Time-Saving Tips in the Kitchen!

My old roommate and best friend was often amazed that I was able to put together a meal in minutes, if necessary.  I'd love to say it's just because I'm that resourceful, but the reality is that it's not that hard to come up with a quick meal.  It does however, take some planning.  I thought I'd offer some of my time-saving tips that make weekday meal preparation a breeze!

1.  Plan your meals for the week and shop accordingly.  That way, there's no hemming and hawing over what to make for dinner every night, which is time-saving in and of itself.  If you know what you're going to make, shop for all those ingredients over the weekend, so there are no last-minute trips to the grocery store!
2.  Have a well-stocked pantry (see previous post on how to do this).  Even if you haven't planned your meals, having a pantry full of goodies practically guarantees that you can make a meal without having to go to the grocery store in preparation.
3.  Chop basic herbs, vegetables and spices and freeze or refrigerate them.  This goes for onion, tomato, garlic, and ginger.  You can even buy minced garlic or ginger paste so that you don't have to cut them at all.  You can also chop your vegetables the night before for the next night's dinner and refrigerate
4.  Take shortcuts when you need to.  This includes buying canned beans instead of dried, or pre-cook your beans and legumes in the slow cooker so all you need to do when you get home is season. 
5.  Buy frozen vegetables. Many frozen veggies are just as good, and sometimes even better, than fresh!  They are also often cheaper.  My favorite frozen veggies to have around are corn, broccoli, spinach, cauliflower, peas, and green beans. 
6.  Use a crock pot or slow cooker.  I've often made meals such as chili or black beans by taking a few minutes to put them in the slow cooker in the morning.  When I come home, all I need to do is make minor adjustments with the seasoning, and dinner is done!
7.  Keep it simple.  Save elaborate meals for the weekend when you have more time for preparation.  There are many easy weekday meals such as grilled cheese and soup, quesadillas, chili, and much more.  Breakfast foods like eggs can also go a long way for dinner! 

Spicy Vegetarian Chili

Veggie chili is the perfect winter meal.  It's hearty and satisfying, spicy enough to warm you up, and also very healthy! And what's even better is that carnivores won't notice there is no meat in it, it's so good. 

Ingredients:

1 can dark red kidney beans
1 can blackeye peas or black beans
1 cup frozen corn
1 cup salsa
1 chopped tomato or 1 can diced tomatoes
1 red onion
1 package veggie crumbles (I use Smart Ground- or feel free to omit this if you don't like veggie crumbles)
2 cloves garlic
1 bell pepper
1 jalapeno
1 tbsp cumin (seeds or ground)
1/2 tsp red chili powder
1/2 tsp tamarind concentrate
1 tsp brown sugar
1/4 cup chopped cilantro
salt to taste

Directions:

1.  In a wok, heat 1 tbsp oil.  When hot, add cumin seeds.  When they start to sizzle, add chopped onion and garlic.
2. After onion and garlic brown slightly, add chopped bell pepper, jalapeno, and tomato.
3.  Cook on high until it forms a paste-like consistency.
4.  Add veggie crumbles, beans, and all remaining vegetables. 
5.  Add all spices, salt, salsa and two cups water. Reduce heat to medium and bring to a simmer.
6.  Once at a simmer, add tamarind paste and brown sugar.
7.  Simmer for 5-10 minutes on medium low.
8.  Garnish with cilantro and serve with grated cheese on top!

Vimala Cooks, Everyone Eats

I didn't start this blog with the intention of being a food critic, but every once in a while, there comes a restaurant that truly blows my socks off.  I found such a gem over Thanksgiving weekend in Chapel Hill, NC. It's called Vimala's Curryblossom Cafe (http://www.curryblossom.com/) . Vimala's offers traditional Indian fare as well as some fusion items, such as a "chole bowl".  The atmosphere is much like a chic coffee shop, with the menu written artistically on a blackboard.  It's very spare but cozy inside.  But we didn't come there for atmosphere, we came there for food.  And the food did not disappoint!

The masala dosas were the perfect combination of crispy and soft.  The chole was tangy and spicy, and the bhaturas looked delicious.  The masala chai was simply to die for- and what really won my heart is that when Vimala herself noticed it had gotten cold as I tended to my toddler, she said "Let me top it off and warm it up for you.  Nobody wants a cold cup of chai!"  Certainly not- as I normally like my chai almost boiling!  She then brought over some khichdi (rice with lentils) and yogurt for my son, who was noticably distressed at having to eat carrots from a jar.  All complimentary.  And this is what distinguishes Vimala's Curryblossom Cafe- when Vimala cooks, Everyone Eats- even my notoriously picky 12 month old, who polished off all that khichdi and then some. 

So if you find yourself in Chapel Hill- check it out.  Vimala will win over your stomach as well as your heart!

Easy Pesto Pasta

I LOVE Pesto pasta.  In fact, I love all pasta, but I make the pesto kind when I'm tired of plain old pasta with tomato sauce.  It's easy and takes very little time because all you have to do is blend!



