Hi, everybody, It's amazing how soon 2017 ended, and here we are in 2018 already!! wishing you all a very Happy New Year and wishing you all the new year brings you joy, peace, and prosperity. I know I had been away from blogging as my health was playing up and I traveled a lot last year! Last few months I was mentally stressed out with my son's career! and now I am over the moon as my son got his admission to medicine which has brought all the happiness back. All his hard work paid off he is happy lad now, as his dream is shaping up.

Coming back to this recipe, Avarekaalu is one of the favourite winter veggies in Karnataka. If you want to enjoy this you need to be there! we even have an avarekaalu mela in Bangalore!. It's an experience in itself, when the market is flooded with these beans, right from buying to cooking we enjoy every bit of it.

Buying the best ones is, you need to smell them the ''Sogadu'' So-ga-doo (probably essence would be the word) what it is called, to check the purity of the beans which tells you how fresh it is,  some people rub it in the hand to check the smell of it. You can get the smell even if you are further away from it actually. The fresh and tender ones are my favourite as they can be used in Akki Rotti and Sundal(salad)!! Avarekaalu is like you name it we make it kind of veggie!

Vendors are crafty must be careful when we buy sometimes we end up with fewer pods of the beans! We usually buy bagful definitely not less than 2kgs at least! usually, we all sit together to remove the pods from the beans, chatting and planning what to cook.  As kids and even at this age till today I get terrified about these beans are the little pests which crawl out of them.  So, you should definitely look out for them! They are like little caterpillars sized but green in colour! sometimes you find them inside the beans as well.

ARE YOU INTERESTED TO KNOW MORE ABOUT IT HYACINTH BEANS?

These are seasonal and sold during the winter month December - January and usually appears in all festival dishes, one such festival my mom makes every Sankranthi / Pongal is this Avarekalu Tovve also known as Hyacinth Beans Dal, which is a very simple recipe.
Avarekalu has an outer skin this is soaked for a few hours or overnight and in the morning if you pinch it between your fingers the pod comes out and this is called Hitakid (Pressed) bele / (Pitakupappu)! and the skin separates out. In Karnataka and Andhra loads of dishes are made out of this!
Dehusking the beans from the pods is a little bit tricky, keeping them soaked in water helps you to press the beans easily! once you get the hang of it, it won't take long for you to do it.  But, it's an elaborate process needless to say, once done you can even freeze it in airtight freezer bags and use it whenever you want.

It's definitely worth it as the dish really tastes awesome.  In Bangalore, you can see people selling dehusked avarekaalu in liters and it's easy to buy from them as well.  I have given a few variations in the notes you can make with this dal, this also goes well with Indian flat bread like Chapathi, phulka etc..,

Let's get back to the recipe

WHAT IS TOVVE?

Tovve is a word used in Kannada one of the South Indian Languages, is nothing bu DAL! Dal is usually made with Lentils, either Tuvar, Bengal Gram, Urad (Black Gram) or Moong (Yellow Lentils).  They are cooked very softly or cooked to perfection and can be mashed up later, it's just how you like the texture! you can even thin it down or keep it thick.

HOW TO MAKE IT?

Very simple, As I have not used the usual Lentils/Dal, this is very simple you can cook it directly with the required amount of water in a thick bottomed vessel or can cook it in a pressure cooker for just one whistle.

WHAT IS SEASONING?

Seasoning a Dal is very simple, and here I have seasoned in a simple south Indian style, as we Indians season in many different ways.  Here I have seasoned it by using  Oil, which you can replace with Ghee or clarified butter, when warm it is tossed with Mustard seeds, Bengal gram Dal and Black gram Dal and for mild spicy, the dal use green chili or Dry Red Chili as you prefer.  Don't forget to add curry leaves if you can find them if not you can skip, but it takes your dish to the other level.

WHAT ELSE ARE WE GOING TO ADD?

We can add grated ginger, finely chopped coriander leaves and a dash of Lime or Lemon juice gives a magical charm to the Dal.

WHAT TO SERVE IT WITH?

Serve it with Rice, Roti, Naan, Bread.  Serve it in a bowl with a salad on the side loaded with veggies! If you do not rice you can choose any other alternative like cooked Quinoa, Bulgar wheat, millets or any other you choose to eat instead of rice!

Here I have some more dal recipes for you... 

Dal Soup

Kolai er dal

Ridge Gourd Dal

HAVE YOU MADE IT?

Excellent! Glad you tried it! I hope you enjoyed the recipe if so, don't forget to share on our social media.  You like clicking photos why not take a quick pic of the dish share it on FB, Instagram, Pinterest, twitter using our hashtag #myvegfare or tag @myvegfare we are thrilled to see a recreation of this recipe.

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Avarekaalu Tovve / Thove (Hyacinth Beans / val Beans Dal)

Avarekaalu Tovve is served instead of a dal without any dals in it! spiced up and is served with hot rice and ghee for starting an elaborate meal like in festivals.

Prep Time 30 minutes minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes minutes

Total Time 6 hours hours 50 minutes minutes

Servings 5

Ingredients

• 2 cups Fresh Hyacinth Beans / Avarekaalu
• 3 to 4 tbsp freshly grated coconut
• 4 stalks Chopped coriander leaves
• salt as required
• pinch Hing (Asafoetida)
• water as required

Seasoning

• 2 tsp oil
• 1 tsp mustard seeds
• 1 tsp channa dal
• 1 tsp Urad dal
• 3 to 4 Green chillies
• 1 tsp cumin seeds
• 1 stalk curry leaves

Instructions

• Once the beans are taken out of the pods wash and soak it in water for few hours or over night.
• In the morning discard and clean the soaked pods again in fresh water and drain them. Sometimes you can just keep them in the water as it helps when we dehusk the skin from the beans.
• once the beans are dehusked, take them in a thick bottomed vessel add 1 and 1/2 quantity of water of the measure of the beans and cook in a low to medium flame, it won't take long for it to cook.
• Keep an eye on it and stir now and then just to check if it doesn't get stuck to the bottom, if water is decreasing top it up with extra water for it cook until well done.
• Once the avarekalu is cooked with a masher, mash few beans don't mash them all just a few this helps in thickening of the gravy.
• Once done, switch of the stove. In a wok heat oil add mustard seeds when it splutters add chopped Green chillies and saute for a minute or two.
• Then add cumin seeds and rest of the ingredients under seasoning and fry for a minute or so, until the dals change colour. Add this seasoning to the cooked Avarekaalu.
• Add required quantity of salt, Hing and freshly grated coconut mix well and switch on the stove, if it is too thick thin it down with little water and allow it boil for a minute so, they are well combined and the dals get spiced up. Garnish with chopped coriander leaves and serve it with hot rice a dollop of Ghee

Notes

This is made just with Avarekaalu usually, If you want you can add Tuvar Dal or any other Dal of your choice.  But, cook the dals and Beans separately otherwise Avarekaalu will become very mushy.
You can pressure cook Avarekalu but it will become very mushy and you will not enjoy the dish as you won't get a bite of the beans at all.
As amma makes it usually during the festival we don't add onion or garlic, if you like you can season them with onion, garlic, and even tomatoes.

 

The post Avarekaalu Tovve / Thove (Hyacinth Beans / Val Beans Dal) appeared first on My Veg Fare.

