Microwave Gobi manchurian-low fat recipe

Try this recipe the next time your friends come over ,they will never know the difference and you can laugh about it once the party is over or- maybe even share the recipe.This idea sparked when I was making onion fritters in the microwave...which I do a lot ,by the way (if you want the recipe :microwave onion/pakora/fritters/pakoda) ,so I tried cauliflower manchurian and they turned out to be a hit hit hit!. Here I have replaced corn flour or corn starch with all purpose flour,cause I'm not a big fan of the former,but if you have corn flour and want to add it instead, then use it by all means .
following is the recipe:
Ingredient :
For the fritters-
cauliflower: 1 head cut into florets
all pourpose flour:1/2 cup
besan/chickpea flour:1 tbs
water: 1/2 cup
red food color:few drops
oil : to spray

For the sauce-
soy sauce:1/2 cup
tomato ketcup: 1 tbs
garlic :crushed and chopped 4 to 5 big cloves
ginger:about an inch freshly grated
green chilies :1 or adjust to taste
green bell pepper:1/2 cut lengthwise
salt and pepper: as needed
jalapeno sauce : few shakes if required
water: as required
oil: 1/2 tsp(use pure sesame for best flavor )

For the all purpose flour paste ratio:
1 tbs of flour to 3 tbs of water

• Start by washing your cauliflower and cut them into bite size florets,
• add 1/2 a cup of water to this and microwave until they are par-cooked ,this may take anywhere from 4 to 6 minutes.drain the excess water and keep aside .
• now lets prepare our batter ,in a bowl combine 1/2 a cup of all pourpose flour,and 1 tbs of chickpea flour,season with salt and pepper.
•  mix everything well and make a thick paste using a little water.
• add few drops of red food color if desired and keep aside.
• layer a microwave safe dish with parchment paper and spray with a little oil
• now dip the florets one by one into the paste and arrange on the dish, spray some oil on the top too
•  microwave until cooked ,flip halfway, this may take 8 to 10 minutes according to your microwave setting.
• meanwhile in a pan heat 1/2 tsp of pure sesame oil 
• add chopped fresh garlic,freshly grated ginger,green chilies accorning to taste and green bell peppers
• saute well and add 1/4 cup of low sodium soy sauce 
•  1 tbs of tomato ketcup,mix everything well.
•  give some good shakes of jalapeno sacue if desired ,for an "extra spicy manchurian" .
• add 1/2 cup water and the paste of  all pourpose flour to thicken the sauce,
• mix well and cook for another 5 minutes ,
• finally add the florets in and coat well with the sauce .
• serve warm with your favorite rice or just enjoy as is .

This recipe is great for starters,also you can adjust the consistency of the gravy by adding little or more water to the sauce .
Here is a quick video tutorial:

Thank you for visiting!

Homemade Frozen chappati/roti/paranthas

This recipe is a keeper,that is if you spend good money on store bought ones.We don't eat  much of frozen food but I just like the idea of pre-cooked meals -saves ample amount of time ,which as a new mom I have to agree ,is hard to find,hence,Greenhouse cuisine has decided to include more quick and easy recipes in the time to come .Lets see now how to make this low fat,wholegrain,homemade frozen chappati .

Ingredients:

whole wheat flour/atta : 2 cups 

water : 3/4 cup or adjust accordingly(ratio will change with the quality and brand of wheat )

salt : as per taste 

oil: to spray 

parchment paper :as needed

• start with 2 cups of whole wheat flour,add salt according to your taste.
•  make a well in the center and add water little by little to form a soft dough adjust the water ratio according to the dough you are using,for instant the king arthur brand whole wheat flour will take a lot more water than ashirvad brand atta /flour so take care and form a soft dough
• Take out a portion  and start rolling using a little dry flour into desired size
•  transfer this to a hot fumy griddle and cook just until you start to notice little bubbles on the top this may take 30 to 40 sec ,cool completely before  transferring to a freeze friendly dish 
• arrange these with parchment paper sandwiched between each piece.This is to make sure once frozen they don't stick to each other
• Next step is  flash freezing this helps us to get an even frozen layer and perfectly frozen individual pieces. Let it be for a minimum of 30 minutes 
• Once frozen you can transfer these into ziplock bags ,date them and remove any air using a vacuum suction 
• Cook as many as and when needed and keep the rest frozen 

Notes

1. Keeps good for 2-3 months,not that they lasted so long in my house ,but according to the USDA you can do so refer : (http://www.fda.gov/) for freezer charts
2. These are par-cooked ,I have tried freezing them full cooked but they turned out a bit brittle and crunchy so let me know if you have good results in freezing any.

