Eggless Ragi Chocolate Cake | Red Millet Chocolate Cake | Vegan and Gluten Free Recipe

Eggless Ragi Chocolate Cake

Healthy Ragi Chocolate cake packed with essential nutrients,calcium ,iron ,fibre etc.(Gluten Free and Vegan)
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cooking Time: 20 to 25 minutes
Makes: 5" x 5" cake
Ingredients:

1. Ragi /African Millet /Red Millet Flour - 1/2 cup + 1/8 cup
2. Ground Flax Seeds - 1 tbsp
3. Cocoa powder - 1/8 cup
4. Water - 3/4 cup
5. Canola oil / vegetable oil- 1/4 cup
6. Vanilla extract- 1 tsp
7. Cane Sugar or grated jaggery - 1/2 cup
8. Baking powder- 3/4 tsp
9. Baking soda - 1/4 tsp
10. Salt - 1 pinch

Instructions:

In a pan ,add 1/8 cup Ragi flour,ground flax seeds,cocoa powder and water.Mix well until combined.

Turn on the stove and cook the ragi-cocoa mixture over medium flame,stirring continuously until it turns thick and glossy.

Transfer the ragi-cocoa mixture to a mixing bowl.Allow this to cool to lukewarm.Add oil and vanilla extract to the mixture.Next add the remaining 1/2 cup ragi flour,cane sugar,baking powder,baking soda and salt.

Mix well using a sturdy spoon until smooth and well combined.Preheat oven to 180 Deg C , line a 5" x 5" cake tin with parchment paper.Transfer the batter to the prepared pan.

Bake for about 20 to 25 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the center of the cake come out clean.(Do not over bake).Allow  to cool slightly before cutting into squares.

NOTES

• You can also add 2 to 3 tbsp chocolate chips to the batter ,if desired.

Healthy Oat and Date Laddu | Oat and Date balls | No Added Sugar

Oat and Date Laddu

Healthy Oat and Date balls( Vegan, No added Sugar)
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cooking Time: 5 minutes
Maked: 15 to 18 laddus
Ingredients:

1. Olive oil /coconut oil- 2 tsp
2. Oats- 1 cup
3. Pistachios - 1/4 cup
4. Cashew nuts - 1/4 cup
5. Flax seeds - 2 to 3 tsp
6. Soft Dates - 20 to 24( or according to taste)

Instructions:

Heat  oil in  a pan,add oats,pistachios and cashew nuts.Fry for about 5 minutes over medium low flame.Allow it to cool slightly  and grind to form a coarse powder.

Add the oats and nuts powder to a mixing bowl.Add the pitted dates and flax seeds.

Mix well using your fingertips ,until combined.( use a food processor ,if desired.)Roll it into 1.5" balls.Store in an airtight container.

NOTES

• You can also use almonds ,walnuts or any other nuts of your choice.
•  Adjust the quantity of dates according to your taste.
• I halved the recipe as you can see in the pics.

Oats- Moong Dal Tikki | Healthy Kids Snacks

Oats- Moong Dal Tikki

Healthy and delicious oats and moong dal tikki /pattie.
Recipe Source: Tarla Dalal,You can find the original recipe here.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cooking Time: 30 minutes
Makes: 12 Tikkis
Ingredients:

1. Yellow Moong dal /split yellow gram- 1/2 cup
2. Quick cooking rolled oats - 1/2 cup
3. Yogurt - 2 tbsp
4. Onion,grated - 3 tbsp
5. Ginger and garlic,paste - 1 tsp
6. Green chilies,finely chopped - 1/2 tsp
7. Chaat masala - 1.5 to 2 tsp
8. Red chili powder - 1.5 to 2 tsp( according to taste)
9. Turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp
10. Garam masala powder - 1/4 tsp
11. Coriander leaves, chopped - 2 tbsp
12. Salt - To taste
13. Oil - 2 tsp

Instructions:

Wash and soak Moong dal in plenty of water for about 2 hours.Drain and cook with about 1 cup water until soft and all the water has evaporated.Allow it to cool completely.Blend the dal in a mixer to a coarse paste.

In a bowl,combine together together dal with the rest of the ingredients ( except oil).Mix well until combined. 

Divide the dough into 12 equal portions and shape each portion into round flat tikkies/patties.Heat a non stick pan,drizzle 1 tsp oil and cook the patties over medium low flame .Drizzle 1 tsp oil on top and cook until the patties turns golden brown on both the sides,turning once or twice in between. 

  

 NOTES

• Adjust the quantity of red chili powder according to your taste.
  

Kerala Appam Recipe | Palappam | Kerala Laced Rice Pancakes | Step by Step Pictures

Kerala Palappam

Kerala style laced rice pancakes ( Gluten free and vegan)
Prep Time: 4 hours, + more for fermentation
Cooking Time: 45 minutes
Makes: 18 to 20 palappam
Ingredients:

1. Raw rice ( Pachari) - 1.5 cups( see notes)
2. Grated coconut - 3/4 cup ,heaped
3. Cooked Rice - 1/2 cup
4. Sugar- 1.5 to 3 tbsp 
5. Yeast - 1/4 tsp
6. Water - 1.5 cups
7. Salt-  to taste

Instructions:

Wash the rice well and soak it for about 4 to 5 hours.

