Litebite Recipes : Lunchbox Bites        

            Pulses/Beans  In A Box

posted on 30th September, 2009/comments

Litebite Lunchboxes : All In a Box 

                                               Quick Lentils 

Lentils or masoor dal are used in various forms of cooking in India. Soups, snacks and side dishes are a few variations. The lentil has a dark grey covering which is dehusked to get the red dal. Whole lentil  with the outer cover is much healthy option.

Ingredients :

• 2 tbsp. of lentil
• 1 onion
• 1 tomato
• 1 tsp ginger-garlic paste
• 1 tsp coriander powder
• 1/2 tsp turmeric
• 1 green chilly
• a pinch of asafoetida
• salt as required
• 1 tbsp oil
• 1/2 tsp cumin seeds(jeera)
• water 1 cup

Method : Wash the lentils and soak it for 15 minutes. Slice onion and tomato. Heat oil in a kadai and add cumin seeds. Add sliced onion, tomato and ginger-garlic paste, fry the ingredients for 5 minutes. Mix in rest of the ingredients and let it simmer for 20 minutes or till done. Use pressure cooker to speed up the cooking. Garnish with fresh coriander.

Serve the lentil dish with hot chapattis or plain rice.

Note :

• Add grated carrots or spinach to increase the nutritive value of the recipe.
• Leftover dal can be mixed with wheat flour to get wholesome chapattis the next day.
• Increase the quantity of water to make it a nourishing soup.
• Use the whole lentil with skin for healthy meal.

Posted on 28th August, 2009/comments

Litebite Lunchboxes : All In a box

                                                      Combo Dal

Pulses  a treasure mine of protein when combined with the goodness of vegetables makes a very nutritious side dish served with chapattis.

Ingredients : serves two

• 1/2 cup channa dal (black chickpeas)
• 1/2 cup bottle guard (lauki)
• 1 onion, 1 tomato
• 1tsp ginger-garlic paste (opt)
• 1/2 tsp cumin powder
• 1/2 tsp mustard seeds
• a pinch of asafoetida
• 1/2 tsp chilly powder
• 1/4 tsp turmeric powder
• 1 tbsp oil

Method : Wash and soak channa dal till you assemble all the ingredients. Wash and cut bottle guard in bite size pieces. Finely shred onion and tomato. Heat oil in a small pressure cooker and add mustard let it splutter. Add tomato, onion, ginger-garlic paste and all the dry ingredients let it cook till the raw smell disappears. Add the dal and vegetable close the lid and pressure cook for just one whistle. Garnish with fresh coriander.

Note : Bottle guard can be replaced with other veggies such as carrot, radish, capscicum or even green leafy ones. Goes well with chapattis and rice.

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