). Spinach cooks quickly and easily, making it a convenient addition to the soup. It can be incorporated just before serving to retain its fresh flavor and vibrant color. Spinach is one of the richest plant sources of iron and it should be part of a healthy diet for everyone. Enjoy lentil and spinach soup recipe | masoor dal palak soup | healthy masoor dal vegetable soup | with step by step photos.

A delicious kadhi enhanced with vibrant spinach puree and soothing coconut milk, the Palak Coconut Kadhi also has its share of excitement thanks to the myriad spices that are added to it. As always, onions, green chillies and ginger, which are everyday ingredients in an Indian kitchen add to the flavour of this easy kadhi, which is made quicker and simpler using the microwave oven.

chawli and sprouted moong salad recipe | chawli vegetable salad with sprouts | healthy Indian cow peas salad with sprouts | with 34 amazing images. chawli and sprouted moong salad recipe | chawli vegetable salad with sprouts | healthy Indian cow peas salad with sprouts is a healthy bowlful for one and all. Learn how to make chawli vegetable salad with sprouts. To make chawli and sprouted moong salad, combine all the ingredients in a deep bowl and mix well. Serve immediately. We often think that it is ingredients like salt, chaat masala and black salt that give salads an extraordinary taste. This chawli vegetable salad with sprouts proves that a salad can turn out simply fab even without these ingredients, which are unhealthy for those with blood pressure and heart problems. A combination of chawli and sprouted moong is spruced up with an apt combination of spice powders like chilli powder, cumin seeds powder and dried mango powder, which together with a squeeze of lemon result in a tongue-tickling healthy Indian cow peas salad with sprouts, which diabetics and weight watchers will thoroughly enjoy. A low-salt, low-sodium menu can also include other dishes like the Mili Jhuli Subzi and the Mooli Moong Dal. Tips for chawli and sprouted moong salad. You can make the zero oil chawli bean and moong salad in advance but ensure that you add lemon juice and salt only before you serve. Store in fridge for several hours. Enjoy chawli and sprouted moong salad recipe | chawli vegetable salad with sprouts | healthy Indian cow peas salad with sprouts | with step by step photos.

palak paneer roti recipe | gluten free palak paneer roti | healthy palak paneer paratha | with 20 amazing images. palak paneer roti recipe | gluten free palak paneer roti | healthy palak paneer paratha is a simple everyday satiating fare. Learn how to make gluten free palak paneer roti. To make palak paneer roti, combine all the ingredients in a deep bowl and knead into soft dough, using enough warm water. Divide the dough into 6 equal portions and roll out each portion into a circle of 100 mm (4") diameter, using a little rice flour for rolling. Cook each roti on a hot non-stick tava (griddle), using a little oil, till it turns golden brown in colour from both sides. Serve hot with fresh curds. Use the popular palak-paneer combination to make rotis with rice flour and ragi flour, both of which are gluten free! This gluten free palak paneer roti is a wholesome meal perfect for those suffering from gluten intolerance, who cannot tolerate the gluten in wheat. With a unique flavour that of ragi flour and rice flour, spinach fit beautifully into this flavoursome palak paneer roti. What’s more interesting is the use of common spice powders like turmeric powder and chilli powder, which together make this roti appetizing. Use of a calcium rich ragi flour and paneer and folate rich spinach makes healthy palak paneer paratha as a wise choice for many of us. If you wish you can replace the rice flour with jowar flour to make it a tad more healthier. Tips for palak paneer roti. 1. Use fresh paneer for best results. 2. Ensure the dough is soft but not sticky. 3. While rolling, you will notice that the edges of the roti are not clean and uniform. But do not worry, that is because there is not gluten in the flours used. If you find rolling difficult, try rolling between 2 sheets of plastic. Enjoy palak paneer roti recipe | gluten free palak paneer roti | healthy palak paneer paratha | with step by step photos.

