Month: July 2014

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Bulgur Pilaf

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  • Bought wheat bulgur at regular grocery store. Recipe here: http://www.sanaacooks.com/2012/08/zucchini-and-lima-beans-bulgur-pilaf/
  • Recipe is very simple. Saute chopped onion in olive oil. Add chopped garlic, zucchini and cook.
  • Add frozen lima beans, water. Add water as per pkg instruction. I added 2 cups for 1 cup bulgur.
  • For seasoning, just add salt and black pepper powder. Once water boils, add bulgur and cook until it’s done.
  • Garnish with cilantro.
  • It has mild flavour and bulgur is little chewy.
  • Makes a good lunch to take to work.
  • Try it out !
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Emperor’s Idly

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  • First of all, copyright on name, recipe, picture.
  • Reason? Some 5 start hotel can take my idea and put it on their menu. Don’t you think it will sell big time?
  • Black rice is or was called Emperor’s rice or forbidden rice in china. Because it was available only for Emperors and not for common people.
  • Nutritionally also is good since it’s high in antioxidants and has 8% iron , 24 % fiber per serving according to pkg of rice i have.
  • It is chewy and nutty in flavour. When i made plain rice, it was hard to find suitable seasoning , spices to go with it.
  • But this idly idea i feel like a jackpot. 🙂 It tasted good and idly gets unique flavour which i can’t even describe. You will have to try yourself.
  • I followed standard idly recipe. Since i don’t measure it was  roughly 3 part black rice and 1 part urad dal. Few methi seeds.
  • Soak in water 4-5 hrs, grind and let batter ferment.
  • Make idly as usual.
  • It makes dense idly so you eat less and it’s more filling b/c of high fiber.
  • You can also try to do half white and half black rice.
  • Enjoy Emperor’s idly and feel like Emperor. 🙂
  • Sending it to breakfast event hosted here : http://cooking4allseasons.blogspot.com/2014/07/come-join-us-for-breakfast-july-event.html
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Why Vegetarian – Ayurvedic Perspective

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  • Let me clear first, ayurveda doesn’t prohibit meat. It talks about what is good when and everything has its usefulness in something.
  • Why do we eat? To gain energy and  What is the source of energy for our planet earth? Its Sun, right?
  • And who knows how to use sun’s energy? Plants. Only plants know how to use sun’s energy and make food.
  • So plants become primary source of energy for us.
  • When you consume animals, they first eat plants and then you eat them so it becomes secondary source of energy.
  • Why not get energy from primary source  ? 
  • Few Other things Dr Svoboda talks abt in his book the hidden secrets of Ayurveda are:  Meat produces too much vata and toxins produced during the digestion of meat are much more detrimental to the mind than those produced during digestion of plant.
  • Tomatoes  from garden, beaming with sun’s energy. 🙂
  • Have fun everyone !

 

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Quick Oat Puda For Today’s Fast Life

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  • Everyone complains abt time. But have you seen ppl who are doing so much in life ever complaining abt time?
  • Today’s oat puda is super quick and so no reason to complain abt time.
  • I had posted oat dosa/puda recipe earlier but that needed roasted oat and that takes few mins. Alright, i admit i didn’t enjoy roasting step.
  • So, let’s omit that. Soak oat in water for 20-30 mins or whatever time you have.
  • Blend it in magic bullet or any blender and add some wheat flour. You can do 50:50 or any ratio you like.
  • Add salt, cumin seeds and torn curry leaves. Everything optional.
  • Make dosa, puda, pancake whatever you want to call it.
  • It goes well with any chutney, sauce, left over curry.
  • Mine was left over curry and left over raita.
  • Quick meal when you don’t have time or when you are feeling lazy. 🙂
  • Enjoy !
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Alkalizing Lima Beans

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  • In the book “Healing With Whole Foods” , this is what author Paul Pitchford says about Lima Beans : Highly alkalizing, neutralizes acidic conditions such as often arise from excessive meat and refined-food consumption. One of the best beans for most americans.
  • Have been wanting to make them since i read that. I also had bough green swiss chard on my last trip to grocery store. So here’s what i did.
  • Fry some chopped onion first. Olive oil will be really good if you have it.
  • Once onion is fried, add ginger paste, turmeric powder, red chili powder, cumin-coriandor powder, sambhar powder and  salt.
  • Now add frozen lima beans and mix well.
  • Add fresh chopped swiss chard, cover and cook until done.
  • If you are thinking, it’s a  weird combination or am crazy, wait until you try.
  • It was awesome. I will give it 5 star and must try.
  • Swiss chard is high in oxalic acid so if you are prone to kidney stone, be careful. Else it’s nutrition value is pretty good just like other greens.
  • Other good alkaline food author says in the book is figs.
  • If you don’t have indian spices, you can still cook lima beans whatever way you like. They are tasty on its own too.
  • Enjoy !