The Steaming Pot - Easy vegetarian recipes from India

Autumn begins, which means goodbye mangoes. Fruit vendors in India no longer stock those mounds of sweet-smelling heaven. Chia mango pudding is filed for use during the next mango season. Meanwhile I switch loyalties to this lovely dried cranberry banana chia pudding. (more…)

A snack or side dish made of chana dal (Bengal gram) that capitalizes on this dal’s nutty taste. Sookhi chana dal needs very few ingredients and is easy enough to be put together by a kitchen newbie. Those who rely on instant noodles or packaged bhujiya for snack-time with the excuse "I don’t know how to cook" – prepare to shed that line!

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Fenugreek seeds (methi) are packed with nutrients and healing properties – no surprise that Ayurveda swears by them. But as it happens with most things are good for you, fenugreek seeds are hard to like. In Indian cooking, fenugreek seeds are usually added in tadka and then picked out by most people (self included), never to be eaten.

I have recently discovered a trick to make these bitter brown devils palatable. This methi dahi (fenugreek flavored yogurt) recipe uses a generous amount of fenugreek seeds without rendering the final dish overly bitter. Here’s how.

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Chana dal has a rich texture and a hint of sweetness in its taste when compared to other yellow dals such as moong or toor. These qualities make chana dal the perfect pairing choice with green leafy vegetables, especially greens that lean towards bitter.  For those who would not touch fenugreek chutney or chaulai saag, a smart alternate to get their dose of greens is by "hiding" the leaves in chana dal.

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A no-cook, no-bake healthy treat, chia mango pudding can be prepared the night before and had for breakfast. A true blessing on rushed mornings.

Chia seeds are tiny powerhouses of nutrition – they are packed with protein, fibre, Omega-3 fatty acids and other micronutrients. They are also filling and, since they absorb water, they make you feel thirsty nudging you to increase your water intake.

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A quick tomato carrot soup that doesn’t require much toiling in the kitchen. With just a few ingredients and a couple of time-saving tools, you will have steaming hot cups of soup on the dining table within minutes.

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Zucchini and tomatoes, in their miniature avatars, are really quick cooking (not to mention, really pretty looking!). This recipe of microwaved baby zucchini with cherry tomatoes and feta cheese is just right for days when you are ravenous and want to spend no time at all preparing your meal, or when you have had a heavy lunch and want to go light for dinner.

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