Masala Broccoli

Ingredients: serving size: 4

4 crowns of broccoli, small pieces

1 medium onion, finely chopped

1 tbsp ginger paste

2 green chilies, finely chopped

2 tbsp oil

1 tsp mustard seeds

1 tsp cumin seeds

1 tsp asafetida

½ tsp turmeric powder

1 tsp jeera powder

½ tsp red chili powder

1 tsp sabji masala

Salt to taste

1 lemon

Recipe:

1.       In a pan, heat oil and when hot add mustard seeds, cumin seeds, asafetida and turmeric powder

2.       Add onion and cook until golden brown

3.       Add ginger and chilies. Cook for 2 minutes.

4.       Add broccoli, add salt and cover it. Cook for 10 minutes on medium.

5.       Add sabji masala, chili powder, jeera powder and lemon. Cover it and cook for 3 minutes on slow.

6.       Serve hot with chapatti and yogurt (non vegan)

Kick Ass Soup

Ingredients: serving size: 8 cups

1 beet root

1 large carrot

3 celery sticks

1 large onion

3 cloves of garlic

2 jalapeño chilies

2 tablespoon ginger paste

1 lemon

1 cup whole grain elbow macroni

1 cup chana dal

Salt and pepper to taste

6 cups water

1 tablespoon oil

Recipe:

1.      Boil chanadal with some salt until it is tender. In another vessel, boil elbow macroni with some salt until al Dante.

2.      In a pan, heat some oil.

3.      When hot, add onions and cook until golden brown

4.      Add ginger garlic and finely chopped chilies

5.      Add finely chopped beet roots and carrots. Cover cook for two minutes with a little salt

6.      Add finely chopped celery and cook for 2 minutes

7.      Add cooked chana dal, water, add salt to taste and pepper, cover and let it simmer for 5 minutes. Add lemon and a tea spoon of lemon zest.

8.      While serving, add cooked elbow macroni, butter or cheese (non vegan) on the top. Have it with bread, salad or rice.

Note: I enjoy this soup alone without any sides since it has everything in it. carbs, protein, fat, fiber, vitamins, minerals you name it. You can go creative and use different style/color pasta instead of elbow macroni and any kind of lentil instead of chana dal. BTW, did I mention this soup is great if you are cold? ;)