Vegan Banana Choc-chip Pancakes

Made this super healthy awesome pancake few hours ago :) :) Was divine. Wonderful way to start the day

You need:

1. Wholemeal flour-1 cup


2. Baking powder-2 tsp


3. Salt-a pinch


4. Soy milk-3/4 cup


5. To be blended (1 banana, 1 heaped tsp tahini, 1.5 Tbsp apple sauce, 1 Tbsp maple syrup)


6. Choc chips-1/3 cup


7. Chia seeds-a tsp


8. Dietary fibre-a tsp


9. Olive oil spray


10. Vegan butter-1 tsp-for topping

Method:

• Mix the (1, 2, 3)- the dry ingredients first. 


• To this add the blended banana puree, soy milk and whisk them well until they are no more lumps.


• Now add chia seeds, dietary fibre and chocolate chips and mix them all well.


• Heat a griddle and make pancakes. Top with vegan butter :)

Cheezy peas brown rice

You don't see me writing about many rice recipes since I try to use quinoa as much as I can. I came across this recipe for peas pulao/pilaf which had loads of milk and butter and white rice. I have tried to make it as healthy as I can

Ingredients:

• Cooked brown rice-1 cup


• Shallots-3-lengthwise chopped


• Green peas-thawed-1/4 cup


• Mustard seeds-1 tbsp


• Clove-2, cinnamon-1 small stick, 1 cardamom and 1 bay leaf


• Cashews-5-broken into bits


• Green chilli-1


• Light coconut milk-2 Tbsp (optional)


• Tofutti cheese slice-1/4 (optional)


• Mint and Coriander leaves-10 each-finely chopped(optional)


• 2 tsp oil

Method:

• In a pan, add 2 tsp oil, add clove, cinnamon, cardamom and bay leaf and mustard seeds. Once they pop, add shallots, cashews, green chilli in and toss until shallots turn translucent.


• Toss in the green peas, salt and add coconut milk until peas are cooked and add the rice in. Add extra salt. Mix them all well and serve with cheese bits on top.


• You could add coriander and mint (add them in with green peas if you are planning to use them)

Chickpea Peanut 'Patty'

I had few left over chickpeas (1/4 cup approx.) and 1 potato. Made this awesome 'patty'

In a high speed food processor, add cooked chickpeas (1/4 cup), unsalted roasted peanuts (1/4 cup), a piece of ginger until they come together. Transfer it to a bowl, add one potato and mix them all well. Use your hands-:) You would appreciate the taste later on. Add in some salt, chili powder, fennel seed powder (ask for saunf powder in Indian grocery). Shape them as patties and dust them with either bread crumbs/multi-grain crumbs and pan fry them :) Top with some cheese (optional)

Fluffy Chocolate mousse

I am not usually a sweet tooth person. But off-late, I have been craving for chocolate. Had avocado banana and cocoa in my pantry :) -that's what you need to make yummy vegan mousse.

Ingredients:

• Banana-1 big


• Avocado-1 medium


• Maple syrup-1 Tbsp


• Coconut oil melted-1 tsp


• Light coconut milk-2 Tbsp


• Cashews-45 gms


• 2 pinches salt


• Raw cacao powder-3 Tbsp


• 100 gms chocolate chips melted

Method:

• Blend everything apart from the choc chips until fluffy and add to the melted chocolate chip mixture. Fold until they are mixed well, chill them for an hour/so and serve.


• Top with Hazelnut meal


• I was too tempted to taste it so had 2 spoonfuls before I realized I had forgotten to take a pic ;)

Vegan methi matar malaai and Cumin rice

Fenugreek leaves are very bitter-but they are awesome in cleansing the body. I try to incorporate them into the food. It is always on my Indian shopping list. For this recipe, all you do is go to an Indian grocery and ask for fresh 'methi' leaves. (In Sydney, we have Wigram street in Harris park-which has more than 15 shops selling these leaves). Methi - Fenugreek leaves, Matar-Green peas, Malaai-Cream. If you are craving for a creamy curry, this is for you. It goes excellent with any flat bread/cumin rice.

Ingredients: 

• A bunch of methi leaves removed from the stalks


• Green peas-boiled with salt


• Red onion-cubed-1.5


• Green chili-3


• Cloves-2 and cinnamon-1" stick


• Poppy seeds-2 tsp


• Cumin seeds-1 tsp


• Garlic-5 pods, Ginger-1 small piece


• Cashews - 40 gms (soaked in hot water for an hour)-to make cashew cream


• Light coconut milk-1/4 cup


• Garam masala-1 tsp


• Salt-to taste


• Raw sugar-1 tsp

Method:

• Wash methi leaves-add salt-leave 10 mins-squeeeze extra water out.


• In a pan, add tsp of oil, add the methi leaves-fry until they are cooked. Keep them separate.


• In the same pan add a tsp of  oil, clove, cinnamon , cumin seeds once they splutter, add onion,green chili, salt garlic and ginger and fry until onions are translucent, add poppy seeds and take it off heat and blend into fine paste


• In a blender, add just the cashews (discard the water) and half of the coconut milk and bit water to make cashew cream


• Time to put them together. In the same pan, add a tsp oil, add the onion paste, let it boil for a couple of minutes, add methi leaves, fry for a couple mins, add cashew cream, let it mix well, add boiled green peas, sugar and cook for 3 more mins. When it thickens add remaining coconut milk,salt(if needed), garam masala and turn off the flame and let it be in the pan for another 5 mins

Do you like the cumin rice you get in Indian restaurants? This is a vegan version of the same. If you have a rice cooker and the ingredients below, this is such a yummy version :)

Cumin Rice

Ingredients:

• Basmati rice-1 cup


• Cumin seeds-2 tsp


• Cumin seed powder-`1 tsp


• Cashews-5 broken into bits


• One green chili-cut into 2


• Oil-2 tsp


• Water-2 cups


• Salt

Method:

• In a rice cooker, add rice and water.


