Fenugreek Leaves, Snap Peas, Purple Carrots, Chickpeas, Freekeh Bowl

Bowls! Bowls! Bowls!

What's not to love about them?

Bibimbap has always been a favorite, as is Donburi minus the raw fish.

The base doesn't have to be rice. Any combination of whole grains works. Not too long ago, bowls were so trendy. I suppose they still are.

In any case, this is a spillover from the previous recipe of  Freekeh, Pearl Millet, Wild Rice Tabbouleh. I had cooked enough of the grains to save some for later while I used some of it for the Tabbouleh. And it is these lefetover Freekeh, Pearl Millet plus Wild Rice that formed the base for this bowl.

Fenugreek is an amazing plant. Tender fenugreek leaves are quite the staple in Indian cuisine. As are the fenugreek seeds, which have interesting properties including being a natural galactagogue, which I diligently indulged in during post-partum days. Dried fenugreek leaves are available in Indian stores and are quite potent, a little goes a long way, and can be added to dressing or soups. The delicate fenugreek leaves from the garden seemed like a good addition to this bowl, sautéed with a pinch of salt and olive oil.

Some snap peas from the garden were handy as well. Before I get to pick them and use them in some interesting way, the older child gobbles them right off the plant. Of course, that was the idea when I planted these peas, to serve as a preferred snack for the kids. But, there was enough left to sauté and add to this bowl.

Some sautéed onions is always a good addition. Plus some julienned purple and yellow carrots. And of course, spiced chickpeas. Simply cook the chickpeas and then sauté in oil with a sprinkling of cayenne pepper and salt.

Bowls are just like a filling salad, so, I prefer to drizzle some dressing. This time, as always, the dressing is a quick mix of some staples in my kitchen: Tahini, Sriracha, Bragg Liquid Aminos, Mirin, Apple Cider Vinegar, Grape Molasses, Red Wine Vinegar, Lemon juice, Ginger. A little of this and a little of that till it feels right.

Topped with some nigella seeds and sesame seeds, this makes a perfect meal to pack for office lunch.

Fenugreek Sesame Oregano Cumin Stuffed Eggplant

There is something beautiful in the shapely elegance, the careless asymmetry, and the deep velvety purpleness of the Eggplant that has always attracted me.

Of course, having grown these beauties at home for almost a decade now, and knowing that not all of them are purple (think orange!), and not all of them sport the same uniform looks, I'd like to think that their differences add to their charm, for sure.

They are not always in season, and I try to eat local, so, it doesn't always work out that I find the right eggplant for the price and origin I am comfortable with. But, when I found these young Black Bells at the market, I couldn't pass them up.

Stuffing vegetables is always fun, mixing up the spices and grains to suit the mood and the vegetable at hand:

Bitter gourd, Bitter melon, Ridge gourd, Snake gourd, Kohlrabi, Zucchini, Danish Squash, Acorn Squash, Scallop Squash, Bell Peppers, Brussels sprouts, Okra, Sweet Potato Skins, Portobello Mushrooms, and of course, Eggplant!

This time, I wanted to bring in the goodness of fenugreek and sesame to the mix. Simmered in a tomato-based sauce, these slit-and-stuffed eggplants were quite a treat, enjoyed even more as leftovers when flavors have had a chance to settle.

The kale in my garden has matured, flowered and gone to seed. Kale flowers get sprinkled on salads when they are handy in the garden. They make a fun garnish for spicy dishes, bringing in their sunny yellow to the dish.

Ingredients
Medium eggplants that are easy to slit and stuff
Oil
Salt to taste

For the spice mix powder:
1 Tbsp sesame seeds (white or black is fine, I went with white)
2 Tbsp dried fenugreek leaves
1 Tbsp dry oregano leaves
1 tsp cumin seeds
2 Tbsp coriander seeds
2 dry red chilies

For the sauce/gravy to simmer in:
½ cup chopped onions
½ cup chopped tomatoes
6 cloves of garlic
1 Tbsp grated ginger
2 Tbsp raw almonds, soaked in water for about 10 minutes

Preparation

1. Slit the eggplant cross-wise, like a plus sign, to separate out the quarters, but still held intact at the stem-end
2. Rub the insides of the eggplant with some salt and let it sit
3. Grind the spice mix to a powder; stir some of it with some oil to make a paste
4. Slather this paste into the slits of the eggplant
5. Grind the sauce ingredients to a fine paste
6. Heat some oil in a pan, add this paste and a pinch of salt, saute till rawness of onions is gone
7. Add some water and stir well to make a slightly runny sauce consistency, then, place the slit-and-stuffed eggplants into this runny sauce, cover the pan, and allow to simmer till eggplants are cooked and the sauce thickens
8. Turn the eggplant partway, carefully, so, all sides get cooked evenly while still retaining their wholeness
9. Serve warm with naan or basmati rice

Spicy Bitter Melon Curry with Fenugreek and Szechuan Peppercorns

Indian Bitter gourd and Chinese Bitter melon are oft-relished veggies at home. Having offered it to kids since they were little, both seem to like bitter gourd and bitter melon, especially as chips. Healthful properties of this supremely bitter vegetable is no secret in India, where many regional recipes showcase this green beauty.

