GREEN APPLE PICKLE

GREEN APPLE PICKLE

Hare seb ka achhar

My daughter is not only a very good cook, she is an expert in making Kerala dishes because her hubby is from Kerala. Once she invited some guests for lunch, in which she planned to serve traditional Kerala food to the guests, called ‘sadya’. In that menu, she decided to make many kerala dishes together with some freshly made pickles and chutneys which were a must accompaniment in the meal. ‘Sadya’ is a traditional kerala feast comprising of many side dishes that come together to make one grand meal. My daughter gave me a few items to make, (which I knew how to make from Kerala cuisine), mango pickle was one of them.

 

When we went for shopping to an Indian grocery shop, where we get all Indian vegetables, we didn't get any green raw mangoes for the pickle and we came back disappointed. My daughter told me, “Mom, you are a blogger and a foodie, think, change the ingredient and make something similar, I want the pickle with a similar taste and flavour”. That was a big challenge for the blogger and a foodie mother like me, I told myself that I will accept this challenge and do something to please her.

 

While I was still thinking, my grandson came to me and demanded an apple, as he was hungry.  I chopped an apple and gave it to him, that is when, the idea of using green apple, (instead of mango in this pickle), clicked in my mind.  I discussed with my daughter and finalized it, as green mango has the same colour and sour taste which is needed for this pickle.

I used the same spices, in the same proportion and the same method as with mango pickle and tried with only two big green apples, and the end results were fantastic, it was super tasty, as good as mango pickle. One more interesting thing happened that afternoon when everybody was enjoying the meal, they had to solve the quiz of – taste and tell the main ingredient of this green pickle, which was difficult to guess, everybody thought that it was a mango pickle, at last, a lady gave the correct answer.

 

RECIPE

INGREDIENTS

• 1/2 kg hard, green apple (granny smith)
• 200 ml oil
• 30 grams salt
• 25 grams black mustard seeds (rai)
• 25 grams fennel seeds (saunf)
• 25 grams fenugreek seeds (methi)
• 10 grams turmeric powder (haldi)
• 20 grams chilli powder

Method

• Wash and chop the apples into very small pieces and remove the seeds.
• Mix salt and turmeric powder and leave it in a covered stainless steel pot for 24 hours, apples will release some water.
• Remove the water and spread the apples on a clean dry cloth for 2-3 hours.
• Grind the fennel seeds, fenugreek seeds, mustard seeds and chili powder coarsely in a dry grinder.
• Heat the oil on a high flame, switch off the gas and leave the oil to cool.
• When apples are dry, mix all dry ingredients, pour the oil and fill it in a sterilized glass jar.
• Oil should be on top of the apples.

It can last in the fridge for six months.

I am sending this recipe as my blog post entry with Tasty Tuesday and Sunday food and fitness party
and Cook blog share and Hearth and Soul blog hop and Way wow party and Fiesta Friday and Real Food Friday  and Sweet inspiration link party and Meatless Monday

 

COCKTAIL KEBABS

COCKTAIL KEBABS

(SPINACH AND BEETROOT KEBABS)

 This is my another recipe whch was publshed n the Vancouver-based Durpan magazne, here is the online link.

I visited the beautiful city of Vancouver in 2014 July with my family. I really liked this busy city, with spectacular beaches and sky high tall buildings on the coastal area. Beaches have breathtaking views, I really enjoyed the beaches and scenic view there.

In my ten days’ visit to Vancouver, I visited many places but the place I enjoyed the most is Stanley park, which is the largest city park in Canada. This park is along the sea with the seawall, which is kilometres and kilometres long, where people are jogging, walking, biking and having lots of fun. There are a varieties of sports, fitness, arts, education and social activities for all ages. My grandchildren really enjoyed the different types of swings and other kids’ activities at Stanley park, together with building a sandcastle at the beach and general beach and sand games. I saw many people having a picnic along the beach. This is a wonderful park where you can stay, relax and enjoy all day long and can have a lot of fun by the sea, fun in the water, swimming, picnic, together with a scenic view and fresh air. I just loved this place!

These days everybody wants to eat healthy and we try to incorporate as many vegetables as we can, in our food. I found this as a healthy alternative to serve vegetables in style, as an appetizer, to my guest.

These are elegant and colourful kebabs made with fresh vegetables -spinach and beetroot. The colour you see in these kebabs is the original colour of these vegetables. They are easy to make and suitable for a party or any other occasion to celebrate, as an appetizer with any chutney of your taste. I serve them with green coriander chutney and tomato ketchup, because the colour of these two chutneys is somewhat matching with the colour of the kebabs. They can be made few hours before and can be reheated in the oven before serving.

RECIPE

INGREDIENTS

For Spinach Balls-

• 1 packet of frozen spinach (400 grams)/ or fresh green spinach

• 3 tbs chickpeas flour
• Salt and red pepper to taste
• 1 tsp coriander powder
• 1 tbs oil for glazing the balls and some oil for frying the balls

METHOD

• Thaw the frozen spinach and remove all the water, then slice it again to make sure there is no whole leaf of spinach left. If you are using fresh spinach, blanch for 5 minutes, when cold squeeze all the water and chop the leaves.
• Dry roast the chickpeas flour in a fry pan on low heat, once it is changing the colour to a few shades darker, remove from gas and leave it to cool.
• When cool, add chickpeas flour into spinach with little salt, pepper, coriander powder and make small balls, using oil to glaze your palms.
• Fry them on medium heat. Once they turn into light greenish golden brown colour, take them out and drain on kitchen towel.