• In a pan, add oil, when it is hot, add cumin seeds, green chili, cashews, once cashews are brown, add the cumin powder, fry for a minute and pour over the rice, add salt and turn the rice cooker on.

Quinoa pongal with Minty Coriander chutney

Pongal is one of the usual breakfast in Tamilnadu (one of the South Indian states). I have to admit I used to hate pongal, the reason being it was just cooked rice and split mung bean with loads and loads of clarified butter (ghee) and pepper. My mum always had to make something else cos I was adamant not to eat it. Since last May/so, I have reduced my intake of rice substituting it with world's yummiest grain, Quinoa :) Came back from work yesterday and all I wanted was quinoa and lentils. I was going through my paati's (granny) recipes I saw a non-vegan version of pongal. The Einstein part of my brain was so active I decided to make vegan quinoa pongal.

If you have a pressure cooker, this is really easy to make. Else, use a heavy-lid pan to make it.

Ingredients- Serves 3 (on a portion control diet)

• Quinoa-3/4 cup


• Split yellow mung bean-3/4 cup


• Cashews-10


• Curry leaves-10


• Pepper-coarsely ground-3 Tbsp (lesser if you want less spicier effect)


• Mustard seeds (2 tsp) Cumin seeds (1 tsp)


• Ginger grated- 1.5 Tbsp


• Rice bran oil-2 Tbsp


• Asafoetida-a pinch


• Turmeric- 1 tsp


• Salt-to taste

Method:

• Pressure cook/Cover and cook quinoa and lentils with 3.5-4 cups of water.


• Next step is to season it. In a pan, add oil,heat it,add mustard seeds, cumin seeds, asafoetida, curry leaves, turmeric, cashews, wait for it to be about brown, add ginger and pepper and pour it over the quinoa and lentil mixture.


• Add salt and mix them well. Serve with chutney

Minty Coriander chutney

Ingredients:

• Mint leaves-2 handfuls


• Coriander leaves-2 handfuls


• Ginger-a small piece


• Coconut (fresh/frozen)-1/4 cup


• Garlic-one pod


• Tamarind paste-1/2 tsp


• Oil-a tsp


• Cumin seeds-1 tsp


• Curry leaves-7


• Green chili-1


• Mustard seeds-1/2 tsp

Method

• In a pan, add mint and coriander leaves fry them until they shrink under heat, turn off the flame,let it cool and blend it with green chili, ginger, garlic, coconut, tamarind, salt.


• In a pan, add oil, heat it and add mustard seeds, cumin seeds, cury leaves and pour them over the chutney

Easy Dahl recipe for Camille

This post for Camille. Camille is one of the sweetest people you could meet on this planet. She isn't old enough for me to call her mum, but she definitely acts like one to me. We talk Indian food all the time and she loves dahl. So Camille, this is for you :) I have made this recipe as easy as I can and it will be close to what you eat at a restaurant (vegan though). Forgot to take a snap. Will update it soon.

Ingredients: 

• Split yellow mung lentils (1 cup)


• Turmeric-1 tsp


• 1 onion/10 shallots - finely chopped


• 1 tomato-finely chopped/ I like to puree them for better color & it is an healthier alternative


• Ginger-1" piece-grated


• Garlic-4 pods-grated


• Clove-2, Cinnamon stick-1" piece


• Mustard seeds and Cumin seeds-1 tsp each


• Curry leaves and dry red chilli(optional-break them into two for spicy effect)-for more authentic Indian flavor


• Red chilli powder/Sambar powder( I find it more flavorful)--2 tsp


• 2 tsp rice bran oil


• Salt-to taste

Method:

• In a pressure cooker, add the yellow mung lentils, turmeric, 2 and 2.5 cups water and pressure cook the lentils.


• Meanwhile, in a pan, add oil, add cloves, cinnamon, mustard seeds (wait for it to pop), add cumin seeds, once this splutters add the curry leaves and add curry leaves and dry red chilli. You are done with the seasoning for the dal


• Time to add onions, fry them well, ginger, garlic, chilli/sambar powder wait until the raw smell disappears and the tomato in and fry until it is soft.


• Add the cooked lentils in and mix them well. Add finely chopped coriander leaves and serve with boiled rice/quinoa/roti/naan bread

Hazelnut Cacao Bombshell (dark choc version)

Today was the last day with my favorite class. Decided to make something for the kids. Thought about cheesecake(vegan, of course) but decided to make something easier (yes, I was feeling very lazy-not my fault-such a cold winter day). Had medjool dates(10), hazelnut meal(1 cup), cacao(1/4 cup-yeah super rich).  Put them in a food processor, sprinkled water when needed until they came to 'Yeah okay, we will stick together' consistency. Added broken bits of cashews (10), 2 tbsp of desiccated coconut, shaped them, dusted them with hazelnut meal and supposed to refrigerate them for an hour. I did not refrigerate them cos it was super cold outside :P. Took me 20 mins to make them.

I know what you are thinking. Not great shape but they were amazing :)