The Steaming Pot - Easy vegetarian recipes from India

Fenugreek leaves are in season. Homemade meals sparkle green with a fenugreek dish on the menu every day: methi parathas with imli chutney for Sunday brunch, methi chhole with jeera rice for the Monday lunchbox.

Make hay while the sun shines, they say. I make recipe replacements of kasoori methi (dried fenugreek) with fresh fenugreek while the greens are in lush supply. This is one such recipe: methi gobhi, a variant of gobhi kasoori methi (cauliflower with dried fenugreek) that uses fresh fenugreek instead of dry.

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Autumn begins, which means goodbye mangoes. Fruit vendors in India no longer stock those mounds of sweet-smelling heaven. Chia mango pudding is filed for use during the next mango season. Meanwhile I switch loyalties to this lovely dried cranberry banana chia pudding. (more…)

A no-cook, no-bake healthy treat, chia mango pudding can be prepared the night before and had for breakfast. A true blessing on rushed mornings.

Chia seeds are tiny powerhouses of nutrition – they are packed with protein, fibre, Omega-3 fatty acids and other micronutrients. They are also filling and, since they absorb water, they make you feel thirsty nudging you to increase your water intake.

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You read that right: chia seeds and sabja seeds are not the same. Ignore the wisdom that tells you otherwise. Set aside the surface similarities, the fact that both chia and sabja are recommended for weight loss and as a source of nutrients/dietary fiber. Here’s a rundown of the differences between these two wonder foods.

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Peanut butter in smoothies is all the rage and I have been thinking that some of us might not want to invest in a full jar of peanut butter just for the occasional smoothie. At least in India, peanut butter isn’t a regular in most households – it is expensive and not available in smaller grocery stores.

Is there an alternative? You are in luck – I have a happy solution for you.

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Nutty, sweet flavors complement beans very well – I had taken to this idea when I first made string beans with peanuts and jaggery. This time I had green beans (French beans) on hand, which meant a milder flavor and more crunch. This felt like a good opportunity to up the experimental quotient on "nutty, sweet flavors".

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A summertime favorite inspired by a recipe I saw on the TV show Turban Tadka. Mango phirni gives a seasonal twist to the conventional rice phirni. Serve it in silver bowls for a classic feel, or layer it in glasses western-style with nuts and mango pulp.

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