Here is a quick video:

Thank you !

stuffed pita pockets recipe

Easy breakfast or brunch this recipe can be made in a jiffy for curbing hunger pangs that attack unknown.

Makes 2 servings (3 each )
Ready made pita pockets : 6
eggs : 2 (can substitute potatoes for veggi or vegan version)
onion: 1 small
carrots:2
capsicum/green bell pepper: 1
red chili powder:1/4 tsp
pepper powder: 1/2 tsp
salt : 1 tsp
cilantro for garnish

• start by heating 1 tsp oil in a pan add the onions,saute till translucent
• add carrots and green bell pepper ,season with a little salt ,cook for few more minutes.
• add in the red chili powder and the pepper powder ,break in the eggs and scramble .
• cook until the eggs are done
• garnish with cilantro 
• warm up the pita either on a griddle or toaster and carefully open up to form a pocket 
• stuff each pocket with about 2 to 3 tbsp of the mixture. 
• enjoy with your favorite sauce .   

Thank you for visiting !

Egg fried rice (Indo-Chinese recipe)

Egg fried rice is a quick way to turn  left over rice into something fancy and flavorful.Fresh cooked rice can be used for this recipe but for best results use day-old cooked rice .



Ingredients :
Eggs- 2
cooked rice - 2cups
mixed vegetables - 1 cup
oil - 1tbs
ginger and garlic, finely chopped  -1 tbs
vinegar- 1tbs
chili paste - 1 tbs
soy sauce - 3 tbs
salt and pepper -according to taste

Recipe :

• crack two eggs and season with a little salt and pepper ,beat well.
• Heat a non-stick pan and scramble the eggs.keep aside .
• In a wider pan heat about 1 tbs of oil and saute the finley chopped ginger and garlic.
• next add the chopped vegetables and saute for few more minutes .
• add  rice and mix everything well.
• season with 1 tbs of vinegar,1 tbs of chili paste and 3 tbs of soy sauce 
• add the scrambled eggs and finally season with salt and pepper. 

Serve warm with curry or sauce.

Here is  a quick video tutorial :

Thank you for visiting!

Vegetarian fish curry (Chettinad saiva meen kulambu)

Chettinad cuisine is mostly known for its non-vegetarian specials but all the veggie lovers out there are going to love this fish(fake fish) curry,also this curry is a vegan delight.

Ingredients:
For the fake fish:
Black eyed peas:1/4 cup
toor dal(pigeon peas) :1/4 cup
garlic:4 pods
fennel seeds:1 tsp
salt and red chili powder : as per taste
1 clean banana leaf for steaming

For the curry :
Onion: 1 large
tomato :2 medium
green chilies: 2
few curry leaves
mustard seed :1 tsp
fenugreek seed : few
juice of a lemon size tamarind
turmeric powder : 1/2tsp
coriander powder: 2 tsp
red chili powder: 1 tsp(adjust according to taste)
salt
water.

Method :
Preparation of the fish:

• start by soaking the black eyed peas and toor dal for about 4 hrs
• grind this into a paste along with four garlic cloves,1 tsp of fennel and 1tsp of red chili powder 
• add salt and spread into a clean dry banana leaf as shown in the clip, leaving enough space on the corners. 
• fold the leaf carefully into half ,insert a toothpick to hold this in place and steam cook for about 10-12 minutes 
• remove from the steamer and slit the meat into fillet as shown in the picture above 
• heat a non-stick pan, spray some oil and shallow fry the fillets .keep aside 

Preparation of the curry 

• In a pan add some oil and saute the onions and fenugreek seeds .add green chilies,tomatoes,curry leaves and saute for few more minutes. 
• add turmeric powder,coriander powder and chili powder .
• cook until the tomatoes are mushy.
• season with salt
• add 1 cup of water and the tamarind juice soaked in water (approx 1 cup) and let boil for few minutes.
• finally add the fillets and simmer for about 10 mintues 
• serve with steaming rice .

