Category Archives: Indian Diet Chart

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Tomatillo Chutney (Similar to green tomato chutney)

Category:Indian Diet Chart,Indian Dietitian Online,Online Dietician India Tags : 

Tomatillos are a green Mexican fruit with a lantern-type shell surrounding it. They are commonly used in Mexican cuisine as ‘Salsa Verde’. They are a good source of vitamin C, B-carotenes niacin, vitamin K and manganese, iron, phosphorous as well as copper.

I’ve used tomatillo instead of red/green tomatoes in a chutney recipe that I learnt from my neighbour back in Bangalore.The use of roasted bengal gram and of course the tempering at the end gives this dish the Indian touch. The ‘ghee’ is supposed to reduce the heat of the green chillies,so do let me know if it does.

Tomatillo Chutney

Ingredients for Tomatillo chutney:

  • Tomatillos: 4 nos.(chopped)
  • Green chillies/Serrano:1 or 2(depending on how much fire you can take)
  • Garlic:4 cloves chopped(+ 2 to be added raw-optional)
  • Ginger:1/2″ piece
  • Oil: 2 teaspoon
  • Roasted bengal gram:2 teaspoons
  • Roasted peanuts: 2 teaspoons
  • Mustard seeds: 1/2 teaspoon
  • Zeera/Cumin seeds:1/2 teaspoon
  • Sesame seeds:1/2 teaspoon
  • Asafoetida/Hing: a pinch(optional)
  • Jaggery: 1 teaspoon(optional)
  • Salt: to taste

Method:

  1. Heat 1 teaspoon oil in a non-stick pan,add chopped ginger and garlic.
  2. When the garlic turns slightly brown,add the pinch of asafoetida(optional),chopped green chillies and fry for a minute.
  3. Add the chopped tomatillos,salt,jaggery (optional) and stir.Cook till the tomatillos are soft.
  4. Once it has cooled,add the mixture, the raw garlic(optional),roasted bengal gram and peanuts into a blender and blend till you get a fine paste. Pour the chutney into a bowl/airtight box.
  5. Heat the remaining oil,add the mustard,cumin,sesame seeds.
  6. Once the mustard starts to splutter, pour the tempering over the chutney and mix well.
  7. Serve with dosas or idlis or as a spread on your sandwich(or mix with yogurt and use as a spicy dip).

 


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Okra Fried Rice (Ladiesfinger/bhindi Fried Rice )

Category:Indian Diet Chart,Indian Dietitian Online,Online Dietician India Tags : 

Want to try a different kind of fried rice?? Try out Okra Fried Rice!!

Okra Fried Rice

  • We first had Okra Fried Rice at a Caribbean inspired party and it was just awesome!Never knew that okra /bhindi could blend so well with rice. The whole dish has a subtle okra flavor and goes well with the jerk chicken (jerk potatoes for the vegetarians) and goat curry.
    I didn’t get the actual recipe, but tried it anyway and the result was almost similar to the original. So go ahead and try out this awesome Caribbean style Okra Fried Rice.

    Ingredients for Okra Fried Rice:

  • Fresh Okra/Ladiesfinger: 250g(finely sliced into thin rings)
  • Onions: 1 small (finely minced)
  • Garlic: 5 cloves(finely chopped)
  • Bell Pepper(optional): 1/2( finely chopped into cubes)
  • Cooked rice: 3 cups(cooled brown or basmati)
  • Bay leaves: 1-2
  • Cloves: 2
  • Cinnamon: 1/2 “
  • Allspice: 1tsp
  • Oil: 1tbsp
  • Soy sauce: 1-2 tsp
  • Pepper: to taste
  • Salt: to taste

    Method:
    1)Heat the oil in a non-stick pan, add the bay leaves, cloves, cinnamon. Then add the chopped onions and garlic and saute till translucent.
    2)Add the bell pepper and saute for 5 mins(optional) and then add the okra rings and fry till it loses the stickiness.
    3)Add the soy sauce,allspice,pepper and salt and saute for a couple of minutes.
    4)Add the cooked rice(you can add some chicken soup base while cooking the rice for added flavor) and mix well.
    5)Serve the Okra Fried Rice with ‘jerk chicken’ or ‘jerk potatoes’, Chicken curry, or any spicy curry.


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Mushroom Masala

Category:Indian Diet Chart,Indian Dietitian Online,Online Dietician India,Uncategorized Tags : 

Most Indians who eat mushrooms are only familiar with the button mushroom, but there are lots of different edible mushrooms. Button mushroom is an excellent low-calorie food, especially for those looking to lose weight and also diabetics. It is rich in protein, enzymes, B vitamins (especially niacin), and vitamin D2.

For more information on mushrooms, read my article which was published in the Complete Wellbeing magazine: Go Mushy over Mushrooms!