Grind together drained raw rice, grated coconut , cooked rice and 3/4 cup water to form a smooth batter.

Next add sugar,yeast and remaining water and blend for about 30 seconds or until sugar and yeast is completely dissolved.

Transfer the batter to a large bowl.Cover and let it ferment  for about 5 to 8 hours( depending upon the temperature conditions) in a warm place , until almost doubled in volume.

After fermentation( for about 5 to 8 hours) add salt to taste.Gently stir the salt in.Cover and keep aside for atleast 30 minutes.The batter will rise a bit and will be light and foamy.

Heat the appachatti over medium high flame.Rub it with some oil if you are using an iron appachatti.( Skip this step if you are using a non stick appachatti.) Gently pour a ladle full of batter into the pan.

Immediately swirl the pan to spread the batter in a circle.Cover and cook for about a minute or until the edges turn golden brown.

Carefully remove the appam from the pan.Serve with vegetable curry/egg curry /chicken curry.

STEP BY STEP PICTURES:

In a bowl,add rice ( i used 1 cup raw rice and 1/2 cup basmati rice)and water , rinse it well.

Soak the washed rice in plenty of water for about  4 to 5 hours. 

Add grated coconut and cooked rice into a blender.

Add the drained ,soaked rice and 1/2 to 3/4 cup water to the blender.

Grind to form a smooth batter.

Next add sugar to the batter.  

Add yeast and the remaining water ,blend until sugar and yeast is completely dissolved ,for about 30 seconds.

Transfer the batter to a large bowl.Cover and let it ferment  for about 5 to 8 hours( depending upon the temperature conditions) in a warm place , until almost doubled in volume.

The batter will look something like this,after fermentation.

Now add salt to taste.

Gently stir the salt in.Cover and keep aside for atleast 30 minutes.The batter will rise a bit.

Now the batter will be light and foamy.

Heat the appachatti over medium high flame.Rub it with some oil if you are using an iron appachatti.( Skip this step if you are using a non stick appachatti.) Gently pour a ladle full of batter into the pan.

Immediately swirl the pan to spread the batter in a circle.Cover and cook for about a minute or until the edges turn golden brown.

Carefully remove the appam from the pan.Serve with vegetable curry/egg curry /chicken curry.

NOTES

• You can also use 1 cup raw rice and 1/2 cup basmati rice ,if desired.I feel adding 1/2 cup basmati rice makes appam more soft  and fluffy.
• Adjust the quantity of water depending upon the type of rice you use.Basically the batter should be a bit watery so that the edges turn out really thin.
• Adjust the quantity of sugar according to your taste.Adding a bit more sugar will help to get the edges golden brown.
• Leftover batter can be refrigerated for upto 2 days.Bring down to room temperature before making appams.
• You may serve appam with Nadan Mutta curry, Kerala Egg curry,Egg curry with potato ,Kadala curry,Kerala vegetable stew,Mutton stew,Kerala duck curry or even fish molly.

Strawberry Lassi | Lassi Recipe

Strawberry Lassi

Healthy and delicious strawberry yogurt smoothie.
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes
Serves: 1 or 2
Ingredients:

1. Strawberries- 10 to 12
2. Yogurt- 1 cup
3. Ice cubes- few
4. Honey / agave nectar - to taste

Instructions:

Place all the ingredients in a blender/food processor .Blend until smooth.

Serve immediately .

Strawberry Frozen Yogurt | Healthy Dessert Recipe

Strawberry Frozen Yogurt

Healthy and delicious strawberry frozen yogurt.
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes
Serves: 2 to 3
Ingredients:

1. Frozen strawberries- 500 gms
2. Greek yogurt / Hung curd- 1 cup
3. Honey / agave nectar - to taste
4. Vanilla extract - 1/4 tsp (optional)

Instructions:

Place all the ingredients in a blender/food processor .Blend until smooth.

Serve immediately or transfer it to an airtight container, place in the freezer until firm.

Homemade Peanut Butter

Homemade Peanut Butter

Quick,healthy and easy- Homemade Peanut Butter
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total time: 5 minutes
Makes: 1.5 cups
Ingredients:

1. Roasted peanuts- 2 cups( method given below)
2. Salt- to taste
3. Peanut oil /vegetable oil - 2 tsp( optional)

Instructions:

Place the peanuts ,salt and oil into the bowl of a food processor /mixie.Process /blend for 1 or 2 minutes.Scrape the sides of the bowl as needed.

Process/blend for 2 to 4 minutes or until it turns smooth .(Process for few more minutes ,if you want it really smooth and creamy.)Place the peanut butter in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for upto 2 months.

FOR ROASTED PEANUTS-Preheat oven to 180 Deg C .Place peanuts on a baking tray,spread it evenly and bake for about 30 to 35 minutes.Stir it well ,half way through.Let it cool completely.

Place the roasted peanuts on a wire strainer and rub it using a spoon or your fingers,allowing the skins to fall into a bowl placed below the strainer.

NOTES

• For chunky peanut butter,add 3 to 4 tbsp of crushed peanuts into the finished peanut butter,and mix well using a spoon.
• For chocolate peanut butter add 1.5 to 2 tbsp cocoa powder and powdered sugar to taste into the finished peanut butter and blend well until combined.
• You can also add 2 tsp of honey ,if desired.