Multigrain Bread LoafBy Meg's KitchenWho doesn’t love an amazing loaf of freshly baked bread and the fragrance of one baking in your home kitchen? Well, if you have not experienced it yet, you are missing a world of goodness. I have shared the video of the step by step process along with tons of tips and troubleshooting information. The recipe itself is fabulous because it’s nutritious, healthy and delicious – Multigrain Bread loaf!! This is a very special recipe since it is a celebratory session for us reaching the 20k followers milestone on our Facebook Page, 10k members in our Facebook group and of course the launch of our New Studio Kitchen and Meg’s Kitchen Logo. Thank you all for your support and this is my token of appreciation for all the love!!
Gujarati PatraBy Meg's KitchenI was first introduced to this dish when I moved to Mumbai. It was a very new recipe for me, but I loved it, and hence became a part of my home cooking recipes. Interestingly it is made with arbi ke patte/ Colocasia leaves. Though we have here a Gujarati version, there are many other regional versions and name for this amazing healthy snack. It is called alu wadi in Maharashtra. When in season it’s a must try dish.
Instant Raw Mango PickleBy Meg's KitchenSome recipes have a special place in your heart! This is one such recipe, simply since it reminds me of my childhood. Raw mango pickle was an absolute necessary condiment along with ALL meals in the mango season. My mom used to get home tons of raw mango (read 50 kg plus) and prepare jars of various mango pickles to consume through the year as well gift to near and dear ones. Raw mango pickle, a favourite of mine, was taken for granted by me, now is a delicacy which I have to wait for to receive from Delhi (I am based in Mumbai and my parents live in Delhi).I was fortunate enough to have my mom pay us a visit for a couple of days last May and I decided to learn her secret recipe of the quickest, yummiest and easiest mango pickle you’ll ever taste. And so I did!! Ever since have been making a jar for home every week and it vanishes in no time (most of it into my tummy!). The wonderful part of this recipe is that it’s fresh, quick, easy with no preservatives and can be had almost immediately – Yes, no waiting unlike most pickles!Hey did I mention it has 2 versions – 1 sweet for sweet mango pickle lovers and another spicy and tangy for those like me who almost worship chillies!! Few readily available ingredients and literally 5 minutes cook time and it’s ready.If these aren’t reasons enough for you to be tempted to try out the recipe, here are some health benefits of eating raw mango:
  1. Rich source of vitamin A and C.
  2. Keeps the body cool in summer, prevents heat strokes.
  3. Aids in digestion hence the drinks like aam panna in summer.
  4. Maintains the electrolyte balance in the body, considered good for blood pressure and
    heart.
  5. Boosts your immune system and helps you fight against common flu and other diseases.
  6. Has astringent properties and antioxidants, both do wonders for your skin.
Red Chilli Garlic PasteBy Meg's KitchenYou must have come across 100’s of recipes where you require to use red chilli paste/sauce. Now of course there are versions available on the shelves of almost all grocery stores. However, very rarely would you find one that packs the punch and flavor you are looking for. So here I am sharing with you a recipe which will solve your miseries and give you the best and most versatile red chili paste which can be used in almost any recipe.For those who have attended our ‘Stir fry cooking workshop’ are already a fan of this recipe. Yes, I do use it during the workshop in a few recipes. And as promised to all my followers, I am finally sharing it today. For others who still haven’t experienced the joy of tasting this amazing recipe, just trust me when I say ‘it’s worth it’! Go ahead and make it, it stores well for almost an entire year. So cool, isn’t?
Chunky Crunchy GranolaBy Meg's KitchenThe markets are flooded with varieties of granola, muesli, and energy bars. Most of us are so confused of what the ingredients are, which is a better product, and a healthier one for our families!! All of these are definitely healthier alternatives than binge eating fried namkeens and snacks but that doesn’t make it 100% natural. There is one thing I strongly believe in – anything that is on store shelves for a long period and sold to consumers with a long shelf life, will always have preservatives and additives to extend the shelf life. It cannot be 100% natural. Even though all products have the required licensing and use only food grade, industry approved preservatives and additives it cannot be better than freshly bake homemade granola, using pure ingredients, can it?? So here I present to you an extremely flexible, versatile base recipe to make the yummiest crispy, crunchy granola that you will ever have! Use the ingredients you have available, use the ingredients you enjoy and create customised jar of granola for your family in flat 20 minutes! Try this recipe out and I promise you won’t buy another box of granola from the market again.
