Travels for Taste

Tales of travel and food with a touch of spice

Creamy Celeriac and smoked Red Pepper Soup

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A perfect winter warmer

Winter might be on its way, what with milder weather already here but chilly evenings definitely call for a hearty and delicious soup. This time though I had a few red peppers at home and I knew I wanted to smoke them and add them either into a soup or stew instead of my regular dips. So this humble, often ignored root vegetable found its way into my kitchen. Though I have cooked with celeriac in the past, this particular recipe has turned out so well I will be making it over and over again.

Creamy Celeriac soup with fiery spices and smoked red pepper

This soup is a fusion recipe where I use some common methods used in Indian recipes. I choose celeriac because I often walk past in when am shopping for vegetables at our local supermarket or the farmers market but never really bring it home.

Definitely one to save, why not bookmark or print and save this easy to recreate the recipe and you add something new to your weeknight meal plan?

Creamy and moreish Celeriac soup

Flavour Notes

The smoked red pepper and the mild red chilli really packs a punch while the herbs work hard in the background to add delicate undertones which hold their own even with the smoky pepper and healing garlic.

This soup is a brilliant winter warmer and is packed with flavour and healing properties thanks to the turmeric

Suitable for both vegans and vegetarians this soup is really versatile and a meal in itself.

Creamy Celeriac and Smoked Red Pepper Soup

Deliciouslythick and creamy celeriac soup with added flavours from smoked Red Pepper androasted garlic
5 from 8 votes
Print Recipe
Course Soup
Cuisine Fusion
Servings 4

Equipment

  • Oven
  • Any Blender, I use my Froothie Optimum Blender

Ingredients
  

  • 1 Medium sized Celeriac
  • 1 Medium Red Onion
  • 1 Long sweet Red Pepper
  • 5 cloves Garlic
  • 1/2 Mild Red Chilli
  • 1 Sprig of Rosemary
  • 1 Sprig of Thyme
  • 2 Sage leaves
  • 1/2 tsp Cumin
  • 1 Bay Leaf
  • 1 small stick of Cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp Turmeric powder
  • Mixed Seeds for Garnish
  • 2 tsp Olive Oil
  • Salt as per taste
  • Freshly CrackedBlack Pepper

Instructions
 

  • Wash theceleriac thoroughly, using a sharp knife carefully remove the hard-outer skinand chop into cubes
  • Pre-heatoven to 190 °C
  • Roughly chop the red onion and red chilli 
  • Line abaking tray with foil and place the celeriac chunks, Scatter the thyme androsemary and drizzle some olive oil, sea salt and black pepper. Roast in thepre-hea ted oven for around 40 minutes
  • In the last 20 minutes ofthe roasting process, add the chopped red onion, garlic and chilli. If you donot have an oven, simply roast the chopped red onion and garlic in a heavybottomed pan over a medium flame with some olive oil, add the herbs and the cubedceleriac, sauté,add minimal water and cook with a lid on, until the celeriacis soft.
  • While the celeriac cooksin the oven, wash and pat dry the red pepper. Using tongs place on an openflame, turning frequently to char the outside skin. This will impart a deepsmoky flavour to the sweet red pepper. (I love doing this over charcoal on aBBQ during summer!)
  • Let the red pepper cool, then use the back of a spoon to gently peel off the charred skin
  • Once theceleriac is cooked, set aside and allow to cool enough to add in the blender
  • Blend the roasted celeriac,red onion, garlic and the smoked red pepper. Remove the rosemary and thymebefore adding into the blender. Add just enough water to form a thick grainy mixture.I don’t like to blend too fine, this way the soup has a nice thick texture
  • Heat the remaining Oliveoil In a heavy bottomed pot, sautee the bay leaf and cinnamon stick. Thensputter some cumin and then pour the vegetable mixture from the blender. Addthe red chilli powder and turmeric powder and mix well. Simmer on a low flamefor a few minutes with lid on
  • Seasonwith salt, freshly cracked black pepper
  • Garnish withthe mixed seeds and one sage leaf per bowl. I like to sautee the sage leaf in adrop of olive oil before garnishing – it renders the sage leaf crisp and allits fabulous flavours release into the little oil
  • Serve hotwith crusty bread slathered with lashings of butter or vegan butter

Definitely one of the many recipes that I will be making as part of my batch cooking, this soup makes a tasty lunch box treat. You can get really creative with toppings and to add some more oomph why not try drizzled with some coconut cream on top(vegan option) or if you a dollop of thick set creamy yoghurt.

While you are here, browse through my other Soup Recipes

I love reading recipes created by my fellow bloggers, so here are some easy to create recipes, do check them out:

Healthy superfood and smoked salmon salad

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I am on a road to discovering and working with various ideas to create and eat lighter, healthier meals and on one afternoon a few days ago I was faced with a dilemma. The kind of dilemma where one has an apparently full vegetable tray in the refrigerator but consisting of a large variety of this and that. So the salad recipe below is my way of utilising all those beautiful ingredients, preventing food waste, making the most of what my store cupboard essentials, and coming up with a healthy meal.

