Mushroom and Tomato Snack, a treat for all mushroom lovers! Slices of whole wheat bread topped with a succulent mushroom stir-fry with onions and tomatoes, and spiced up with red chilli flakes. . . What more can one ask for! Oregano imparts an Italian touch to this snack, which has been sautéed in a non-stick pan to cut down on the oil used for cooking.

Slices of brinjal, coated with eggs and breadcrumbs, are cooked till they become a irresistible golden in colour. These are then drowned in homemade tomato salsa and baked with a topping of cheese, and more cheese! The tomato salsa has a fabulous mouth-feel, with the crunch of onions and capsicum, and an exciting herby flavour. The salsa and cheese are an awesome match, made even better by a sprinkling of herbs and seasonings. Enjoy the Baked Cheesy Eggplant in Tomato Salsa, with Eggs, immediately upon baking to enjoy the freshest flavour and best texture! Team up this cheesy baked dish with Garlic Spaghetti and a salad for a sumptuous meal that you will love to dine on.

A smart combination of the right ingredients is essential to ensure the maximum uptake of iron from a recipe. In this wholesome Whole Wheat Spaghetti in Spinach Sauce, we have done away with cheese because calcium hinders the absorption of iron. Iron-rich red pumpkin is used in the place of milk to thicken the sauce. This recipe also has crunchy walnuts, another good source of iron and an excellent source of omega-3-fatty acids.

Ravioli is one of the best-known stuffed pasta dishes, famous beyond the shores of Italy. It is said that ravioli originally came from Liguria and was invented to use up left-over food. This recipe of small square envelopes of pasta dough enclosing a mixed vegetable stuffing served with a tomato sauce, spiked with oregano and chilli is sure to tickle the Indian palate which craves for spice. You can divide the making of ravioli into easy stages that can be completed well in advance. Make the filling and the sauce one day, then make the pasta dough and shape the ravioli the next day. Remember to toss the ravioli in the sauce just before serving and then to eat it quickly!

Stuffed Bulgur and Brinjal Bake is a really off-beat and totally exotic dish that is sure to be enjoyed by everybody! Bulgur wheat is cooked with delicious veggies, tangy tomato sauce, aromatic herbs and spices, and stuffed into large brinjals. This mouth-watering arrangement is then baked with a topping of grated cheese, to make a totally outta-this-world dish, which will excite your taste buds and ensure that you remember it for a long time! Served with Cheese and Herb Potato Fries and a bowl of hot soup makes for a satisfying meal.

With or without rajma, with one stuffing or the other, burritos are always a great option for a weekend snack as much as for a party – it is quite a meal in itself. You can have a free hand with the stuffing and experiment with choices of your own – just ensure that they are healthy! You must always stuff the burritos as and when required to avoid sogginess; or to add an element of fun and freedom, you can let your guests stuff their own burritos! Cabbage and onions add crunch, while the mozzarella cheese enhances the flavour – every ingredient plays its part in making this a grand success. Usually burritos are not cooked, but you can cook it lightly in the microwave to just melt the cheese a wee bit. And of course, don’t forget to serve with chilled tomato salsa!

Spinach is one ingredient you might never have thought of adding to pizzas, but interestingly, the effect is fabulous! Together with onions and paneer, spinach makes a mouth-watering topping for pizzas, further enhanced by the addition of capsicums, herbs, seasonings, cheese and sauces that are typical of pizzas. You will love the interplay of textures and flavours in this Spinach Pizza, especially if you have it right after it is ready.

A classic pasta recipe made with fusilli and cottage cheese, tossed along with garden fresh parsley and basil. Relish the distinct essence of every ingredient used in this dish.

The French Casserole is a classy one-dish meal with subtle flavours. It is basically comprised of three components – rice, spinach-onion mixture and tomato gravy – that are arranged and baked with a topping of cheese. Spinach gives you a creamy mouth-feel, while the onions give you a pungent crunch and the tomato gravy endows the dish with an irresistibly tangy taste. The rice is cooked in milk, which gives a classic taste and creamy texture to the dish. With a touch of spices and the appetizing aroma of herbs, the French Casserole is a sure-shot hit! Try your hand at making more French favourites like the Spaghetti Souffle or Baked Vegetable Pancakes in White Sauce with Eggs

Grilled italian sandwich, lots of tomatoes and lettuce makes this sandwich a healthy one. Whole wheat breads add fibre, much needed nutrient to remove toxins and extra fat from the body thereby keeping you healthy. Oregano brings in the required italian flavour.

Here is a fantastic dressing with the succulence of cottage cheese, the juiciness of tomatoes, the tingling flavour of vinegar, mustard paste, and the tantalising aroma of herbs. Used popularly in Mediterranean cuisine, the Feta and Tomato Dressing is an olive oil based dressing that is definitely worth trying. It stays good for two days, if stored in an airtight glass jar in the fridge. So, dash to the kitchen and whip it up right away!

The Creamy Italian Dressing is well, creamy! That’s probably the best word to describe this luscious dressing that is loaded with mayonnaise and sour cream. And yes, it is mouth-wateringly tasty too, with a dash of herbs and garlic, and the exquisite touch of red wine vinegar. It is very easy to prepare, as all you need to do is toss the ingredients into the mixer and blend till smooth! Store it in an airtight glass jar in the fridge, where it will stay good for two days.

An assortment of veggies are roasted with chopped garlic and olive oil and pasta mixed with a gooey cheese sauce made of grated cheese, plain flour and butter and with a generous sprinkling of cheese on top.

The very sight of the Baby Potatoes and Bell Pepper Stir-Fry is appetising. The chunky veggies with the aromatic seasonings make you want to grab a bite immediately. And it would do you a world of good to sink your teeth into this tasty stir-fry, as it is loaded with folic acid from the potatoes and broccoli, a nutrient that is essential in the beginning months of gestation for proper development of your baby’s brain. In order to get the most folic acid out of the potatoes, we have used it unpeeled, but make sure you wash and clean them well before cooking. The capsicums not only add a splash of colours and flavour to your stir-fry, they also contribute a lot of vitamin C, which helps a would-be mom to fight infections. In all, this marvelous dish gives you the best of both worlds – super taste and good health too. Click here for more nutritious recipes for pregnancy .