No Croutons Required - The Winner for October and the theme for November

Congratulations to Susan of Holly Grove Kitchen for winning the Noodle challenge for October. I can never resist mushrooms and I am excited to try this Mushroom and Noodle Soup.


I will be hosting the November edition of No Croutons Required. This month the challenge is to come up with a soup or salad featuring the mighty quinoa. Known to the ancient Incans as the "mother of all grains," quinoa is not really a cereal grass but is used just like a grain, with the important difference that is contains a food value that no grain can match. With an almost perfect balance of essential amino acids, quinoa is an unusually complete source of proteins in the plant kingdom, and is also a very good source of calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, iron, B vitamins and vitamin E. And as simple and almost as quick to cook as white rice, the light and fluffy texture and delicately sweet and nutty flavour of cooked quinoa makes it a tasty and healthy alternative in a variety of grain recipes.

Quinoa Pudding

Warm and fragrant steam rising from a gently simmering saucepan of quinoa pudding is really almost as enticing an experience on a cool autumn day as savoring its delicate texture and slightly sweet and nutty flavor in the bowl. Resembling small opaque tapioca pearls swimming in cream, quinoa pudding is just as pretty and easy to prepare as tapioca. And with quinoa's almost perfect amino acid profile as well as bountiful calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, iron, B vitamins and vitamin E, it's also versatile and wholesome enough to serve as a delicious and nourishing breakfast porridge.

Quinoa Pudding

Recipe by Lisa Turner Published on October 28, 2010 Simple, wholesome and nourishing dessert pudding made with quinoa for a light nutty taste — not too sweet, this easy pudding is gluten and guilt free Print this recipe Ingredients: 1 cup dried quinoa 1 3/4 cup whole milk 3/4 cup heavy cream 1 tablespoon brown sugar 1/2 teaspoon vanilla pinch of sea salt Instructions: Rinse and scrub the quinoa under cold running water. Place in a bowl, cover with fresh cold water, and leave to soak overnight. Drain and set aside. Combine the milk, cream, brown sugar, vanilla and sea salt in a medium saucepan and bring to a low boil over medium heat. Reduce the heat to low and stir in the quinoa. Simmer gently for 20 to 25 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent skimming, until the quinoa is soft and the pudding thickened. Remove from heat, ladle into bowls, and scatter with fresh berries, chopped pistachios, or the toppings of your choice. Serve warm. Makes 4 servings

Other recipes you may enjoy:
Breakfast Quinoa Porridge
Arborio Rice Pudding
Rum Plum Clafouti

On the top of the reading stack: Some Points in Between... Up Till Now Images of Robert Polidori

Audio Accompaniment: wind and rustling leaves

Black and Yellow Chickpeas with a Coconut Chili Sauce

My trusted volume of 660 Curries by Raghavan Iyer has many post-it notes sticking out from the pages. Excuse me for once again raving about this fabulous book that includes lots of inspired ideas for spice blends, appetizers, paneer dishes, legumes, vegetables, grains and fusion style Indian curries. The introductions to his recipes are informative and highly entertaining. This cookbook is highly recommended from Lisa's Kitchen and it makes a great gift too for cooks that enjoy creative and heart-warming, but often easy to prepare, Indian dishes. Coconut and chilies go so well with the chickpeas and spices in this dish. While the black chickpeas add a nice texture, wholesome regular yellow chickpeas could be substituted instead.

Black and Yellow Chickpeas with a Coconut Chili Sauce

2/3 cup of dried black chickpeas
1/3 cup of dried yellow chickpeas
6 green cardamon pods
2 bay leaves
2 cinnamon sticks (roughly 2 - 3 inches long)
4 tablespoons of ghee or a mixture of butter and oil
2/3 cup of dried coconut
1 tablespoon of coriander seeds
4 - 6 green chilies, chopped
1 teaspoon of black mustard seeds
a generous handful of dried curry leaves
1 1/2 teaspoons of sea salt

Rinse and soak the chickpeas in enough water to cover overnight. Drain, transfer to a large pot and add 3 cups of water. Bring to a boil, add the cardamon pods, bay leaves, cinnamon sticks, cover and reduce the heat to medium low and cook until the chickpeas are tender - roughly 1 1/2 hours, stirring occasionally.