I love smoked salmon so I always seem to have some in my refrigerator and also had some antipasti ingredients in what remained for a large mix-n-match box from my last visit to Whole Foods.But the best part was finding some good salad leaves which were fresh and the savoy cabbage that would die soon

Healthy superfood and smoked salmon salad

I do hope you can create and enjoy something similar:

Healthy superfood and smoked salmon salad

Healthy superfood and smoked salmon salad

Manjiri Chitnis
A beautiful medley of flavours tocreate one gorgeously healthy and filling meal
Print Recipe
Prep Time 2 minutes
Total Time 2 minutes

Ingredients
  

  • 4 small Smoked salmon slices
  • 1.5 tbsp Shelled hemp
  • 1 tbsp Marinated chopped artichoke hearts
  • 2 Roasted marinated mini red peppers stuffed with garlic
  • 1/2 small Red onion chopped fine
  • 2 -3 Red chicory leaves
  • 2 Savoy cabbage leaves
  • 1 tbsp Alfalfa sprouts
  • 4-5 Baby courgettes sliced lengthwise
  • 1 tbsp Mixed nuts – cashews walnuts, raisins
  • Black olives – to garnish
  • Chocolate balsamic vinegar to drizzle and season

Instructions
 

  • In a bowl add the shelled hemp, chopped onion, salad leaves- red chicory and savoy cabbage, Alfalfa sprouts, Baby courgettes and add a generous slosh of Chocolate balsamic vinegar
  • On a bed of salad leaves arrange the help and onion mixture and place the smoked salmon slices
  • Arrange the mini red peppers stuffed with cheese, artichoke hearts around the salmon.
  • Garnish with mixed nuts and enjoy

And since I am hosting #CreditCrunchMunch for March 2016 I am linking up this recipe made using leftover ingredients and some vegetables that would otherwise have wilted and died like cabbage, or the last bits from my antipasti box – a thrifty recipe idea I say! #CreditCrunchMunch is a fab link up started by Helen of Fuss free flavours and Camilla of Fab food for all. Don’t forget to link up your thrifty ideas with my guest hosting post here.

Credit-Crunch-Munch-Just-Pic
Healthy superfood and smoked salmon salad

Flu-fighting Chinese chicken noodle soup

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Last week the flu bug got to me, high temperature, sore throat and runny nose – the works. What followed is an onslaught of medication and most of the week seems like a blur. All I know is that in the fever-induced delirium, I tried every possible home remedy that my mother and grandmother have tried on my sister and I growing up.

Now along with Chinese New Year and Valentines, my husbands birthday and our anniversary follow in quick succession. Imagine spending all these wonderful shivering under a duvet sniffling into a tissue. Tough, eh?

So when Blue Dragon sent me this fabulous bunch of ingredients as part of a Chinese new year challenge, I really could only think of one thing – a grand 3-course home-cooked Chinese meal which is not just ready in 30 minutes flat but incorporates a delicious and healthy flu-fighting soup and healthier options for popular Chinese dishes.

Having had every possible type of mild soup under the sun in the past few days, I am finally starting to get my taste buds back. Some fiery chilli to fire up my wok was definitely in order.

Blue Dragon store cupboard essentials

If you like me are looking to create a healthy 3-course Chinese meal along with a flu-fighting formula using just one wok and some basic kitchen equipment then look no further. Why? Because – The comforting combination of soupy noodle broth and chicken with vegetables is sure to go down a treat – whether you really are fighting the flu or simply looking for a boost to your immunity. This soup will not let you down.

The Egg fried rice with candied salmon chunks is a treat minus the guilt of a greasy takeaway. Stir-fried vegetables in black bean sauce are amongst the most popular items in any menu and serving them with smoked tofu is one of my favourite treats. I make this stir fry very often and having Blue Dragon black bean sauce on hand is very handy as it gives a very authentic taste to this popular dish.

This meal can be prepared in 30 minutes flat if you ensure that all the prep is done beforehand. The best part is if you have trusty good wok then you can literally breeze through this process with thanks to the handy products from Blue Dragon.

Flu-fighting Chinese chicken noodle soup

Manjiri Chitnis
Flu-fightingChinese Lemongrass chicken noodle soup – great as a starter and even better asa main course.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 1 minute
Cook Time 9 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine Chinese
Servings 2 people

Ingredients
  

  • Blue Dragon light soy sauce – as per taste
  • 2 nests Blue Dragon wheat noodles
  • 500 ml good quality fresh Chicken stock
  • 250 gm Chicken thigh pieces – cut into long thin strips
  • 1/2 Carrot peeled and chopped
  • 2 leaves Cavolo nero
  • 1 handful Baby Spinach leaves
  • 4 large green Pak choi leaves
  • 3 large bulbs of Garlic chopped fine
  • a stub of garlic about half the size of your thumb slit into thin long strips
  • 1/2 Lemongrass stalk separated
  • 4-5 strips of a spicy red chilli
  • 2 tsp sesame oil
  • some fresh Coriander for seasoning

Instructions
 

  • Boil approximately 2 large mugs full of water in the kettle
  • Place the Blue Dragon wheat noodle nests in a saucepan and pour the boiling water onto it, bring to a boil on a medium flame
  • Drizzle some olive oil and sprinkle some salt while the noodles are boiling.
  • Cook until a little more than al dente’
  • Strain and wash under cold water and set aside, use the same saucepan to start boiling the rice for the egg fried rice. This allows you to save time.
  • While the noodles are cooking, fire up the wok
  • When it begins to smoke, lower the heat, and add the sesame oil
  • Sauté the chopped garlic, ginger, and chillies – the holy trinity of Chinese cooking along with the lemongrass just until the fragrance is released.
  • Now add the Cavolo Nero and pak choi and stir for a few seconds allowing the fragrant spices to the greens and the oil to coat them
  • Then add the stock and the chicken strips and carrot. Add some water to allow a proper broth to form for all the ingredients.
  • Add salt to taste
  • Cover and the wok and cook on medium-high until the chicken is cooked through
  • Remove the soup into another saucepan and wipe down the wop using kitchen roll
  • Set wok aside to cool
  • When ready to serve, refresh the noodles by pouring some boiled water onto them
  • Add noodles into each bowl and ladle the steaming hot soup onto the noodles
  • Garnish with sprigs of fresh coriander and serve immediately
Keyword Flu-fighting Chinese Chicken noodle soup
Flu-fighting chicken noodle soup

Black bean tofu and green veggie overload stir fry

Manjiri Chitnis
Black bean tofu and green veggie overload stir fry
Print Recipe
Prep Time 2 minutes
Cook Time 6 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine Chinese
Servings 2 people