This curry tastes even better when served the other day as the tamarind juice and spices are absorbed nicely by the fillets. 

Here is a quick video tutorial :

Thank you for visiting!

Coconut rice recipe

This is an easy one pot recipe in which all you need is a pressure pan or a rice cooker . Extremely aromatic and wonderfully delicious this rice is so flavorful that we rarely ever have any leftovers.

Ingredients:

• Rice 1 cup (basmati)
• coconut 1/2 cup freshly grated
• coconut milk 1/2 cup
• water 1/2 cup
• salt as per taste 

For tempering:

• coconut oil 1 tsp
• mustard seeds 1 tsp
• urad dal 1 tsp
• asafoetida (hing) one pinch
• curry leaves -few
• green chilies -as per taste 
• red chilies-broken few pieces   

Recipe:

In a pressure pan heat oil ,add all the tempering ingredients and saute for a moment .

Add coconut and saute for few more minutes .

Rinse and add the rice .Mix everything well, making sure the rice gets in all the flavors.

Add 1/2c coconut milk and 1/2 c water

Add salt and mix well.

close the pan and put on the weight ,let cook for 3 - 4 whistle 

serve with your favorite side dish.

Here is a quick video tutorial:

Tips:

The measurement given above is for Basmati rice ,adjust the water ratio according to the quality of rice. 

This recipe can also be made in an electric rice cooker by  tempering separately in a pan and adding everything together.

Thank you for visiting !

spicy shrimp curry

Ingredients
onion- 1 large
ginger- 2inch
garlic- 6 to 7 cloves
green chilies - 4
tomato puree - 1 can
curry leaves - few
oil-1/2 tbs
turmeric powder- 1/2 tsp
coriander powder - 1 tbsp
chili powder- 1 tsp
pepper powder -1/2 tsp
shrimp- 1 pound

recipe:

• Thinly slice the onions and slit the green chilies . 
• heat a pan and add oil,add mustard seeds if desired, let splutter and add curry leaves 
• add the onions,add a little salt,saute until brown.
• meanwhile crush the ginger and garlic and prepare a fresh paste ,add this to the browned onions and turn the flame low.cook until the raw smell goes away
• add turmeric, coriander powder and the red chili powder ,add some water if the mixture sticks to the pan.
• add the tomato paste and a little water(about 1/4 cup),cook for two minutes
• add the shrimp ,add salt and pepper,mix well
• let this simmer for next 20 minutes on low flame
• adjust salt .serve with steaming rice 

Note :The shrimp used in this recipe were precooked .adjust the timing according to the type of shrimp being used

Here is a quick video tutorial :

Thanks for visiting !

Pineapple rasam recipe

 Rasam is a south Indian soup often served for lunch or dinner as the second main course .Pineapple rasam is an exotic and aromatic variety popular in many region.

Ingredients:

For Rasam

toor dal boiled: 1/2 cup

tomato:1 medium size

pineapple sliced:1 cup

green chilies slit:3

garlic pods: 4

curry leaves:few

turmeric powder: 1/2

rasam powder:1 tsp (click homemade rasam powder for recipe)

salt for seasoning 

jaggery- 1 tsp

coriander for garnish 

For Tempering :

Ghee- 1 tsp

Mustard seeds- 1tsp

curry leaves -few

cumin seeds- 1 tsp

asafetida-1/2 tsp

• Start with one cup of sliced pineapple ,add half the quntitiy to a blender and make into a paste. keep aside .
• In a deep pan bring about 2 cups of water to a rolling boil to this add tomatoes, add cooked toor dal and the remaning pineapple slices.
• add crushed garlic pods,slit green chilies and few curry leaves.
• Add in turmeric powder and rasam powder. cook everything for about  15 minutes until the pineapple slices are done .
• Season with salt and add the pineapple puree at this stage cook for another 5 minutes.
• Heat a separate pan for the tempering .melt some butter add mustard seeds,cumin seeds ,little asafetida and few curry leaves .transfer this to the rasam and mix well.
• finally add about 1 tsp of jaggery and turn off the heat .
• garnish with corriender and we are done. 

Here is a quick video tutorial

This delicious and aromatic  rasam also is known to be excellent for digestion so it serve hot with steaming cup of rice or just enjoy as a comforting soup.