It's been almost three months I logged on to my computer!! Nope, I can't say that I did log on to my laptop to upload loads of photos as I told you in my earlier post that I have been traveling.  I just came back from a long holiday of one and half months in Amsterdam.  Visiting family is always welcoming that too when you are needed to help them out is a blessing, as at least somebody thinks you are needed! I could say this trip which did not start as a pleasure trip ended up as a good holiday for me, especially in the last week as my sister pampered me so much and I had a good rest with no moving around and enjoying lots of TV shows and food served right onto my lap and also with loads of filled up mugs of teas and coffee every now and then what more can I ask for.  Hmmm..., that was bliss.

Are you wondering why all the fuss? well, I went to this cheese factory which I fell in love with ( stay tuned will post the pictures soon ) asked the owner if I could get some photos he was reluctant  had to convince him a lot at first then, when I showed him my website and my photos he was quite impressed (and I was glad! somebody was impressed)  after all that he gave me permission take photos, once when done I came out climbed onto the car and was about to leave the premises suddenly I remembered that I had forgotten to take a good picture of the entrance!! asked my sister to stop the car, I got out with my camera in my hand turned around walked 2 steps back trying to focus and Lo! my foot just gave away! that was unexpected.  The autumn leaves had covered a concealed little dent in the road and  I staggered and toppled onto the ground with my camera flying from my hand.  Like an acrobat, I caught hold of my camera and saved it from hitting the tar road but I simply forgot about where my leg was heading out!  Ouch! it hurt so badly I couldn't get up, tears came rolling down my cheeks without my consent like little transparent pearls of water from the colourful leaves falling to mingle with mother nature soaking my torn jeans.

I sat there for some time, as my sister never realised that I was lying on the ground it wasn't her fault, as I can't blame her for my stupidity, how could she know that I was going to fall (that was the lecture she gave me later on as she was so worried about my leg). Actually, the lady from the next farm saw me in the act she could have waved at my sister and could have pointed at me, but she walked past with her wheelie bin and came back the same way looking at me all the way!!  can't blame her either right?  It was all my fault.  Anyways I pulled my leg slowly got on to my feet dragging it through went to the car, that was when my sis realized I was in trouble, she was so terrified scolded me all the 30 minutes driving back.  Coming back home I sat to remove my shoes, when I removed my socks I knew that something had happened to my ankle it was fully blown up to my knee I had a lot of bruises, long story short I am alright now back home went to my GP she got  some x-rays done thank God! I haven't got any broken bones she suspects a stretched ligament and also declared I have sprained my ankle very badly so I need to take few more days of rest (which hasn't happened after coming back I should have stayed some more days in Amsterdam).  That's the end of my story.

winter soups

Sun  is minimal  and the days are becoming shorter as well. The warm weather  is slowly drifting away, from the brighter skies to cold, gray obscure gloomy parasol.   Colourful T-shirts and leggings are replaced with Jumpers and Jackets to ward off the nippy weather.  But, the question is  which side of the coin you are in?  Do you feel if you are slipping into a fantasy land  and dreaming of drizzling  snow steadily onto the ground like a white blanket, Hearth buzzing away furiously burning logs of firewood, the crackling sound and the puffing smoke seeping through the chimney and you cuddling on your sofa with a warm blanket, a book and a bowl of warm soup with a home made bread and enjoy the wonder world  OR  feeling somber, going through the winter blues and dripping into a cocoon only to wake up after six months!! I would prefer the dream world looking out in the window from my sofa where I can see the white crystal flakes falling obliquely into the crisp clear starry black night onto the ground against the lamp light is my favourite sight.

Winter brings us squashes of all varieties.  I buy them now and then as they literally have a long  shelf life, they don't seem to die at all.  Butternut  squash is one such winter squashes which my hubby keeps buying because he likes the soup I make out of it.  So, here is our hero today and now I have to tell you how I make it and if you like it as well ping me on one of my social media hashtag @ #myvegfare and I will be one happy blogger.

Let's get back to the recipe then...

Recipe Author : Jayasri
Recipe Type: Soup
Prep time : 10 minutes
Cook time : 20 minutes
Serves : 4
Shelf life :2 to 3 days in refrigeration

Ingredients:

1 Butternut squash (approx..750grms)
2 cloves garlic
1’’ Ginger
1 onion
1 litre vegetable stock (using stock cube)
2 sprigs of Basil
½ tbsp of oil
1 tbsp of mixed seeds (sunflower, linseed, pumpkin, sesame and chia)
6 cashew nuts
½  tsp cumin seeds
½  tsp coriander seeds
½  tsp Black pepper

Method:

Cut the squash in half and scoop out the pith by removing the seeds.  Peel the skin and cut into cubes.
In a wok/pan heat oil add cumin seeds, coriander seeds and black pepper fry for a minute then add chopped garlic, onion and ginger sauté for few minutes till the onions become translucent.
Now add the cubed squash and cook stir-frying it for 5 more minutes with a lid closed in a medium flame.  Within few minutes it gets well cooked. Add the basil leaves give a stir for few seconds within seconds it wilts.
Allow it to cool down, when it is cooling down prepare the stock using around 4 cups of water.
Once it is cool blend it in a food processor or in an Indian mixie to a smooth consistency. (Or you can pour the stock into the pan using a hand blender you can blend in batches until you get a smooth puree).
You can pass it through a sieve into a clean saucepan and pour the vegetable stock (keeping aside ¼ cup of water) season it with salt, taste and adjust the seasonings.

In a small skillet heat a tsp of oil toast the mixed seeds for few minutes with cashew nuts. Grind them into a smooth paste using little stock water add this ground paste to the saucepan and heat through gently for few more minutes keep an eye so it doesn’t get stuck to the bottom as it starts thickening. Switch off the stove, to serve ladle the soup into bowls garnish with few more basil leaves and toasted seeds.  Serve it with a bread of your choice or with crunchy croutons.

Make your own crouton:  It’s easy to make your own crouton. Crush using a pestle and mortar a clove of garlic and herb of your choice with 3 to 4 peppercorns and salt. Take a day-old bread, cut into cubes marinate the cubes with the above said mix.  Heat a little olive oil in a skillet add this marinated bread mix and sauté for 2 to 3 minutes until golden brown. It’s now ready to go on the soup.

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Creamy Butternut Squash soup #Vegan #Glutenfree

Vegan and Gluten free winter squash soup is also creamy and delicious hearty meal in itself.

