Nasuha Blog

This past week, I was little busy with my daughter's birthday. It was a unicorn themed birthday. I will make a post about it some other time. Nowadays Ramadhan fasting is going on in full swing. At home, my mom makes delicious, mouthwatering appetizers for iftar. It would be a nice gathering of family members during iftar.



Here in the US, I will be trying to make daily different varieties of dishes during iftar time. One among them is this potato and quinoa cakes. I got the recipe from Healthy Living James, which has a collection of healthy and nutritious food, which I like to google always. The recipes on the blog are so simple and less time-consuming.


These potatoes and quinoa cakes are so easy to make. Boil the quinoa and potatoes, mix them along with the spices and bake them till done. A healthy and delicious snack will be ready within minutes.
Ingredients:

1. Boiled Quinoa- 1/2 Cup
2. Boiled Potatoes- 3 nos
3. Onions(chopped)- 2 nos
4. Garlic (minced)- 4nos
5. Olive Oil- 3tbsp
6. Paprika- 1tsp
7. Red Chilli Flakes- 2tsp
8. Lemon Juice- 1
9. Cilantro- handful
10. Salt- as required

Method:

1. Add oil to a pan, saute the chopped onions and garlic till translucent. Add the paprika, chili flakes.
2. Meanwhile mash the potatoes in a mixing bowl, add all the ingredients along with the above-made d onions- garlic mixture. Mix well, shape in the form of patties.
3. Arrange them in a baking tray, spray some olive oil on top and bake for about 40 minutes. Flip in between. Enjoy the yogurt dip.

Yogurt Dip:

1. Yogurt- 1 Cup
2. Lemon Juice- 1/2 lime
3. Chilli Flakes- 2 Tsp
4. Cilantro- few
5. Salt- as required

Method:

• Mix everything and serve.

Aloo paratha is a popular Indian stuffed bread, which is very filling and will be loved by all. This can be prepared very easily, as all the ingredients added to the stuffing are very easily available in our kitchen pantries.


This is a flatbread made of whole wheat flour, which is stuffed with a potato filling and cooked until golden brown. This aloo paratha is a delicious and versatile dish, which we can have any time of the day. This is a complete meal in itself. this tastes great when served with raita or pickle. This is a perfect lunch box meal for kids. Potato is very filling as it is high in carbs.



I make this often as my daughter likes it a lot. Street vendors in India sell these aloo parathas along with a big chunk of butter or curd on the side. We can add mint, coriander leaves, ginger- garlic paste in the stuffing but I made it simple. Hope you may like this. Try this out and let me know.


Ingredients:

1. Whole Wheat Flour- 2 Cups
2. Oil- 2 tbsp
3. salt- as required
4. Water - to knead

1. Potatoes (boiled and peeled)- 3 nos
2. Carom Seeds/ Ajwain- 1 tbsp
3. Red Chili Powder- 1 tbsp
4. Salt- as required
5. Finely Chopped Coriander Leaves(optional)- 2-3 tbsp

1. Knead the whole wheat flour along with oil, salt and required amount of water till it forms a soft, smooth dough. Keep this aside.
2. Meanwhile make the stuffing by mashing the boiled potatoes along with carom seeds, red chili powder, chopped coriander leaves and salt in a mixing bowl.
3. Make small balls out of the dough and roll them with a rolling pin into circular discs.
4. Place a 2 tbsp of the potato filling in the center of the disc and wrap the stuffing by lifting all the sides of the dough into a ball and roll them again using a rolling pin slowly or else the stuffing will come out.
5. Place it on a hot tawa or a nonstick pan and cook on medium flame. Spread a tbsp of oil on both sides of the paratha and cook till both the sides turn golden brown.
6. Enjoy hot aloo parathas with curd.

Idli with coconut chutney is a staple breakfast at my place. Idlis and dosas were a part of my childhood. My mom used to grind the soaked urad dal and rice and let it ferment overnight for amazingly delicious steaming hot idlis and dosa for the next day breakfast. We loved this along with my mom's special coconut chutney or sambhar.
 Nowadays lots and lots of different varieties of idlis and dosas are made worldwide. One of them is made by using oats. This does not require fermentation and can be made instantly. Even on a busy day, just temper the ingredients and steam this to perfection. A deliciously protein-rich, nutritious breakfast is ready within half an hour.


