Yellow Khaman Dhokla: Gujarati Appetizer

Khaman Dhokla: (Gujarati  Appetizer)

Ingredients:
1 cup besan (bengal gram flour)
1 1/2 tbsp semolina (rava)
4 tsp sugar
1 tsp ginger-green chilli paste
1/2 to 3/4 tsp citric acid (nimbu ka phool) or 1 big lemon juice
salt to taste
2 tsp fruit salt (ENO or soda bicarbonate)

For seasoning
1-2 tbsp oil for greasing and cooking
1 tsp mustard seeds ( rai / sarson)
1 tsp sesame seeds (til)
1 tsp sliced green chillies
1/4 tsp asafoetida (hing)
6 to 8 curry leaves (kadi patta)
For The Garnish
2 tbsp chopped coriander (dhania)
1tbsp gratted coconut
Method:
1.Combine the besan, semolina, sugar, ginger-green chilli paste, citric acid and salt along with little water (approximately ¾ cup) in a large bowl and mix well with the help of your hand to get a smooth and thick batter.
2.Divide the batter into 2 equal portions and keep aside.
3.Add 1 tsp of fruit salt (ENO or soda bicarbonate) to a portion of the batter and mix gently.
4.Pour the batter immediately into a oil greased 125 mm. (5") diameter Stainless Steel thali and spread evenly by rotating the thali clockwise.
5.Steam in a double boiler (steamer) for 12 to 15 minutes or till the dhoklas are cooked. you can check with the knife. Keep aside.
6.Repeat the steps 3 to 5 to make one more thali of dhoklas.
7.Heat 3 tsp of oil in a small pan and add the mustard seeds.
8.When the mustard seeds crackle, add the sesame seeds, green chillies, asafoetida and curry leaves, mix well and sauté on a medium flame for a few seconds.
9.Remove from the flame and add 1/2 to1 cup of water and 1tsp of sugar and mix well.
10.Pour this tempering over the dhoklas.
11.Cool slightly and cut into equal sized pieces.
12.Serve hot garnished with coriander and grated coconut.
Tips: Dhokla are very light  and non fried snacks. With its lower glycemic index, higher protein content, being gluten free and high nutritive value, besan has a lot of health benefits like weight loss, controlling diabetes, heart health &more.

Main Course Dish: Beet root Paratha and Beet root Raita

Beet root Paratha and Beet root Raita (Curd dip): 
બીટ રૂટ 

Food- Beets(cooked, sliced)
Portion- 1/2 cup
Calories  Fiber (grams)- 2.5
Ingredients:
Beet root 2 pcs grated
Whole wheat flour 2 cups
Chili-ginger paste 1 tsp
salt to taste
turmeric - 1tsp
red chili powder 1 tsp
oil 1tbsp
curd -1/2 cup
water 1/2 cup

Method: 

1. Take a wide mouthed container, Take grated Beet root and mix with 1 tbsp oil, curd, green chili- ginger-paste, red chili powder, turmeric, ½ cup water, the whole wheat flour in a large bowl to make dough.
2. Divide dough into 7 -8 parts & make a round balls enough to roll like chapatis. you can give it different shapes also. For ex:Triangle, square or round.
3. Roll each ball like chapatis and put on the pre-heated pan on the stove. When one side becomes brown put little 1/4 tsp of oil on it, then flip on the other side and same way apply 1/4tsp of oil on it.
4. When both sides are done, Your hot beetroot parathas are ready. Serve them hot with Yoghurt and any pickles.
Beet root Raita: 
Ingredients:
Curd 2 cups
beetroot grated (raw) 1
chat masala 1 tsp
salt to taste
sugar 2 tsp (optional)
red chili powder 1 tsp (optional)
Method: 
Take grated beetroot in one big glass bowl.
Stir the curd with hand mixer.
Add beetroot to curd and mix well. If curd is thick mix little milk or water.
Now add salt, chaat masala and chili powder, sugar, mix well.
Keep in refrigerator for an hour or so.
Serve beetroot raita chilled.

Tips: Beetroot can strengthen the nerves of our body. It can be had raw or cooked. Beetroot is a very good quality laxative which helps with the roughage. Have a little part of beetroot every day as a salad or soup what ever suits your palette for maximum benefits. Beetroot is beneficial for skin diseases. Boil some pieces of Beetroot in some water and this water is useful for pimples, inflammation & boils on the skin.