Course Soup

Cuisine International

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes minutes

Total Time 35 minutes minutes

Servings 4

Author Jayasri

Ingredients

• 1 Butternut squash approx..750grms
• 2 cloves garlic
• 1 ’’ Ginger
• 1 onion
• 1 litre vegetable stock using stock cube
• 2 sprigs of Basil
• ½ tbsp of oil
• 1 tbsp of mixed seeds sunflower, linseed, pumpkin, sesame and chia
• 6 cashew nuts
• ½ tsp cumin seeds
• ½ tsp coriander seeds
• ½ tsp Black pepper

Instructions

• Cut the squash in half and scoop out the pith by removing the seeds. Peel the skin and cut into cubes.
• In a wok/pan heat oil add cumin seeds, coriander seeds and black pepper fry for a minute then add chopped garlic, onion and ginger sauté for few minutes till the onions become translucent.
• Now add the cubed squash and cook stir-frying it for 5 more minutes with a lid closed in a medium flame. Within few minutes it gets well cooked. Add the basil leaves give a stir for few seconds within seconds it wilts.
• Allow it to cool down, when it is cooling down prepare the stock using around 4 cups of water.
• Once it is cool blend it in a food processor or in an Indian mixie to a smooth consistency. (Or you can pour the stock into the pan using a hand blender you can blend in batches until you get a smooth puree).
• You can pass it through a sieve into a clean saucepan and pour the vegetable stock (keeping aside ¼ cup of water) season it with salt, taste and adjust the seasonings.
• In a small skillet heat a tsp of oil toast the mixed seeds for few minutes with cashew nuts. Grind them into a smooth paste using little stock water add this ground paste to the saucepan and heat through gently for few more minutes keep an eye so it doesn’t get stuck to the bottom as it starts thickening. Switch off the stove, to serve ladle the soup into bowls garnish with few more basil leaves and toasted seeds. Serve it with a bread of your choice or with crunchy croutons.

Notes

Notes: If you do not want to do it on stove top you can grill or bake in the oven until the veggies become soft. Then fry the spices in a skillet and continue as above.
Make your own crouton: It’s easy to make your own crouton. Crush using a pestle and mortar a clove of garlic and herb of your choice with 3 to 4 peppercorns and salt. Take a day-old bread, cut into cubes marinate the cubes with the above said mix. Heat a little olive oil in a skillet add this marinated bread mix and sauté for 2 to 3 minutes until golden brown. It’s now ready to go on the soup

The post Creamy Butternut Squash soup #Vegan #Glutenfree appeared first on My Veg Fare.

Life has been very busy these days, I never relax during holidays it's because  I visit India during our summer vacation.  I would loads of errands to complete during my visit and I usually running around doing things.  The only thing I don't do is cooking and baking.  Most of the time it's my Mum, sisters, or my relatives and friends who do it for me as I visit them.  I miss Britain during summer as I love it there! It's because  for a lot of reasons  like the Sun, Flowers, Greenery, and the best of everything is my Garden.  I  love gardening and growing my own veggies, fruits, herbs, and flowers are my favourite hobby.

I will share you some of my Garden plants in my next post, hubby was telling me that there is a heat wave next two weeks and it's going to be very very hot, hope my plants survive the blazing sun rays.

When it's hot or even warm I love to eat more fruits especially fruits with a lot of water content as its going to keep me hydrated.  My kitchen gets too hot during summer because of the conservatory and I don't like spending too much time standing there!! Nothing wrong right?

Every summer reminds me of Indian summer, I go through my memory lane thinking about what I used to relish during those hot summer months, what my parents used to give me to eat ? what were my food habits ? (monitored by my parents, even today they keep advising me what to eat and what not to eat!) Most Indian food habits are usually blended with Ayurveda an alternative to our regular Medicine.  Even doctors here tend to introduce you to Ayurvedic way of food habits!  Ayurveda is an age old way of treating ailments with herbs, roots, and other natural resources available. Ayurvedic way of treating depends on the doshas (Vata, pitta, Kapha) the three elements which balance in good health and any imbalance leads to diseases!  Most Indian houses adapt to simple home remedies and treat common diseases with minimal ingredients found in our masala

Ayurveda is an age old way of treating ailments with herbs, roots, and other natural resources available. Ayurvedic way of treating depends on the doshas (Vata, pitta, Kapha) the three elements which balance in good health and any imbalance leads to diseases!  Most Indian houses adapt to simple home remedies and treat common diseases with minimal ingredients found in our masala dabbas and these shops (Grandhige Angadi) which sell the roots and seeds used in ayurvedic treatments.

I am used to and still use lot of things from my kitchen pantry as my medicines to deal with common cold, cough, headaches and tend to understand the way my body feels and adapt it in my food habits.  As I wouldn't drink lot of water, my mom always made sure I ate lot of fruits and vegetables which had lot of water content in it,  she always made loads of salads for us to enjoy when we came back from school and still today I enjoy these salads which have minimal ingredients and still tastes awesome.

Watermelon and Tomato salad ( Juicy Tomatoes and sweet Watermelon in a mild spice and sweet dressing)
Cuisine : Indian
Recipe Type : Salad
Prep time : 10 minutes
Cook time : None
Serves : 4
Shelf time : Best served fresh or chill can chill and serve
Recipe Author: Jayasri

Ingredients:

3 Cups of chopped Watermelon
1 to 2 cups of Tomatoes
2 tbsp of Sugar / honey / maple syrup depending on sweetness*
1/2 tsp salt as required*
1 to 2 tsp Black Pepper crushed coarsely as required
1 or 2 tbsp of Mint leaves (optional)

*Check Notes

Method:

Chop Watermelon into cubes using just the red portion of it, try and deseed as much as possible too much into it will give out a lot of juice and makes the fruit crumbled or mushy!
I have used assorted Tomatoes as I get it here, But you can just fresh juicy tomatoes which you can find in Indian markets.
I have used sugar here  with  salt and pepper (check my notes)
Take the fruits in a bowl toss them with the spices listed, serve it fresh or serve it chilled.
You can add mint if desired.

Notes:

You can serve it as an Accompaniment or just as a salad
You can use only sugar or only salt and pepper
It was important to use salt and pepper during summer as watermelon sometimes would cause cold to some people, Black Pepper has heat in it ( In ayurveda black pepper wards of cold) helps in warding off cold.

You can even add Yogurt/ Curds and enjoy it.

Enjoy this really delicious summer salad, It not only keeps you hydrated and makes you feel fresh.

The post watermelon and Tomato salad appeared first on My Veg Fare.

Tomato Juice! Some things are very simple in life, but these are not just simple but rich in Vitamins A & C, minerals and rich in Fiber!
Some simple things you don't even think that it ever existed until you miss it.  It may be anything in our life.  Do you know what I am talking about? It's always food.  In this episode, it's a drink!  I have never missed this simple drink at all.  Every summer reminds me of this drink,  which mum used to make it for us when we were little.

My Mom was a working woman, she used to be very busy as she was a teacher, she always had lots of school things to do and had to take care the three of us.  My Dad always helped amma in her housework, it was a really beautiful home set up, feels like I want to go back to those good old days. We had our breakfast time, school time, lunch time, Hometime, snack time and the best was our Dinner time!  All of us would sit together and share each other's stories about the whole day.  I really miss those days so much.

When I started my own family I wanted to it be the same way eating together as a family but it never happened. When my kids were very small it was only the kids and me, we lived in a joint family so in batches everybody used to have food.  After coming here we started having food as a family again.  But,  this has changed again now as my kids live elsewhere for their education, I eagerly wait when they are back for their holidays.

 A simple drink as this brings me lots of memories.  Summer means hot weather and cool drinks, and of course travelling to Mysore to my Aunt's place almost every vacation.  Uncle used to buy loads of fruits especially Mangoes and my favourite

Isn't it funny? a simple drink as this brings me lots of memories.  Summer means hot weather and cool drinks, and of course travelling to Mysore to my Aunt's place almost every vacation.  Uncle used to buy loads of fruits especially Mangoes and my favourite was Jackfruit.  Oh! such a nostalgic feeling thinking of all those days.  Wish they all come back once again in my life. Only if wishes were horses....

