While most people use baby corn commonly in snacks and subzis, they forget how well it fits into soups too. Spinach and baby corn soup features a nutritious combination of spinach, baby corn and onions cooked with ample milk too. This soup should have a rough texture, so work the blender for just ½ a minute or so.

Fibre-rich unskinned potatoes and colourful green peas make a healthy and filling salad. Green peas are a storehouse of fibre that binds ldl and helps evict it from the body.

Don’t underestimate the humble sandwich! choosing the right breads and stuffing can result in rather exotic creations such as the sesame bagel with cucumber and sour cream. While the same dish can be prepared with burger buns, using sesame bagels gives it a brilliant aroma and flavour.

Grilled eggplant dip is a delicious and naturally creamy dip which has a middle eastern flavour. It is quick to make and can be served with pita chips or crackers as a delicious appetizer.

Try this unique soup, which combines protein and fibre rich lima beans with a horde of vitamin-rich veggies into a delectable, comforting and filling soup. In the preparation of this cauliflower, cabbage and tomato clear soup, we have retained and used the water in which the lima beans was cooked, not just to avoid nutrient-loss but also to enhance the flavour. You will love the mild, nutty flavour of this clear soup.

Very similar in taste to rice but healthier, kodri can be used for an unlimited variety of recipes Mexican, Indian and others. The uniqueness of this dish is all thanks to the grinding of garlic and red chilli flakes in a mortar-pestle. Not to forget the splash of colours the coloured capsicums bring in. It is a wholesome dish full of vegetables, kodri and rajma. And together this combination can give you a calcium and folic acid boost. You can add sweet corn too, as a variation.

Stuffed pasta-cannelloni topped with yummy tomato sauce and low calorie white sauce! Cannelloni is made from plain flour, which when consumed in excess or regularly can be bad for health – this is because the flour is refined and gets converted to sugar quickly, thereby fluctuating blood sugar levels. However, that is no reason to abstain from our favourite cannelloni! Simply mix in equal amounts of whole wheat flour to add a dose of fibre – this would prevent the rise in blood sugar levels. Stuff this cannelloni with a filling of your choice and lo and behold, you have an exotic dish. I have combined pineapple and paneer to pep up the bland taste of cannelloni, and used low fat milk, paneer, mozzarella cheese and low calorie white sauce to further cut down on calories and fat.

Sundal, from beaches and parks to temples, sundal ( a mélange of kala chana, cocnut and spices) is ubiquitous in south india, especially tamilnadu! pressure cooking makes this recipe more easy and quick.

Stuffed makai palak parathas, used in combination with makai ka atta makes a delectable variation of the traditional makai ki roti. It is traditionally served with butter but can be served with pickle and curds too.

Vegetable pulao, an aromatic pulao with low-cal but vitamin a rich chunky mushroom and mixed vegetables – best served with vegetable raita.

Jeera-pepper rasam, some times common cold and feverishness after pregnancy call for a hot and spicy antidote – this jeera-pepper rasam is ideal to keep the sniffles away. I’ve restricted the ghee to 1 tsp, so enjoy this weight loss friendly dish plain or mixed with rice.

The Milagai Podi, fondly called “Gun Powder” by south Indian food fans, is an all-time favourite accompaniment to idlis and dosas. When a spoonful of the powder is served, spice lovers fondly make a small hole in its centre, add a spoonful of til oil or ghee into it, and mix gently with their index finger, to make a chutney like paste with a fresh and irresistible aroma. Some even like to coat their idlis with this powder before packing in a lunch box. You can vary the spiciness of this powder by varying the quantity of chillies, and you can also decide whether you want to grind it smoothly or coarsely. Coarsely powdered Milagai Podi has a wonderful texture similar to hand-pounded masalas and is favoured by many. Store the powder in a glass or earthen jar in a cool and dry place away from sunlight. It can be used for more than a month.

Vitamin A rich papaya and melon scoops tossed together in an unusual zinc rich honey ginger dressing to enhance your immunity.

Kasuri methi bestows a classic flavour to this subzi, which is prepared with mushrooms and a delectable combination of spices. It is a perfect accompaniment for hot Rotis or bread.