Quick Hors d'œuvre with Multigrain Crackers

Quick Hors d'œuvre with Multigrain Crackers

Hors d'oeuvre don't have to be cumbersome. Here's a quick option for Hors d'oeuvres with multigrain crackers that are healthy and easy to make.

Ingredients

1 pack of Multigrain crackers
1 small red onion - chopped
1 large avocado - sliced
4 garlic cloves - sliced
1/4 cup chopped sundried tomatoes
2 tblsp Mango chutney
1/4 cup chopped olives (kalamata or any variety)
1/4 cup diced cheddar cheese or any cheese of your liking
Paprika to taste
Salt to taste

Method

- Slightly toast the crackers in a toaster or pan. You can get any crackers but I like the sesame topped multigrain crackers from Trader Joes.
- Top the crackers by mixing different toppings
- Drizzle mango chutney. You can find the chutney in Trader Joes.
- Sprinkle salt and paprika
- Toast for about 30 sec

Serve with wine or hot tea

Quick Achaari Paneer (Pickled Cottage Cheese)

Quick Achaari Paneer

Achaari Paneer is a tangy preparation of paneer. With this shortcut option it is very quick to make for one of those busy days.

Ingredients

1 pack of paneer (Indian Cottage Cheese)
1/2 cup of chopped red onions
4 tablespoon pickle powder
1 tsp Kalonji/Onion Seeds (Optional)
1/2 cup plain yoghurt
2 tsp oil
Few sprigs of cilantro for garnish

Method

- Heat the oil until it smokes lightly
- Cube the Paneer into 2 by 2 inches
- Let it brown changing sides constantly
- Remove the paneer and set aside
- Now in the oil, fry the onions until it turns translucent
- Add the pickle powder
- Add the paneer pieces
- Add the yoghurt
- Add salt
- Add kalonji seeds
- Mix it well and let it simmer for few minutes
- Garnish with cilantro leaves

Serve hot with Naan

Happy Navratri- Vermicelli Payasam/Kheer

Happy New Year

Kung Pao Tofu

Kung Pao tofu is a tasty alternative to Kung Pao chicken. It is nutritious and can be made as spicy as needed. Very quick to make for one of those busy days.



Ingredients

1 pack of extra firm tofu
1 cup of chopped green onions
4 tsp Kung pao sauce
1 tsp rice vinegar
3 tsp black pepper sauce
1 tsp Soya sauce
2 tsp red chili sauce
1/2 cup raw peanuts
2 tsp sesame oil

Method

- Heat the oil until it smoke lightly
- Add the peanuts
- Cube the tofu into 2 by 2 inches
- Let it brown changing sides constantly
- Add the vinegar
- Add all the sauces and toss the tofu well
- Add the green onions and after a minute or two toss again

Serve hot with brown rice or jasmine rice

Red Salad with Toasty Cheddar Bread

Salad doesn't have to be boring and only leafy. Red salad has all the things you like and yet healthy. Serve it up with toasted Cheddar bread.

Ingredients

Salad with Dressing

1/2 cup cherry tomatoes
2 tblsp Almonds
2 tblsp Cranberries
1 tblsp Sunflower seeds
1 cup cut lettuce leaves
1/2 cup sliced strawberries
1/4 cup olive oil
2 tsp Balsamic vinegar
2 tsp honey
salt to taste

Toasty Cheddar Bread

1/2 french baguette
1 tblsp olive oil
1/2 cup grated cheddar cheese

Method

Salad with dressing

- Mix all the ingredients in a salad bowl.
- For dressing, in a cup, mix olive oil, balsamic vinegar, honey and salt.

Add the dressing right before serving salad.

Toasty Cheddar Bread

- Slice the baguette to 6 inch pieces and cut it horizontally.
- Add olive oil on the top and toast it until golden brown.
- Add the grated cheese on open side and let it melt.

Enjoy the crunchy salad with toasty bread.

Curd Rice with Cucumber and Grapes

Curd rice can be made interesting with chunks of cucumber, black grapes and spicy green chili. A perfect ending to a sumptuous south Indian meal.

Ingredients

1 Cup cooked rice
1 Cucumber, diced to 1 inch cubes
10 Black grapes, cut into halves
2 inch of ginger, diced
1 tsp mustard seeds
1 tsp urad dal
1 tsp chana dal
1 tsp Methi powder
1 tsp Hing
1 cup yoghurt
1 Green chili, chopped
1 tsp oil
Salt to taste
Cilantro to garnish

Method

- Heat oil and add mustard seeds. When it splutters, add urad and chana dal.
- When they turn brown, add hing, methi powder, green chili and ginger.
- In a bowl mix rice and yoghurt.
- Add the tempering from above.
- Add the cucumber and grape pieces.
- Add salt and mix well.

Garnish with cilantro.