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Channa Masala and Spinach Fried Rice Bowls

I love making noodle and rice bowls and so I thought why couldn’t I make one with Indian ingredients.. that is how this bowl came about. If you want to leave it completely vegetarian and more vegan, eliminate the egg.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  • 1 cup dried chickpeas, soaked for at least 2 to 3 hours
  • 1 14 ounces can fire roasted tomatoes with chili
  • 1 small onion
  • 3 garlic cloves
  • 1 inch fresh ginger
  • 3 tablespoons butter
  • 2 teaspoons cumin seeds
  • 3 cloves
  • 2 inch cinnamon stick
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 black tea bag
  • 3 cups water
  • Salt
  • 2 teaspoons garam masala

Transfer the tomatoes, onion, garlic and ginger to a blender. Blend well till everything is well combined and formed into a sauce. Keep aside. Heat a pressure cooker to a large saucepan with the butter. Add the cumin seeds, cloves, cinnamon stick and bay leaf. Saute for 30 seconds on medium heat. Add the drained chickpeas, tea bag, salt and water. Bring to a boil and follow directions for the pressure cooker and cook under pressure for 2 hours. If using a regular saucepan, cook for 2 to 3 hours or more depending on how long the chickpeas were soaked. Keep adding more water as needed. Once the chickpeas are soft and tender, bring to a boil and cook till a thick soup consistency if formed. Check for seasonings and garnish with garam masala.

Spinach Brown Rice with Mustard Seeds Fried Rice

  • 1 cup brown rice, rinsed
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 3 cups water

Heat a medium saucepan with the butter. Add the rice and salt and sauté for a minute. Add the water and bring to a boil. Partially cover the saucepan with lid and cook on medium low heat till most of the water is cooked away, about 15 minutes. Cover with lid and lower the heat to low and cook for another 20 to 25 minutes or till the rice is cooked through. Fluff rice with fork and let cool.

  • ¼ cup coconut oil
  • 1 teaspoon cumin
  • 1 teaspoon mustard seeds
  • 4 to 5 curry leaves
  • 1 medium onion, sliced
  • 4 garlic cloves, minced
  • 2 pounds baby spinach, chopped
  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce
  • Salt

Heat a wok like pan with the coconut oil. Add the cumin seeds, mustard seeds and curry leaves and cook for 30 seconds on medium heat. Add the onion and garlic and sauté for 3 to 4 minutes on medium heat. Add the spinach and let it wilt, add the cool rice and soy sauce. Cook on high heat for 3 to 4 minutes. Add salt if needed.

Tomato and Cucumber Relish

  • ½ cup cherry tomatoes, chopped
  • 1 cup cucumbers, chopped
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • Juice of one lemon

Mix everything together and keep aside.

Assemble bowls with the spinach rice, channa masala and relish. Top with fried eggs if desired and garnish with some chili sauce.

 

Gluten Free Pasta Bake

Gluten Free Pasta Bake1

I wanted to experiment with gluten free pasta. I actually went shopping for lasagna noodles but couldn’t find the gluten free variety. The store had run out of them, due to their popularity. I instead bought some penne and planned on layering my dish like a lasagna using penne instead lasagna noodles. It turned out delicious!!

  • ½ pound gluten free penne (lasagna sheets will be great as well)

Cook 2 minutes short of package instructions. Drain and keep aside making sure
pasta doesn’t stick together.

  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 small medium yellow onion, chopped
  • 3 garlic cloves, chopped
  • 1 yellow squash, chopped
  • 2 small zucchini, chopped
  • 1 yellow pepper, chopped
  • 2 cups tomato sauce
  • Salt

Heat a wide saucepan with the olive oil. Add the onion and garlic. Saute on medium heat for 2 to 3 minutes. Add the squash, zucchini and pepper. Saute on medium heat until the vegetables are golden brown (careful not to overcook them). Add the tomato sauce and salt. Bring to a boil and simmer for 3 to 4 minutes. Check for seasonings and keep aside.

Ricotta Filling

  • 1 cup low fat ricotta cheese
  • 2 garlic cloves
  • 1 cup basil
  • ½ cup parsley
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 egg, beaten
  • ½ cup shredded cheese

Preheat oven to 350 F degrees.

Place the garlic, basil and parsley in a food processor and process till chopped well. Place the ricotta in a medium bowl. Transfer the chopped herbs, salt and egg to the ricotta cheese. Mix well.

Layer like a lasagna starting with the vegetable mixture (divide into 3 parts). Top with half the pasta. Place half of the ricotta filling. Repeat the layering. Top with cheese and bake for 30 minutes.

Sweet and Sour Chicken

I tweaked this recipe from New York Times cooking section- it is definitely one of my favorite places to get inspired as they have such amazing variety of recipes. This one reminds me of my childhood in India ordering sweet and sour chicken from a local Chinese restaurant called Suzie Wong.

  • 2 pounds chicken breast, cut into 1 inch pieces
  • 6 tablespoons cornstarch
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon pepper
  • Mix the cornstarch with the salt and pepper and toss the chicken pieces in the cornstarch mixture.
  • 4 tablespoons peanut oil plus more
  • 4 to 5 dried red chilies

 

Heat a large non-stick frying pan with the oil on high. Add half of the chicken and cook, turning occasionally until golden brown and near cooked, about 4 minutes. Repeat with the rest of the chicken and keep aside.

