Dine With Gitanjali - Page 19 of 24 - Recipes straight from the heart

Mains

Skinny Enchiladas

Skinny Enchiladas”… Well, it almost sounded gibberish to me until when I first savoured it at my childhood friend, Rajul’s place in New York … What an awesome way to relish Mexican flavours sans the guilt! Can you imagine an Enchilada without the Tortillas !!! Exactly..neither could I… But you see that’s the first step to making it truly Skinny! And as if this wasn’t enough…..it’s loaded with “Gluten-free”, protein-rich, super plant food “Quinoa” and vegetables…literally transmuting these ingredients into one hell of a healthy recipe !!! For children and the fussy eaters… you can add from a selection of Cheeses or Paneer! For all the health aficionados out there.

I am sure this one will rock, you guys! As always, please shoot your queries if any and do share your feedback.

July 29, 2019 By Gitanjali

Mains

Stuffed Tomatoes Baked in a Makhani Gravy

Are you bored of the traditional Paneer Makhani being made at home? Are you looking for something that is a little easy on the cream? Look no further! This Tomato in Makhani gravy will satisfy all your cravings while keeping you light on the stomach. This recipe is something which will appeal to palettes, elders and kids alike.

Since the recipe does not call for onion and garlic so is perfect for those refraining from eating these due to religious or dietary restrictions. It is even a wonderful alternative for the people who are looking to avoid the typical North Indian dishes which are packed with the pungent garlicky smell. Whether you make it for your parties, or just at home for dinner, this dish is sure to get wiped out leaving everyone wanting for more.

Ideally, Tomato in Makhani gravy can be enjoyed with fresh, crisp tandoori roti’s or chapatis. But, for the rice lovers out there, just like any other gravy vegetable, you can add this on a bed of basmati rice to enjoy a nice comforting and scrumptious meal. As always, feel free to reach out to me for any queries and feedback.

July 21, 2019 By Gitanjali

Drinks

Sol Kadhi

Good friends are an important part of life! They introduce you to new foods and drinks. One such friend, Deepa, introduced me to Sol Kadhi, a drink popular in Goa and the Konkan regions. This drink is made out of coconut and kokum. While it was ideally supposed to be eaten with rice, it can also be served straight up as a drink during the summer months. And there are a number of reasons why you should serve this drink!

Kokum or Garcinia indica is a superfood, known to its properties to cool the body as well as reduce acidity. Ayurveda too mentions the importance of Kokum in regulating the pitta levels in our body.

Now, my drink mentions the use of the Pink Goan variety Kokum. I specifically use this variety as it imparts certain tanginess to the drink in addition to giving it that beautiful light-
pinkish colour. So those of you travelling to Goa the next time, remember to pick this up. But even if travels are not in the books for you, don’t worry! With the existence of the miracle, that is the internet, almost everything is available online today, including this Kokum.

While I know other varieties of Kokum are available, I personally did not find any variety in Indore which gave me such a beautiful result. And, believe me; I tried experimenting with a few different ones. So my advice to you would always be to try and source the best possible ingredients as they have a huge impact on your final dish. However, feel free to try any other Kokum varieties and if you do find one that you like locally, stick to it.

As always, I appreciate all your feedback and happy to respond to any queries you may have.

July 11, 2019 By Gitanjali

Appetizers

Dahi ka Samosa (Samosas stuffed with Curd)

Samosas are the ultimate comfort food and a foodie’s delight. While you can eat a samosa at any time, to truly enjoy the Indian delicacy, the rainy season is the perfect time to indulge in this dish. This is why, today, I’m going to share my Dahi Ka Samosa recipe. A little twist on the traditional samosa, this dish is just easy to make and is packed with the abundant flavour of ginger and chillies. It’s smooth, buttery cheese-like texture can never disappoint you. Whether you whip up a plate for unexpected guests, hungry children coming back from school, or even just an office snack – this dish is related by all leaving everyone asking for more. So go ahead, and give this recipe a try. After all, this beautiful weather calls for you to give into your indulgences once in a while.

As always, I’m happy to help with any of your queries and would love your feedback.

July 6, 2019 By Gitanjali

Drinks

Sattu Drink

Clean eating is not just a fad, but a lifestyle. And I was introduced to this lifestyle by Luke Coutinho and today, I can imagine no other way of life. It was he who also introduced me to the ‘Sattu Drink’, a natural protein shake perfect to supplement any workout. This fantastic composition is so light that it is easy for the body to absorb. Not only is this drink packed with flavour, but is also proved to be extremely beneficial to those suffering with ailments such as cancer and osteoporosis.

With growing, active kids, I always worried whether they were getting enough protein given our vegetarian diet. This drink is going to put the worries of all those mothers in similar situations away, as it offers the highest source of protein available in the vegetarian diet. Apart from protein, it is also an excellent source of iron as well.