This time, the flavors come from toasted Szechuan peppercorns and fenugreek seeds, along with other curry staples. After toasting the peppercorns, put it through a sieve to remove the husks before using.

Health benefits of fenugreek is also quite well-accepted in India, where the cuisine naturally incorporates it in many everyday dishes. Just ½ tsp of fenugreek seeds, soaked overnight, drained and rinsed in the morning and eaten on an empty stomach is a habit I had going for a while, and still do on and off but not as regularly as I'd like, being too forgetful with old age and all.

Served with a side of pearl millet, this is a hearty weekend brunch.

Ingredients
1 Thinly sliced red onions
2 medium bitter melon, cleaned and sliced
1 Tbsp brown sugar
1 Tbsp sesame oil
1 tsp turmeric powder
salt to taste
cilantro for garnish

Spice Mix:
1 Tbsp Szechuan Peppercorns, toasted
1 tsp Fenugreek seeds, toasted

Masala paste/gravy:
2 Tbsp Tamarind
1 Tomato, chopped
1 cup diced yellow or red onions
6 cloves of garlic
1 Tbsp fresh grated ginger

Preparation

1. Soak the sliced bitter melon in salted water and let it sit while preparing the spices
2. Masala paste: Grind up the paste and keep handy
3. Spice mix: toast the peppercorns and fenugreek seeds, put it through a spice grinder and sift to remove the shell-like husks
4. Heat the oil in a pan and sauté the sliced onions with a pinch of salt and turmeric powder
5. Add in the masala paste and saute some more till the rawness of onions mellows down; then stir in the spice mix powder and sauté some more
6. Drain the bitter melon, rinse well, pat dry, and add it to the pan, stir in enough water to make a gravy, cover and simmer on medium low heat till bitter melon is cooked through
7. Adjust salt to taste, garnish with cilantro and serve warm with roti or quinoa or millet

Sprouted Whole Green Mung Bean Salad

Sprouted lentils and beans come about often in my kitchen. At least once a week, a batch of it will be sprouting (unless I get lazy and skip a few weeks, of course), ready to be sprinkled on salads and wraps.

Adding a handful of fenugreek seeds along with lentils or beans to sprout is one of my favorites. Sprouted fenugreek brings a good amount of fiber, iron, and fantastic quality protein.

Of course, there is always the risk of harmful bacteria like salmonella and E.coli if the sprouts are not treated with care, but, the method I've been using so far seems to work all right.

In a glass jar, soak the moong beans and fenugreek seeds in water overnight. Drain and rinse, with as little touch by hands as possible. Place a piece of clean cheese cloth or netting on the mouth of the jar, and screw the jar ring in place. Allow to sit undisturbed in a cool dry place for 2 days, making sure to rinse and drain at least once a day to keep it moist and cool. No handling needed.


Once the sprouts are as mature as you prefer, simply drain well and refrigerate for daily use. I make it into this favorite salad right away and store the salad in the fridge. This makes a fantastic filler for wraps and pita pockets.

Ingredients
¼ cup finely diced cucumber
¼ cup finely diced onions
¼ cup finely diced raw mango
¼ cup finely diced colorful red/yellow/orange bell peppers
¼ cup finely diced firm tomatoes
¼ cup chopped fresh baby spinach leaves
¼ cup finely chopped clean, fresh coriander leaves aka cilantro
2 medium green chilies, chopped finely (optional)
2 cups loosely packed mung bean and fenugreek sprouts
4 Tablespoons lemon juice
1 Tablespoon apple cider vinegar
1 Tablespoon olive oil
Salt to taste

Stir well and enjoy!

Ube Purple Yam and Chipotle Naan with Spinach Jackfruit Seed Curry

Purple yam or Ube aka 'Filipino yam' thanks to its popularity in Filipino desserts is one of those hard-to-resist produce when I come across it at the Asian stores. They are perfect as oven-baked or pan-cooked "Fries".

Since I am not fond of desserts much, Ube got incorporated into a savory dish again this time.

Chipotle in adobo sauce has a wonderful smokiness with  just the right amount of heat balanced by the vinegar and sugar in the sauce. I love to add it into many unconventional dishes. Simply grind a can of chipotle in its adobo sauce - seeds and all - into a fine paste and keep it handy in the fridge.