Ingredients
  

  • 120 gm Blue Dragon stir fry sauce – 1 pouch
  • 220 gm of mixed green vegetables
  • 3 large bulbs of garlic chopped fine
  • 1/2 Ginger – thumb-sized -slit into thin long strips
  • 1/2 Lemongrass stalk separated
  • 1 Red chilli strips
  • 1.5 tbsp sesame oil
  • 6 – 8 bite-sized chunks of smoked tofu
  • 1/4 tsp white sesame seeds to garnish

Instructions
 

  • After thoroughly wiping down the wok, place on high heat and add the sesame oil
  • Flash fry the ginger, garlic, and chillies
  • Turn the heat down to medium and stir continuously so to not allow the spices to burn
  • Stir fry the smoked tofu pieces for about 2 – 3 minutes and remove the tofu into a bowl
  • The mixed green vegetables I used included- green Pak Choi (5-6 small leaves), Cavolo Nero (2 big leaves), sugar snap peas and green beans -about a handful, 2 large sprigs of broccoli
  • 6.
  • Fold the Cavolo Nero leaves into half and cut into long horizontal strips
  • then add the entire contents of the Blue Dragon black bean sauce pouch
  • Stir in the sugar snap peas, broccoli, and green beans, cook for about two minutes
  • Then add the Pak Choi and Cavolo Nero and stir fry so that the leaves still remain crunchy, do not overcook as the stir fry will loose its essence if you do
  • Transfer from wok to a serving plate, top with the fried smoked tofu
  • Set wok aside to cool
  • Sprinkle some white sesame seeds to garnish
Vegetables and smoked tofu stir fried in black bean sauce

Mirin Soaked Salmon steaks in sweet chilli sauce

Manjiri Chitnis
Mirin Soaked Salmon steaks in sweet chilli sauce
Print Recipe
Prep Time 2 minutes
Total Time 2 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine Chinese

Ingredients
  

  • 2 tbsp Blue Dragon sweet chilli sauce
  • 1 tsp sesame oil
  • 1 fillet of salmon cut into 4 big chunks – approximately 130 gm

Instructions
 

  • Leave the salmon chunks to soak in a generous amount of mirin before starting out on the soup
  • After the stir fry is done, wipe down the wok with kitchen towels and place it on low heat.
  • Cook the salmon in the hot oil until each side is down, should hardly take 30 seconds each side, given that the wok is already hot and the delicate fresh fish cooks very quickly too
  • Pour Blue Dragon sweet chilli sauce on the fried salmon chunks, the heat of the wok will partly caramelise the sauce of the salmon forming a thin crispy crunchy coating
  • Remove immediately into a clean bowl and set aside until ready to serve with the egg fried rice
  • Set wok aside to cool
Egg fried rice with mirin soaked sweet chilli salmon

Chinese egg fried rice with peas

Manjiri Chitnis
Chineseegg fried rice with peas
Print Recipe
Prep Time 5 minutes
Total Time 5 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine Chinese
Servings 2 people

Ingredients
  

  • 1/2 cup brown rice and wild rice mix
  • 1 medium egg
  • 1/2 a shallot sliced lengthwise
  • 1 heaped tbsp green peas
  • Water to boil the rice

Instructions
 

  • In the same saucepan used for cooking the noodles, rinse and cook the washed rice. The trick to cooking perfectly fluffy rice each time is to use exactly double the amount of water to the quantity of rice used. That is my thumb rule and it never fails me
  • Once the rice is done set the saucepan aside
  • Wipe down the wok after preparing the fish, you may need to use another wooden spatula to scrape off the sticky bits from the wok before starting out with the fried rice
  • Crack an egg into the wok set on a medium flame
  • Stirring continuously scramble the egg and add the chopped shallot, spritz some oil onto the wok to cook the shallots
  • Ensure you keep stirring so that the egg doesn’t get lumpy and overcooked and the shallot doesn’t burn
  • Add Blue Dragon light soy sauce and stir well
  • Then add the cooked rice, season with some salt and stir and mix well
  • Cook for under a minute on high heat and add in the peas and mix
  • Take the wok off the heat and set aside
Egg fried rice with mirin soaked sweet chilli salmon

After the soup, to assemble the meal, plate the rice and garnish with some spring onion greens, string one large juicy piece of salmon onto a small wooden skewer and place on the rice.

Top with a side of the stir-fried greens and smoked tofu in black bean sauce.

Serve the flu-fighting Chinese Lemongrass chicken noodle soup in generous amounts – piping hot. For me, the noodle soup was a meal on its own. But for my husband, the stir-fry and egg fried rice with a juicy and crunchy chunk of salmon made his day!

I truly believe that to be able to create some magic in your kitchen with the right ingredients and some basic tricks under your hat is not as difficult as it may sound. I am so happy that I was able to create a 3-course delicious meal in 30 minutes flat – but am most proud of my flu-fighting soup recipe. This one is going to appear on my weekly menu throughout winter now. After all, who can deny that warding off the flu bug cannot be done in a more delicious and fun immune boosting way?!

*This post is an entry to the Foodies100 Chinese New Year recipe challenge sponsored by Blue Dragon. The range of Blue Dragon products is available in all major supermarkets at an RRP from £0.69. To find out more, visit www.bluedragon.co.uk

Flu-fighting chicken noodle soup

*With thanks to Blue Dragon for sending me samples for review. No request was made for a positive review. Sponsored post. As usual, all opinions expressed here are entirely my own.

Grilled fruit kebabs with a chilli honey drizzle

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I have been craving some grilled food for a while. But my waistline will not take kindly to anything greasy so I went and bought myself a bunch of juicy peaches, nectarines and bright red strawberries and decided to make myself a huge bowl of fruity grilled goodness.

Grilled Fruit Kebabs with a chilli honey drizzle
Grilled Fruit Kebabs with a chilli honey drizzle

I know the weather is dreary and not really right for starting up a barbeque so it is a relief that I can still get great results with a good griddle pan. Perfect for testing out my new cast aluminium grill pan then?

