From Your Blogs: Green Beans with Coconut (Green Beans Thoran)

French beans or green beans are a favorite of mine, I love them in my soups, stews and curries.
This time though,I wanted to try out a new way of making them. I stumbled upon a South Indian recipe that was so easy and sounded just delicious! So, for a quick supper last week with rotis,  I made some Green Beans with coconut.

Here is the recipe verbatim from the blog "Denufood". 

I didn't add the onions, but the rest was the same, and it was delicious! 

French Beans Bhaji:

Ingredients:

3 cups green beans, chopped

1/2 cup onions, chopped (optional)

1/2 tsp mustard seeds

1 tsp green chilies, chopped

3 –4 curry leaves

1 tbsp oil

1 tbsp grated coconut

pinch of turmeric

salt to taste

1. Heat oil in a pan or skillet

2.Add the mustard seeds, as they crackle, add onion, curry leaves, and green chilies and saute

3. Add the chopped beans and saute for couple of minutes.

4. Add in the turmeric, salt and fresh or frozen grated coconut and keep sautéing for 7 –10 minutes.(I like the beans to be crunchy in this type of recipe so I don’t prefer it cooking with lid covered)

5. Garnish with coconut and the serve as side or with chapati.

Enjoy!

 

Quick Eats: Tomato- Cashew Pilaf

This is a quick fix pilaf, and so filling! I soaked the rice in the morning before I left for the day, and by the time I came back, it was ready to go. All I had to do was saute the veggies and let it cook on its own. This is a great supper time recipe, and a delicious one at that!

Here is the very simple recipe for a very exotic sounding dish!

You will need:

• 2 tablespoons olive oil or any that you use
• 1 red onion,chopped
• 1 cup Basmati rice-soaked in water for an hour or so
• 1/2 can chopped tomatoes OR 1 small can tomato sauce
• 1/2 teaspoon salt or to taste
• 1/8 teaspoon each of turmeric, garam masala, mustard seeds, cumin seeds
• 2 cups water or stock
• Any vegetables of your choice- I used bell peppers and peas.
• Handful of cashews

Soak the rice for at least an hour. Heat the olive oil in a skillet. Add mustard and cumin, and wait till they pop. Add the onion and sautè it until it becomes fragrant. Add the other chopped veggies, the cashews and continue to sautè. This should only take a couple of minutes. Next add the tomatoes,or sauce, whatever you are using, the rest of the spices and water. Stir it all up and bring it to a boil. Reduce the heat and now simmer over low heat for about 45 minutes, or until the rice is tender and fluffy. That's it! Serve hot with a side of your choice.

There are so many variations to this recipe, add veggies, nuts, paneer or even meats of your choice to make it interesting. Omit the tomatoes, and add spinach or mint puree for a gorgeous green pilaf. The taste of Spinach or mint with rice is incredible. Experiment and enjoy!

Ayurveda Series: Ginger!

This has to be one of my favorite ingredients of all time. I use fresh ginger upon waking in my Masala Chai, I shred fresh ginger in my kadhis, daals, curries and lassis....I even eat raw shredded ginger mixed with fresh lemon juice to give my digestive system a lift. This is one ingredient that should be on your 'must-have' list!

According to ancient Ayurvedic texts, Ginger is thought to be the 'universal medicine'! Ginger boosts circulation and digestion and also helps alleviate Joint pain.(Source: 'The Sweet Smell of Success', by Dr. James Geiger).
Since it is a 'warming' spice, it is advisable to have it in smaller amounts each day for a "Pitta" and "Vata" constitutions. Those with a "Kapha" constitution can use it freely since it aids digestion! For an in-depth explanation of the Kapha, Pitta, Vata and Tridoshic constitutions, I suggest reading Monica B's Ayurveda website in order to familiarize yourself. I have been a fan of Monica B for a long time now and her knowledge of Ayurveda and using it in the daily routine inspires me greatly. A must read if you are into this as much as I am!

Here is the recipe for the Ginger tea that I drink daily in order to keep my metabolism in check. You will find this recipe on my home page as well.

Roast equal amounts of Cumin, Fennel and Ajwain Seeds and powder them in your coffee grinder. You may omit the Ajwain seeds if you like. Add an equal amount of Ginger Powder to it and mix well. For variety, I also add some cinnamon, black pepper or cardamom.

Store in an airtight container.

To Prepare: Boil some water and add some of this mix and let it sit for 5 minutes and sip slowly. You may add some lemon juice or honey for flavor. Be sure to add the honey when the water is warm. Drink throughout the day to keep snack cravings away and when your digestive system seems sluggish. I add this mix along with the fruit teabags to create new flavors and keep it interesting!


Disclaimer:
Please Consult your physician before taking any supplements or trying out any remedies.

Cheers to Good Health!

Tealicious.......Comfort in a Cup!

This winter has me craving warmth and goodness to chase the chills away, what better way to end the day than a cup of some herbal tea? I've been drinking some Ayurvedic teas to not only keep my digestive fires going, but also to calm and relax at the end of the evening. One such tea that I've become attached to is the "Celestial Seasonings- Vanilla Strawberry Rose" tea. The combination of such exotic flavors in a tea form had me intrigued as soon as I saw the package in my local tea shop. I couldn't wait to brew a cup! It was as good as I had imagined! Once I opened the packet, I could smell the fragrant strawberries, with a hint of vanilla and a heady flavor of rose petals! This has to be bliss in a cup!

Of course, I am still partial to the Indian Masala Chai, it does wonders to wake me up in the mornings....but different herbal teas have certainly caught my attention. Here are some suggestions of the various herbal teas to try!

Chamomile tea: promotes calmness especially at bedtime.

Ginger Root tea: A digestive aid, calms an upset stomach and is a great option with the pregnancy sickness and queasiness.

Dandelion tea: made from the leaves of the dandelion plant. Dandelion leaves contains more beta-carotene than carrots. The leaves contain iron, calcium, potassium, phosphorus, magnesium and zinc, as well as vitamins B-1, B-2, B-5, B-6, B-12, C, D, E, and P. A great tea overall!

Other specialty teas to try: Peach and Berries,Lemon-honey,Lemon-ginger, blackcurrant tea, raspberry or choose a variety of them from a local tea shop!

Enjoy.

image courtesy: google.