Thank you for visiting Greenhousecuisine .

parotta recipe(low fat)

Parotta or barotta is a layered flat bread of South India,mainly famous as a street food. Lets have a look on how to prepare this at home .


Ingredients:
All purpose flour :1 cup
salt :as per taste
water: about 1/3 cup
Oil : 1 tbs for spraying

• Add the flour and salt  to a bowl and start kneading using little water at a time to form a smooth dough .
• cover this dough with a kitchen towel and let rest for about 1/2 an hour 
• Transfer the dough to a working surface and knead well for about 10- 15  minutes.
• Spray some oil and roll the dough into a log 
• Divide this log into 4 equal portions and oil each portion . oil the working surface as well .
• start rolling out each portion as thin as possible and oil the layer .
•  sprinkle some dry flour and carefully lift up the layer to make small folds 
• next lift up the folded layers on both ends and start stretching by gently patting the layers.
• swirl this up and tuck in the end and  shape the parottas using your palm or a rolling pin
• pan fry using a little oil until golden brown on both sides
• For the final touch take the parotta to the working area and fluff it up to bring out the layers .
• Enjoy with your favorite curry.

This is is just a basic recipe which uses very little oil ,one can always add more or less according to their preference also one can include ingredients like eggs or milk .

Here is a quick video tutorial:

Thank you for visiting Greenhouse cuisine !

Mom's Chicken Curry Chettinad

This Chettinad pepper chicken recipe is a contribution to my blog by my mother-in-law and is said to run in her mom's family for generations.Freshly ground spices gives this recipe an irresistible aroma that is sure to win your hearts so lets have a look at the preparations.

Ingredients :
Chicken :1 pound (1/2 kilo appx)
onion : 1 large sliced
tomato:1 medium chopped
Freshly ground ginger garlic paste:1 tbs
oil: 2 tbs
turmeric: 1/2 tsp
coriander powder :2 tsp ,heap full(homemade)
salt :as per taste
coriander leaves for garnish

To grind :
shallots or pearl onion : about 10-12
curry leaves -a handful
cinnamon stick:1 inch
cloves :2
cumin seeds:1 tsp
whole pepper:2 tsp



Recipe:

• Heat a pan add 1 tbs of oil and add all the ingredients under -to grind ,saute well let cool and make into a paste using a little water
• In the same pan add remaining 1 tbs oil and saute 1 large onion until golden brown
• add to this 1 tbs of freshly ground ginger and garlic paste saute until the raw smell goes away.
• Add the chopped tomato ,the chicken pieces and 1/2  tsp turmeric.
• season with salt, cover and cook for 5 minutes. 
• Uncover add 2 tbs of corriender powder, the shallot pepper paste and 1 cup of water.
• cover again and cook until the meat is well done and a nice gravy is formed 
• check for seasoning and turn off the heat.
• Garnish with coriander leaves ,serve hot .

This curry goes perfectly well with plain rice but tastes equally tantalizing with chappati or naan .

Here is a quick video tutorial:

Thank you for visiting !

Tandoori chicken recipe

Tandoori chicken is traditionally made in tandoor - a clay oven but it taste equally great if baked or broiled with a tantalizing  marinade .lets have a look at the ingredients :
For 3 servings:

•  chicken -3 piece (leg and thigh)
• turmeric- half a tsp 
• salt and pepper -as per taste
• freshly ground ginger garlic paste - 1 tbs

For the marinade:

• 1 cup thick yogurt(greek yogurt will work best)
• 3 tsp of tandoori masala powder(click tandoori masala  for a easy recipe)
• salt as per taste 
• red food color 

Recipe :

Preparing the chicken

• start by gashing the bird for the penetration of marinade.
• coat the meat with 1 tsp of turmeric and wash well.The anti bacterial properties of turmeric helps sanitize
• season with salt and pepper powder rubbing it well on the chicken
• add ginger garlic paste and massage it into the meat

preparing the marinade

• In one cup of yogurt add 3 tsp of tandoori masala powder 
• add salt as per taste keeping in mind that the chicken is already been seasoned .
• add 3 drops of red food color and whisk every thing well
• pour the marinade over the meat and coat thoroughly.
• refrigerate for a minimum of 4 hrs or overnight .

Cook the chicken pieces for 30- 40 min on broil and serve with your favorite side dish .