Ingredients:

3 cloves garlic

1/4 cup olive oil

1/4 cup toasted pine nuts or walnuts

1 cup basil (one small package)

1/2 bag of fresh spinach

1/3 package tofu

salt and pepper to taste



Blend all ingredients, toss with pasta and enjoy!

Mysore Tomato Saaru (Rasam)

Tomato saaru, as it is known in Mysore, the part of India where my parents come from, is a light, spicy soup that is traditionally eaten with rice.  In other parts of India it is called rasam, and can also be treated like a hot drink.  I grew up eating this almost every day of my childhood, and it is still my comfort food! Best of all, it can be made in under 30 minutes.

Ingredients:

1 cup toor dal
1 tomato
1 tsp tamarind concentrate
1 tbsp rasam powder (found in your local Indian store)
1/2 tsp turmeric
1 tbsp mustard seeds
1 tbsp cumin seeds
pinch of asafetida (heeng)
2 tbsp oil
salt to taste (I add about 1 tsp)
1/4 cup chopped cilantro for garnish

Directions:

1.  Cook toor dal, along with 6-7 cups of water, turmeric, salt, and 1 tbsp oil in a pot or pressure cooker until almost fully cooked.
2.  Chop the tomato and add to the dal.
3. Cook on medium high heat until at a slow roling boil.
4.  Add tamarind concentrate and rasam powder.
5.  Cook another 5 minutes, until the tomato is cooked.
6.  In a separate small saucepan, heat the remaining oil and add mustard and cumin seeds as well as the asafetida.
7.  When the mustard seeds start to pop and the cumin sizzles, remove from heat and add to the liquid.
8.  Garnish with cilantro and serve with rice and ghee.

Roasted Beet Salad With Goat Cheese

This salad is so good it can be a meal itself! And if I'm saying that, it's really something- because with my 'healthy' appetite, salad is usually a precursor to a bigger main course. But I find myself satisfied with just this salad, and perhaps a piece of good bread. Great for a weekday meal because it's so quick!

Ingredients:

1 bag pre-washed Mixed Greens
3-4 medium beets
1/2 cup of crumbled goat cheese
1/4 cup chopped almonds, walnuts or pecans
1 small can mandarin oranges (optional)
1 tbsp oil
salt and pepper to taste
Any kind of balsamic vinaigrette

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 375.
2. Peel and chop the beets into wedges.
3. Arrange on a baking sheet or baking pan and toss with olive oil, salt and pepper
4. Roast the beets in the oven for 10-15 minutes.
5. Test with a fork- you should easily be able to stick a fork into them and they should be browned on the outside but still tender on the inside.
6. Toss beets with mixed greens, nuts, and crumbled goat cheese.
7. Arrange mandarin orange slices on top (optional)
8. Add dressing as desired.

Enjoy!

Total prep time: 20 minutes

Garlic Green Beans with Slivered Almonds

This recipe is a variation of "Green Beans Amandine". With Thanksgiving coming up, I thought I'd post some veg-friendly side dishes for any upcoming family gatherings. This is also really quick and easy to prepare, which makes it perfect for a side for your weeknight dinner. I usually serve it as a side to pasta.

Ingredients:

Fresh green beans (I like to get the packaged kind which is already trimmed, as it's a huge time saver!)
2 cloves of garlic
1 tbsp olive oil
salt and pepper to taste
half a fresh lemon
2 tbsp slivered almonds

Directions:

1. Turn on the skillet to medium high.
2. Once the skillet is hot, add the slivered almonds and toast lightly until golden.
3. Remove the almonds from the skillet and place to the side.
4. Add olive oil to the skillet.
5. Mince the garlic cloves and add to the skillet.
6. Once the garlic starts to sizzle, add the green beans.
7. Stir fry for 2-3 minutes.
8. Add 1/4 cup of water to the green beans and cover for 5 minutes to allow green beans to cook down slightly.
9. Uncover and season with salt and pepper.
10. Once green beans are cooked (should be tender but still firm- if they are crunchy they are not yet done)
11. Add in toasted almonds, add a few squirts of lemon juice, and serve!

Toddler friendly option: Overcook the beans until they are no longer firm, and leave out the almonds!

