Categories
Lunch | 1pm Meal

Wheat Grits, Egg Baked Dish in Béchamel Sauce

The humble daliya (wheat grits) gets a makeover. As much as I love Indian food, I am always looking for quick ways to fix a meal. This baked dish in béchamel sauce is just that – your one-pot meal with all the nutritional goodness combined. And a spicy masala omelette layer is just enough to add that desi tadka which I crave in all my meals.

Wheat grits & Egg Baked Dish in Béchamel sauce

Ingredients

  • Wheat grits/daliya- 1 cup
  • Eggs-3
  • Onion-one small
  • Green chillis-3
  • Chopped Coriander- 2 tablespoons
  • Mild cheddar cheese- ½ cup
  • Mushrooms- ½ cup, sliced
  • Red and yellow bell peppers- ½ cup each
  • Finely chopped Spring onions(for garnish)- 2 tablespoons
  • Salt/Pepper- To taste
  • For Béchamel sauce (for 3 cups):
  • Butter- 5 tablespoons
  • All purpose flour- 4 tablespoons
  • Milk (can use low fat but full fat works best)-4 cups
  • Salt- 2 teaspoons
  • Freshly grated nutmeg- ½ teaspoon

Instructions

  1. For the sauce:
  2. In a medium saucepan, heat the butter over medium-low heat until melted
  3. Add the flour and keep stirring until smooth.
  4. Over medium heat, cook until the mixture turns a light, golden yellow color, about 6 to 7 minutes.
  5. Meanwhile, heat the milk in a separate pan until just about to boil. Add the hot milk to the butter mixture 1 cup at a time, whisking continuously until very smooth.
  6. Bring to a boil. Cook 10 minutes, stirring constantly, then remove from heat. Season with salt and nutmeg, and set aside until ready to use
  7. For the baked dish:
  8. Pressure cook the wheat grits with 1.5 cups water and 1 teaspoon salt until soft and set aside
  9. Crack the eggs in a bowl, add the chopped onions, green chili, coriander and a pinch of salt and mix with a wire whisk for a minute
  10. Preheat the oven to 170 degrees Celsius, transfer the egg mixture into a baking tray, cover it with foil and bake for 15 minutes until set
  11. In the meantime sauté the mushrooms in some butter with salt and pepper until soft
  12. When the egg layer is ready, evenly spread the wheat grits on top, followed by bell peppers, mushroom, béchamel sauce and cheddar cheese
  13. Bake at 170 degrees Celsius for 15 minutes
  14. Garnish with spring onions and serve hot

Notes

Calories per portion- 150
Nutrition- Good fat/ Protein punch/ Vitamins B, C, D, E/ Phosphorous/Carotenoids
It does wonders for your- Skin/Hair/Immunity/Eyesight/Diabetes/Heart/Blood/Bones/Weight Management and Satiety
This is “My 1pm  Meal”

https://onewholesomemeal.com/wheat-grits-egg-baked-dish-in-bechamel-sauce/

[kkstarratings]

Categories
Dinner | 8pm Meal Lunch | 1pm Meal

Peanut Butter Chicken With Flavoured Rice

When the heart wants Indian but the tastebuds want a wee bit more what do you do? You make peanut butter chicken, douse it with Chinese chilli oil, serve it on a bed of lemon rice and you are set.

Try to make it with unsweetened peanut butter. This is a great source of nutrients, minerals, and vitamins. Tip for the health-conscious  – increase the portion size of the chicken and go easy on the rice. It is really all about portion control and of course some physical activity on a daily basis. Eat real, stay real, stay healthy 🙂

Scroll down to read my recipe for peanut butter chicken.

For more recipes with an Asian Twist click here.

Peanutbutter Chicken

Ingredients

  • Boneless chicken (breast)-300gm, cut into 1 inch cubes
  • Medium sized onion- 1
  • Medium sized tomato- 1
  • Chicken stock- ¾ cup
  • Smooth peanut butter- ¾ cup
  • Chili oil- 1 tablespoon or to taste (can be substituted with 1/8 teaspoon smoked paprika)
  • Salt- ½ teaspoon
  • Pepper-½ teaspoon
  • Vegetable oil- 2 tablespoons

Instructions

  1. Heat oil in a large skillet, add onion and stir until translucent. Add the chicken pieces; cook until chicken starts to turn white. Add chilli oil, followed by salt and pepper. Keep the heat on medium through the whole process and continue stirring. The entire process should take 5-7 minutes
  2. Add tomatoes and chicken stock and let it simmer on low heat until the chicken is tender
  3. Stir in peanut butter, stirring continuously until mixed thoroughly and the sauce starts to thicken. If the sauce is too thick, you could add some more chicken broth or hot water or if its not thickening, add some more peanut butter
  4. Serve hot with a side of lemon rice

Notes

Calories per portion- 250
Nutrition- Protein punch/Good fat/ Vitamins B-3, B-6, E/Magnesium
It does wonders for your- Skin/Hair/ Bones/Heart/Sleep/Muscles
This is “My 1pm/8pm Meal”

https://onewholesomemeal.com/peanut-butter-chicken/

[kkstarratings]

Categories
Breakfast | 8am Meal

Beaten-Rice Yogurt Mango Parfait

Do you know my inspiration behind this recipe for the beaten-rice yogurt mango parfait? Believe it or not, it is from an Indian dish I ate as a child.