Here is a quick video tutorial:

Notes: 

1. This recipe is perfect for freezing in ziplock bags for... those lazy nights .
2. adjust the heat by reducing the pepper powder while seasoning as the tandoori masala will be hot.

Thank you for visiting !

 

Stove top naan recipe

Naan is a south and central Asian flat bread typically made in clay oven or tandoor but lets see how to make it on a stove top.

Ingredient:
(makes 4 medium size naans)
1 cup all purpose flour + more for kneading
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp yeast
1 tsp sugar
1/2 cup water (water to flour ratio 1:2)

procedure :

• dissolve 1 tbs sugar in 3 tbs of lukewarm water and add the yeast ,leave for 10 minutes in a warm place to get foamy
• measure the flour in a bowl ,add salt,the yeast mixture and 1/2 cup water to make a sticky dough
• cover with a wet towel and keep  it in a warm place for about 30 mins .this dough will not rise much, but will become elastic with the formation of gluten.
• bring the dough to a working area, and knead for about 10-12 minutes
• divide into 4 equal portion and let rest for about 10 minutes
• heat a griddle on high and once fumy reduce the heat to medium high .
• start shaping  the naan using a rolling pin and plenty of dry flour .
• transfer to the hot griddle and with in seconds you will see bubbles on the top of naan.
• check the bottom surface to be golden brown,once this is obtained remove the griddle and transfer the uncooked surface of naan directly over the flame .
• keep rotating the naan with the help of tongs for a uniform cooking .you can also flip the naan every now and then on the fire 
• once both the sides are done which will take about 30 to 40 secs bring it on to a plate 
• brush with butter and serve hot .

Notes :The ratio of flour can be changed to half all purpose and half  whole wheat.
           You can also add  eggs or milk or yogurt to the dough if you prefer.

           If you plan to make tandoori roti by this method just use whole wheat flour .

           Use a little oil to coat the dough after dividing into four portion.

           Use tongs that are long enough to withstand the heat and protect your hands from burns .

Here is a quick video tutorial :

Thank you for visiting !

Ragi (Finger millet) sweet and savory recipes

Hello everyone 

Long time ! It sure feels good writing about food . Today's recipe is for finger millet prepared in two different ways -sweet and savory .

Ingredient list :

• Ragi flour  1 cup 
• sugar  -as per taste 
• coconut shredded -1 tbs or more as per your liking 
• salt -1/3 tsp(more for saute)
•  black chickpeas -1 cup cooked 
• onion - 1 small size
• green chili -to taste 
• few curry leaves 
• 1 tsp oil

Method

1. Make a coarse mixture with the ragi flour + 1/3 tsp salt, adding little by little water at a time .If the water gets in excess then the mixture will get lumpy ,and if too little water is added then it will go dry so adjust the consistency carefully to that of a moist cornmeal. 
2.  add one cup of water in a pressure pan and place on medium high
3. arrange the mixture in an idli stand and steam cook for about 15 minutes in the pan(without weight )
4. Once the mixture is cooked it will give out a nice aroma and will turn into a darker shade. 

Preparing the puttu (sweet version)

• Take out a portion,add sugar and coconut.
• optional -add a little ghee
• serve warm .

Preparing the upma(savory version)

• chop the onions and green chili 
• saute in a pan with little oil adding 1/4 tsp of salt
• add the curry leaves 
• add the cooked black chickpeas and saute for about a minute 
• Finally add the cooked ragi and turn off the heat .mix well. 
• serve 

Here is a quick video tutorial:

Thank you for visiting my blog ! 

Spinach pizza with sundried tomatoes

Spinach pesto topped with sundried tomatoes on a thin crust, what a killer combination!. A simple yet delicious recipe,low in fat and high in nutrition, don't know if the word pizza can get any healthier. The recipe is divided into two steps, first being the preparation of spinach pesto which can also be accompanied with pastas and sandwiches. The authentic recipe calls for pine nuts and Parmesan cheese, feel free to add or omit as per your liking.

Ingredients for spinach pesto

• Frozen Spinach -2 cups Thawed
• Part skim mozzarella cheese-2 tbs shredded
• Walnuts-1/4 cup
• Olive oil-2tsp
• Dry Basil -2 tsp.(use fresh leafs if available )
• Garlic -2 cloves
• Salt and black pepper-adjust to taste

Method

• Combine all the ingredients in a food processor and make a fine paste.
• Store in an airtight container and refrigerate .stays fresh up-to a week.