I really like the colour combination of red and black and because this cast aluminium grill pan is from the ultra-light cookware range by House of Fraser it is so much easier use especially to flip pancakes in! I was also a bit worried that now that I am in a new house and my new kitchen has electric hobs ( I so miss the gas hob! sob sob…) how things would turn out but the grill pan works on electric hobs just as fine as well as solid hot plates, gas, ceramic hobs, halogen and induction – so versatile. The best part is that it has a little groove on the side where your wooden or plastic spatula can rest – very handy.

Cast aluminium grill pan from the House of Fraser
Cast aluminium grill pan from the House of Fraser

Grilled fruit kebabs with a chilli honey drizzle

Perfect for summer, a great way to enjoy fruit, vegetarian and vegan-friendly fruit kebab dish
Print Recipe
Grilled fruit kebabs with a chilli honey drizzle
 
Cuisine: Starter
Author: Manjiri
Ingredients
  • [b]For the grilled fruit[/b]
  • 1 cup of mixed chopped fruits – pineapple, peaches, kiwi, banana
  • sea salt
  • wooden skewers
  • Blueberries for garnish
  • [b]For the tangy drizzle[/b]
  • 4 tablespoons honey
  • A generous sprinkle of smoked paprika
  • Juice of one lemon
  • 1 tablespoon mint leaves chopped fine
Instructions
  1. As it was the first time I was using the grill pan, it needed to be washed with warm soapy water <g class=”gr_ gr_121 gr-alert gr_spell undefined ContextualSpelling” id=”121″ data-gr-id=”121″>before-hand</g> and left to air dry. Also, the pan works best on the hob that matches the size of the pan.
  2. Chop the fruit into large kebab sized pieces.
  3. Allow the pan to heat for 2 minutes so that it is the right temperature – this may not be required on a gas flame hob.
  4. Carefully place the fruit pieces on the pan and gently press down with a wooden spatula. This ensures that the fruit will not bruise too much but also will ensure that the soft flesh touches the hot ridges to give it the trademark grilled effect.
  5. [cap id=”attachment_3627″ align=”aligncenter” width=”800″][url href=”https://travelsfortaste.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/IMG_2906-Copy.jpg”][img src=”https://travelsfortaste.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/IMG_2906-Copy.jpg” width=”800″ height=”534″ class=” size-full” title=”Making Grilled Fruit Kebabs on a cast aluminium pan”][/url]Making Grilled Fruit Kebabs on a cast aluminium pan[/cap]
  6. Allow for about 2 -3 minutes, about 1.5 minutes each side on high heat but check by flipping over gently. The softer fruit especially the peaches and kiwi will take lesser time <g class=”gr_ gr_111 gr-alert gr_gramm undefined Grammar multiReplace” id=”111″ data-gr-id=”111″>on</g> the pan while the pineapple and banana will take longer.
  7. Sprinkle some sea salt over the fruit.
  8. After the fruit has dry roasted on each side transfer to a plate and set aside.
  9. Remove the pan from the hob and move to a rivet or a cooling down and allow it to come down to room temperature.
  10. In a small pan over low heat, add the honey and some water to dilute give the mixture a little, mix the smoked paprika powder as per taste and immediately take it off the heat. Pour the lime juice in and the add the chopped mint leaves, mix well.
  11. Alternating between pineapple, kiwi, strawberry and peach cubes gently thread the grilled fruit onto the skewers. I like the little wooden skewers which <g class=”gr_ gr_114 gr-alert gr_gramm undefined Grammar multiReplace” id=”114″ data-gr-id=”114″>makes</g> it easier to eat them as well. Add a blueberry at the end of each skewer for visual effect.
  12. Pour the tangy honey drizzle onto the grilled fruit and garnish with some finely chopped fresh mint leaves for a fresh and light taste. Squeeze some more lemon juice on top before serving.
 
Grilled Fruit Kebabs with a chilli honey drizzle
                                                            Grilled Fruit Kebabs with a chilli honey drizzle
*With thanks to House of Fraser for sending me a Linea Cast Aluminium Grill Pan  28cm  for review.  As usual all opinions expressed here are entirely my own.

Mixed berries, finger millet and amaranth GF Pancakes

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Coconut Yoghurt is something that will change your life forever, I think I have jumped on the coconut yoghurt bandwagon a little late but better late than never right? I mean considering that coconut oil used for cooking and as a moisturizer and of course hair oil – I have done it all thanks to having lived in Mumbai. The most amazing taste of coconut oil in food I have eaten has got to be the banana chips sold at small tiny shops mostly to be found outside railway stations where raw banana slices are deep-fried in a massive wok gingerly balanced on a gas stove. It is a miracle how though these street food stall owners manage to function in tiny spaces in the busy bustling lanes adjoining stations – it is just something I shall never be able to figure out!

Ok back to coconut yoghurt – I wanted to use them in pancakes and also use a mix of flours to come up with a pancake that is not just fluffy but a bit crunchy too – a fusion of the dosa with the pancake really. This time I left out the Natvia sugar and upped the berries and let the natural fruit sugars do their magic.

Co Yo is a very creamy and delicious yoghurt made with coconut milk – it is 100% dairy-free , 100% gluten-free – and true to their tag line it really does taste like – heaven in a mouthful! An offshoot of Planet Organic these are now manufactured in Kent by Bethany and her husband Paul, read all about it here.

Mixed berries finger millet amaranth pancakes with CoYo
Mixed berries finger millet amaranth pancakes with CoYo

Health Benefits of these pancakes:

  • Finger Millet prevents any spikes in blood sugar as it is naturally Low GI
  • No added sugars mean it is refined sugar-free and safe for diabetics
  • The use of amaranth which is GF and a great source of protein. It contains lysine which most grains lack.
  • High Fiber
  • The omission of semolina will make this recipe suitable for vegans too
  • 100% dairy-free, 100% gluten-free coconut yoghurt
  • Thick and creamy consistency from the coconut milk yoghurt
  • A great option for people aiming to loose weight as part of a balanced diet with exercise
  • Low carb and low-fat recipe suitable for those looking to maintain low levels of bad cholesterol ( diabetes patients face a risk of increased cholesterol)

Amaranth is a gluten–free food and a source of complete protein—it contains all the essential amino acids, including lysine, which is lacking in most grains. High in fiber and a good source of magnesium and iron, Amaranth is a spectacular addition to your diet.