So, Back to Tomatoes yes! they were one such fruit which would turn into a drink when summer knocked on the door, mum always used to whizz it up quickly for us, when she didn't have time,  as they are a staple fruit (veggie) in any Indian home.

Here is the simple recipe for this juice.. drop in some Ice cubes and have a cool summer!!

Recipe Author: Jayasri
Recipe Type: Juices/Drinks/Mocktails
Cuisine: Indian
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 5 minutes
Serves: 2

Ingredients:
3 Medium sized tomatoes
1 Orange
1/2  Lemon/Lime
5 to 6 tbsp of demerara Sugar
1 to 2 cups of water

Method:

Chop the Tomatoes
slice and squeeze the juice of 1 Orange
slice and use one-half of a small lemon/Lime juice
Put the tomatoes, juices of lemon/lime and orange and then the sugar in a blender and blend it well using a sieve strain out all the juice from it throw away the residue.
Serve them in nice tall glasses with Ice cubes and garnish it with mint.
Enjoy your summer with this delicious simple drink.

Notes:  You can skip the sugar and drink just like that or add Honey/Agave syrup and make it more healthier.  You can add a dash of salt and pepper to it.  Otherwise, go the other way round and add a dash of salt and pepper.

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Tomato Juice - A simple Juice

A simple delicious healthy drink, which makes your summer much cooler and keeps you hydrated

Course Juices/Drinks/Mocktails

Cuisine Indian

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 5 minutes minutes

Total Time 15 minutes minutes

Servings 2

Author Jayasri

Ingredients

• 3 Medium sized tomatoes
• 1 Orange
• 1/2 Lemon/Lime
• 5 to 6 tbsp of demerara Sugar
• 1 to 2 cups of water

Instructions

• Chop the Tomatoes
• slice and squeeze the juice of 1 Orange
• slice and use one-half of a small lemon/Lime juice
• Put the tomatoes, juices of lemon/lime and orange and then the sugar in a blender and blend it well using a sieve strain out all the juice from it throw away the residue.
• Serve them in nice tall glasses with Ice cubes and garnish it with mint.
• Enjoy your summer with this delicious simple drink.

Notes

You can skip the sugar and drink just like that or add Honey/Agave syrup and make it more healthier. You can add a dash of salt and pepper to it. Otherwise, go the other way round and add a dash of salt and pepper.

Tomato Juice - A simple Juice

Recipe Type: Juices/Drinks/Mocktails
Cuisine: Indian
Author: Jayasri
Prep time: 10 mins
Cook time: 5 mins
Total time: 15 mins
Serves: 2
A simple delicious healthy drink, which makes your summer much cooler and keeps you hydrated
Ingredients
3 Medium sized tomatoes
1 Orange
1/2 Lemon/Lime
5 to 6 tbsp of demerara Sugar
1 to 2 cups of water
Instructions
Chop the Tomatoes
slice and squeeze the juice of 1 Orange
slice and use one-half of a small lemon/Lime juice
Put the tomatoes, juices of lemon/lime and orange and then the sugar in a blender and blend it well using a sieve strain out all the juice from it throw away the residue.
Serve them in nice tall glasses with Ice cubes and garnish it with mint.
Enjoy your summer with this delicious simple drink.

The post Tomato Juice - A simple Drink appeared first on My Veg Fare.

Don't wonder why I am posting a cold soup when we still have chilled winter days here, as of my last post when we had that beautiful day the saga continued,  I needed something cold to eat as well, I did quite a lot shoots that week, as I went crazy when I saw the sun!

After long day's work in the garden, I didn't want to spend too much time in the kitchen.  I wanted to fix something quickly.  When I stood in my refrigerator my mind went blank!  kidding! my mind was blank because I hadn't made up my mind about what to cook ?  Let me make a one pot meal with rice dump everything in my cooker and that's it! My daughter came down and said make some soup mom as we have some French Bread.  So, Ok!  I know what to make,  next is which vegetable or any other ingredient? That's when I saw these bunch of Beetroots I had, actually loads of them!  I decided on making a Beetroot soup but didn't want to have it hot so decided on making it cold.  I had been chopping and trimming all my plants, I have a Bay leaf tree and a Kaffir Lime tree you must have noticed it in my last post, I used them to decorate my styling :), I used those fresh cut leaves in my soup.

This soup was so delicious for the weather, it had some sweetness and it is very easy to make.  It might not be everybody's cup of tea if you like beetroot you might like this.  But, it went so very well with my bread I had 2 cups of it, I had some left over which I had it in my fridge next day hubby came home and had it.  He loved it too.

If you try this and like it share it with me, I would love to hear from you...,

Cold Beetroot Soup or Chilled Beetroot Soup

Recipe Author: Jayasri
Recipe Type: Soups
Prep time: 5 minutes
Cook time: 15 minutes
Serves : 4
Shelf time: 2 days

Ingredients:

3 Medium Sized Beetroots
1'' Ginger
3 Garlic cloves
4 Kaffir Lime Leaves
2 Cups thick Yogurt
2 to 3 tbsp Cre'me Fraiche (optional)
4 to 5 tbsp Chopped Chives/Coriander
1 tbsp Cumin seeds
2 to 3 Bay Leaves
4 Cloves
2 tsp Black pepper

Method:

Wash, Peel and chop Beetroots. Roast Cumin seeds and pepper until the cumins crackle.
In a pressure cooker take chopped Beetroots, peeled Garlic cloves, Kaffir lime leaves, Bay leaves, roasted cumin, roasted Black pepper and cloves.
Steam them all in 1 cup of water for 3 whistles.
Once cool discard  the Bay leaves and Kaffir lime leaves and rest put them in a blender and blend them into a smooth paste.
Add another half cup of water if needed when blending them into a smooth puree, to this add 2 cups of yogurt and salt blend well together.
If you want it thick and creamier add more yogurt or add water  to make it slightly semi liquidy.

Season it with pepper and salt if  you need, serve it with chopped chives or cilantro, I used chives and oven roasted crispy Kale and some croutons and some Cre'me Fraiche before serving.

Notes:

This soup is on a bit sweeter side because of the beetroots, even if you seasoned more with peppercorns it really doesn't help much, I would just say, have it as it is, with a tolerable seasoning and enjoy it as it is.If you don't find Kaffir lime leaves you can substitute with one tbsp of lemon juice or just omit it from the recipe

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Cold Beetroot Soup

Beetroot soup served chilled or cold is delicious during summer for a cooling tummy and also yummy to enjoy this one quick to make recipe.