Appetizer: Methi (Fenugreek) Muthya

Methi( Fenugreek) Muthya: 

Ingredients: 
Methi 3 bunch chooped 
Wheat grained flour (wheat crumbs)- 2 cup
Oil- 2 tbsp  instead of (use less oil(1tbsp) or no oil and use ENO 1/2 tsp)
Yogurt- 3 tsp
Green chili paste- 2 tsp
Ginger paste- 1 tsp
Garlic paste- 1 tsp
Red chili powder- 1 tsp
Turmeric- 1 tsp
Sugar / jaggerry- 2 tbsp
Lemon juice- 1 tbsp
For seasoning:
Mustard- 1 tsp
Cumin- 1 tsp
Asafetida- 1 tsp
Sesame seed – 2 tsp
Curry leave- 4-5
Oil- 2 tbsp
Whole red chili- 2 pcs
Asafetida- pinch
Coriander leaves- 2 tbsp
lemon juice- 1/2 tsp


Method:
1. Chooped Methi leaves and mix with 2 tbsp oil, yogurt, green chili- ginger- garlic paste, red chili powder, turmeric, coriander powder,  sugar/ jaggerry, lemon juice & ½ cup water, the wheat grained flour in a large bowl to make dough.
3. Divide dough into 7 -8 parts & make a long roll. Place all roll in preheated steamer for 15- 20 min. Cut roll in ½ inch.
4. Heat 2 tbsp oil in a small pan. Splutter mustard, cumin, sesame seed, curry leave and asafetida.
5. Pour over cooked muthia. Garnish with coriander and lemon juice.
6. Ready to serve.
Tip: Good for hair.Both the leaves and seeds of this bitter tasting vegetable are fit for consumption. The seeds are generally used as a condiment and for flavoring . Researches have shown that the regular long term use of Methi seeds reduces deposits of fat in the body and lowers cholesterol. It's good for Arthritis.

Salad

Sprouts mingle's with vegetables:
Ingredients: 
1 cucumber peeled and dice in 1 inch 
1 carrot peeled and dice in 1 inch 
1 beetroot peeled and dice in 1 inch 
1 cup sprouts
1 tsp Honey
1 tsp lemon juice
1/4 tsp black paper
salt to taste
Method:
Mix all the diced vegetables in one bowl. 
Add green sprouts in the above vegetables.
Add all the other ingredients to it.
Mix well. 
Keep it in the refrigerator and serve chilled.

Tip: HAVE YOU HAD YOUR SPROUTS TODAY?
“Sprouts become sources of complete protein, able to sustain human life without remedy to other foods. They contain the most of the vitamins available because they come wrapped with all the minerals, enzymes. When they are added to other foods, they make the nutrients in these foods more useable to the body."

Muthiya: Gujarati Appetizer

Muthiya: (Bottle gourd/Lauki/doodhi/calabash/opo squash)

Bottle guard (Lauki )Muthia

Ingredients: 

Bottle gourd (lauki) grated 1 cup

Wheat grained flour (wheat crumbs)- 2 cup or you can use Bansi Sooji

Oil- 2 tbsp

Yogurt- 3 tsp

Green chili paste- 2 tsp

Ginger paste- 1 tsp

Garlic paste- 1 tsp

Red chili powder- 1 tsp

Turmeric- 1 tsp

Sugar / jaggerry- 2 tbsp

Lemon juice- 1 tbsp

ENO - 1/2 tsp ( for making soft) (optional)

For seasoning:

Mustard- 1 tsp

Cumin- 1 tsp

Sesame seed – 2 tsp

Curry leave- 4-5

Oil- 2 tbsp

Whole red chili- 2 pcs

Asafoetida- pinch 

Coriander leaves- 2 tbsp

Method:

Grate bottle gourd without skin and mix with the wheat grained flour in a large bowl. Mix 2 tbsp oil, yogurt, green chili- ginger- garlic paste, red chili powder, turmeric, coriander powder,  sugar/ jaggerry, lemon juice & ½ cup water to make dough.

Divide dough into 7 -8 parts & Make a long roll. Place all roll in preheated steamer for 15- 20 min. Cut roll in ½ inch.

Heat 2 tbsp oil in a small pan. Splutter mustard, cumin, sesame seed, curry leave and asafoetida, whole red chili.

Pour over cooked muthia. Garnish with coriander.

Ready to serve.

Tip: Bottle guard juice or any form of will help you to lose weight. The juice of the fruit is used in the treatment of stomach acidity, indigestion and ulcers.Bottle gourd helps in overcoming jaundice.The juice of bottle gourd is a valuable medicine for excessive thirst due to severe diarrhea, diabetes and excessive use of fatty or fried foods.

BLENDER SALAD DRESSING:

Ingredients:

1cup olive oil

¾ cup vinegar

½ cup minced onion

½ cup tomato sauce

¼ cup of sugar ( I have used honey)

1 tsp salt (or to taste)

1 tsp pilled mustered

¼ tsp garlic paste

½ tsp fresh black pepper powder

Method:

Take one tsp of olive oil.

Add mince onion to it. Let it get brown.

Add tomato sauce. Let it cook for a while.

Then add all the above ingredients.

Let it get cool.

Blend till smooth.

Keep it in the bottle and keep in the fridge.

Your salad dressing is ready. Enjoy whenever you want to eat nice and yummy low calorie salad.