Serves: 1 – makes 6 mini pancakes – double up quantity for 2 people

Preparation and Cooking time:15 minutes + 20 minutes to rest the pancake mix

Ingredients:

  • 4 heaped tbsp finger millet flour / Nachni in Marathi / Ragi in Hindi
  • 1 tbsp Amaranth flour / Rajgira in Marathi and Hindi
  • 2 tbsp toasted semolina / toasted rava – OMIT for a vegan version
  • 2 tbsp oats
  • 2 pots  CoYo – one plain and one with vanilla
  • Handful of blueberries
  • Handful of blackberries
  • Handful of raspberries
  • Olive Oil
  • Water
Mixed berries finger millet amaranth pancakes with CoYo
Mixed berries finger millet amaranth pancakes with CoYo

Method:

  •  In a large bowl add the oats, amaranth flour, semolina. Then add both the pots of yoghurt and mix well. To make your pancakes GF omit the semolina.
  • Then chop the foods roughly and add them into the mixture.
Pancake mix with CoYo
Pancake mix with CoYo
  • Dilute the mixture with water until you get a consistency good enough to pour into the pan and make a pancake.
  • Set aside for 20 minutes to allow the mixture to develop a good consistency. In my first attempt I did not add oats and used the mix immediately – the difference with oats and resting time is a fluffier pancake that has more bounce and kick 😉
  • Heat a pan on a medium flame and add 1 tsp of olive oil then spoon the mixture and flip when the pancake starts to separate from the side using a wooden spatula.
  • For maximum effect stack the pancakes on a fancy plate, serve with a large dollop of CoYo, and a handful of mixed berries.
Mixed berries finger millet amaranth pancakes with CoYo
Mixed berries finger millet amaranth pancakes with CoYo

*With thanks to CoYo for sending over the samples. No monetary compensation was offered for a positive review. All opinions expressed here are entirely my own. Kindly do not reproduce any images without my prior permission. Please consult your doctor if you have been diagnosed as a Diabetic before making any drastic changes to your diet. None of the information in this post is to be used for self-diagnostic and/or medical purposes. Please consult your doctor and / or a trained dietitian for any existing health conditions.

Ragi Pancakes with blueberries (Finger Millet)

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Healthy Ragi Pancakes, Finger Millet Pancakes

I am obsessed with this healthy millet! I have been cooking a variety of dishes with Nachni (Marathi) / Ragi (Hindi) or Finger Millet as it is popularly known in the past few days. From savoury pancakes to porridge and using them in other recipes, I have been experimenting with them for a while now. I wanted to try using them as an alternative to regular pancakes so thought I would rustle up some sweet Ragi pancakes. But had to keep them healthy so opted for Soya Yoghurt instead of eggs which makes these vegan-friendly and then I added in oats so that makes them gluten-free too.

Nachni chya god polya

I really wanted to come up with some name for the Marathi alternative to this recipe and ‘Nachni chya god polya’ sounded like fun 😉

Finger Millet Blueberry Pancakes / Ragi Pancakes

Light and puffy these are just perfect when you are craving pancakes but a healthier version is what you really want!

Ragi and Blueberry Pancakes , Finger Millet Blueberry Pancakes, Nachni chya god polya

Ragi is known to have a whole host of health benefits:

  • Popular amongst diabetics due to it’s low GI
  • High is dietary fiber
  • Rich in calcium, iron and thiamine
  • It is an aid to healthy weight loss due to it’s very low fat content
  • It is a good source of GF protien
  • Popular as a baby food too

Nutritional value of finger millet per 100g

  • Protein 7.6g
  • Fat 1.5g
  • Carbohydrate 88g
  • Calcium 370mg
  • Vitamins – A: 0.48mg
  • Thiamine (B1): 0.33mg
  • Riboflavin (B2): 0.11mg
  • Niacin: (B3) 1.2mg
  • Fiber 3g

Beautiful fields of Ragi

800px-Millet_fields_in_Annapurna

Image Credit: Mikael Häggström

Why you should make these Ragi pancakes!

As if you need any excuses for making blueberry pancakes!!! But anyway, here are some major health benefits.

  • Low GI due to the finger millet flour so ideal for diabetics as it keeps blood sugar levels steady avoiding any sudden spikes and crashes.
  • Gluten-free
  • Ideal for vegans
  • Dairy-Free
  • Egg Free
  • Refined sugar-free as Natvia is a great sugar substitute
  • The oats ensure that this pancake keeps you fuller longer

Ragi and Blueberry Pancakes/ Finger Millet Blueberry Pancakes

Manjiri Chitnis
Healthy Ragi/ Finger millet recipe, low- GI, Vegan, Gluten -free, easy to follow, quick recipe
5 from 2 votes
Print Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Course Breakfast
Cuisine Fusion Indian
Servings 1 person

Ingredients
  

  • 6 tbsp heaped – Gluten-free Oats
  • 4 tbsp heaped Ragi flour / Finger Millet Flour
  • 3 tbsp Soya yoghurt – I used Alpro – it’s approved by the Vegan society
  • Handful Fresh Blueberries
  • As reqd Water
  • 4 tsp Natvia or any sweetener – adjust quantity as per taste
  • 1 tsp unsalted plant spread or low calorie cooking oil spray