Ingredients for the pizza

• Pizza dough -medium size (for a homemade low fat recipe click-pizza-dough-recipe)Ingredients for pizza
• Spinach pesto-3-4 tbs
• Sundried tomatoes -few for topping
• Olive oil- 1 tsp for brushing the crust
• Feta cheese or parmesan-2 tbsp

Method

• Preheat the oven on broil
• Using a rolling pin roll out the dough thin enough to resemble a roti
• Spread pesto on the base leaving half an inch gap along the corners,as shown here .
• Arrange the tomatoes ,the brand I used here is Traders Joe's julienne style in olive oil .
• Sprinkle cheese and bake on broil for the first 5 mins .
• Bake on 350f for next 20 mins or until cheese is bubbly .
• Pull out of the oven and brush the crust with olive oil .
• Slice out and serve 

Reduce the calories further by using fat free feta cheese ,also these make perfect frozen dinner.hope you try out this recipe .


Thank you for visiting my blog !

Homemade Frozen pizza recipe

Not in the mood to bake ?but would love to have a pizza, that's the exact same way i feel sometimes.Don't worry here is a recipe to rescue the night.One can prepare this par cooked pizza ahead of time and freeze just until needed,great for fixing a dinner under 30 mins .

Ingredients :

• medium size pizza dough(for a low fat homemade recipe click-pizza dough)
• part skimmed mozzarella cheese -handful or as per preference  
• 1 chicken Brest cubed and cooked or toppings of your choice 
• marinara sauce or pizza sauce -1/4cup  
• 2 tsp olive oil 
• corn meal 1tsp



Bake not more than 10 mins

• salt as per taste 

Directions :

• Preheat  oven at 365F. Line a tray with foil or parchment paper.
• Place the dough on  work surface and start shaping the pizza .
•  brush the crust thoroughly with a little oil and transfer it to the tray sprinkled with some corn meal .
• par-bake this crust for 10 mins.take out and let cool completely.   
• Once cool spread sauce evenly on the crust .Don't put too much of sauce as it will make the pizza soggy.
• once the sauce is evenly coating the crust, top up with cooked chicken or toppings of your choice.
• Sprinkle cheese on top  and the pizza is ready to hibernate  .
• Flash freeze this for first 30 mins without any cover in the freezer section .
• Take it out and very important now is to wrap the pizza with stretch tight plastic wrap so as its covered properly without any gaps.If there are gaps in between the chances of freezer burns are more.Use vacuum sealing if you have one .
• Mark the date and freeze the pizza until required ,lasts up to a month.

• When ready to bake turn the oven to broil. Bake the pizza directly out of the freezer for first 5 mins on broil.
• Reduce the temperature to 375 F and bake for 20 min or till the crust looks golden brown and the sauce is bubbly.
• Let cool and slice out .

 The taste of the batch shown above was so fresh that there was no clue it was frozen ,if you don't believe me you have to try this recipe out .Healthy , affordable and not to forget delicious compared to the once that you see in the frozen section of your departmental store,so go ahead  try this recipe and let me how it turns out!

Thank you for visiting my blog !

Mexican sopes recipe

Hola everyone,

Sopes are traditional mexican dish, very versatile and very tasty .Once the corn base are prepared there are many ways to assemble them also the toppings can be varied from black bean to tuna to chicken to whatever you wish.The authentic recipe involves deep frying the corn base disc ,but here greenhouse cuisine brings you the low calorie pan fried version.

INGREDIENTS :

(makes approx 18 sopes )

• MASECA flour ,or masa harina - 1 cup[This is flour(masa)made of ground maize soaked in lime,available in any grocery store].
• 1/3 tsp salt
• 2/3 cup water.
• Oil -2 tsp
• refried beans -1/2 cup
• chicken Brest cooked 1 cup or for a veggie version substitute black bean and sweet corn of same amount .
• Salsa or roughly chopped tomatoes,onions and cilantro -1/2 cup
• taco mix -2 tsp



Meet my three amigos  

• fat free sour cream -1/2 cup

Many have the idea that Mexican cooking involves a lot of  fat calories and is totally time consuming ,but it doesn't have to be the case if some of the ingredients be switched  for fat free, and good  quality canned products be used ,which saves a lot of time .