Course Breakfast, Dinner, Lunch box

Cuisine International

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes minutes

Total Time 25 minutes minutes

Servings 4

Author Jayasri

Ingredients

• 3 Medium Sized Beetroots
• 1 '' Ginger
• 3 Garlic cloves
• 4 Kaffir Lime Leaves
• 2 Cups thick Yogurt
• 2 to 3 tbsp Cre'me Fraiche optional
• 4 to 5 tbsp Chopped Chives/Coriander
• 1 tbsp Cumin seeds
• 2 to 3 Bay Leaves
• 4 Cloves
• 2 tsp Black pepper

Instructions

• Wash, Peel and chop Beetroots. Roast Cumin seeds and pepper until the cumins crackle.
• In a pressure cooker take chopped Beetroots, peeled Garlic cloves, Kaffir lime leaves, Bay leaves, roasted cumin, roasted Black pepper and cloves.
• Steam them all in 1 cup of water for 3 whistles.
• Once cool discard the Bay leaves and Kaffir lime leaves and rest put them in a blender and blend them into a smooth paste.
• Add another half cup of water if needed when blending them into a smooth puree, to this add 2 cups of yogurt and salt blend well together.
• If you want it thick and creamier add more yogurt or add water to make it slightly semi liquidy.
• Season it with pepper and salt if you need, serve it with chopped chives or cilantro, I used chives and oven roasted crispy Kale and some croutons and some Cre'me Fraiche before serving.

Notes

This soup is on a bit sweeter side because of the beetroots, even if you seasoned more with peppercorns it really doesn't help much, I would just say, have it as it is, with a tolerable seasoning and enjoy it as it is.
If you don't find Kaffir lime leaves you can substitute with one tbsp of lemon juice or just omit it from the recipe

The post Cold Beetroot Soup appeared first on My Veg Fare.

Three weeks ago one fine day, yes, I mean it! I know you are wondering fine and English weather not a good combination, but a big YES! just like today :).  It was a  beautiful sunny day for almost a week and I was so thrilled to think that finally the spring is here, my tulips have all blossomed beautifully and my little cherry blossom tree is full of pink flowers and all the perennial shrubs are springing back to life.   I was literally dancing with joy! Ahem.., don't laugh if you are in this part of the world you would too!  I am a fanatic gardener, mean to say I am not an expert but love gardening I try my best to keep all my plants alive (most of the time).

Remember my post when  I told you about the wind which took off with my greenhouse and all the pots in it.   It destroyed few of my plants and pots, my garden was looking like somebody ransacked my garden with a vengence. Every day I used to stand in my conservatory and cry myself in my heart thinking when is all this going to be set right?  Sigh.

All these days I hadn't stepped out to clean up my garden, I hate to go out when it is cold and your hands go freezing. When the sun came up it was like a gold lining on every cloud visible.  My conservatory gets too hot when the sun is bright.  Anyways I was so excited at last I could clean up my garden did a lot of jobs cleaned out the whole garden got rid of all the weeds and made space for the sprouting plants.  Had to bin few pots and sorted out all compose and I have dumped them in a big bin so I can sort it out later, when doing all this I got really thirsty that was when I made this lemonade,  I make this  often because I love it!, If you taste it you would too.

It brings back memories, it's always going back to our memory lane! something to chew on when you are getting old. The good old memories bring joy, happiness, tenderness and all the sparkle in your eyes right? Just like spring.  Amma(mum) used to make this lemonade often made this for us to keep us hydrated.  Summer in India is unbearable we get our school holidays just for the kids to stay at home.  That's when we need lots and lots to drink, my parents never bought any aerated drinks for us it was always homemade and super healthy with  herbs and an Ayurvedic touch to it.  This is one such drink which we used to enjoy.

I don't make this lemonade just during summer, but whenever I feel I need some refreshing drink, As I don't drink any aerated drinks very rarely I take a sip or two of coco-cola or a fanta, I always love to drink fresh fruit juices.  This reminds me of Banglaore my home town, during summer we have all these shops spring up where they sell fresh fruit juices.  So,  when I went out I used to go looking for these kinds of shops where we would get fresh fruit juices. I don't get this  kind of happiness here, it's always bottled juices in our supermarkets!

Coming back to this recipe, it has a touch of Indian panakam (juice) recipe it's so delicious you will love it,  It has also turmeric and ginger which has anti-inflammatory properties, helps you in many ways good for joint pains, osteoporosis, digestion and has many health benefits.

LEMONADE WITH INDIAN SPICES

Recipe Author: Jayasri
Recipe type: Juices/Drinks/Mocktails
Prep time: 10minutes
Time: 20 minutes
Shelf life: 1 month
Serves: 8 to 10

Ingredients:

1 Cup Sugar/1/4 to 1/3 cup of grated Jaggery*
1/2 to 3/4 Cup Lemon/Lime Juice from 10 Lemons/Limes
3'' turmeric stick
2'' Ginger
3 cloves
3 to 4 cardamom pods
3 and 1/2 cups of water

Method:

Using a pestle and mortar or a mixie grind dried turmeric, ginger, cardamom  and cloves. (I used my pestle and mortar and crushed all of them).  In a vessel take 3 cups of water add the crushed spices and add it to the water and allow it to boil for 10 minutes in a low to medium flame.  Then add sugar or Jaggery and boil for another 3 to 4 minutes. Once the sugar dissolves filter everything into another bowl and then allow it cool down completely.

Once it cools down completely add the filtered lemon/lime juice and mix well and store it in an air tight clean bottle and store it in the fridge as it is like a squash you can add water and serve it.

NOTES:

*You can use sugar or Jaggery to make this I have given measurements to my liking you can increase or decrease the sweetness apt to the Lime/Lemons you use.

I have given the shelf life as a month, but I have used it before that.

C you soon with a cold soup stay tuned and enjoy the weather.

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Lemonade with a Indian Spices

A very refreshing drink which is not only delicious but is loaded with aniti-inflammatory properties and keeps fresh and hydrate in summer

Course Juices/Drinks/Mocktails

Cuisine Indian

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes minutes

Total Time 30 minutes minutes

Author Jayasri

Ingredients

• 1 Cup Sugar/1/4 to 1/3 cup of grated Jaggery*
• 1/2 to 3/4 Cup Lemon/Lime Juice from 10 Lemons/Limes
• 3 '' turmeric stick
• 2 '' Ginger
• 3 cloves
• 3 to 4 cardamom pods
• 3 and 1/2 cups of water

Instructions

• Using a pestle and mortar or a mixie grind dried turmeric, ginger, cardamom and cloves. (I used my pestle and mortar and crushed all of them). In a vessel take 3 cups of water add the crushed spices and add it to the water and allow it to boil for 10 minutes in a low to medium flame. Then add sugar or Jaggery and boil for another 3 to 4 minutes. Once the sugar dissolves filter everything into another bowl and then allow it cool down completely.
• Once it cools down completely add the filtered lemon/lime juice and mix well and store it in an air tight clean bottle and store it in the fridge as it is like a squash you can add water and serve it.

Notes

*You can use sugar or Jaggery to make this I have given measurements to my liking you can increase or decrease the sweetness apt to the Lime/Lemons you use.

I have given the shelf life as a month, but I have used it before that.

The post Lemonade with Indian Spices appeared first on My Veg Fare.

Delicious one pot meal!  sound's really interesting isn't it? what else do you need to know?  Oh! yeah! the recipe of course 🙂 you need to scroll down to if you don't want to read about my ramblings, as you already know I just don't stop talking!  The Pie is so easy to make it just takes under 45 minutes, what more can you ask for?  You just need to crunch your spoon into it and devour the yummy pie!  watching your favourite soap on your cozy couch.