Whole Wheat Lavash with ‘Roti Atta Dough’ & a Hung Curd Dip RecipeBy Meg's KitchenThe idea to do this recipe came me to literally while making chapatis!! I was contemplating what recipe to do next for my session, when this idea clicked!! And I am glad I decided to go ahead! Its so cool when you can create 10 minute recipes which are so satisfying and delicious at the same time! So we made these lavash ONLY & ONLY with roti dough, left over from lunch. Now how could I not share something healthy and quick to go along with it?? So here I present the easiest lavash and dip recipe you’ll ever make. And goes without saying, you’ll never go back to buying lavash from the market again.
Kulle Ki ChaatBy Meg's KitchenKulle ki Chaat literally translates into chaat in a kulhar. Its an Old Delhi, Chandni Chowk speciality and is probably one of the few Indian Chaat recipes that is not fried and odesnt have a fried ingredient. Its super versatile and healthy. You can make it with seasonal fruits and vegetables, mango, apple, oranges, kiwi, banana, cucumber, potatoes, tomatoes etc. I used tomatoes, cucumbers and boiled potatoes in my live session. You can use bell peppers, sweet corn, Italian herbs for an Italian version . Let’s begin.
15 Minute Dhokla RecipeBy Meg's KitchenThis is the quickest, easiest snack recipe that you can make, also it’s delicious and nutritious!! Dhokla traditionally is made with a long-fermented batter usually overnight. But for me it’s always a last-minute decision to make when hunger strikes!! So I have this go-to recipe of mine which barely uses any ingredients and is ready in 15 minutes. Let’s get started.
The Humble Bhindi/Lady Finger/OkraBy Meg's KitchenBhindi is definitely the staple food of my house like hundreds of other households in our country. It is so versatile and cooked in various forms regionally. I am sure we all have our favourites. In my mom’s house its almost always made with either sliced onions or small sambar onions (used as whole, stuffed with spices) and is delicious. I usually cook it without onions since my daughter prefers it like that (and she can eat bhindi EVERYDAY, like her father!!).. Personally, I am not a very big fan of bhindi but don’t mind it occasionally. So, when I initially tried making bhindi, in UK as a student (I couldn’t cook much then), I always ended up with a mushy mess and maybe that’s why I stopped enjoying it! But of course, I made my mistakes and, in the process, learnt small little tricks to get it right each time. Let me first share those tips with you:
  1. Wash and clean your bhindi well and dry it COMPLETELY before chopping.
  2. Apply some lemon juice on the knife blade while chopping and it wouldn’t be very slimy while cutting.
  3. Try and keep the pieces small and most importantly EVEN sized.
  4. If adding sliced onions, then add after the initial 5-7 min of cooking the bhindi.
  5. Use an iron kadai if possible, adds to the flavour and colour of the dish.
  6. DO NOT cook covered in the initial 5-7 min.
  7. Cook on medium high heat and not low initially.
  8. Be very gentle while cooking and careful not to smash the bhindi.
  9. When I add my spices, I actually hold the pan from its handle and toss the bhindi to blend spices rather than using a spoon to mix.
  10. Use a good quality non stick or cast iron pan, or you’ll need to use more oil.
Rajasthani Gatte Ki SabziBy Meg's KitchenI am Punjabi!! and I am originally from Delhi… So for the most part of my life, regional food and other Indian cuisines didn’t really exist. I had heard about a lot of dishes, but that wasn’t food that we went out to eat or was cooked at home. I got married into a Marwari Jain household and you won’t believe how my palette transformed!! Another massive change happened when I moved to Mumbai.. this city is just amazing and the kind of cultural diversity it has, I doubt any other part of India can match up. Thanks to my mother-in-law and her mother-in-law (my husband’s dadi) and this city, I now know so much more about another world of food that I hadn’t experienced before. Gatte Ki Sabzi is one such dish.. I have developed my own version of it and absolutely love it! Glad to be sharing with you all.