The humble poha (beaten-rice) or choora is a staple in most rice-producing regions of India. Mostly eaten as savoury, an interesting sweet version with yogurt is consumed in Bihar (a state in eastern India). Long before the days of rolled oats and granola bowls,  choora dahi (beaten-rice yogurt) or aam choora (mango beaten-rice) used to be our morning fuel – pure, healthy and satiating. After so many years, even today when I crave a quick, soulful breakfast, I fix myself a bowl of this beaten-rice and yogurt yumminess and double up on the mango layer during summers.

This combination of cool yogurt, beaten-rice, and thick mango puree along with some thandai powder, while being delish is also great for your gut, skin and immunity. Scroll down to see how easy it is to whip up this parfait version of the humble wonder from my homeland. Let me know how you enjoy the beaten-rice yogurt mango parfait in your comments below.

And for more parfait recipes don’t forget to check out this perfect start for your morning.

Beaten Rice-Yogurt-Mango Parfait

Ingredients

Instructions

  1. Blend the mangoes to make a smooth puree
  2. Rinse the poha in a wide rimmed strainer under running water for a minute. If the desired texture is extremely soft then rinse for a minute longer although crisp poha tastes much better; the yogurt/mango puree tend to soften it to an extent as well.
  3. Layer yogurt,poha and mango puree in that order, top it with some thandai powder and enjoy!

Notes

Calories per portion- 170
Nutrition- Protein punch/Good fat/ Vitamins C, A /Fiber
It does wonders for your- Gut/Bowels/Skin/Immunity/Vision/Bones
This is “My 8am Meal”

https://onewholesomemeal.com/beaten-rice-yogurt-mango-parfait/

[kkstarratings]

Categories
Lunch | 1pm Meal

Brown and Wild Rice Citrus Salad

As much as I love cooking, there are days when I just do not have the energy(thanks to the two little monkeys)  to toil in the kitchen for more than twenty minutes. For times like these, I make it a point to stock up my refrigerator with as much fresh produce as possible so that lazy times do not equate to junk times and all I need to do for a quick healthy meal is boil some whole grain pastanoodle or brown and wild rice, top it with some fresh produce and voila! My yummy 15-minute meal is ready! This citrus brown and wild rice citrus salad is one such quick-fix meal. Try it for yourself and you would keep coming back for more 🙂

Brown and Wild Rice Citrus Salad

Ingredients

  • Brown and wild rice (cooked as per package instructions; for additional flavor cook in chicken broth)- 1 cup
  • Cherry tomatoes- 1 cup
  • Medium sized oranges-2 (one for juice(3/4 cup)and the other peeled and kept aside for salad)
  • Almond slivers-1/2 cup
  • Fresh mint chopped fine-½ cup
  • Spring onion chopped fine-½ cup
  • Green peas or edamame- ½ cup
  • Lime juice- 2 tablespoons
  • Olive oil-1 teaspoon
  • Salt and pepper-1/4 teaspoon each or to taste

Instructions

  1. For the citrus dressing:
  2. Combine all wet ingredients (freshly squeezed orange juice,lime juice, olive oil) in a bowl and mix well. Top it with fresh mint leaves, salt and pepper and mix.
  3. For the salad:
  4. Combine cooled rice and vegetables in a large bowl. Add the dressing and stir to combine. Let the salad sit at room temperature for 15 minutes, top with almond slivers and spring onions and serve.

Notes

Calories per portion- 180
Nutrition- Protein punch/Good fat/ High fiber/Vitamins A, C, B6, K/Magnesium/Copper
It does wonders for your- Gut/Bowels/Sleep/Skin/Immunity/Brain
This is “My 1pm Meal”

https://onewholesomemeal.com/brown-and-wild-rice-citrus-salad/

[kkstarratings]

 

 

Categories
Afternoon Snack | 3pm Meal Breakfast | 8am Meal Mid-Day Snack | 10 am Meal

Mango Yogurt Oats Parfait To Start Your Morning

It is mango season and all I can think of is eating mangoes in various forms, pickles, shakes, smoothies or parfaits!

Did you know “parfait” is the French for “perfect?” Well! That’s what this beauty is! My strawberry yogurt and mango oats parfait is the perfect way of breaking your fast when all you have is just fifteen minutes to fix yourself a morning fuel. Eating clean and healthy isn’t really that simple, but this parfait, with a mere 150 calories per portion, is the answer. So, grab a spoon and feast, without a morsel of guilt!