METHOD:

• Mix 1 cup of the flour with 2/3 cup water and 1/3 tsp salt and make a soft dough.
• Divide the dough into 18 to 20 portions and shape into balls.
• Prepare the bean sauce by heating the refried beans with 2 tsp of taco mix and a little water.keep aside
• wet your fingers with water and flatten out each ball in the palm of your hand as seen in step 2
• Heat a non stick griddle spray some oil and place the sope to cook on one side. 
• Flip within a minute,there will be change in color indicating that the masa has started to cook.
• take the sope out of the pan and very carefully start pinching the ends to give it a disc shape.(stp 3)
• return the disc to the pan and fry for another minute 
• repeat untill all of the masa has been made into discs .
• Assemble the sopes with the bean sauce stp(4),thechicken or topping of your choice stp(5),the salsa stp(6) and the finally sour cream.

Enjoy when still warm.Optional :top it all up with some lettuce to add that extra crunch.Also try replacing the salsa with tomatillo sauce that will add a tangy flavor to your sopes.Hope you give it a try.

Muchas Gracias for visiting my blog !

Veggie lover's pizza recipe

Calling all the veggie lovers, time for some wholesome and healthy homemade pizza .There was a time when hubby and i would order in pizza every Friday night ,but thanks to this recipe we really don't feel like going back to the store bought version any more! .

Ingredients:

• Medium size pizza dough  (for a home made low fat recipe follow the link:pizza dough)
• veggies -1 cup (mushroom,green bell pepper,onions and olives)
• pizza sauce -3/4 cup
• part skim mozzarella cheese-1/2 cup(reduce or increase as per taste)
• olive oil -2 tsps 

Method

• Prepare the base for pizza by spreading out the dough on a greased baking tray using both hands
• Once the dough is evenly spread brush with olive oil to ensure a crispy crust .
• Now spread the pizza sauce evenly with the help of a spoon or spatula 
• Add the veggies and top with cheese  
• Bake on maximum heat for first 5 mins .
• reduce the temperature to 375 F and bake for 20 mins or until the crust is golden brown .
• Done

There it is -the best comfort food for all time .

Thanks for visiting my blog .

Spicy Tilapia fry

Tilapia is a delicate fresh water fish ,very versatile, very healthy .This pan fry version  is a all time favorite at my house and the best thing i find about cooking Tilapia is the lack of a strong fishy smell which makes it easier to work with  . This simple recipe can be served as a side dish to rice or can be enjoyed on it's own with some lime wedges and salad .

Ingredients :

• one fillet of Tilapia -cut into 1" pieces
• ginger and garlic paste -1 tsp
• oil -1tbs+some for frying
• salt as per taste
• spices:1/4 tsp of each

1. cumin powder
2. coriander powder
3. red chili powder
4. turmeric powder
5. pepper powder 

Recipe:

1. Wash the fillet and pat dry with a paper towel to remove any moister.
2. Cut this into 1" pieces and set aside. 
3. Prepare the marinade by mixing all the spices with a tbsp of oil.
4. Crush some garlic and ginger to make a fresh paste of about a tsp,add to the marinade .
5. now add the pieces of tilapia and smear theme thoroughly  with the marinade .
6. let this sit for at least 20mins so that fish gets in the flavor,refrigerate if you are planning to prepare later.
7. Heat a non stick pan and add some oil.
8. Place the fish one by on the pan ,making enough space between each piece ,don't overcrowd as it will lead to uneven cooking .
9. wait for a minute or so and enjoy the aroma of the spices filling your apartment ,flip the pieces and let both side turn golden brown .
10. serve with wedges of lime and salad.

Here is a quick video tutorial :



Quite an easy recipe.Things to keep in mind is seasoning of the marinade ,if you are a mild eater, like my hubby ,its wise to go easy on red chili and black pepper, but if you are adventurous then a particular variety of red chili powder called -kashmiri mirch(available in Indian stores) will be best suited for your fish.
  I bet the flavors of the fish and spices are going to make you love this recipe ,making it an instant hit with your family !

Wishing all a happy cooking !

Thank you for visiting my blog .