You did hear it right? crunch your spoon!  that's because of the pie crust I have used to top it up.  I made these one pot pies when it was British Pie week! then why didn't I post it? don't ponder, I am already answering your question, Can you guess? I have been doing a bit of studying I joined college last year that's the reason I haven't been blogging much.   I was under a lot of pressure to submit my last bit of assignments and I wanted to finish it off ASAP.    So,  Now everything is done and dusted I can get back to blogging peacefully 🙂 Yay!  I am flying high.

Coming back to this recipe -  my family loves pies  and I often make them with different variations.  These pies were loaded with veggies and highly proteinaceous because of Hemp seeds, Lentils and it also contains Barley.  These are warm, rich, flaky, savoury, thick and creamy because of the coconut milk.  The filling and the short crust pastry are a match made in heaven and they are super delicious.

You can make it for a weekend meal, a weekday meal or for a meatless Monday blues or for a thanksgiving dinner or for a Christmas final course meal.  This curry is completely VEGAN by making a Vegan pastry, this would be a perfect meal deal for vegans.

When Indigo Herbs sent me some products to review in March, I was quite thrilled as they had already emailed me to check their website to choose the products.  I opted for a few products which I wanted to try out, I have yet to try out their carrot powder and I want to make a cake out of it! will update once I use it.  Their  products are Organic and super rich in goodness.  Indigo herbs have products for everybody in whatever walk of life you are in be a vegan, vegetarian, Athlete, you want to loose weight or gain weight, help fight infections or  boost your energy etc  there are various herbal powders to choose from.

This post is in collaboration with Indigo herbs they challenged me to make a main meal, my kids were quite happy they love savoury over sweets!, When Indigo Herbs sent me some products to review in March, I was quite thrilled as they had already emailed me to check their website to choose the products.  I opted for a few products which I wanted to try out, I have yet to try out their Organic carrot powder and I want to make a cake out of it! will update once I use it.  Their  products are Organic and super rich in goodness.

I have been talking too much let's get to the recipe then

Pie with Mixed Vegetables, Hulled Hemp seeds, Lentils, and Barley - A One Pot Meal
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cooking time: 25-30 minutes
Recipe level: Easy to Intermediate
Spice Level: Medium
Serves: 4 to 5 people
Shelf Life: 2 days in Refrigeration and can be Frozen too

Ingredients:
3 Cups of Chopped mixed Vegetables (wash and chop Broccoli,carrots,peas,corn and cauliflower)
1/3 Cup Organic Hulled Hemp Seeds
1/3 Cup Mixed Lentils (Green & Red)  and Barley
1 and 1/2 Cup (360ml) Coconut Milk
1 tbsp Organic coconut oil
3 tbsp Organic Walnut butter
1 veggie stock cube dissolved in 2 cups warm water
1 tbsp  Organic pumpkin powder
1 tsp of Organic coconut sugar
1 Onion
3 Small cloves of Garlic
2 Green chillies (optional)
1 tsp Ginger powder
1/2 tsp Turmeric powder
1 tsp Red chilli powder or Crushed Black Pepper (adjust as per taste)
1/2 tsp Cumin powder
1 tsp Coriander powder
2 Bay leaves
2 cloves
2" Cinnamon sticks
Salt as required

For the topping:

I have used  Frozen puff pastry which I love to make now and then.  If you do not want to make it you can use ready made puff pastry or short crust pastry.

Method:

1. Cut the Veggies Broccoli, carrots, cauliflower and onions.
2. Take a wok, add 1 tbsp of coconut oil when it's warm add cloves, cinnamon, bay leaves, finely crushed Garlic-Green chillies with chopped onions and turmeric powder into the wok and saute them for few minutes till the onions become translucent, add 1/8th tsp of salt and sugar this helps onion sweat soon. Now add 3 tbsp of walnut butter add the chopped vegetables sprinkle some water close the lid and cook for 20 minutes saute now and then to check if the veggies don't get stuck to the wok, cook in a low to medium flame and sprinkle little water if necessary. cook them until they are well done.
3. In a pressure cooker, using the vegetable stock cook hulled Hemp seeds,Lentils and Barley. for 3 whistles (pressure cooker usually takes around 15 minutes in a medium flame to cook completely - check my notes*)  until well done, allow it to cool.
4. Once the veggies are done add all the spice powders coriander, cumin and ginger. Mix well leave it for a 5 more minutes in a low flame, after 5 minutes add coconut milk.
5. Taste and check the spices and adjust, add the cooked hemp seeds, Lentils and Barley then add required amount of salt taste again and adjust the salt.
6. Close the lid and allow it cook for 10 minutes in a low flame. sprinkle herb of your choice and finish the curry.
   Spoon the veggie curry into 4 or 5 ovenproof bowls or Ramekins or a big casserole, filling to the brim so the pastry don't fall in the middle, then top it with shortcrust pastry or a puff pastry and bake it at 180 degrees 20-25 minutes or until they become reddish brown in colour.

Notes:

*I use a Pressure cooker to cook lot of my dals, rice etc when the food is completely cooked the pressure cooker whistles when it's on the third whistle leave for 2 to 3 minutes and switch off the stove.  This ensures the steam is still in cooker and cooks completely.
Cut a strip of the pastry and seal it on top the bowl or whatever container you are using and then spread the pastry on top this helps in the pastry not sinking in the middle and cooks properly.
Check the curry to your taste increase or decrease the spices used as you prefer.

Indigo Herbs kindly sent me the above products, I thoroughly enjoyed using them and love to use them in my many more culinary experiments.  Thank you once again Indigo Herbs.

Disclaimer: This post is in collaboration with Indigo Herbs. All opinions expressed here are of my own.

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Pie with Mixed Vegetables and Hulled Hemp seeds - A Review for Indigo Herbs

This can be done in 45minutes to 1 hour, A perfect one pot meal, with the goodness of Hemp and highly protein packed. Delicious one pot meal

Course Main Meal

Cuisine International

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 40 minutes minutes

Total Time 50 minutes minutes

Servings 4

Author Jayasri

Ingredients

• 3 Cups of Chopped mixed Vegetables wash and chop Broccoli,carrots,peas,corn and cauliflower
• 1/3 Cup Organic Hulled Hemp Seeds
• 1/3 Cup Mixed Lentils Green & Red and Barley
• 1 and 1/2 Cup 360ml Coconut Milk
• 1 tbsp Organic coconut oil
• 3 tbsp Organic Walnut butter
• 1 veggie stock cube dissolved in 2 cups warm water
• 1 tbsp Organic pumpkin powder
• 1 tsp of Organic coconut sugar
• 1 Onion
• 3 Small cloves of Garlic
• 2 Green chillies optional
• 1 tsp Ginger powder
• 1/2 tsp Turmeric powder
• 1 tsp Red chilli powder or Crushed Black Pepper adjust as per taste
• 1/2 tsp Cumin powder
• 1 tsp Coriander powder
• 2 Bay leaves
• 2 cloves
• 2 " Cinnamon sticks
• Salt as required