  • ½ cup apple cider vinegar
  • ¼ cup honey
  • ½ cup pineapple juice
  • 3 tablespoons ketchup
  • 2 tablespoons oyster sauce
  • 3 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 2 teaspoons brown sugar
  • 3 garlic cloves, grated
  • 1 medium onion, sliced
  • 2 medium red bell peppers, seeded and cut into 1 inch pieces
  • 1 cup canned pineapple chunks
  • 3 scallions, thinly sliced

 

Mix the vinegar, honey, pineapple juice, ketchup, oyster sauce, soy sauce, brown sugar and garlic in a small bowl and keep aside.

Add more oil to the frying pan if needed. Heat on medium heat and add the dried red chilies. Saute for 30 seconds. Add the onion and pepper and sauté on high heat for 2 minutes. Add the sauce, pineapple chunks and the chicken. Bring to a boil and let the sauce reduce on medium heat for 2 to 3 minutes, making sure the chicken is cooked through. Check for seasonings and garnish with scallions. Serve with white or brown rice.

Vegetarian Tortilla Soup
  • 1 dried ancho chili pepper
  • 2 to 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 medium yellow onion, chopped
  • 3 garlic cloves, chopped
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 14 ounces fire roasted tomatoes with chili
  • 4 cups vegetable stock
  • 1 cup hominy, rinsed and drained
  • 1 14 ounces black beans, rinsed and drained
  • 3 medium zucchinis, washed, the seeds taken out and diced into ½ inch pieces
  • Salt

For Garnish

  • Tortilla chips
  • 1 avocado, chopped drizzled with lemon juice and sprinkled with salt
  • Crumbled queso fresco
  • Cilantro

Heat a small cast iron pan and break the chili into pieces and roast in the pan including the seeds on medium heat for 3 to 4 minutes. Keep aside.

Heat a medium heavy pan with olive oil. Add the onion, garlic and ancho chili. Saute on medium heat for 4 to 5 minutes. Add the cumin, tomatoes and stock. Bring to a boil and simmer for 2 to 3 minutes. Add the homini and simmer for 10 minutes. Take off heat and transfer to a blender and in batches, blend the soup until smooth with some chunks. Return to the pan and add the beans. Bring to a boil and add salt to taste.

Serve soup topped with avocado, tortillas chips, queso and cilantro.

 

Coleslaw with Apples
  • 1 9 ounces pack of shredded cabbage ( I got the organic shredded green and red cabbage with orange carrots package from Trader Joes)
  • ¼ cup mayonnaise
  • ¼ cup full fat yogurt
  • Juice of a small lime
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon ancho chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon honey
  • 1 medium pink lady apple, sliced thin
  • ½ cilantro, chopped

Transfer the cabbage mixture, apple and cilantro to a mixing bowl.

Add the mayo, yogurt, lime juice, salt, ancho chili powder, ground cumin and honey to a small bowl. Mix well and add to the cabbage mixture and mix well. Add more salt if needed. Serve with the pulled pork sandwiches.

Pepper and Bean Salad
  • 1 14 ounces can black beans, rinsed and drained
  • 1 14 ounces can kidney beans, rinsed and drained
  • 1 large red pepper, cut into ½ inch squares
  • 1 small red onion, cut into ½ inch squares
  • ½ cup cilantro, chopped

Add all the ingredients to a mixing bowl.

Dressing

  • Juice of 2 limes
  • Juice of 4 small Clementines
  • ½ cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 to 2 teaspoons honey

Add all the ingredients to an airtight container and shake vigorously to mix all the ingredients well. Check for seasonings. Add to the mixing bowl with the beans and vegetables. Mix well and add more salt if needed. Let the salad sit for at least 2 to 3 hours before serving. Mix well before serving.

Vietnamese Style Chicken
  • 2 pounds chicken thighs, boneless and skinless

 

  • ¼ cup tamari
  • ¼ cup fish sauce
  • 3 tablespoons brown sugar
  • ½ cup chopped fresh cilantro, stems and leaves separated
  • 1 inch fresh ginger, grated
  • 3 garlic cloves, grated
  • Zest and juice of one lime
  • 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 1 teaspoon corn starch mixed in with 2 teaspoons water
  • Peanut oil for grilling
  • 1/3 cup chopped peanuts

Add the tamari, fish sauce, brown sugar, cilantro stems, ginger, garlic, lime zest and juice and cayenne pepper in a small bowl. Mix well. Place the chicken in a zip lock bag and add the marinade and marinate for 2 to 3 hours in the fridge. Take chicken out of the bag, pat dry and keep aside. Transfer the marinade to a small saucepan, bring to a boil and add the corn starch sauce. Bring to another boil, taste for seasonings and keep aside.

Heat the grill on high to preheat to at least 500 degrees. Turn heat down to medium. Drizzle the chicken pieces with some peanut oil and place on the hot grill and wait 3 to 4 minutes or until grill marks form. Turn the thighs and grill on medium heat for 5 to 7 minutes with the lid on. Once the chicken is cooked through, transfer to a platter and garnish with cilantro leaves and chopped peanuts.

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