Dalia (wheat porridge)

I hated it when my mom made me eat this for breakfast while growing up. But now I kind of like it. P.S. no one ever tells mom about that.

The basic dalia is simple. 

Ingredients: 

1) Cracked Wheat - 1/2 cup

2) Split  Moong dal - 1/2 cup (It is a a lentil green in color) 

3) Brown rice - 1/4 cup or less

4) A pinch of turmeric powder (optional)

5) Salt to taste.

6) Water - 4 cups (you might want more or less depending on consistency that you prefer) I generally add more.

Add all the ingredients in pressure cooker and cook according to pressure cookers instructions. 

I use 

http://www.amazon.com/Futura-Hawkins-Anodized-Pressure-Cooker/dp/B000GR7776/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1348459700&sr=8-6&keywords=prestige+pressure+cooker

15 mins and done. It comes out like oat meal.

You can eat it directly like this for breakfast or lunch. 

Me being me .. don't like such bland food. So, I generally eat it with soups (sambhar, a lentil based soup or kadhi, a yoghurt based soup. I will add them to the blog as well). 

If I don't have time for making soups then I just season the porridge well enough. I have listed one of the seasoning here: 

http://healthy-n-quick-food.blogspot.com/2012/03/namkeen-khichadi-brown-rice-lentil.html

There are tonnes of other ways to season it. My mom adds vegetables like tomato, peas etc while preparing the seasoning. 

10 mins Palak Paneer (healthy way)

I love palak paneer. So, I make it often for dinner. Hence, I have mastered the way to do it in 10 mins approx.

Ingredients:

1) A block of Paneer

2) Approximately 3 pounds of Spinach (palak) or 3 packs of Dole spinach

3) Spices (Red chilli powder, turmeric powder, cumin seeds, salt, green chilli 4-5, coriander powder)

4) 3 Tomatoes

5) 1/2 inch ginger 

6) 1table spoon Olive oil 

Put the paneer block in boiling water.

Boil spinach in big pot with less than half a cup of water. Try to use even lesser water. 

In the mean time put tomato, green chilli and ginger in the blender and puree it.

Heat oil in a pan. Once the oil is hot add cumin seeds and seconds later add turmeric powder and then tomato paste. Add other spices.

Cook it well (few mins on low flame) 

In the mean time add the boiled spinach to grinder and grind it.

Now add the spinach to the tomato paste. and let it simmer.

Now dry the block of Paneer with paper towel. Cut it in cubes and add it to spinach.

Simmer for few mins.

Lots of Iron + Calcium + fringe necessary minerals + etc

Enjoy with Roti. You can also do naan but roti is the healthier option.

Namkeen Khichadi (Brown Rice + Lentil Porridge)

I love khichadi but then this food has no fiber and I start feeling hungry in few hours. And I am too lazy to eat again and again. As they say laziness is the mother of all invention. This is not exactly an invention but you get the gist ;)

1 cup brown rice

1/2- 2/3 cup moong dal (green lentil)

1 pinch of turmeric

Salt to taste

Add to rice cooker that can handle brown rice. Those who have experimented with brown rice know the importance of right cooking medium for brown rice. Otherwise be prepared to stay hungry with a mess of half cooked rice in swimming pool of water. 

So, next question is why rice cooker and not pressure cooker? Answer is simple, I want my food ready when I come from office otherwise I eat whatever comes in the range of my eyes. So, before leaving for work I can time it to keep my dinner ready by the time I am back. Got to love micro controllers for that :). 

This khicadi is way too bland so seasoning is required. These days I am in south Indian avataar so:

1 spoon mustard seeds + 1 fist of roasted peanuts + 2-3 spoon of grated coconut + few green chillies ground finely.

1 table spoon of ghee, heat it add jira, few curry leaves, red chilli powder

In a bit add the ground paste. Let it cook for few mins on low heat.

Add the seasoning to khichadi... enjoy the hot Meal with almost no effort! 

Compliment it with papad or buttermilk if you like :)

When I am in mood I complement plain khichadi with  kadhi.. not today though :)

Carbs + Fiber+ Protein in full stock

P.S. I am a firm believer of right tools. Either the utensils should be dishwasher safe or the pot should be such a nice non stick that even porridge shouldn't stick to it. Non efficient tools are waste of time and beats the whole purpose of quick and effortless food during busy hours.