Instructions

• Cut the Veggies Broccoli, carrots, cauliflower and onions.
• Take a wok, add 1 tbsp of coconut oil when it's warm add cloves, cinnamon, bay leaves, finely crushed Garlic-Green chillies with chopped onions and turmeric powder into the wok and saute them for few minutes till the onions become translucent, add 1/8th tsp of salt and sugar this helps onion sweat soon. Now add 3 tbsp of walnut butter add the chopped vegetables sprinkle some water close the lid and cook for 20 minutes saute now and then to check if the veggies don't get stuck to the wok, cook in a low to medium flame and sprinkle little water if necessary. cook them until they are well done.
• In a pressure cooker, using the vegetable stock cook hulled Hemp seeds,Lentils and Barley. for 3 whistles until well done, allow it to cool.
• Once the veggies are done add all the spice powders coriander, cumin and ginger. Mix well leave it for a 5 more minutes in a low flame, after 5 minutes add coconut milk.
• Taste and check the spices and adjust, add the cooked hemp seeds, Lentils and Barley then add required amount of salt taste again and adjust the salt.
• Close the lid and allow it cook for 10 minutes in a low flame. sprinkle herb of your choice and finish the curry.
• Spoon the veggie curry into 4 or 5 ovenproof bowls or Ramekins or a big casserole, filling to the brim so the pastry don't fall in the middle, then top it with shortcrust pastry or a puff pastry and bake it 180 degrees 20-25 minutes or until they become reddish brown in colour.

Notes

cut a strip of the pastry and seal it on top the bowl or whatever container you are using and then spread the pastry on top this helps in the pastry not sinking in the middle and cooks properly.
Check the curry to your taste increase or decrease the spices used as you prefer.

The post Pie with Mixed Vegetables and Hulled Hemp seeds - A Review for Indigo Herbs appeared first on My Veg Fare.

Did you all enjoy eating Pancakes yesterday, I made a special pancake for my daughter will post it soon, photos are still in my camera, need to download and sort it out.  I thought of doing it today, but it’s been a long and tiring day.  I never thought I would be so busy, joining college has taken most of my time.  It’s been a long back I did any studying so, coming back to terms with it is a big deal for me.   Cooking has become an ordeal for me these days, just  for two has become a strenuous job.  I miss my kids so much who came home  always hungry, checking out what I have in store! Cooking and baking had a purpose and  fun then.

The Day before yesterday I was talking to my sister I was telling her it’s not been a good winter this year, I felt that the weather hasn’t been that cold.  Maybe I jinxed it, already past week it’s been horrible with stormy gale force howling winds creeping  through the chimney  walls was scary and horrible to listen to.  Couldn’t even walk on the road, it was raining and so windy I thought I might fly away.   When you are out the house you know how numb your hands and feet feel the comfort of a home onto my couch with a warm shawl around me is all that I long for. And of course, I love warm and comfort food and when you are too lethargic to cook steaming Soups are the best option with lovely crusty bread is all I wish for.

I love peppers and usually have it in my pantry, I use it every possible way! I get these in abundance in summer and I grow them in my little garden, the fresh pepper from the plant is so delicious, I just love it.  My favourite is the green pepper I think I like it because of the spiciness it gives rather than the others.  All the other coloured peppers are mildly sweet to my liking.

Soups always remind me of my home, I wouldn’t have so much soup as I have it here, and Soup was something I used to have when I visited a restaurant with my North Indian meals.  After coming here, it has become a staple food for me with a crusty loaf.

Author: Jayasri
Recipe type: Appetiser
Cuisine: Fusion
Serves: 4

Ingredients:
2 Large Red Peppers
1 small Green Pepper
1 small Yellow Pepper
1 Tomatoes
1 Onion
2 cloves garlic
1’’ Ginger
1 or 2 Bay leaf
3 to 4 cloves
½ tsp Black Pepper corns
½ tsp Cumin
2 tbsp of Crème Fraiche (optional)

Method:

On a stove top place a metallic frame and place all the veggies said above to roast turning them now and then which helps in charring them Or you can place these on a baking sheet and cut the peppers and place the cut side down in between place the garlic cloves and onion and tomatoes in a preheated oven gas mark 5 or 6 for 20 to 25 minutes until they are charred.
Remove them from the oven or from the stove top once they are cool remove the charred skin from the peppers and tomatoes, I don’t throw them away but keep it and use it in my curries.  Gives a smoky flavour to my dish.  Remove the skin from onions and garlic as well and keep aside.
In a skillet add a tsp of olive oil once it is warm enough add cloves, pepper corns, Bay leaves and cumin roast them to this add skinned bell peppers, onions, tomatoes and garlic and sauté for a one or two minutes.
In the mean time take 500ml of vegetable stock in a pot and allow it to boil with the bay leaves removed from the sautéed veggies above.
Once they are cool take the rest of the sautéed ingredients into a blender or mixie Blend them all into a smooth paste
Add this smooth blended paste into the vegetable stock mix well add Himalayan salt, taste and adjust.
You can also taste and add finely freshly crushed black pepper corns to suit your taste, and allow it to boil further 5 minutes.  Don’t boil for too long you will lose the colour.

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Roasted Tri-coloured Bell Pepper Soup

Hearty Healthy a Winter warmer with lots of nutrition significant amount of vitamin C, beta carotene, B complex, vitamins, calcium, phosphorous and Iron.

Course Appetizer

Cuisine Fusion

Prep Time 30 minutes minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes minutes

Total Time 45 minutes minutes

Servings 4

Author Jayasri

Ingredients

• 2 Red Peppers
• 1 Green Pepper
• 1 Yellow Pepper
• 2 Tomatoes
• 1 Onion
• 2 cloves garlic
• 1 ’’ Ginger
• 1 or 2 Bay leaf
• 3 to 4 cloves
• ½ tsp Black Pepper corns
• ½ tsp Cumin
• 2 tbsp of Crème Fraiche optional

Instructions

• On a stove top place a metallic frame and place all the veggies said above to roast turning them now and then which helps in charring them Or you can place these on a baking sheet and cut the peppers and place the cut side down in between place the garlic cloves and onion and tomatoes in a preheated oven gas mark 5 or 6 for 20 to 25 minutes until they are charred.
• Remove them from the oven or from the stove top once they are cool remove the charred skin from the peppers and tomatoes, I don’t throw them away but keep it and use it in my curries. Gives a smoky flavour to my dish. Remove the skin from onions and garlic as well and keep aside.
• In a skillet add a tsp of olive oil once it is warm enough add cloves, pepper corns, Bay leaves and cumin roast them to this add skinned bell peppers, onions, tomatoes and garlic and sauté for a one or two minutes.
• Meanwhile take 500ml of vegetable stock in a pot and allow it to boil with the bay leaves removed from the sautéed veggies above.
• Once they are cool take the rest of the sautéed ingredients into a blender or mixie Blend them all into a smooth paste
• Add this smooth blended paste into the vegetable stock mix well add Himalayan salt, taste and adjust.
• You can also taste and add finely freshly crushed black pepper corns to suit your taste, and allow it to boil further 5 minutes. Don’t boil for too long you will lose the colour

Notes

If you find the soup is thin to your liking mix 1 or 2 tsp cornflour or arrowroot powder in 2 or 3 tbsp of water before adding it to the soup, this makes the soup to thicken up and looks creamier. You can top with crème fraiche and serve it steaming hot with a country bread.

The post Roasted Tri-coloured Bell Pepper Soup appeared first on My Veg Fare.