In India, we used to buy the idli- dosa batter often as it was readily available in the market.After coming to the US, I started making regularly the idli batter at home. When I do not have a stock of the homemade idli batter, this instant oats idli is a standby. I have paired oats idli with my mom's special coconut chutney. Though many varieties of chutney recipes are available online, I prefer this coconut chutney.
This month's MFB challenge is to prepare any breakfast item and here is the new healthy recipe which is very nutritious and will be like by all.


I have been preparing oats idli for so long and this recipe is a fail-proof. If you are trying to include oats in your daily diet, then this is a perfect option to try. low in carbs and a healthy breakfast is made using oats and grated carrots. Oats are rich in minerals, proteins and vitamins do not compromise on taste. Try this highly nutritive dish and let me know.


Ingredients:

1. Oats- 1 Cup
2. Semolina- 1/2 Cup
3. Grated Carrot- 1/2 Cup
4. Grated Ginger- 2 tbsp
5. Oil- 1 tbsp
6. Mustard Seeds- 1 tsp
7. Urad Dal- 1 tbsp
8. Chana Dal- 1 tbsp
9. Coriander Leaves- few (optional)
10. Curd- 1 Cup
11. water- 1/4 Cup
12. Salt- as required
13. Baking Soda- 1 Tsp

1. Grind the oats to powder and keep this aside.
2. Heat oil, splutter mustard seeds. Drop the urad dal, chana dal, grated carrots, grated ginger and coriander leaves.
3. Roast for about 2 minutes on a low flame. Add the semolina and powdered oats. Fry for some time till it turns lightly golden in color. Switch off the flame.
4. Drop these in a mixing bowl and when it cools down, add the curd, required amount of water and mix well till it resembles a batter consistency.
5. Before pouring in the idli molds add the baking soda, mix and pour a spoonful of batter into each mold and steam for about 15- 20 minutes or till done. Enjoy the steaming hot idli breakfast.

Ingredients:

1. Grated Coconut- 1 Cup
2. Ginger- 1 small piece
3. Green Chillis- 2 nos
4. Tamarind- 1/2 tsp/ a small piece
5. Salt- as required
6. Oil- 1 tbsp
7. Mustard Seeds- 1 tsp
8. Urad Dal- 1 tbsp
9. Curry Leaves- few

1. Grind the coconut, ginger, green chilies, tamarind and salt to a fine paste by adding little water.
2. For tempering, heat oil, splutter mustard seeds. Add the urad dal and curry leaves. Switch off the flame and enjoy with the above-made idlis.

This granola recipe is so easy and a simple version, that you can make any time of the day. This is a perfect snack to munch on without thinking about calories. An ideal one to carry to work and to school. This will make an excellent healthy gift for someone special which is homemade and with lots of love and care.


In this granola, we can add chocolate chips, dried berries, a variety of nuts or anything of your choice or eat it plain. it's tasty any of the ways. These are so addictive and delicious that I made 3 batches in the last week. I make this and store them in airtight jars, but we don't know when it gets over as they are so scrumptious and yummy that we simply munch on. Kids will love them for breakfast or as a healthy snack.


I have added these granolas in the Greek yogurt along with blueberry compote and they were heavenly.


Nowadays I am so obsessed with the beautiful, cute pink flowers that have bloomed all over the town. In this valentines season, these flowers are a perfect feast for the eyes. As soon as the winter is over, there won't be any leaves and these cute little flowers will take over the trees. Such a wonderful sight it is, that they fill your hearts and you forget about all your worries. For my food photography, I have used these flowers as a prop along with my favorite granola and they both well blended together. Hope you all like this. try this out and let me know.



Ingredients:

1. Oats- 4 Cups
2. Dried Raspberries- 1 cup
3. Almond - a handful
4. Cinnamon powder- 1 Tsp
5. Honey- 1/3 Cup
6. Coconut Oil- 1/4 Cup
7. Vanilla Essence- 1 tsp

1. Take the oats, dried raspberries, almonds, cinnamon powder in a mixing bowl. Add the honey, coconut oil and vanilla essence in this and mix well using the hand, so that everything gets well blended with each other.
2. meanwhile, preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spread the above mixture on a baking tray evenly and bake for about 10- 15 minutes. Using a wooden spatula, stir the mixture in between the baking time.
3. Take it out of the oven and when cool, enjoy along with your favorite yogurt or have it just like that.