Instructions
 

  • In a large mixing bowl add the oats and finger millet and then the yoghurt
  • Mix well and a thick mixture will form
  • Heat about 2 cups of water in a kettle and let it cool down a bit
  • Slowly pour into the mixture and set aside for about 5-7 minutes
  • Then mix well to form a batter ensuring that it is not runny but has a good consistency, then add the Natvia and stir well till it all dissolves, adjust as per taste
  • On a non-stick pan on medium heat melt one heaped tbsp unsalted butter or if your using the 1 cal sunflower oil spray then about 6 – 8 sprays are enough
  • Ladle enough of the batter in the centre of the pan enough for a mini pancake, do not spread it like a dosa as the batter will disintegrate
  • Cook on each side for about one minute with a lid
  • Use a wooden spatula to loosen the side done first and flip over carefully, the more the blueberries in each pancake that you ladle into the pan the more the water content as the heat will make the fruit pop and melt into gooey fruity goodness Don’t fret if the first few pancakes break especially where the fruit is at the edge
Keyword Ragi Pancakes
Ragi and Blueberry Pancakes , Finger Millet Blueberry Pancakes, Nachni chya god polya

My pancake stack collapsed just as I was about to photograph it – humfph! But it was a very satisfying, delicious, and healthy breakfast which even my husband loved – win-win! Woohoo 🙂

A word of caution though excessive consumption may lead to kidney trouble so don’t over do the consumption.

Fun-Fact about Ragi

Lastly a fun fact! Did you know that the grains are fermented to make a beer in some parts in Nepal? Cool or what?!

Ragi and Blueberry Pancakes , Finger Millet Blueberry Pancakes, Nachni chya god polya

LEARN HOW TO MAKE INDIAN FOOD FROM SCRATCH WITH MY EASY TO FOLLOW RECIPES

References:

  • Wiki
  • Supra Organics
  • Veg Weight Loss Diets

Tofu and whole red lentils salad

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A love affair with Tofu

I am currently in love with a few things like red lentils, avocados, butternut nut squash, oranges, baby spinach, baby kale, walnuts and matcha green tea. I somehow can’t seem to get enough of this. Also my love affair with tofu is just getting more passionate.

Easy Vegetarian Tofu Salad

The long Easter weekend has sped past far too quickly for me and I am now back to work. I just wanted to keep lunch really light today – guilty after ordering a Chinese takeaway yesterday *sad face*

So this recipe is basically me throwing together stuff found in my fridge, not necessarily planned but just what I thought would taste yummy and am very pleased with the result.

Fusion Indian Salad

Whole Masoor Dal and Tofu salad
Whole Masoor Dal and Tofu salad

Whole Masoor daal and Tofu salad

Manjiri Chitnis
Deicious, fusion Indian flavours in a vegetraian salad that is wholesome and very easy to put together
Print Recipe
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Course Salad
Cuisine Fusion Indian
Servings 2 people

Ingredients
  

  • 80 gm Baby Spinach
  • 150 gm Whole Red lentils
  • 50 gm Tofu
  • 75 gm Butternut Squash and sweet potato diced
  • 1/2 Avocado
  • 1/2 Knorr stock pot – onion gravy
  • 1/2 Knorr stock pot mixed chillies
  • Few Walnuts chopped roughly to garnish

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 180 degrees celsius
  • Line a baking tray with a baking sheet
  • place the diced butternut squash and sweet potato, drizzle some olive oil, smoked sea salt, and black pepper.
  • Wash the whole red lentils ( laal masoor ) in a sieve under running water
  • Place the washed whole red lentils with double the quantity of water in a small saucepan and add in the Knorr stock pots of onion gravy and mixed chillies.
  • Cover with a lid and allow to boil until the dal is completely cooked. Top up with more water if you think it is running dry
  • Place the tofu on a non-stick pan and dry roast on a low-medium flame for about 4 minutes each side or until done
  • Meanwhile, half the avocado, scoop out the flesh and roughly cut into large chunks with a spoon
  • Remove the butternut squash and sweet potato from the oven and set aside
  • Remove the lid from the saucepan with the cooked whole red lentils and allow them to rest for a while, as they should not be too hot when served, also allowing it to sit will help the dal to absorb any excess water, if there is too much excess water simply drain it
  • To plate, divide the spinach leaves equally on the plate, then serve the cooked masoor dal on top, followed by the oven roasted butternut squash and sweet potato, dry roasted tofu and finally top with the walnuts to garnish

Notes

  • Laal = Red in Marathi
  • Masoor = Red Lentils in Marathi
  • For this recipe, I have used whole red lentils with brown skin on. Alternatively, if you are pressed for time, you could use cooked ready to eat Puy lentils, but then you would accordingly need to adjust the time used to cook them with the stockpot I use a fan assisted oven, adjust setting accordingly to suit your oven type
  • I purchased a ready to roast pack of diced butternut squash and sweet potato from the supermarket
  • If like me you like to batch cook and also have cooked ingredients at hand to use at a later date, then, you could roast a larger batch of the diced butternut squash and sweet potato, so that you have these ready to be used in soups, salads, and curries
  • If you like your tofu firm then cut out about 1/4th of the tofu from the pack and place it on a kitchen towel to remove excess water, then place another plate on top keep something on this plate to weigh it down. Leave aside for 10 minutes. This should drain the excess water from the tofu. Alternatively, just cut the tofu straight from the pack into large chunks
  • If like me, you haven’t drained and pressed the tofu to become extra firm, then handle it very gently with a wooden spatula as it easily crumbles

Quick and easy fusion Indian vegetarian salad recipe

Whole Masoor Dal and Tofu salad
Whole Masoor Dal and Tofu salad

I found that this salad didn’t require any dressing or drizzling as the cooked dal works well with the succulent and sweet squash and the tofu adds texture and tastes great with the spinach. Walnuts add crunch, taste fab and are great for those who try this salad for the first time expecting it to be boring. Avocado I like with everything so I simply like having it in there.