This drink can also act as a mid-afternoon filler, keeping those unhealthy munchies away. Moreover, it also helps reducing overall bloating, so it’s a definite must-have for all those struggling to maintain their diets.

So go ahead, ditch the protein powder for this all natural sattu energy drink. As always queries and feedback are always appreciated.

July 4, 2019 By Gitanjali

Desserts

Mango Sandesh Pudding

A desi dessert with a videshi twist- the mango Sandesh pudding is sure to appeal to both kids and adults alike, and I can personally vouch for this since both my husbands and kids cannot get enough of this dessert. Sandesh is a quintessential Bengali dessert made with cottage cheese and sugar, flavoured with fresh fruits or dry fruits. As a result, it is relatively lighter and contains fewer calories as compared to the other indulgent Indian sweets.

Typically in the summer months, I like to use mangoes for this recipe. I tend to favour the Alphonso mango, which I feel work best with this recipe, as these pack a punch of the delicious sweet flavour, unlike the other varieties of mango. However, if you like this recipe, don’t worry about the Mango season ending! The mangoes can just as easily be substituted to strawberries during the strawberry season.

Do give this recipe a try, and indulge guilt-free in this dessert. Let me know in questions or feedback you have in the comment section below.
Continue Reading…

June 30, 2019 By Gitanjali

Soups & Salads

Thai Glass Noodle & Green Raw Mango Salad

I know I’m a little late in posting this recipe due to my hectic summer travels, but I promise you this recipe is worth the wait! My raw mango salad- a light, tangy and fresh summer salad which perfectly highlights the flavor of ‘kaccha Keri’. This flavor takes me straight back to the first days of summers when schools would get over and we, as kids, would sit and enjoy kaccha keri with salt and chilli powder. With that memory in my mind, I worked on this summer salad which is now a staple in my house.

To pair with the beautiful kaccha keri (the unripe green mango) I pair perfectly julienned carrots and the Asian green cucumber to add the crunch. Then I dress it with the light soya sauce, not the dark one as it tends to be extremely salty and heavy for Asian cooking. And for all those following the gluten-free diet, you can skip the soya all together. I promise it tastes just as good without.

As for the noodles, I’ve mentioned my go-to brand which is easily available in my city Indore. Feel free to use any noodle brand which you like and is easily available to you. Go give this recipe a try before the mango season ends. And as always I am happy to receive any feedback or queries, which I will try to solve as best as I can.

June 28, 2019 By Gitanjali

Appetizers

Fresh Mango Salsa

A super quick and easy appetizer recipe which can be made in a jiffy. Usually, in the summer months, my refrigerator is well stocked with Alphonso mangoes. Whenever any unexpected visitor or my son’s friends drop in (which by the way is most common in our household) I chop up the mangoes and make a refreshing fresh salsa. Always use a sharp fruit knife to cut this evenly into dices. Feel free to adjust the seasonings as per your taste and voila you have an appetizer ready in under 5 minutes.

So what are you waiting for! Do try and let us know before the mangoes go out of season!

June 26, 2019 By Gitanjali

Drinks

Ginger Ale

Ginger Ale! A beverage my family and I love…my son in particular-The Ginger Ale syrup from a brand called “ Sheetal”. It’s cold, refreshing, delicious and the proportions are spot on!

I was introduced to this Syrup around 5 years ago by a close friend during a yearly local fair in Indore. The second I brought it home..it was an instant hit! My son almost religiously has at least one glass a day with his evening snacks after school.

In a tropical country like India, this drink is a respite from the heat! The ginger also helps soothe a sore throat. We love it so much that we source it, especially from Kolkata all the way to Indore. But you Kolkata folks are really lucky! You can source this beverage at most general stores in Kolkata. Continue Reading…

June 21, 2019 By Gitanjali

Drinks

Fresh Lemonade with Ginger and Jaggery or Nimboo Paani with Adrakh aur Gur

The quintessential summer drink, Nimboo Pani is a sure way to beat the scorching heat. In fact when we go to think, the simple and no fuss Nimboo Pani made at our Mom’s place has indeed come a long way since with its myriad of twists and flavours…

Even though every household may have their own concoction for this traditional summer cooler my favourite is one with Gud (Jaggery) and Adrakh (Ginger)… a real thirst quencher without the evils of processed sugar!

With temperatures in Indore soaring as high as 43 deg. we usually have a jar of this magic potion for an instant offering of respite to all our guests… be it at home or my husband’s office.

Shikanji, Nimboo Pani or Lemonade or by whatever name one may call it, seems to have originated in the northern parts of India and now a common sight dotting most roads across India during her summer months!!! Apart from Gud & Adrakh this cooler is also made using Basil, Mint leaves, Jeera (Powdered Cumin seeds), Chaat Masala and various other ingredients depending on the desired flavours…

So what’s that special ingredient you add to make your nimbu paani special? Do let me know!

June 12, 2019 By Gitanjali

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