While the chickpeas are cooking, heat 2 tablespoons of oil over medium heat in a frying pan. When hot, add the coriander seeds, coconut and chilies to the pan. Stir and fry until the coconut begins to brown. Transfer to a blender, along with 2/3 cup of water and blend into a paste. Set aside.

Heat the remaining 2 tablespoons of oil in the same frying pan over medium high heat. When hot, add the mustard seeds and fry until they turn grey and begin to splutter and pop. Add the curry leaves to the pan, stir and remove from the heat.

When the chickpeas are finished cooking, add the coconut paste, mustard and curry leaves and sea salt to the pot. Simmer for another 15 - 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove the cinnamon sticks, bay leaves and cardamon pods before serving.

Serves 4.

More chickpea recipes from Lisa's Vegetarian Kitchen:
Chickpeas, Kidney Beans and Lentils with a Spicy Tomato Sauce
Chickpeas and Paneer in a Spicy Creamy Gravy
Chickpeas with Coconut Sauce
Spicy Chickpeas with a Tangy Tomato Glaze

On the top of the reading stack: Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro

Audio Accompaniment: Under the Wood by SYSYPHE (this track pleasantly drowns out the doozers who are yet still making a terrible racket on our street.)

SATHU MAAVU / HEALTH MIX DOSA

My neighbor gave me a homemade  health mix powder and told me to make dosa with it. It tasted excellent. My hubby loved it.Its color & taste is similar to ragi dosa.I prepared tomato chutney as accompaniment.I asked her the ingredients of the powder,ground in mill and kept it.I make this once in a week nowadays instead of the usual ragi dosa .Try this , iam sure u’ll love this healthy dosa.

INGREDIENTS :

• Ragi – 1 kg
• Urad dal – 250gms
• Moong dal – 125 gms
• Toor dal – 125 gms
• Jeera – 2 tbsp
• Pepper corns – 3 tbsp

For dosa :

• Health mix powder – 1 cup
• Sour curd – 1/4 cup
• Salt & water – As needed
• Whole Pepper corns – Few (if required)

Method :

• Take one cup of health mix powder in a wide mouthed bowl and add the sour curd , salt , pepper corns with required water .
• Mix well to make a dosa batter consistency.I made it watery to get a crispy dosa.
• Heat a dosa tawa and pour the batter in a circular manner from outwards.
• Drizzle little oil and cook on both sides.

Enjoy eating  this crispy , lacy , hot  dosa with tomato or coconut chutney !!
Note :
If u want to prepare the dosa instantly , u need to add the curd for sour taste.If u prepare the batter before 3-4 hrs , no need to use the curd.It will be fermented by the time u make dosa.So please use the ingredients accordingly.

Think Food

***Update: Giveaway contest is now closed***

I am excited to announced that one of my recipes was recently published in a new cookbook entitled Think Food published by Posit Science. My Goat Cheese Toasts with Arugula, complete with extra-virgin olive oil, is sure to nourish and please your tummy. This lovely book features recipes from 50 bloggers. Each recipe is accompanied by a professional photo, along with information about the cook who contributed their creation. I am especially delighted to offer my readers an opportunity to receive a copy of this book, at my expense. I will ship anywhere in the world. All you need to do is leave a comment, and I will do a random draw to determine the winner. Comment by November 6^th for a chance to receive a copy of this most inspiring book. Do note that this book is not vegetarian, though there are some wonderful options for vegetarians and vegans included.