Preparation time: 15 minutes

Serves 3

The Well-stocked Pantry

So this is not a recipe per se, but I often get asked how I manage to make meals every day without having to repeatedly go to the grocery store for specialized ingredients. The secret is not necessarily having amazing culinary abilities, but rather, having a well-stocked pantry and fridge with diverse ingredients that will enable you to whip up a meal at very short notice. Here is a list of things I like to have on hand:

Staples:
Dried brown lentils
Toor dal (split pigeon peas)
Moong Daal (split mung beans)
Brown rice
Basmati rice
Corn meal
Chapati flour
All-purpose flour
Walnuts
Almonds
Raisins
Potatoes

Canned, Bottled and Jarred goods:
Canned whole tomatoes
Canned beans (different kinds- black beans, kidney beans, canellini beans)
Salsa
Pasta Sauce
Whole wheat pasta
Regular pasta
Soy sauce
Canned Coconut milk
Thai Curry paste (red or green)
Canola oil
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Honey

Spices, Herbs, etc:
Onions
Garlic
Ginger (fresh if you use it regularly, powdered or paste if only occasionally)
Cumin
Red chili powder
Turmeric
Asafetida (Heeng)
Garam Masala
Rasam powder
Mustard seeds
Whole dried red chilis
Dried Oregano
Dried Rosemary
Sesame seeds
Salt
Black Pepper
Sugar
Whole and ground cinnamon
Cloves
Cardamom
Saffron

Weekly Grocery items:
Plain Yogurt
Cheese (Shredded or block)
Eggs
Frozen Broccoli
Frozen Spinach
Frozen Corn
Other Frozen veggies (Note: I do buy fresh veggies often, but in order to use them up, it really requires meal planning. If you're not very good at planning meals, then frozen work just as well and last much longer)

So I know this sounds like a lot of stuff, but if you're just getting started at maintaining a well-stocked pantry, it really isn't. You'll find that many of these ingredients can stay good for years and last you just that long, particularly if you buy in bulk. I just replaced my red chili stash after 2 years and it was just $5 or so up front!

You'll find that simply having these items on hand will save you from a last-minute trip to the grocery store more than once- saving both time, and money!

Paneer Masala

Paneer is a fresh Indian cheese that can be homemade in very little time. In even less time, you can buy it from your local Indian store, and that's what I usually do, since with a baby who doesn't sleep, I don't want to spend my 15 extra minutes making paneer from scratch. I'd rather be sleeping. Or playing with my baby. Or having an actual conversation with my husband. You get the idea. :)

Anyhow, paneer masala is one of my favorite Indian dishes because it's quick, easy to make, and extremely tasty. For a healthier version of the dish, you could even make it with tofu. Here's what you will need:

1 block paneer (or tofu if desired)
1 large yellow or red onion
1 large bell pepper
2 cups frozen peas
2 large tomatoes
2 cloves garlic
1 tbsp grated ginger or ginger paste
1 tbsp cumin seeds
1/2 tsp turmeric
1 tsp garam masala
1/2 tsp tandoori powder
red chili powder to taste
salt to taste
chopped cilantro for garnish

Steps:
1. Heat 1 tbsp of cooking oil (I use smart balance) in a wok or large frying pan.
2. Chop the paneer cubes into 1 inch blocks
3. When the oil is hot, add the tandoori powder. Once the tandoori powder starts sizzling, add the paneer cubes, turning over occasionally for even cooking.
4. While the paneer is frying, chop the onion, garlic, and tomato.
5. Once the paneer cubes are browned, remove from the pan, and place onto a plate or bowl. Then add the cumin seeds, and once they start sizzling, add the onion, garlic, turmeric and chili powder.
6. When the onions are slightly cooked (partially transparent), add the tomato and grated ginger.
7. Once the tomatoes start to cook down, you'll see the mixture has formed a paste/gravy-like consistency. This is the time to add the chopped bell pepper, thawed peas, and paneer cubes.
8. Let cook for about 10 minutes, then add salt and garam masala.
9. Cover with lid and reduce heat to medium for about 5-7 minutes (or until ingredients are completely cooked).
10. Turn off heat, garnish with cilantro, and serve with rice or chapatis!

Total prep time: 20-30 minutes (depending on how fast you work!)

About Me

I'm a DC-ite by way of Miami of Indian origin who now lives in Rockville, Md. I'm a public health analyst, vegetarian, a yoga-phile, a relatively new wife, and a new mom. How do all of these things tie together? They don't really. Or maybe they do, I'm not really sure. But between working, taking care of a new baby, attempts at spending some time with my wonderful husband, and trying to keep the house somewhat clean, I know that this doesn't leave me with a whole lot of time to cook nutritious meals every night. Yet, I manage to. And so can you. I thought I'd start this blog because, really, it is very easy to make a fresh, nutritious meal every night- almost the same amount of time it would take you to make dinner out of a box anyway. It just takes a little bit of thought and some planning.

In this blog you'll find everything is completely vegetarian and many are Indian or Indian-inspired- because this is the food I grew up with and still love. It is a misconception that Indian food is always really spicy or extremely time consuming to make. It just requires a little practice is all. But not everything in here is Indian. Because though my roots are in India, I was born and raised in the good old U.S., which means every 3rd night or so I get a hankering for pizza, pasta, and anything BUT Indian food.

In other words, there really is no central theme to this blog except that I wholeheartedly believe that cooking does not have to be hard. It can be easy, fast, nutritious, and delicious- which is something I'd like to pass on to my kids, the way my mom passed it on to me. So, Enjoy- or at least have a good laugh at another working mom just trying to make it through the day:)