ragi bhakri chivda recipe | healthy bhakri cha chivda | Indian phodnichi bhakri | Maharashtrian snack | with 43 amazing images. ragi bhakri chivda recipe | healthy bhakri cha chivda | Indian phodnichi bhakri | Maharashtrian snack is a quick snack if you have left over bhakris. Learn how to make bhakri cha chivda. To make ragi bhakri chivda, combine the red millet, whole wheat flour, green chilli paste, garlic paste, ginger paste, spinach and salt, mix well and knead it into a semi-soft dough using enough water. Divide the dough into 5 equal portions. Flatten a portion of dough on a dusted plastic sheet to make a 150 mm. (6”) diameter circle using your fingers. Lift the roti with the plastic sheet and invert the roti on a hot non-stick tava (griddle) and apply little water on it and cook on a medium flame for 1 minute. Turn it over and cook for another 1 minute or till light brown spots appear on the surface. Then turn it over onto an open flame and cook on both sides for a few seconds till it puffs up. Repeat steps 3 to 6 to make 4 more bhakris. Tear it into small and keep aside. Heat the oil in a deep non-stick pan, add the mustard seeds and cumin seeds sauté on a medium flam for few seconds. Add the onions, mix well and cook on a medium flame for 2 minutes, while stirring occasionally. Add the turmeric powder, chilli powder, mix well and sauté on a medium flame for few seconds. Add the bhakri, green peas, lemon juice, sugar, coriander and salt and mix well and cook on a medium flame for 2 to 3 minutes, while stirring occasionally. Serve immediately. Ragi Bhakri is an ever-popular Maharashtrian bread that is homely and satiating. In this Maharashtrian snack, bhakri transforms into a scrumptious chivda with a dash of spice powders and taste-enhancing ingredients like ginger, garlic and green chillies. A tempering of mustard and cumin seeds boosts the aroma, while a basket of veggies makes the Indian phodnichi bhakri even more sumptuous and tasty. This quick and tasty snack can be made with leftover bhakri also. Try your hand at more such nachni-based dishes like Nachni Dosa and Mini Nachni Pancake. This healthy bhakri cha chivda has a bouquet full of nourishment too! Made with ragi flour and spinach it is enriched with calcium, iron and fibre. The use of green peas and onions add in a dose of antioxidants to maintain the health of all the cells and organs of the body. However, this bhkari chivda has appreciable amounts of calories and carbs, so watch your portion size. Tips for ragi bhakri chivda. 1. Though the regular Maharashtrian bhakri does not have spinach, we have added it to the dough to boost its nutrient value. If you wish, you can avoid it. 2. Make bite-sized pieces of the bhakri that you would enjoy. 3. The ragi bhakri can be made in advance or you can use leftover bhakri. 4. But make the ragi chivda just before serving. Enjoy ragi bhakri chivda recipe | healthy bhakri cha chivda | Indian phodnichi bhakri | Maharashtrian snack | with step by step photos.

In South India, idli is everyday fare, made once a day or sometimes even more frequently. As a result, nobody gives it a second thought. However, this recipe will make you stop and pay some attention to the versatility of the humble idli. In this yummy recipe, we have cooked the idli batter with a layer of tasty potato bhaji and coconut chutney. Both being tongue-tickling delights, they transform the idlis into a super duper snack that will be loved by young and old alike. The Double Decker Idlis Stuffed with Potato and Chutney is not only tasty but also filling, so you can serve it as a sumptuous tea-time snack to keep your kids and family satiated till dinner time. Alternatively, you can even cut it into twos or fours and serve as a starter. Allow the idlis to cool slightly after cooking, otherwise it will be difficult to demould them. Try other idli based treats like the Stuffed Spinach Idli and the Stuffed Rava Stuffed Rava Idli Vegetable Sandwich .

biryani arancini balls recipe | Indian arancini | veg biryani arancini | with amazing 34 images. You will be amazed by the number of ingredients that goes into the Biryani Arancini Balls. Indian arancini are cheese stuffed rice balls coated in bread crumbs and deep fried. Derived from Italy, but here we have given it an Indian twist. You can use this Indian arancini as a party starter or if you have left over biryani then this recipe is ideal choice for snack time. To make biryani arancini balls, first we need to make a fresh batch of biryani if we do not have left over. Take oil in a pan, add onions, ginger garlic paste and cook. Add tomatoes and further, add biryani masala. Further, add Indian spices like turmeric powder and chili powder. Add little water and cook the masala. Further, add mixed boiled veggies and rice. Add paneer, mint leaves and coriander leaves. Coriander and mint leaves would give a refreshing flavor to the biryani arancini balls. Mix well and mash with back of the spoon. Mash a little well as the big chunks of veggies may break the arancini balls. Further, divide and roll in between your palms and also stuff mozzarella cheese cubes in the middle of the ball and roll well. Next, dip the ball in the cornflour and water slurry, roll in bread crumbs and deep fry until golden brown in color. Make sure you serve Indian arancini hot and immediately. Only then the taste and the ooziness of cheese can be enjoyed. If you prepare and have Indian arancini later, it may get soggy and also lose out on taste. Boiled mixed veggies and paneer add more textures and flavours to the biryani arancini balls, while biryani masala gives it its special and characteristic taste and aroma. Though the recipe uses a lot of ingredients, all of them are readily available and the method is also quite easy, so you can make this snack on any day without much ado. You can serve it as a starter at parties or enjoy it at tea-time. It tastes best with raita and roasted papad. Try other veg ball recipes like Broccoli and Cheese Balls and Malai Paneer Dill Balls . Enjoy biryani arancini balls recipe | Indian arancini | veg biryani arancini |with detailed step by step recipe photos below.