Sautéed Spinach and Cannellini Beans with Balsamic Vinegar

"Mid-week meals" are those fast and simple recipes we all need to cope with weekday hustle and bustle with a minimum of bother but without sacrificing taste and nutrition. And at 15 minutes from scratch if the beans are cooked ahead of time, they don't come much faster or simpler than this one. Sautéed spinach and tender cooked beans sautéed in balsamic vinegar and spices are a delicious way to top off cooked noodles, pasta, rice or polenta for a filling, zesty and wholesome dinner.

Asafoetida powder can be found in any Indian grocer. If you don't have any on hand, substitute a couple of cloves of minced garlic added to the pan before the dried red chili flakes.

Sautéed Spinach and Cannellini Beans with Balsamic Vinegar

1/2 cup dried cannellini (white kidney) beans
2 cups vegetable stock
1 cup water
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 teaspoon dried red chili flakes, or to taste
1/4 teaspoon asafoetida
1 lb. fresh spinach leaves, trimmed
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
1/2 teaspoon sea salt, or to taste
fresh ground black pepper

Rinse the beans and soak overnight covered in several inches of cold water with a little yogurt whey or lemon juice added. Drain and add to a medium saucepan. Cover with the vegetable stock and and a cup of water, and bring to a boil. Immediately reduce the heat to low, cover, and let simmer for 1 to 1 1/2 hours or until the beans are soft. Drain and set aside, reserving the cooking liquid for cooking noodles if desired.

Heat a large skillet or wok over just less than medium heat. When hot, add the olive oil, wait a few moments, then swirl to coat the pan. Toss in the chili flakes, stir once, then sprinkle in the asafoetida. Quickly add the spinach and sauté until the leaves are just wilted, 3 or 4 minutes.

Turn down the heat slightly, and stir in the beans and balsamic vinegar. Warm throughout for a few minutes longer, then add the salt and plenty of fresh ground black pepper.

Serve hot over noodles, pasta, rice or polenta. Serves 2 to 4.

More Cannellini Bean recipes from Lisa's Vegetarian Kitchen you will be sure to enjoy:
Cannellini Bean and Grape Tomato Salad with Lemon Dressing and Rosemary-Garlic Infused Olive Oil
Cannellini Bean Soup with Fontina Gremolata
Creamy Cannellini Bean Soup with Jalapeño Gremolata
Cannellini Bean Sauce and Herbed Tomato Sauce over Carrot Rice

On the top of the reading stack: 1,000 Indian Recipes by Neelam Batra

Audio Accompaniment: Nova

Chickpea and Tomato Salad with Chat Masala

Hot, sour and salty, chat masala is a popular northern Indian spice blend that forms a delightful combination with cool or tangy foods like fresh cucumbers or tomatoes. Naturally, it is perfect addition to legume based salads like this Indian-style chickpea salad loaded with both tomatoes and cucumbers, with a little corn and fresh hot chilies for good measure. A colorful, healthy and delicious light lunch or dinner on a hot day or cold day.

Good chat masala blends are easily available from any Indian grocer, but if you want to make your own, I have a quick and easy recipe here.

Chickpea and Tomato Salad with Chat Masala

Recipe by Lisa Turner Cuisine: Indian Published on October 4, 2010 Colorful salad of buttery soft chickpeas tossed with tomatoes, cucumbers, chilies, lemon and a sprinkling of hot, sour and salty chat masala — a perfect summertime lunch or light dinner Print this recipe Ingredients: 1 cup dried chickpeas (3 cups cooked or 2 14 oz cans) 2 medium tomatoes, chopped 1 small cucumber, diced 1 cup fresh or defrosted frozen corn 3 green chilies, seeded and minced small handful of fresh cilantro leaves juice of 1 lemon (3 tablespoons) 1 1/2 teaspoons chat masala 1 teaspoon sea salt, or to taste fresh ground black pepper Instructions: Rinse the chickpeas under cold running water and soak for 8 hours or overnight in a bowl covered in several inches of cold water with a little yogurt whey or lemon juice added. Drain and rinse the soaked chickpeas and add to a medium saucepan. Cover with fresh cold water and bring to a boil. Turn the heat down to low, cover, and simmer for 1 to 1 1/2 hours or until the chickpeas are soft and buttery. Drain and set aside to cool slightly. Place the chickpeas in a large mixing bowl and add the tomatoes, cucumber, corn, chilies and coriander. Pour in the lemon juice and sprinkle in the chat masala, salt and fresh ground black pepper. Toss gently to mix. Serve warm or cold. Makes 4 to 6 servings