CHICKEN PIZZA RECIPE

Hello guys
It's pizza time.Presenting the perfect T.V dinner fresh out of your oven !.As always, this too is an endeavor by greenhouse cuisine on low fat recipes,so grab your glasses, sit back and enjoy this delicious low fat pizza on a weekend ,watching your favorite show, "without feeling guilty".Lets get it started.

Ingredients:
will make one medium size pizza

• Medium size pizza dough  (for a home made low fat pizza dough recipe follow the link: pizza dough)
• part skimmed mozzarella cheese -1/8part of 8oz pack shredded 
• 1 chicken Brest  
• marinara sauce or pizza sauce -1/4cup 
• half an onion -sliced 
• Italian seasoning ,fresh or dried -1tsp
• 2 tsp olive oil 
• corn meal 1tsp
• salt as per taste 

 The quantities of above ingredients totally depends on the taste ,feel free to add or omit items as per your choice .One important thing i want to mention here is that the taste of your pizza depends directly to the sauce ,I use marinara because it has an extra punch to it ,i also have a low fat pizza sauce recipe that i will post later, but if one wants to keep it real quick then a good brand store bought sauce is the best option .Follow the diagrams step by step for the recipe given below:

• Place the dough on a work surface and start shaping the pizza ,if using a store bought crust then skip this step.
• Drop a tsp of olive oil in the center and brush  crust thoroughly , transfer the dough on a baking sheet sprinkled with corn meal .
• Dice and cook the chicken well in a non stick pan adding herb and salt as per taste  
• Shred the cheese and slice the onions lengthwise
• Spread the 1/4 cup sauce evenly on the oiled crust taking care at the ends, use more sauce if you want a juicer version  .
• once the sauce is evenly coating the crust, top up with chicken and onions
• Sprinkle cheese ,remember a little goes a long way  .
• Preheat oven on broil. Bake the pizza for first 5 mins on broil.
• Reduce the temperature to 375 F and bake for 20 min or till the crust looks golden brown .
• Let cool and slice out .

The one shown above had a really crispy outside and chewy inside.Remember, crunchiness of the crust depends directly on the oven temperature and the amount of oil used ,although only 2 tsp oil was used in the whole preparation, it was distributed evenly over the surface area, so make sure to brush,brush and brush the crust throughly . I hope that you found this recipe useful .Thank you for visiting my blog - now listen closely , someone's calling! it's the baker inside you!Go try this recipe out and enjoy!

Pizza dough recipe

Hi 

Everyone!

"Healthy pizza"sounds oxymoron right?but here is an attempt to make pizza from scratch  using very little fat .Lets start with the dough for crust .Following are the ingredients required for making two medium size pizza crusts 

• whole wheat flour :1 1/2 cup
• all purpose flour: 1 1/2 cup+extra for dusting
• water:1 1/2 cup( flour to water ratio - 2 : 1 )
• yeast:1pac or 1 tsp
• salt :2 tsp 
• sugar :1 tsp
• olive oil :1tsp

Making a dough can be tricky because their is no ideal water to flour ratio.Believe me,many a times in past I have pulled out pizza crust that look like rooftops,but remember patience and persistence is the key here.Follow the collage for step by step instructions.

• start by dissolving 1tsp yeast in 3tbs lukewarm water with 1 tsp sugar  .
• keep aside till foamy in a warm place 
• take a bowl and measure the flour, add salt .Now mix the yeast and remaining water
• cover this very sticky dough with a towel and let rest for an hour in a very warm place 
• An hour later the dough should double in size (proof)resembling picture (5)  if it fails to do so leave for another 30 min in a much warmer place.
• deflate the dough and start dusting to obtain a thicker consistency 
• transfer the dough to working area and start kneading with hands using dry flour 
• knead for few minutes folding the dough in until a nice shiny texture is obtained as in pic(8)coat with oil.
• cover the dough with a towel if you are going to use it  right away,if not then zip lock and refrigerate.  

Here is a quick video tutorial :

     This recipe is just a basic idea of a crust one can always experiment.I have tried it in 100%whole wheat which turned out well .Often i make the dough in advance for the weekend coz it freezes just perfect also saves a lot of prep time.I hope that this recipe was helpful and informative .
Thank you for visiting my blog!

  Follow the link for"chicken pizza recipe" and "veggie pizza recipe"