Spinach and toovar dal used for this mildly spiced recipe, makes this dal a rich calcium source. Serve hot with roti or rice.

The Veg Samosa Pinwheel is an attempt to repackage the ever-popular samosa in a new form, which is handy and delightful, ideal to serve as a starter at parties . A filling of potatoes and green peas, perked up with spice powders, just like the samosa filling, is applied on a plain flour chapati, rolled up like a Swiss roll and sliced. These dainty pinwheels are then deep-fried to get an attractive snack, which looks and tastes great. It tastes pretty much like a samosa but has an attractive form that reveals the contents, thereby making the diners all the more eager to grab a bite! Serve this with ketchup and green chutney. Try other pinwheel recipes like Vanilla and Chocolate Pinwheels and Pinwheel Sandwiches .

Really satiating and super tasty, this Mixed Dal and Rice Dosa is an amazing dish to have for breakfast as it will keep you full for a long time and also give you a good dose of nutrients, especially protein. The batter for this dosa is made by combining rice and whole wheat with four different types of dal. This gives the dosa a fabulous texture and a homely, traditional flavour too. With a dash of spices, this dosa tastes good just by itself, but add a cup of sambhar or chutney to the meal to make it tastier. You can also try other healthy dosas like Whole Wheat Dosa with Mixed Vegetables and Instant Whole Wheat Vegetable Dosa .

Potatoes and green peas in a tomato-based gravy is one of the most common dishes you can think of. Any day you are in a hurry and find these two ingredients in the fridge, you will stop thinking of what to cook and immediately take these out. The same old duo comes to you in an all-new form in this recipe. The addition of dry fruits and nuts like raisins and cashewnuts, and a sprinkling of toasted sesame seeds gives the Darbari Aloo Mutter Sabzi a rich mouth-feel and vibrant flavour. Nevertheless, this recipe is as easy as any Aloo Mutter Sabzi, given that it is made using the microwave oven. It takes you less than 10 minutes to place this delightful dish on the table, once you are ready with all the ingredients. Try other microwave recipes like the Mutter Pulao and Mushroom Mutter Makhani .

sev murmura recipe | sev kurmura | sev mamra | spicy puffed rice | masala puffed rice | with 12 amazing images. The sev murmura recipe features a mix of two all-time favourites – sev and kurmura – in a handy dry form. It is a light and easy to make dry snack. This has lesser calories than any other street food recipe. In this scrumptious Gujarati sev kurmura jar snack, the sev and puffed rice are sautéed in oil with a dash of spices. This helps the flavours to sink in well, and also keeps the puffed rice crisp and nice for some days. You can also add in onions, tomatoes some chutneys and use the sev murmura in making bhel puri. I usually prepare sev murmura and store it in an air-tight container for midnight cravings and hunger pangs. Also, you can serve it to your guests and makes a perfect Indian travel dry snack. My kids also prefer taking it along with them to school as a kids tiffin treat! A cup of masala puffed rice with tea is enough to keep you full for a while. Make sure to use fresh, good quality murmura to get tasty, crunchy sev mamra . The sev kurmura can also be used to make chaats like Bhel Puri and Sukha Bhel. Learn to make sev murmura recipe | sev kurmura | sev mamra | spicy puffed rice | masala puffed rice | with detailed step by step recipe photos below.

A classic recipe from the kitchens of Maharashtra, the Moong Dal Vadi Rasa is a tongue-tickling preparation of moong dal vadis cooked in a gravy of tomatoes, blended with onions and spice powders. The rich flavour of the tomato-based gravy seeps into the vadis giving them a really nice flavour. Garnishing with coriander gives the Moong Dal Vadi Rasa an instant aroma boost, so make sure you don’t skip it. It is very important to serve this Maharashtrian delicacy immediately after preparation. You can also try other specialties from the region, like the Maharashtrian Pitla and Maharashtrian Amboli .