Other Indian salads you may enjoy:
Three Bean Salad with Fennel
Indian-Style Tomato Salad
Indian-Style Beet Salad with a Yogurt Dressing

On the top of the reading stack: Art & Fear: Observations on the Perils (and Rewards) of Artmaking by David Bayles and Ted Orland

Audio Accompaniment: Tierbeobachtungen by Jan Jelinek

SET DOSA,CARROT KURMA RECIPE–BREAKFAST MENU

Set dosa & veg sagu recipe is a famous breakfast combo in Karnataka.I had already put set dosa & veg sagu in my T&T section here . This time i tried from MB’s cookbook and got credits too.I made some small changes in the actual recipe.I omitted food color this time and used chana dal.So the color of the dosa u see in picture is its original color.It was very soft and spongy too like a pancake.MB suggested carrot kurma as accompaniment.So i prepared the same. Yes, its really a good combo.It was mildly sweet like we get in Karnataka restaurants.If u like this combo,try this kurma.Else try mixed vegetable kurma.It also tastes good.I prepared coconut chutney too. We had a nice breakfast.

Set dosa & carrot kurma recipe

Set dosa recipe with carrot kurma - Yummy breakfast recipe

Cuisine: Indian

Category: Breakfast

Serves: 10 dosas

Prep time: 120 Minutes

Cook time: 5 Minutes

Total time: 125 Minutes

INGREDIENTS

SET DOSA  1 cup = 200ml To soak and grind Boiled rice/Idli rice - 1 cup Raw rice - 1/2 cup ( sona masoori) Urad dal -1/4 cup Thick aval/poha - 3 tbsp Methi seeds - 1/2 tsp Chana dal – 2 tsp (heaped) Salt - as needed Cooking soda - 1/2 pinch(optional) CARROT KURMA Carrot – 2 nos ( medium size,finely chopped) Oil – 1 tbsp Cinnamon – 1 inch piece Cloves – 2 nos Big onion – 2 nos ( finely chopped) Tomato – 1 no (-do-) Red chilly powder – 1/2 tsp Turmeric powder – 1/4 tsp Salt & water – As reqd To grind : Grated coconut – 3 tbsp Green chilly – 2-3 nos Ginger – 1 inch piece Garlic flakes – 7 nos Soambu / Aniseed – 1/4 tsp Khus khus – 1/2 tsp

METHOD

Wash and soak the rice, dal,methi seeds together for 2 hrs. Grind to a smooth paste . Add salt at the end before removing the batter. Allow it to ferment for  minimum 15hrs. Next day add the cooking soda  , a pinch of sugar.Mix well. Heat the pan and make small dosa.Do not spread it well.Pour little oil around it.Cover cook or in open pan for sometime.Flip if necessary or serve as it is. In some hotels,this dosa is cooked on one side.So its ur choice.. Serve two dosas as a set. CARROT KURMA Wash and chop carrot and set aside. Heat oil in a kadai and add the cinnamon,cloves. Then add onions,tomatoes and carrot pieces.Saute till tomato turns mushy. Now add the turmeric powder , salt , red chilly powder and ground paste with the required water. Saute well.Pressure cook for one or two whistles.Remove,check for water content and boil for more time to thicken more. For variations,u can add peas and beans too.Do not add more carrots as the gravy tastes sweet.So use less carrot and more spices.

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