This very quick and easy quinoa pilaf has been one of my favorite go-to dishes when I want to make something fast. What makes this pilaf a breeze to make is the frozen quinoa and kale blend that I buy at Costco and keep in the freezer. The frozen quinoa has four individualy wrapped packets, each with cooked quinoa and super green such as kale. This way I can use one, two, or three packets depending on how many people I am serving. All this recipe requires is cutting an onion, a pepper and a few garlic cloves. Then just cook the veggies with spices and add them to the quinoa. That’s it. For a scrumptiously delicious quinoa pilaf in as little as 15 minutes give this quinoa blend a try. Continue reading Kale Quinoa Pilaf
Tag Archives: spices
Saag Paneer. Spinach and Paneer with Indian Spices
Saag Paneer is a popular Indian dish chock full of finely diced spinach cooked with paneer cheese, garlic, ginger, onions and Indian spices. Saag paneer is extremely easy to make and tastes amazing. Saag paneer is usually served with chapatis, but one can easily have it as a stuffing inside a burrito or serve it as a side dish. There are many versions of saag paneer, this recipe is the simplest way to make it which is typically made in the home kitchen and the villages of India. Continue reading Saag Paneer. Spinach and Paneer with Indian Spices
Cauliflower Curry with Peas, Potatoes & Peppers
Cauliflower Curry with Peas, Potatoes and Peppers
Ingredients:
- 1 large cauliflower cut into large florets
- 1 medium onion chopped
- 4 cloves garlic crushed
- 1 inch ginger shredded
- 2 medium tomatoes finely cut
- 2 cups frozen peas
- 1 large green bell pepper cut into chunks
- 4 Yukon gold potatoes cut into chunks
- 1 small bunch fresh cilantro chopped
- Spices:
- 1 tsp cumin seeds
- 1 tsp Cumin Powder
- 2 tsp Coriander Powder
- 1/2 tsp turmeric
- 1 tsp asafetida powder (optional)
- 1/2 tsp paprika or chili powder
- 1 tsp garlic powder (optional)
- Juice of 1 lemon
- Salt
- Oil
Continue reading Cauliflower Curry with Peas, Potatoes & Peppers
Royal Rice. A fusion of Mexican and Indian flavors.
An issue of Food and Wine magazine arrived in the mail and I was pleasantly surprised to see that it was completely dedicated to the cuisine of Mexico. In this issue the two recipes that got me intrigued were vegetarian dishes that combined Mexican and Indian flavors. One of the recipes was for a dish called royal rice and the other one was for Indian pakoras made with chickpea flour, Mexican herbs, and Mexican lager beer. The rice dish is really interesting because it is a blend of Indian and Mexican flavors all mashed up into one main dish that can be had with yogurt raita or as a side with fish or chicken. Continue reading Royal Rice. A fusion of Mexican and Indian flavors.
Mixed Vegetable Pilau
This is a quick and easy rice dish that is packed with vegetables and is one of those recipes I turn to again and again when I am in a pinch and need to make dinner fast. My Mom used to make this vegetable pilaf (called pilau in Hindi) with frozen mixed vegetables when she was late coming home from work and needed to whip something up fast, delicious, and filling – a one pot meal of sorts. I’ve pretty much been making my pilau the exact same way Mom taught me years ago. Why mess with a good thing? Especially if that recipe is quick, healthy, easy and delicious. All the pilau needs is a side of simple yogurt raita to make a complete meal. Continue reading Mixed Vegetable Pilau
Cauliflower Broccoli & Potato Curry
Cauliflower, broccoli and potato curry is a dish I had at my friend Radhika’s home when we all went over for dinner recently. Radhika had made a traditional South Indian Tamil meal for the evening that was outstanding. One of the veggie dishes was a broccoli cauliflower and potato curry that was so good that Rani was having seconds and thirds. It seems this curry is a favorite of Radhika’s two sons and is a dish that Radhika’s Father used to make when she was young. Continue reading Cauliflower Broccoli & Potato Curry
Mattar Paneer. Spiced Peas and Paneer
This recipe is for the very popular Indian dish called mattar paneer (peas and paneer). Mattar paneer is a North Indian green peas curry delicately spiced and cooked with paneer cheese. Mattar paneer is one of the easiest and quickest curries to make and tastes positivity delicious. Matter paneer tastes wonderful with chapati, as a stuffing inside a burrito, or even to have as a side dish with chicken or fish. Continue reading Mattar Paneer. Spiced Peas and Paneer
Fresh Corn and Carrot Salad with Toasted Red Chili Oil
Sweet and mild and lightly seasoned with toasted red chillies and mustard seeds, this is one delicious salad that goes perfectly with any meal. The sweetness of carrots and corn, smoky red chilli oil and cumin, and the tang of lemon juice all give this salad that sweet, spicy, sour type of balance that is refreshing and delicious. My friend Radhika had made this outstanding fresh corn and carrot salad as part of a scrumptious South Indian vegetarian Tamil dinner. Continue reading Fresh Corn and Carrot Salad with Toasted Red Chili Oil
Yogurt Rice
Yogurt rice has to be the most ubiquitous rice dish in South Indian Tamil homes. Every Tamilian ends their meal be it lunch or dinner with yogurt rice. Basically it’s white rice mixed with plain yogurt – that’s it. Yogurt rice is such an integral part of a Tamilian daily menu that even as toddlers yogurt rice is one of the first solid foods that are given to children. Yogurt rice makes a perfect summertime meal. It’s typically served at room temperature or the preferred way is cold. I grew up with yogurt rice and I have passed on the love of yogurt rice onto Hitesh and my kids. When I make yogurt rice for dinner I always get a unanimous “Yes, yogurt rice!” reaction. Continue reading Yogurt Rice
Tomato Pachdi. Tomato Salad with Toasted Mustard Seeds
Pachdi is a South Indian Tamil salad in which raw vegetables such as tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, and carrots are seasoned with mustard seeds, asafetida, and curry leaves that are toasted in oil. Pachdi is typically served as a side dish along with the main meal. Here is a recipe for a very simple tomato kosumalli. Continue reading Tomato Pachdi. Tomato Salad with Toasted Mustard Seeds