It’s already 2^nd of December yeah! That’s right, days just fly off like I said yesterday.  I can’t write something like my mother used to bake bread or how I loved my sandwiches in my Lunch Box.  Very rarely I used to take bread sandwich, actually I can’t even rememberJ.  The only thing I can remember of Bread is 2 things one is Jam / sugar sandwiched bread toasts and just bread toasts with my milk / coffee when I used to fall sick.  The Milk breads which we used to get in Bangalore were really tasty.  Have you ever tried my Milk bread you should give it a go.

When my kids started going to school, I used to give them sandwiches sometimes, they always loved it with Butter and Jam (Toast with butter and Sandwich with Jam)!  As they used to take Indian food in their lunch Box which they loved.   But they were all bygone days, soon as they started refusing to take Indian food in their lunch box.  The most they were ready to take was Indian flat breads (Chapatis /parathas).  They said they wanted something to hold in their hand and eat as they had no proper place to sit and eat or they would say they had no time to have a relaxed lunch break, well as they grow up they start giving me  reasons as they want their way.  In the beginning, I was worried then started looking for healthy breads to make sandwiches and started exploring new ingredients to sandwich between them.  Not just that until they finished their schooling every week I used to bake my own bread at least twice, they loved home baked breads as well.

This filling has always been one of our favourite, Each and every time when I send this bread toast I get texts from my hubby and children after their lunch break that it was awesome.  A filling which hearty healthy and a wholesome either as your breakfast or for your lunch box.

Avocado and Spring Onion Grilled Cheese Sandwich

Author: Jayasri
Recipe type: Breakfast / Lunch Box
Cuisine: International

Ingredients:
2 Avocado
1 Bunch Spring Onion
1 medium sized red onion/ Bombay onions
1 Large Green Capsicum
1 or 2 Green chillies finely chopped (optional)
½ tbsp. of Chilli flakes
1 and ½ tsp salt (as required)
1 or 2 tbsp of Lemon Juice
Any herbs of your choice
(Coriander leaves, parsley, chives, Basil anything you like)

Method:
Remove the skin from the Avocadoes and chop them into pieces, wash spring onions and chop into fine pieces, the same goes to capsicum and onions chop it finely as well.  Chop green chilies if using or use chili flakes and required salt, squeeze a tbsp of lemon juice.

Mash them a little bit mix them all together, just they all combine well together to this add finely chopped herb of your choice (I used coriander leaves). Combine them all well together and keep it aside for few minutes.

Take Bread of your choice butter it put the filling and some cheese on it and grill the sandwich for a wonderful aromatic Grilled sandwich.

You can make it VEGAN by not using Cheese.

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Avocado and Spring Onion Grilled Cheese Sandwich

A wholesome hearty and healthy meal in itself for a good start of the day or for a filling and tasty Lunch Box

Course Breakfast / Lunch Box

Cuisine International

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 10 minutes minutes

Total Time 20 minutes minutes

Author Jayasri

Ingredients

• 2 Avocado
• 1 Bunch Spring Onion
• 1 medium sized red onion/ Bombay onions
• 1 Large Green Capsicum
• 1 or 2 Green chillies finely chopped optional
• ½ tbsp. of Chilli flakes
• 1 and ½ tsp salt as required
• 1 or 2 tbsp of Lemon Juice
• Any herbs of your choice
• Coriander leaves, parsley, chives, Basil anything you like

Instructions

• Remove the skin from the Avocadoes and chop them into pieces, wash spring onions and chop into fine pieces, the same goes to capsicum and onions chop it finely as well. Chop green chilies if using or use chili flakes required amount of salt and squeeze tbsp. of lemon juice.
• Mash them a little bit mix them all together, just they all combine well together to this add finely chopped herb of your choice (I used coriander leaves). Combine them all well together and keep it aside for few minutes.
• Take Bread of your choice butter it put the filling and some cheese on it and grill the sandwich for a wonderful aromatic Grilled sandwich.

Notes

You can use this to sandwich around 1 pound of bread

The post Avocado and Spring Onion Grilled Cheese Sandwich appeared first on My Veg Fare.

It's December first! Already! Wonder how the whole year has just gone by without me noticing it.  Even though it’s the end of the year it’s the season of celebration.  Christmas is around the corner you can see the festivity everywhere.  You can see lights up in Malls, shops, street makes you happy even the cold doesn’t seem to bother people here.  Everybody would be shopping till they drop out.

Christmas means Red and Christmas means Celebration. Let’s raise a glass to the festivities and happy holidays and also festive for a new year’s eve.   I don’t do cocktails so why not mocktail then! Here’s a toast for happy Christmas.

Ingredients:
1 lb (445grm) Strawberries
2 Limes
2’’ Fresh Ginger
1 small stick of Cinnamon
1/3 cup Sugar*
6 Cups water**

 Method:

In a bowl take 2 cups of water to this add crushed Ginger, Cinnamon stick and  strawberries let it simmer for around 10 minutes.
In the mean time, slice the limes into 2 halves squeeze the juice out of them and keep aside.  Don’t throw away the skin cut them into two more halves each and dunk them in the strawberry syrup once the stove is switched off and close the lid, leave it to marinate for 10 more minutes,
Remove the Cinnamon stick and the skin of the limes.  Take the syrup and blend it in a blender add some water if required to a very smooth consistency.
Using a sieve filter it to this add lime juice from the two limes and the remaining water with crushed ice cubes and some mint leaves, adjust sugar  and serve it chilled or at room temperature.

NOTE:
*Sugar – Use sugar as required per your taste or any other sweetener, like Honey, maple syrup etc.
**Water – I have used plain water you can use sparkling water or soda water for a bubbly touch.

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Non-Alcoholic Strawberry Daiquiri Punch - A spicy punch with a twist for the festive Season

A sweet and spicy punch for the festive season

Course Juice/Drink/Mocktail

Cuisine International

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 25 minutes minutes

Total Time 35 minutes minutes

Servings 4

Author Jayasri

Ingredients

• Ingredients:
• 1 lb 445grm Strawberries
• 2 Limes
• 2 ’’ Fresh Ginger
• 1 small stick of Cinnamon
• 1/3 cup Sugar*
• 6 Cups water**

Instructions

• Method:
• In a bowl take 2 cups of water to this add crushed Ginger, Cinnamon stick and strawberries let it simmer for around 10 minutes.
• In the <g class="gr_ gr_89 gr-alert gr_spell undefined ContextualSpelling ins-del" id="89" data-gr-id="89">mean time</g>, slice the limes into 2 halves squeeze the juice out of them and keep aside. Don’t throw away the skin cut them into two more halves each and dunk them in the strawberry syrup once the stove is switched off and close the lid, leave it to marinate for 10 more minutes,
• Remove the Cinnamon stick and the skin of the limes. Take the syrup and blend it in a blender add some water if required to a very smooth consistency.
• Using a sieve filter it to this add lime juice from the two limes and the remaining water with crushed ice cubes and some mint leaves, adjust sugar and serve it chilled or at room temperature.

Notes

NOTE:
*Sugar – Use sugar as required per your taste or any other sweetener, like Honey, maple syrup etc.
**Water – I have used plain water you can use sparkling water or soda water for a bubbly touch.

The post Non-Alcoholic Strawberry Daiquiri Punch - A spicy punch with a twist for the festive Season appeared first on My Veg Fare.