Okra(Bhindi) Masala

             Okra or Bhindi is a popular ingredient in many cuisines across the world including Indian. Okra curry is made in a variety of ways depending on the region you are in, ranging from simple to very difficult. Today, we will see the Gujarati style of making Okra Masala.

Ingredients:

• 1 lb Okra (Bhindi)
• 1 cup raw Peanuts
• 1 tbsp Red Chili powder
• 2 tsp Turmeric powder
• 2 tbsp Coriander seeds-Cumin seeds powder
• Salt to taste
• 2 tsp Cumin Seeds
• Pinch of Asafoetida
• 2 tbsp Oil
• Cilantro for garnish

Instructions:

• Wash the Okra properly and dry them on paper towel
• In the meanwhile, crush the peanuts into fine powder
• Add the salt, turmeric powder, chili powder and coriander-cumin powder

• Mix it properly and keep it aside

• Now chop the Okra as shown below.

• Just cut the Okra vertically in half, and only if they are too long cut them half horizontally
• Now, heat the oil in a pan
• Add the Asafoetida  and Cumin seeds to it
• Once the Cumin seeds start to crackle, add the chopped Okra to it and mix well
• Once they start to soften a little, add the peanut mixture to it and mix well

• Let it cook for another 5 minutes or till the Okra are properly cooked. Make sure that they are soft on bite, but not mushy
• Make sure to stir them intermittently .
• Garnish with chopped cilantro and serve hot with your choice of Bread 

Tips:

• Don't cover the pan with lid while cooking Okra
• Don't add water as well else it will be become sticky and slimy 
• Before chopping Okra, make sure they are completely dry. Wet ones are very sticky while chopping
• If the curry becomes too slimy, you can add any acidic ingredient like lemon juice or vinegar will help to reduce the sliminess

Avocado Salad

           Since coming to California, I have grown very fond of the amazing Avocados available here. Guacamole is the most common dish that is prepared with Avocados, and of course, I love that very much.

          Yesterday, I had this craving for an Avocado dish, but wanted to make something other than Guacamole. I promptly thought of making a salad along with some with fresh veggies, that is healthy and delicious and perfect as a side dish for any Avocado lover.

Ingredients:

• 2 ripe Avocado
• 1 chopped Tomato
• 1 finely chopped Onions
• 1 chopped Cucumbers
• Finely chopped Cilantro
• Salt to taste
• 2 tsp Black Pepper
• 2 tsp Lime (or Lemon) Juice

Instructions:

• Chop the Avocado into medium size chunks
• Add the Avocado in a bowl
• Now add the tomatoes, onions, cucumbers
• Then add salt, pepper and lime juice and mix it well
• Finally add the cilantro and mix it
• Avocado Salad is ready to eat

Lemon-Pepper Linguini Pasta

                   Me and my husband are big lovers of Italian food, especially Pasta. While we love having our Pasta with different types of sauces like the one we saw previously, today we decided on trying out pasta with sauteed vegetables and some exciting flavors. The lemon zest adds a nice citric and refreshing flavor to it, and the spice complements it nicely. So let's embark on this flavorful journey

Ingredients:

• 1 pkt Linguini Pasta
• 1 cup sliced Onions
• 1 cup sliced Color Peppers
• 2-3 crushed Garlic cloves
• 1 tbsp Olive Oil/Butter
• 1 tbsp Lemon Zest
• 1 tbsp Black Pepper
• 1 tsp Red Pepper flakes
• 1 tsp Cumin seeds
• 0.5 tsp Parsley leaves
• Salt to taste

Instructions:

• Cook the Linguini pasta as per the package instructions
• Drain and keep it aside
• Heat the olive oil in a pan. Add cumin seeds to it.
• Once the cumin seeds start to crackle, add garlic to it and saute it for a minute
• Now add the onions to it. Add some salt to it and saute it till it turns translucent
• Then add peppers and saute it for 1-2 minutes.
• Now add the black pepper, red pepper flakes, parsley leaves and lemon zest  and mix it well
• Now stir in the cooked Linguini and cook it for 2 minutes or until well coated
• Serve hot and enjoy

Green Paratha

                    Green Paratha (Indian bread) gets it name from the deep green color and all the green ingredients it has. This paratha is very different from the other stuffed parathas. It is a great way to eat all the green leafy vegetables for everyone to enjoy, even those who don't like the greens. The mint gives it a refreshing flavor that you cannot miss.

Ingredients:

• 3 cups Wheat flour
• 2 cups Spinach leaves
• 1 cup Fenugreek leaves
• 1 cup Cilantro 
• 0.5 cup Mint leaves
• 4 Garlic cloves
• 3 tbsp Chili-Ginger Paste
• 1 tsp Black Pepper
• 2 tsp Cumin Powder
• Salt to taste
• Oil

Instructions:

• Wash all the green leaves properly.
• In a blender, mix all the green leaves and garlic and grind it to a smooth paste. If needed, add very little water. I prefer to do it without water

• Sieve the flour
• Add 2 tsp Oil, salt, chili-ginger paste, cumin powder, black pepper to the flour and mix it well

• Now, add the puree slowly and knead it into a semi-soft dough
• Add more flour, if the dough is too soft
• Knead the dough properly.

• Divide into smaller portions
• Roll out each portion of the dough into a small round with the help of flour.

• Place the Paratha on a hot tava (or skillet), cook for a minute or two and turn once.
• After 1 minute, spread little oil on the Paratha , turn again and repeat on the other side.
• When brown patches appear on both sides, the Paratha is ready.

• Serve hot with any Cilantro Chutney or Tomato Ketchup or any dipping sauce of your choice.

Microwave Potato Chips

        Who doesn't like to eat potato chips? This crunchy, tasty snack is an all time favorite for all age groups and for every occasion. I am a huge fan of potato chips, I like almost all the flavors of this deep fried snack. But I have to control myself from having it too much as we all know its nutrition facts.

        Hence, I was in search for a different alternatives and that's when I decided to try to make it at home. It was a huge success. Both me and my husband just loved it and finished the whole bowl in a jiffy.

        So, today I am going to share this great recipe for making chips at home, using very little oil. I would love to hear your comments/suggestions on this recipe.

Ingredients:

• 2 Medium Potatoes
• Olive Oil 
• Salt
• Pepper

Instructions:

• Slice the potatoes very thin. You can keep the skin on if it you like it
• Put them in a bowl and drizzle with some Olive Oil. You can use any oil of your choice.

• Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Here is when you can get real creative. You can try with all different types of seasonings.

• Arrange it in a single layer on a microwavable plate.

• Microwave it on high for 3 minutes.

• Then, turn it over carefully. It will be very hot.
• Again microwave it for 2 mins or until they start turning brown and the edges are crispy

• Remove them in a bowl and let it cool completely
• It will become crispier as it cools down. 

• Enjoy as much as you like, store the remaining in an air tight container