Ingredients for Mushroom Masala: Serves 4-6

  • Button Mushrooms: 250gms  chopped (rinse in water, remove dirt gently)
  • Onion: 1 medium (finely chopped)
  • Tomatoes: 2 small or 1 big (diced)
  • Garlic: 3-4 cloves (grated)
  • Ginger: 1/2″ grated
  • Jeera/cumin seeds: 1 tsp
  • Turmeric: 1/4 tsp
  • Red chili powder: 1-2 tsp (or as per your heat tolerance)
  • Coriander powder: 1 tbsp
  • Garam masala: 1/2 tsp
  • Jeera/cumin powder: 1/2 tsp
  • Cilantro/Coriander leaves- 2tbsp (chopped) for garnish
  • Oil: 2 tsp
  • Salt: to taste

Method:

  1. Heat the oil in a kadai, add the cumin seeds, turmeric and the onions.
  2. Stir fry the onions till they become translucent.
  3. Add the tomatoes, ginger-garlic, salt and the spice powders (red chili, coriander, cumin and garam masala) and saute till the oil leaves the the sides and you get a a nice fried aroma.
  4. Add the chopped mushroom and mix well. Cook till the mushroom leaves water and is soft (you can add some water if you want more gravy). Switch off.
  5. Garnish with the chopped cilantro and serve with rice & dal or phulkas.

 

 


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Bhindi Peanut Masala (Okra in peanut gravy)

Category:Indian Diet Chart,Indian Dietitian Online,Lunch Box Recipes Healthy Indian,Online Dietician India Tags : 

This is a gravy style bhindi masala with peanuts. The peanuts add a lovely flavour to the gravy.

Ingredients for Bhindi in Peanut Masala: Serves 4-6

  • Bhindi/ Okra: 250gms (wash well and dry completely)
  • Roasted peanuts (skinned): a big handful
  • Tomatoes: 2 diced
  • Green chilies: 1-2 nos. (depending on your spice tolerance)
  • Garlic: 4-5 cloves
  • Ginger: 1/2 ” piece
  • Turmeric powder: 1/2 tsp
  • Coriander powder: 1 tbsp
  • Cumin powder: 1/4 tsp
  • Garam masala: 1/4 tsp
  • Red chili powder: 1-2 tsp (use more if you like it hot)
  • Bay leaf: 1 no.
  • Cumin seeds/ jeera: 1 tsp
  • Oil: 4 tsp
  • Salt: to taste

Method:

  1. Dry the okra/bhindi and cut into one inch pieces.
  2. Heat about 3 tsp oil in a kadai and add the bhindi pieces. Stir fry till the bhindi turns a little brown. remove from flame and keep aside.
  3. Meanwhile, put the tomatoes, peanuts, green chilies, garlic and ginger in a blender and blend to a fine paste (without adding water).
  4. Heat a teaspoon of oil in the same kadai, add the jeera , turmeric and the bay leaf then add the paste, salt, red chili powder, cumin powder, garam masala and coriander powder and saute till the oil leaves the sides.
  5. Then add the fried bhindi and mix well. Add about a cup of water and simmer and cook for 5 minutes.
  6. Check for salt (and spices), serve with rice and dal or with roti/phulkas.

 


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Sattu ka Parantha

Category:Indian Diet Chart,Indian Dietitian Online Tags : 

Sattu is a popular food in UP and Bihar and is made from roasted chickpeas which is ground to a flour. But there are many versions- some also have millets like jowar or barley(jau) and peanuts all ground together. The sattu I bought from the Indian store has chickpeas and barley. Sattu is traditionally had as a porridge for breakfast, as parathas or Sattu ka sharbat (both sweet and salty varieties) is taken as a cooling drink during hot summers.

Ingredients for stuffing:

  • Sattu : 1 Cup
  • Onion: 1 small, finely chopped
  • Green chili:  1 no.  finely chopped (optional) or red chili powder: 1-2 tsp
  • Ginger: 1 tsp grated
  • Ajwain seeds: 1/4 tsp
  • Pickle masala (any pickle oil and masala): 1 tsp
  • Amchur powder: 1-2 tsp or Lemon juice: 2 tsp
  • Jaggery: 1 tsp (optional)
  • Water: a little to bind the stuffing
  • Coriander leaves: 2 tsp finely chopped
  • Salt: to taste
  • Oil: 3 tsp

Ingredients for Paratha:

  • Wheat Flour: 2 Cups
  • Water: 1 cup (or as required for kneading the dough)
  • Oil: 1 tsp
  • Salt: 1/2 tsp

Method:

  1. In a bowl, mix all the ingredients for the stuffing. Mix well and add a little water to bind the stuffing into a ball (it shouldn’t be too dry or too watery). Divide the stuffing into lemon sized balls.
  2. For parathas, take wheat flour, add oil and salt. Adding a little water at a time knead to firm consistency. Let it rest for at least 30 mins.
  3. Knead the dough again, then divide the dough into small lemon sized balls.
  4. Roll out one a little, place a the sattu stuffing in the center of the rolled out dough.
  5. Bring the edges together to form a smooth round ball (like a money bag). You can remove any extra dough at the top)
  6. Dust with dry flour and roll it out .
  7. Heat a tava, place the paratha on it. Let it cook then flip and cook the other side. Add some oil on the cooked sides. Let it cook evenly on both sides .
  8. Serve hot with just yogurt/curd, pickle or baingan ka bharta.

