CHIPOTLE ROASTED VEGETABLE QUESADILLA

Whenever the weather is dull like it is nowadays i crave for something spicy. Indian dishes are spicy , yes but i tend to get bored eating it. Thats when i try my hand at world cuisine. One of my favorites is Mexican food. It has the right amount of flavor and spiciness that makes it exceptionally good. If you have the ingredients mexican food is very easy to prepare. Quesadilla's are one of the many things thats easy to make.All you need are some vegetables,cheese and tortilla. Here i roasted the vegetables  and spiced it up a bit with some chipotle pepper adobo . I made some mango salsa to go on the side. They compliment each other really well.
I sometimes add some grilled chicken pieces when i want to make chicken quesadilla's.

INGREDIENTS

Quesadilla:-

Flour tortilla - atleast 2 nos
mexican cheese blend
Roasted vegetables

For Roasting Vegetables:-

Button mushroom - 5-6 nos, sliced
Onion - 1 medium size, sliced
Green pepper - 1 medium size, thinly sliced (you can also use red, orange or yellow peppers)
Corn kernels - 1/4 cup ( i used frozen)
Chipotle pepper Adobo ( composed of chipotle peppers, vinegar, onion and tomato paste or ketchup) - 1 , deseeded and chopped.
Adobo - 1-2 tbsp
Salt and pepper
Cilantro - 2 tbsp, chopped
oil
In addition to these vegetables you can also use zucchini and yellow squash.

Mango salsa:-

Semi ripe mango - 1 cup, peeled and diced small
Tomato - 1 cup, diced small
lime juice - 1 tbsp
Cilantro to garnish
salt and pepper

METHOD

Heat some oil in a non stick skillet. Add the mushroom first, stir for a couple of mins until slightly brown. Do not add salt now. Add the onions, stir for couple of mins as well.Add  the green peppers and corn kernels.Some salt and pepper. Cook it until its slightly soft. Now add the chopped chipotle pepper and the adobo.Stir in the cilantro.

In a bowl ,combine all the ingredients to make the mango salsa. Keep aside. Now to prepare the quesadilla, keep all the above mentioned ingredients close by.Heat a nonstick skillet.Spread some oil.Place a tortilla in the skillet, spread the vegetables evenly over it.Now generously put the cheese on top.Cover it all with another tortilla.Roast it until that side turns brown. Then carefully flip it and brown the other side as well. .Serve warm along with some mango salsa.

 

ENJOY!!!

SAMBAR RICE

When the weather is good I want to spend most of my time outdoors playing with my little one. SAMBAR RICE - a ONE POT MEAL is the perfect thing to cook.That way you can save time and be  happy about less clean up.You can make it with any vegetables that you have. It's so Healthy, Nutritious and not to forget Tasty which can be made with no effort at all.

INGREDIENTS

Rice - 1 cup
Toor dal - 1/4 cup
Raw banana ( small ) - 1, peeled and sliced
Tomato - 1 medium size, diced
Lauki, sliced - 1 cup
Carrot - 1 cup sliced
Water - 3 1/2  cups
Salt to taste

For Seasoning:-

Mustard seeds - 1 tsp
Cumin seeds - 1/2 tsp
Sambar pdr - 4 tbsp (add more or less to suit your taste)
Curry leaves - 1 sprig
Red chilies - 3-4 nos, broken
Asafoetida - a pinch
Oil - 2 tsp
Cilantro - to garnish

Other veggies you can use - shallots,beans,peas,eggplant, okra etc.

METHOD

Wash and clean the rice and dal.Transfer it to a big vessel.Add the chopped vegetables to it.Pour water and season with salt.On a medium heat pressure cook it for 3 whistles.Add the seasoning when the rice is hot.That way the flavor will all get in the rice.To prepare the seasoning heat some oil in a pan.Add the mustard seeds.Ones it starts to pop add cumin seeds,red chillies,curry leaves and asafoetida.Switch off the heat and add the sambar pdr.Add it to the rice and dal mixture.Mix it well. Add some water to help it all blend in.Check for salt.Garnish with some cilantro leaves.Serve warm with some pappad or chips.

ENJOY!!!

NO FRY CORN - CAULIFLOWER MANCHURIAN

Chinese Fooooood - Yummmmmmmmm,Cauliflower manchurian - YUM YUM YUMMMMM.How much ever i love having this dish i do feel guilty eating it thinking of the amount of oil that goes in making it.But that shouldnt deprive one from enjoying it. So here is a healthy way of preparing this dish and then eating it feeling guiltless about it :). This version is as good as the restaurant versions i have eaten with a big Bonus - No Frying Required and can be made in a Jiffy.Now lets go straight to the recipe.

 INGREDIENTS

Cauliflower florets - 4 cups
Corn kernels - 1 cup
Green pepper - 1 medium size, diced small
Green onion - 3-4 nos, chopped small
Ginger-garlic - 1 tbsp, chopped fine
Chilli flakes - 1 tsp
Soya Sauce - 1/4 cup
Ketchup - 1/4 cup(use more or less according to your taste)
Chilli-garlic sauce - 2 tsp
Salt to taste
Oil - 1 tbsp

METHOD

Preheat oven to 425 deg F.Coat each of the florets with some oil and season with salt and pepper.Bake for 25- 30 mins or until it turns brown.Keep aside.To make the sauce,heat some oil in a pan.Add ginger-garlic, cook for a minute.Then add green onions, stir for a minute as well. Spice it up a little with some chilli flakes.Now add the diced green peppers and corn kernels.Seaon with salt.Cook until its soft.Now add the soya sauce,ketchup and chilli garlic sauce.Cook it for a couple of minutes and then add the baked cauliflower florets.Mix it in the sauce well. Let it simmer for 5 mins.Serve warm with fried rice or rotis.

ENJOY!!!