Modified Kosimbir

I always loved my mother's Kosimbir, which she learnt to make from her mother. The lightest, tastiest, healthiest snack/ salad possible is how I always thought of it. Till I had cabbage kosimbir a couple of weeks back, and realised even that perfection could be made better. This started out as a carrot kosimbir, but ended up as something entirely different. Nobody's complaining!

1 cup split moong dal
1 cucumber
1 carrot
1/2 bunch dil weeds
1/2 lemon
1 tsp chilli flakes
salt to taste


Method
Soak the split moong dal overnight (or at least for 4 hours)
Cut the cucumber into tiny pieces, grate the carrot, and mix both well with the dal
Remove the leaves of the dill weeds, cut fine, and mix.
Add salt to taste, squeeze the lemon on top, and toss well.
Serve chilled, either as a stand alone snack, or with rotis.

Whey drink

Ever since I started making paneer at home, I have got a lot of whey. People seem to use it to make rotis, but since it is super rich in proteins, I decided to make it my post-run drink. Unfortunately, it tastes rather bland on its own, and I realized I would have to pep it up, if I am not to treat it as a punishment drink. This was one such successful cocktail.

Infuse 2 sprigs of curry leaves, and 1 large green chilli slit lenghtwise in whey overnight. Add salt to taste, and slurp.

Chocolate Banana Smoothie

Smoothies in any form or kind are my favourite post-workout snack. This is one I reserve for long runs, because I have been told that chocolate is one of the best drinks you can have post run. Sometimes I wonder if I don't run as much as I do, only so I can indulge!!!!

Blend 1 cup milk, 1 banana and 1 tbsp cocoa powder till smooth. Yummy.

Carrot-apple smoothie

In my quest for post-run proteins, I end up making a whole bunch of smoothies. This I adapted from a recipe for juice, and liked it so much, I've made it three times already these last two weeks.

Blend 1 apple (peeled, and chopped into small pieces after removing the core), 1 medium carrot (the maroon one, peeled and diced), an inch piece of ginger grated, and 1/2 cup milk, till smooth.
Vitamin A, calcium and proteins in a cup.

Oats upma

I've never been a great fan of oats, but you can't deny it's health benefits, which is why I like to experiment with it, hoping something nice turns up. This definitely was nice, but not as nice as a regular upma.

Roast 1/2 cup oats till the raw smell goes (but before it starts browning).
Heat 1 1/2 tsp olive oil, add mustard seeds, and when it starts spluttering add an inch piece of ginger cut fine. After about 30 seconds add 1 medium onion copped fine (I had spring onions, so used that), and when it starts turning transparent, add 1/2 capsicum chopped fine and a few cashewnuts. Saute till the capsicum looks done.
Add 3/4 cups water, and bring to boil. Add roasted oats, and 2 tbsp curds, and cook on low heat till the oats are well cooked.
Garnish with coriander leaves and serve piping hot (I didn't because I am saving the few that I have for the evening dal).

Normally, I squeeze the juice of 1/2 lemon for the khatta, but wanted a change and substituted curds instead. Tasted good, but was slightly mushier than I would have liked.

Strawberry-banana smoothie

This strawberry-banana smoothie is a perfect post-workout drink, and it works really well as a complete mid-day meal too.

Blend 1 banana, 6 strawberries, 1 cup milk till smooth. Slurp.

Stuffed omelette

This and variations of this are my favourite post-workout meal. I really don't know what I would do without these really quick and utterly filling meals.

Capsicum
Tomatoes
Onions
Spinach
Olives
Leftover rice
Seasonings as per taste
Two eggs
Butter/ olive oil
 
Method
Saute capsicum, tomatoes, onions in olive oil or butter (depending on how virtuous you want to feel- I don't even try].
Add left over rice, salt, chillie flakes and oregano (or assorted seasonings as per taste), and stir a few times. Keep aside.
Beat two eggs with salt (careful with this, because there is salt in the stuffing too), and make an omelette.
After flipping it over twice, place the fried rice on it, fold over, and let it cook for a minute or two.

You can add chopped spinach, olives, boiled chicken, or anything else. Let your imagination be your guide

Spring-onion and besan

This is one of MM's favorurite recipes, which she makes for dinner. I, however, had it as a post workout snack, so didn't have either rotis or rice with it.