I am up for experimenting and may try various permutations of this salad with the following toppings, not only will they make your salad more interesting but also help you reduce food wastage by finding new ways to recycle any of the following leftovers :

  • Steamed fish – salmon and topped with pine nuts
  • Pan grilled Tofu and walnuts
  • Slices of pork salami with nuts

I shall be reporting back with happy experiments with salads and smoothies soon  for now am just very satisfied with the end result and the fact that I am back to eating healthy.

Whole Masoor Dal and Tofu salad
Whole Masoor Dal and Tofu salad

Looking for recipe inspiration to create your own salad? Why not browse through my other salad recipe posts:

Recipes where salads are the Main event

Seafood salads

Vegetarian Salads

Salads as a side dish

Kale, Spinach and fruity superfood smoothie

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Am back with another smoothie post, this one was even better than my previous green one in that, that hubster really enjoyed it and was blissfully unaware about how much Kale he had unknowingly added into his system 🙂

Also, Chia seeds are now a permanent feature of our smoothies and I add them into our porridge too, they are quite bland on their own and go with almost anything. They are a superfood and antioxidant boosting. Besides starting your day with a green smoothie keeps you going for longer, with a healthier fuller feeling which does not spike your blood sugar levels as some other sugar-laden juices can do , which then suddenly lead to a crash and thus result in hunger pangs.

What’s fab about this smoothie?

  • Chia seeds are 100% natural whole grains that are rich in omega-3, antioxidants, fibre, vitamins, and minerals. Great for those who have Type 2 diabetes as chia seeds can significantly lower blood pressure and a marker for inflammation.
  • Kale is rich in Vitamins K and C and is calcium, also it contains a chemical called sulforaphane which has anti-cancer properties.
  • Spinach helps boost iron levels and is a rich source of various Vitamins like B2, K, C & A.
Kale, Spinach and fruity superfood smoothie

Kale, Spinach and fruity super food smoothie

Manjiri Chinis
Delicious smoothie packed with the green goodness of spinach and kale
Print Recipe
Prep Time 2 minutes
Cook Time 2 minutes
Course Breakfast
Cuisine Fusion
Servings 2

Equipment

  • Blender

Ingredients
  

  • 250 gm Large handful of baby spinach leaves per person
  • 250 gm Large handful of Kale leaves per person
  • 2 avocadoes
  • 1 pear
  • Coconut water
  • a small knob of ginger
  • Chia seeds and fresh berries to garnish

Instructions
 

  • Chop the ginger into small bits after roughly removing the skin, if the ginger is super fresh you can use the back of a spoon to easily peel of the fine layer of skin.
  • Roughlychop the pear
  • Half the avocados, remove the seed and roughly make large chunks
  • Washthe spinach and kale under running water in a colander
  • Simplychuuk all the above ingredients into a food processor with the coconut waterand add very little water just to give the smoothie some more movement while itmixes in the food processor
  • Adjust the quantitiesaccording to how many servings you want to make
  • Sprinkle with some chia seeds and a raspberry or two and drink up for a delicious and filling smoothie that will do wonders for your body and mind!
Keyword smoothie

* With information gleaned off Wiki and some other useful sites and articles. Having said that am not a nutrition expert and am trying hard to get onto a balanced diet and exercise regime and educating myself to understand superfoods, how to eat cleaner, healthier and incorporate more raw foods, how to eat the right food at the right time to reduce blood sugar and how to fight off diabetes and other obesity led disorders.

Kale, Spinach and fruity superfood smoothie
Kale, Spinach and fruity superfood smoothie

I use my powerful and efficient Froothie U.K Optimum G2.1 Platinum blender to make my smoothies. I cannot imagine a single day in my kitchen where I go without using the blender. Why not have a look at my other recipes where I have made a quick job of the prep using my Froothie UK blender:

Butternut Squash and Lentil Soup

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As spring begins to unfold and the weather changes to beautiful sunny days and chilly evenings, I like that we can still enjoy warming and wholesome soups. Butternut squash is so versatile and there are various ways to use it in soups, curries, salads, etc.

Soup and stews are a great meal option for so many reasons, here are my top 5 reasons why I enjoy cooking both:

  • Delicious, hearty and wholesome
  • Easy, fuss-free one-pot style cooking, saves time
  • Great for batch-cooking
  • Ideal for busy mid-week meals
  • Easy to please fussy eaters!
  • Just combine with bread, various toppings and add an extra dash of something special
  • Add lentils to bulk out soups and stews

This recipe is created by Chef Annie James at Sunrise of Tettenhall for Sunrise Senior Living who make sure that all of their recipes are nutritious and tasty, making them great for everyone, not just the elderly. Of the many recipe options, they sent me I choose to make this one because I simply adored red lentils as those who read my blog will know. The buttery aroma of onions sauteing which filled my kitchen was simply amazing and very satisfying. Needless to say, the soup went down and treat and even normally fussy hubster greedily licked his bowl clean – no better compliment than that folks isn’t it? I must admit I couldn’t resist adding a bit of my own personal finishing touches as my palate is so used to all the spicy and tangy little add-on’s that I normally use 😉

Butternut Squash and Red Lentil Soup

Chef Annie James at Sunrise of Tettenhall for Sunrise Senior Living
Hearty and delicious Butternut squash soup with added protien and taste with quick cooking red lentils
5 from 2 votes
Print Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Course Soup
Cuisine Fusion
Servings 4 people

Equipment

  • Saucepan

Ingredients
  

  • 400 ml vegetable stock
  • 150 gms Butternut Squash – peeled and diced into bite-sized bits
  • 60 gms Dried red lentil i.e. masoor dal – split without skin
  • 3 Carrots – peeled and diced into small bits
  • 2 Red onion – peeled and chopped fine
  • 12 gms Unsalted butter
  • Sea salt with a hint of garlic
  • Freshly cracked black pepper
  • A small quantity of fresh coriander to garnish