 

 

 

 


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Long Beans Masala (Alasande, karamani, barbati, chawli masala )

Category:Indian Diet Chart,Indian Dietitian Online Tags : 

Long Beans (alsande in Kannada, chawli in marathi , chawli or barbati in hindi,  karamani in tamil) are rich in fibre, protein also contain some amounts of iron, calcium, magnesium, manganese, and potassium, which are  essential for body metabolism.

The addition of curd increases the calcium and protein content of the dish and also gives a creamy texture to the gravy.

Ingredients for Long beans masala: Serves 4-6

  • Long beans /Chawli/Alasande: 250 gms ,break/cut into inch long pieces
  • Potato (optional) :1 medium, cubed
  • Tomato: 2 medium, chopped
  • Yogurt/ Curd: 1/2 cup, beaten
  • Ginger: 1 tsp (grated)
  • Garlic: 1 tsp (grated or finely chopped)
  • Water: 1 cup
  • Cumin seeds: 1/2 tsp
  • Mustard seeds: 1/3 tsp
  • Hing/ Asafoetida: 1/4 tsp
  • Turmeric: 1/2 tsp
  • Chili powder: 1 tsp (add more if you like it spicy)
  • Coriander powder: 2 tsp
  • Garam masala: 1/3 tsp
  • Salt: to taste
  • Oil: 1 tbsp

Method:

  1. Heat oil in a pressure cooker and add cumin and mustard seeds.
  2. When seeds start crackling add asafoetida, turmeric and then add chopped tomato , Grated ginger and garlic.
  3. Add salt and cook till the tomatoes become soft .
  4. Now add the  beaten yogurt/curd and chili powder,coriander powder, garam masala and stir fry  for a minute .
  5. Add chopped beans and potatoes (optional) and stir for a minute .
  6. Now add 3/4 cup water ,mix and you can either cover and cook or pressure cook on medium flame for 2- 3 whistles or till cooked well .
  7. Add more water if you want more gravy.
  8. Serve hot with roti or rice.

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Khaman Dhokla (Steamed Chickpea flour snacks)

Category:Indian Diet Chart,Indian Dietitian Online,Lunch Box Recipes Healthy Indian,Online Dietician India,Recipes-Snacks/Dips Tags : 

Another steamed dish that can be had for breakfast or as a snack-tastes great with some spicy chutney.

Ingredients for Khaman Dhokla:

  • Besan (Gramflour/chickpea flour): 2 cups
  • Yogurt: 1 cup
  • Water: 1 cup
  • Turmeric: 1/2 tsp
  • Ginger+green chili paste: 1/2-1 tsp (as per your heat tolerance)
  • Lemon juice: 1 tbsp
  • Fruit salt(eno)/ Soda bicarbonate: 1tsp
  • Coriander leaves/cilantro: 2tbsp finely chopped
  • Grated coconut:  3tbsp fresh/frozen
  • Salt: to taste

For the tempering:

  • Mustard seeds: 1tsp
  • Sesame seeds: 1 tsp
  • Green chili- 1/2 finely chopped (optional)
  • Oil: 1 tsp

Method:

  1. Mix the besan well with the yogurt,salt and about a cup of water making sure that there are no lumps.
  2. Let it ferment for about 1-2 hours.
  3. Then add the ginger+chili paste, turmeric, lemon juice and mix well.
  4. Add water to the steamer and let it boil. When it is ready, add the fruit salt/soda bicarbonate to the batter and mix well.
  5. Grease a pan/thali (you could even put the batter into idli moulds) and pour the batter into it.
  6. Steam for 10-12 minutes.
  7. Once they are ready-pour  the tempering (heat the oil, add the mustard seeds, when it starts to pop, add the sesame seeds, green chili(optional) over the dhokla.
  8. Garnish the dhokla with chopped coriander leaves and grated coconut.
  9. Cut and serve with spicy mint and coriander chutney.

Here are other Healthy Snack Ideas:

  1. Baked Sweet Potato Fries/snack
  2. Baked Carrot Fries/snack
  3. Fruit Chaat/ Fruit Salsa 
  4. Crispy Kale Chips 
  5. Handvo
  6. Fish Cutlets/Patties