1. Mini Mushroom Pizza- Crunchy toasted pizza's topped with sauted garlic and onion, tomato puree, and some rosemary and salt.
Key Ingredients: Mushroom, Corn, Tomato Puree, Onion, Garlic, Rosemary, Salt, Black Pepper
Method
Take pizza base on a counter top. Use a cookie cutter to cut small circles and make dimples in it using a fork. Pop it in the preheated oven and leave for 5 mins.
In a pan, saute the garlic and onion. Add tomato puree, rosemary, salt. Cook till the sauce is nice and thick. A pinch of sugar can be added to sweeten the sauce a bit.
Take toasted pizza bases, pour some sauce. Top it with mushrooms, sweet corn kernels and grated cheese. Bake in the oven for 2 mins till the cheese melts.
2. Rava Fried Fish-Unlike regular fish fry this Goan version is fried in a semolina batter. It's then laced in chilli powder, salt, tamarind, turmeric, garlic and fried golden brown.
Key Ingredients: Salt, Fish
Method
Marinate fish in chilli powder, salt, tamarind, turmeric and garlic for about 15 minutes.
Heat oil.
Dip fish in soojee to coat on both sides and deep fry till crisp and brown.
Serve hot.
3. Tomato Paneer- Cottage cheese chunks, tomato puree, a pinch of sugar and mild spices tossed in olive oil is also a low fat dinner alternative.
Key Ingredients: Cottage Cheese, Olive Oil, Cumin Seeds, Star Anise, Ginger, Garlic, Capsicum, Tomato Puree, Salt, Sugar, Garam Masala, Coriander Leaves
Method
In a pan add olive oil, zeera, star anise, ginger-garlic paste.
Add the diced capsicum. Saute for 1 minute. You can saute it for longer in case you do not like your capsicum too crunchy.
Add tomato puree. Add salt, garam masala and sugar. Cook till it leaves oil on the sides.
Add milk. Mix well. Add the paneer cubes. Let it cook for 2 minutes on low flame. Do not over cook the milk as it can curdle.
Garnish with coriander leaves and serve.
Note: Paneer cubes can be grilled on a non-stick tawa till light brown before adding to the base. You can also add a split green chilli to increase the heat of the dish in step number 3.
4. Creamy Mushroom Ragout- This creamy mushrooms cooked with mustard and onions are a good change for a regular night.
Key Ingredients: Mushroom, Onion, Olive Oil, Butter, Garlic, White Wine, Cream, Mustard Powder, Salt, Black Pepper, Basil
Method
In a pan add olive oil and 1 tbsp butter.
Add the onion, garlic and saute till onions turn pink.
Add the button mushrooms, cook for 3-4 minutes.
Add the hydrated wild mushrooms, white wine and the mushroom stock. Saute.
Add the cream, mustard, salt, pepper. Mix.
Garnish with basil.
Serve with tomato pilaf.
Note: De hydrated mushrooms should be soaked and simmered in hot water for 5 minutes. The water used to hydrate these mushrooms to be used as the stock; do not throw away.
5. Macchi Amritsari- Lean fish fillets coated with a batter of gram flour, yoghurt and deep fried till golden brown.
Key Ingredients: Fish, Ginger, Red Chilli, Lemon Juice, Gram flour, Egg, Yogurt, Salt
Method
Clean, wash and cut the fish into fillets or fingers.
Apply salt, lime juice, ginger garlic paste and red chilli powder.
Make a batter of gram flour, yoghurt, eggs, ajwain, salt and water.
Marinate the fish in the batter for 10 minutes.
Heat oil in a pan and deep fry the fish until lightly brown and crisp.
Sprinkled with chaat masala, lemon wedges and serve hot.
6. Scrambled Eggs with Chicken Sausages-A simple lip smacking plate of scrambled eggs and fried chicken sausages drizzled with olive oil.
Key Ingredients: Onion, Potatoes, Cottage Cheese, Salt, Black Pepper, Egg, Olive Oil, Spring Onion, Butter, Milk, Chicken
Method
Heat up the pan with olive oil.
Put potato into the pan and fry till it turns a golden brown color.
Put the chicken sausages in the pan and toss them.
Then add onions into the pan and salt & pepper.
Turn off the heat and transfer them into another pan.
Beat the eggs to a mixture and add milk, and cheese and whisk.
Heat the pan and add both the mixtures, and cook on low heat.
Then gently scrape the bottom and add salt, pepper and sprinkle some spring onions.
Preheat the oven at 240 degrees for 5 minutes.
Spread butter on the buns and grill them for 4 minutes in the oven.
Garnish with spring onions.
7. Chicken Penne Arabbiata- Pasta being the ultimate comfort food can take a while to prepare which is why this recipe is ideal for those in a hurry. The goodness of pasta and vegetables in a thick tomato sauce and aromatic herbs.
Key Ingredients: Tomato Puree, Onion, Garlic, Salt, Sugar, Olive Oil, Pasta, Chicken, Olives, Oregano, Garlic
Method
Heat the oil and saute the onions and garlic till slightly coloured.
Add the tomato puree and bring to a boil, and add salt, sugar, chilli powder, oregano and basil and simmer for a couple of minutes, then take it off the heat.
Mix in the chicken, olives and penne. Top with the cheese or mix in if so desired.