Instructions
 

  • In a large saucepan or stockpot melt the butter on a medium flame
  • Sauté’ the finely chopped onions in the butter for just under 4- 5 minutes till they turn a beautiful golden-brown colour and reduce
  • Then add in the chopped carrots, squash, and sauté’ for a further 2- 3 minutes.
  • Now stir in the vegetable stock and the red lentils
  • Reduce to a low flame and let the soup simmer gently
  • Cook until the vegetables and lentils are tender
  • Allow the soup to cool down to room temperature, then using a hand blender puree’ until smooth, or as I did, give it a whizz in your food processor
  • Season with sea salt with garlic or plain sea salt and add a generous sprinkling of freshly cracked black pepper
  • Garnish with just a small amount of finely chopped fresh coriander
  • Serve hot ideally with a slice of warm crusty bread with a dollop of butter. If your conscience allows it stir in a small amount of fresh cream into the soup or smother your crusty bread with some freshly made garlic butter
Keyword Butternut Squash Soup

Looking for easy to make, delicious Soup and Stew recipes? Why not browse through some of my easy to follow recipes:

*With thanks to Sunrise Senior Living and the  PR team for reimbursing the expense for ingredients. No monetary compensation was offered for a positive review. As always all opinions expressed here are entirely my own. 

Easy Moroccan Chicken one pot meal

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The chill in the air is just right for warming one-pot meals. Make them healthy, quick, and easy to put together and you have a winner on your hands. Last year at the Cake and Bake show which I attended with a dear friend and fellow blogger,  I ended up spending a bomb (£££!!!!) on four different sized pots – non – stick being one of their biggest virtues. One of them is a huge wok which I intend to use to make a stir fry over the weekend. The coating is said to last for years and each vessel comes with a glass lid. I can apparently also shove them directly into the oven but haven’t tried that yet. The big and rather saucepan is what I use as my crockpot for making one-pot meals in. In fact, there is something very comforting watching a warming curry or gorgeously tasty and nutritious one-pot meals!

heaven in a saucepan - healthy , happy meals begin here!

Ok so coming back to my one pot recipe. I had a bag of baby spinach leaves in my fridge and was craving a wholesome soupy stew with lots of vegetables. So managed to gather a few things that I think would taste great together and then added in Knorr onion gravy pots and Knorr mixed chilli pot for flavour and the result was so very satisfying.  But the best part was adding in Ras El Hanout a delicious and fiery moroccan and North African fragrant spice mix. The delicate dried rose petals look so pretty , that’s why I decided to name my dish Moroccan Chicken one pot.I also devoured it for lunch today – umm.

Moroccan Chicken one pot meal

Make this in a large quantity and it will freeze well. Batch cooking is highly recommended as it saves you time and ensures that you do not eat things that you will end up regretting when you are hard pressed for time and simply cannot cook.The freezer is a wonderful boon, use it!

I purchased a beautiful Red Leicester and Pumpkin seed batard to go with my meal – it is soul-satisfying to mop up the thick gravy with the bread while sitting on the couch watching my fav crime show on the telly, feeling all warm and happy.

The best part of this recipe is I haven’t added in potatoes or extra sugar to taste and yet the flavours are so well balanced. (Though both gravy pots do contain sugar) I love stocking up on these tiny Knorr flavour pots they are life-savers!

A recipe with enough spinach to make Popeye jump with joy! Spinach has several health benefits and is known to be a great source of folic acid and several essential vitamins and great levels of iron too. Best part is a big bag of spinach can be consumed in no time as the leaves are high in water content and it reduces in size when cooked.

Moroccan Chicken one pot meal

Easy Moroccan Chicken one pot

Serves:4  Preparation Time: 10 minutes  Cooking time: approx 25 minutes

Ingredients:

  • Olive oil 2 tbsp
  • 1 large red onion
  • 2 cloves of garlic
  • Mixed bag of broccoli, carrot and cauliflower – 270 gm
  • Chicken thighs – 500 gm – appox 3 big pieces
  • Trimmed green beans – 75 gm
  • Chestnut Mushrooms – 4 – 5
  • 1.5 Knorr onion gravy flavour pot
  • 1 Knorr mixed chillies flavour pot
  • 4 handfulls of spinach leaves
  • Red lentils – without skin and halved 3/4th cup
  • 1/2 tsp of Ras El Hanout
  • 1/2 tsp of roasted cumin powder
  • Water

Method:

  • Remove the skin from the chicken thighs after washing thoroughly under running water.
  • Chop the chicken thighs to make strips of the flesh leaving just enough on the bone.
  • Wash and cut the broccoli, carrots,cauliflower, green beans and chestnut mushrooms bits into bite sized pieces.
  • Slice an onion lengthwise into fine strips.
  • Remove the skin from the garlic cloves and chop into tiny bits.
  • In a large saucepan or stock pot heat olive oil on a medium flame, when the oil becomes to heat up add the finely chopped garlic and saute’ until they turn a golden brown then add in the sliced onion.
  • Stirring occasionally allow the onion to sweat and just when it begins to brown add in the chopped vegetables and saute for half a minute.
  • Then add in the chicken thighs and saute for another minute.
  • Then wash and add the red lentils , add enough water to create a thick gravy – enough to allow the lentils to cook and not soak up all the water. Then add in the Knorr flavour pots and mix well.
Big, beautiful pot of healthy goodness - absolutely irresistible!
  • Then add the washed spinach leaves, cumin powder and cover and cook on a medium flame for 15 minutes.
Gorgeous Bowl of goodness with immunity boosting spinach and delicious veggies
  • By now the lentils will have cooked and the chicken will almost be done too.
  • Then taste the soupy water and if it is too spicy add just a very tiny pinch the Ras El Hanout , I added 1/2 a tsp as the taste reminded me of garam masala. Ras El Hanout is a moroccan mixture of fragrant spices with rose petals and gives the stock pot a gorgeous full bodied flavour.
  • Cook for a further 10-15 minutes on a gentle low flame.
  • Serve in large bowls with a big portion of the pumpkin batard bread.
Moroccan Chicken one pot meal recipe

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