Oats Parfait

Mango-Yogurt-Oats Parfait

Ingredients

  • Ripe mango- 1 large, peeled and pulped
  • Full fat yogurt( I used strawberry flavoured)-1 cup
  • Rolled oats- ½ cup
  • Chopped nuts (pistachios and almonds)-1 tablespoon each
  • Blueberries/Strawberries or any fruit of choice for topping
  • Thandai powder (optional)- 1 tablespoon (Recipe for thandai powder:https://onewholesomemeal.com/2017/07/04/thandai-masala/)

Instructions

  1. Blend the mangoes to make a smooth puree, add the thandai powder and mix
  2. Layer a parfait glass with strawberry yogurt, followed by rolled oats and pureed mango
  3. Top it with nuts and fruits of your choice and chill in the refrigerator for 15 minutes before serving

Notes

Calories per portion- 150
Nutrition- Protein punch/Good fat/ Vitamins C, A /Fiber/Flavonoids
It does wonders for your- Gut/Bowels/Skin/Immunity/Vision/Bones
This is “My 8am/3pm Meal”

https://onewholesomemeal.com/mango-yogurt-oats-parfait/

[kkstarratings]

Categories
Afternoon Snack | 3pm Meal Lunch | 1pm Meal

Tangy Spiced Tofu Bites: Hot Or Cold, Your Choice

Speak of tofu and the carnivores in the family start to wrinkle their noses.

My first five attempts at a tofu dish were rejected. Finally, when I experimented with a combination of lemon, tofu, and Indians spices, I knew I had struck gold with these tangy spiced tofu bites. The fact they take such little effort to prepare was definitely an added bonus. I love how versatile tofu is. There are endless possibilities, especially with the firmer variety. I will keep coming back to this one for sure.

Are You Tofu Ready?

Tofus can be confusing. There are different consistencies and when you go grocery shopping, it may get difficult to make the right choice. What is the right type of tofu? Well, it depends on the dish you want to make. Here are a few pointers to help you pick up the right consistency tofu.

  1. Silken tofu is the softest version of the tofu. This is usually blended and used in salad dressings, sauces, and desserts. Unless the recipe specifies it, you will mostly not use this variety.
  2. Next is the regular tofu. This comes in different consistencies – regular, firm, extra-firm, and super-firm.
  3. Regular tofu is most commonly used in Asian dishes. It is great in noodles and stew as this type of tofu easily absorbs flavors.
  4. Most supermarkets sell you the firm tofu. This is usually packaged with a liquid. Before using this tofu in any dish, you have to drain off this liquid. Ensure your tofu is dry before you cook. It can be used in noodles and stews as well as pan-fried. Therefore, this is the most versatile tofu.
  5. The extra-firm tofu is largely used in pan-fried and deep-fried dishes. It does not absorb flavors like the previous tofu and hence is not recommended to be used on noodles or stews.
  6. Lastly, we have the super-firm tofu which acts as a great meat substitute.

To know which tofu is the best for your dish, visit tofupedia.

How To Spice The Tofu Bites?

Many supermarkets sell seasoned tofu and smoked tofu, but I did not get those. I wanted to use Indian spices to make these spiced tofu bites. The spice mix includes coriander powder, amchoor, gram masala, red chili powder, and garlic powder.

Scroll down to read the full detailed recipe. For another Tofu recipe with Indian spices, try the Spinach and Tofu Stir Fry With Panchforan. Let me know which one you liked more.

Spiced Tofu Bites

Tangy Spiced Tofu Bites

Ingredients

  • Tofu (the extra firm variety)- 250 gms
  • Freshly squeezed lemon juice- 4 tablespoons
  • Coriander powder-1 teaspoon
  • Amchoor (raw mango powder)-1 teaspoon or to taste
  • Garam masala powder (or Cajun spice)-1.5 teaspoons
  • Red chili powder (optional)-1/2 teaspoon
  • Garlic powder-1/2 teaspoon
  • Oil for shallow frying- 2 tablespoons
  • Smoked Paprika (optional) for garnish

Instructions

  1. Cut the tofu into small rectangular or square pieces
  2. Mix all the powdered spices in one bowl and place the freshly squeezed lemon juice into another
  3. Place a flat non-stick pan on medium-high heat and smear it with half a teaspoon oil
  4. Dip the tofu squares one by one in lemon juice followed by the spice powder mixture making sure they are coated evenly
  5. Pan fry on medium heat till spices change color and fragrant, approximately 5-7 minutes on each side
  6. Serve hot as a snack or cold with salad

Notes

Calories (for 4 squares)- 125
Nutrition- Protein/Magnesium/Copper/Zinc/Vitamin B1
It does wonders for your- Memory/Nerves/Energy level/Gut/Quality of Sleep
This is “My 1 pm/3 pm Meal”

https://onewholesomemeal.com/tangy-spiced-tofu-bites/

[kkstarratings]