Cooked and mashed Ube purple yams added that touch of mild sweetness and lovely lilac color to the inside of the naan. Chipotle brought in some mild heat and ruddy shade to the outsides.

I also added some dried fenugreek leaves (methi) and minced garlic to make this a flavor-packed naan.

Naan dough started the same a usual - all purpose flour with yeast - but, I decided to add a touch of coconut flour and flax meal... and simply mix in the mashed ube and chipotle paste, salt to taste, fenugreek leaves, if using.

This time, I served it with a simple saag made with spinach and jackfruit seeds, flavored with garlic, ginger, chilies, and tomatoes.

Ingredients
1 cup cooked mashed purple yams
½ cup coconut flour
¼ cup flax meal
2 Tablespoon chipotle paste
2 Tablespoon minced garlic
2 teaspoon salt (less if preferred)
2 Tablespoon dried fenugreek leaves
2 Tablespoon olive oil
½ cup warm milk
4 teaspoon active dry yeast
½ cup warm water
3 cups all purpose flour

Preparation

1. Sprinkle the yeast in warm water and allow to bloom for a bit
2. Meanwhile, combine the dry ingredients, using only 2 of the 3 cups of all purpose flour, and stir well
3. Scald the milk, then combine it with the wet ingredients including chipotle paste and mashed ube, as well as the yeast mixture
4. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and knead to a smooth elastic dough, adding water or flour as needed to get the right soft consistency; coconut flour being high in fiber content might soak up more water, so add water accordingly
5. Ball it up and place it in bowl coated with oil, turn and coat the dough with oil, cover and set in a warm place to rise and double in volume
6. Divide the risen dough evenly into 12 balls
7. Roll each ball to quarter inch thick, fold in half once to form a semi-circle, fold in half again to a rounded triangle, and roll again to ¼ inch thick naan
8. Cook in a very hot cast-iron skillet, brush one side with water and place that side down on the hot skillet; wait till bubbles develop on the top surface
9. Flip and cook the other side till done and optionally brush with ghee if preferred

Sweet Potato and Coconut Flour Flax Meal Roti Flatbreads

Considering the amazing properties of sweet potato, it is hard not to incorporate it more in our diets.

While roast sweet potatoes in dessert-ish form is relished by kids, I wanted to leverage its natural sweetness to make everyday foods a bit more colorful and appealing.

Coconut flour is another ingredient that adds a bit of sweetness and flavor to everyday items.

Since fusion cuisine is my forte, my signature of sorts, this dish came about quite naturally one day.

Sweet potatoes, coconut flour, chickpea flour, and all purpose flour come together with chipotle in adobo sauce, and fenugreek leaves to make this incredibly orange and incredibly tasty rotis -- flatbreads cooked on the griddle pan. I'd have preferred to use whole wheat instead of all purpose flour, but I was all out, so, maybe next time...

Ingredients
1 average sweet potato, cooked and peeled

⅓ cup coconut flour

⅓ cup chickpea flour (aka besan)

1⅓ cup all purpose flour (more or less)
2 Tablespoon flax meal

salt to taste
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
2 Tablespoon dried fenugreek leaves (optional)
2 chipotle in adobo sauce, chopped finely

a few tablespoons of oil for griddle-cooking the rotis

Preparation

1. Since sweet potato is cooked to mush, not much water is needed at first. Simply combine all the ingredients and knead to a smooth elastic dough, adding the all purpose flour a little at a time as needed. 
2. Divide the dough into golf-ball-sized balls; roll each ball flat to about 2 millimeters thick rotis
3. Heat a griddle much like for pancake, and cook the rotis till done 
4. Serve with any of the curries or chutneys. here I serve it with my favorite carrot salad.

Carrot Salad: Grate carrots, finely slice celery, finely chop green chilies, finely chop cilantro, combine it all with a splash of lemon juice and a sprinkling of salt, serve fresh.

Quinoa Scallions Fenugreek Feta Fritters

For a while now, fritters, griddle cakes, and unleavened pan breads seem to be taking over my kitchen. Anything is fair game as long as I can make a batter and cook it on the pan quickly. A nice big vegetable side, plus a few of these small fritters or pancakes seem to be a popular dinner meal with all but the youngest in the house.