INGREDIENTS

For beetroot balls

• 2 big beetroots (400grams)
• 4 heaped tbs chickpeas flour
• salt and black pepper to taste
• 1 tsp dhaniya powder(coriander powder)
• 1 tbs oil for glazing and more oil for frying.

METHOD

• Wash and Cook beetroot in microwave for 6 to 8 minute, till they are soft and cooked well
• When cold, peel and mash further with potato masher or in food processor.
• Dry roast chickpeas flour on a medium heat in a fry pan, till it is light brown; when cold, mix with mashed beetroot.
• Add salt and pepper, mix well and make small balls with little oil for glazing your palms.
• Fry on a medium heat till it changes colour to a few shades darker.

INGREDIENTS FOR ASSEMBLING

• 1 box of bocconcini/mozzarella cheese balls/paneer squares
• 3 tbs spoon yoghurt or sour cream
• salt and dried mint/or any other herb
• few toothpicks/ small sized skewer
• Spinach balls and beetroot balls

METHOD FOR ASSEMBLING

• Marinate bocconcini/paneer in sour cream/yoghurt with salt and herb for 2 hours.
• Heat spinach and beetroot balls in an oven before serving and arranging on the skewer.
• In a tooth pick or skewer arrange one bocconcini, then one ball of spinach and then one ball of beetroot.
• Serve hot with any sauce or chutney of your taste.
  
  
  I am sharing this recipe as my blog post entry with  Eat your greens. and with Real food Friday and Fiesta Friday  and with Sunday Food and Fitness and Meatless Monday and Sweet inspiration link party  and with Hearth and Soul party and way waw link  and with Tasty Tuesday  and with cook blog share  and Happy healthy and green party and with Healthy Living Link party 
  
  

  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  

  
  
  
  
  

  

  
  
  
  
  

  

  
  
  
  
  

  

  
  
  
  
  
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FOUR BEAN CURRY

FOUR BEAN CURRY

This is my another recipe which was published in the Vancouver-based Darpan magazine, here is the link.

The 68^th United Nations general assembly have declared 2016 - The International year of pulses. Check the website below. The aim of International year of pulses 2016 is to highlight the benefits of pulse-based protein and to encourage people to use lentils in their diet. It means people have globally acknowledged the importance and benefits of lentils.Check this website

 

Lentils and beans are used in many cuisines of the world. Even in Indian cuisine many types of lentils are used and cooked in many ways because a large number of population in India are vegetarians. These beans/lentils are the real sources of protein in the diet of vegetarians. Some of these lentils have the good amount of protein, though it varies from one lentil to another. As I have already mentioned in my whole black lentil curry post ( dal Makhani) , Check here. that in this lentil we get almost same amount of protein as beef.

 

The Punjabi cuisine is famous for different types of bean curries, but this one is a fusion dish in which I added four types of beans-Red kidney beans, white chickpeas, white broad beans/soya beans and black eyed beans.

Beans are considered as the world's healthiest food and this one is a combination of four of those types of beans, in which all the flavours of these four beans are enjoyed together in one bowl. So, this curry is definitely a whole package of protein, calcium, high fibre and iron, when mixed and cooked together. After adding a Punjabi tadka of onion, garlic, ginger and tomato with garam masala, this bean curry gives a distinctive flavour, heavenly aroma and great taste. Enjoy this mouth-watering recipe.

RECIPE

INGREDIENTS

• 100 grams red kidney beans
• 100 grams black eyed beans
• 100 grams white chick peas (cholle/channa)
• 100 grams white soya beans or broad beans

FOR TADKA (TEMPERING)

• 200 grams onion (One big)
• 200 grams tomatoes (One big)
• 4-5 green chillies (Optional)
• 2 tsp ginger and garlic paste.
• 2 tbs tomato puree
• green coriander for garnishing
• 4 tbs oil or ghee 
• Salt and chilli powder to taste
• 1 tsp coriander powder
• 1tsp cumin seeds
• 1 tsp garam masala
• Few green coriander leaves for garnishing

METHOD

• Rinse, wash and soak red kidney beans, white chick peas and soya beans, separately in different bowls for 7-8 hour or overnight.
• Rinse the black eyed beans 3-4 times in water. Pressure cook them together with the soaked soya beans and white chick peas, with little salt and cook for about 5-8 minutes after the whistle. We can boil them together because they all have the same white (cream) colour.
• Now boil the red kidney beans with some salt for 5 -8 minutes in the pressure cooker after the whistle.
• Finely chop the onions, tomatoes and green chillies.

FOR TADKA (TEMPERING)

• Heat oil in a fry pan and add cumin seeds and let them change the colour, then add onions and ginger, garlic paste and green chillies and sauté till light brown.
• Now add chopped tomatoes, salt, red pepper, green chillies and coriander powder, when tomatoes are done, add tomato puree with half cup of water. Mix well and let it boil.
• Combine all the beans in one sauce pan, add this mixture of tadka in beans, mix well and let it boil for five more minutes, now add garam masala and garnish with green coriander.
• Serve hot with roti, naan, dinner bun or rice.
  
  I am sending this recipe as my blog post entry to Real Food Friday  and with Fiesta Friday and with Lisa's kitchen and Susan's for this month's Legume love affair,
  and with sweet Inspiration link and wth meatless Monda  and with Cook blog share and Hearth and soul blog hop  and way wow link and Tasty Tuesday link