Hara pyaz/Spring onions chopped fine, 3 cups but white and green portions separate
Besan/gram flour, 4 heaped tbsp
Jeera/cumin seeds, ½ tsp
Slt Green Chillies, 3
Ginger garlic paste, 1 tsp
Lal mirchi/Red chilli powder, to taste
Haldi/turmeric powder, ½ tsp
Salt, to taste
Oil, 1+ 1 tbsp

Amchur, optional

Heat 1 tbsp oil in a kadhai and add jeera + green chillies. Add the white portion of onions and fry , until the onions become transparent. Now add gg paste + red chilli powder + haldi and fry for a while. Add the green portion of the onions +salt and cook covered on slow flame for abt 10 mins. Stir occasionally. Now add the besan, stir continuosuly and cook till besan get cooked (it will look like big glop at this stage). Add the balance oil and keep on stirring till besan gets that nice fried look and everything gets crispy. Is yummy as parantha rolls and with rice & dal.


If you want to use less besan then add besan after jeera and let it roast a bit and then add the onions + spices .

Spiced Apple Salad

This is a perfect post-workout snack, specially when you are warding off a cold.

1 apple
2 tbsp unsweetened orange juice
an inch piece ginger
5-6 whole peppers
5-6 cloves
rock salt to taste
 
Crush the ginger. Mix the ginger, and the spices with the orange juice.

Cut apples into small pieces, marinate overnight with the spiced orange juice.
Remove the peppercorns and cloves before eating.

Bloody Joseph- tomato-cucumber smoothie

I went for a long run today, and returned partially dehydrated. Craved for a Bloody Mary, but that wouldn't have been prudent, so made what I call a Bloody Joseph instead! 

 
Chop one large tomato, 1 medium cucumber (I didn't peel it), and one green chilli, and blend in a mixer with salt to taste, the juice of 1/2 lemon and half a glass of water till smooth. Pour into a glass and slurpppp!

You can see seeds floating around. I like them, but if you don't you can always stain the smoothie before drinking it.

Baked apple with raisins

Perfect for all those times when you crave for something sweet, but don't want to overdose on refined sugar. Added bonus- everytime you make this, your house smells like a dream for quite a long time.
It is one of my favourite post-workout snacks.

 
1 apple (make sure it is firm)
1 1/2 tbsp raisins
pinch of cinnamon powder
maple syrup/ sugar syrup (optional)

Soak raisins in water for about 10 minutes (or till plump). Do not discard the water.
Make a tiny hole on top of the apple, and remove the core (I use the back for a spoon to bore it out). Place apple on a microwavable container
Sprinkle cinnamon powder inside the apple.
Fill the hole with raisins.
Mix maple syrup/ sugar with the water in which raisins were soaked, and pour over and around the apple (I skip the maple syrup/ sugar).
Place in the microwave and cook uncovered for 3 minutes.
Wait till it cools down, cut slices and enjoy.

Paneer-cucumber salad, with mango dressing

When the hunger pangs strike between lunch and dinner, I typically try to mix dairy and vegetable so I get my daily dose of goodness, without the pain of "eating right". Normally, I'd cut the cucumber, but after reading about Saleha Singh's "smashing cucumber salad", I can't use cucumbers any other way.

Cut (or crumble) about 50 gms paneer
Cut (or smash) one small cucumber
Toss the paneer and cucumber together, with salt and vinegar, and let it marinate for 15 minutes. Stir again, add a few raisins, and top with 1 tablespoon of mango syrup (I use Mapro, because it has most body).

Also great as a post-workout snack (increase the quantity of paneer if you are using it as that).

Barbie pachidi a.k.a. Beetroot pachidi

My grandmother used to make this with raw cucumber as an accompaniment to most meals. I prefer the beautiful colour of beetroot, and often have it as a stand-alone evening snack. The name was given by my kids, who think anything pink is girlie- they claim not to like it for that reason only.

1 medium beetroot- boiled
3/4 cup curds
1 green chilli
3-4 sprigs coriander leaves
salt to taste

Grate the beetroot, and keep aside.
Grind coriander leaves and green chilli to a rough paste
Mix, curds, salt, and coriander-green chilli paste, till it attains a smooth consistency.
Add beetroot and mix till the colour is homogenous.
Garnish with coriander/ green chilli.

Banana-yogurt smoothie

This was invented on one of those days when I had to consume a banana before it degenerated into nothingness, and I was in no mood to have anything too sweet. The taste has grown on me, and I now make it often.

 
1 cup curd
1 medium banana (the squishier the better)
a pinch of rock salt
a pinch of roasted jeera ground fine

Put all the ingredients in a blender till smooth. Enjoy.