Ingredients
1 cup cooked quinoa
¼ cup buttermilk
¼ cup crumbled feta
¼ cup finely chopped scallions
1 Tbsp Bragg's Liquid Aminos
2 eggs
2 Tbsp flax meal
2 mint leaves minced
2 Tbsp finely chopped cilantro leaves
1 Tbsp dried fenugreek leaves (available at most Indian stores)

3 Tbsp finely diced onions (optional)

oil for griddle cooking

Preparation

1. Combine the ingredients and mix well to form a thick batter
2. Heat a well-seasoned cast iron skillet to medium, with a light drizzling of oil
3. Drop a dollop of the batter, flatten a bit, allow to cook till browned; flip and brown the other side
4. Serve warm with Mint-Cilantro Chutney

Mint-Cilantro Chutney:
10 mint leaves, finely chopped
½ cup chopped cilantro
1 small serrano chili, chopped (optional, adjust to taste)
1 Tbsp Tahini paste
¼ teaspoon tamarind paste
¼ teaspoon agave nectar

Combine the ingredients in a blender, and process to a fine paste, adding water if needed for the chutney consistency.

Fenugreek Capers Yogurt Sauce with Baked Turkey Meatballs

Dips and Sauces sometimes make the dish - they add that unique flavor to take an everyday wholesome food from good-and-healthy to mouth-watering-and-exciting .

In my kitchen, I come up with sauces and dips on-the-fly frequently. And many of these sauces and dips come about without much forethought. Which means, I don't get to write down the exact measurements as I am not paying attention to that aspect.

I usually have a pack of Methi leaves (dried fenugreek leaves) handy. It is readily available at most Indian stores. I use it in Rotis and Naan and Pita bread.

This Spicy Fenugreek Capers Yogurt sauce (dip) just happened one day when I was looking to serve the plain old meatballs with something that can double as a dip and dressing. And, since it was quite delicious, I immediately wrote down the things I added, from memory. Short-term memory served me well, I think, as I tried this recipe again a week later and the sauce turned out just as delicious. So here it is...

For the Fenugreek-Capers-Yogurt Sauce:
¼ cup plain thick non-fat Greek yogurt
1 Tbsp Oilive oil
1 Tbsp dried Fenugreek leaves (Methi)
1 Tbsp Capers
1 tsp stone-ground spicy mustard
1 tsp red wine vinegar
4 pickled jalapeño rings
salt to taste

Combine the ingredients in a blender and blend till smooth and creamy.

For the Baked Turkey Meatballs:
The almond meal plus flaxseed meal combination is one of the favorites. I had saved some that I had made for the Almond-Flax Encrusted Baked Chicken Nuggets (before use), which I decided to use up for this meatball.

Ingredients
10 to 12 oz lean ground turkey
¼ to 1/3rd cup seasoned almond+flaxseed meal mixture
Cooking spray

1. Pre-heat the oven to 425°F
2. Add the seasoned Almond-Flaxseed meal a little at a time to the ground turkey and knead well; shape into firm balls
3. Place the balls in a roasting pan, spray with some cooking spray, turn the balls over and spray all around
4. Bake in a 425°F oven for about 15 minutes, checking part-way
5. When the internal temperature is close to 170°F remove from the oven and allow to rest
6. Serve warm in a bed of lettuce topped with marinated red onions and peppers, with the Fenugreek Capers Yogurt sauce that doubles as a salad dressing

fenugreek sprouts

Fenugreek (methi, vendhayam) is used quite a bit in my mom's kitchen - it is toasted and powdered with sambar powders and some other masala spice mix my mom keeps handy at home.

It has never been a favorite of mine until my post-partum days when it became my close friend. A tablespoon of fenugreek sprouts a day was an essential part of the post-partum diet that my mom put me on, as it is supposedly a galactagogue and a digestive aid. When I stopped nursing, it sort of fell out of my diet, but, I have started including it again now in small quantities.

Sprout it just like whole green moong beans sprouts: soak for an hour or so, drain in a cheesecloth-lined colander, cover, leave in cool dark place; rinse and drain once a day for 3-4 days and the sprouts are ready.

It has a bitter taste and is not easy to incorporate in recipes. So, I throw a handful of fenugreek sprouts in foods that I prepare anyway:

• in dosai batter: a handful of fenugreek sprouts mixed in with the batter makes it barely noticeable, while adding some health benefit
• knead some into roti or bathura dough and cook them as usual; alternately fenugreek leaves can be used (dry or fresh) in place of sprouts to make rotis - usually sold in stores as methi roti
• in sambar, kozhambu, parippusili and other curries - just thrown in a few tablespoonful of the sprouts while cooking the usual recipe
• toss a tablespoon in salads
• another favorite way to eat this from my post-partum diet is: crush 2-3 garlic cloves, sauté it in 1 Tbsp ghee, throw in a tablespoon of sprouted fenugreek to the pan and sauté that as well; adjust salt to taste; mix this concoction with some hot steamed basmati rice and enjoy!