Strawberry Lassi

Lassi (pronounced ) is a popular traditional yogurt-based drink from the Indian Subcontinent. Lassi is a blend of yogurt, water, spices and sometimes fruit. Lassi is the name given to a yoghurt based Indian Drink to cool the effect of hot summers.  Salt can be substituted in place of sugar. The resulting beverage is known as salted lassi. There are many variations in Lassi.

The strawberry is called ‘the queen of fruits’ in Asian countries because it’s packed with health benefits.It is onje of the best anti-oxidant,anti -inflamatory,anti- cancer, promotes healthy eyes, it has big portion of vitamin C, a good dose of magnese and it is great for bones also.

Lassi is loved by all at my place.I keep experimenting with yogurt.I make salted and sweet one both.Since strawberries are in the season so  I thought of making Lassi with strawberries.the blend of yogurt,fruit and some essence was mindblowing.Its an esay peasy recipe with no time preparation.

Come lets make my way….

Recipe

Ingredients:

Yogurt -1 cup

Strawberries chopped -1 cup

Milk – 1/2 cup

Sugar – as per your taste

vanilla essence

Some crushed ice

Method

Blend all the ingredients together with some crushed ice.Serve in a glass and enjoy.

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Gur Wali Masala Chai

Jaggery (or gur) is made from unrefined sugar, and is obtained by boiling raw, concentrated sugar cane juice till it solidifies. Although jaggery is also made from the sap of coconut and date palm, the one made from sugar cane is the one that’s used most widely.It acts as a detox, as it helps cleanse the liver by flushing out nasty toxins from the body.Jaggery is loaded with antioxidants and minerals.

As little as 1/2 of one teaspoon of cinnamon daily can have positive effects on blood sugar levels, digestion, immunity, and more.

Fennel is also very beneficial. A concentrated source of minerals like copper, iron, calcium, potassium, manganese, selenium, zinc, and magnesium, the age-old Indian practice does a lot more than simply beat bad breath.

A little nutmeg goes a long way in keeping you healthy.Nutmeg is a popular spice that has a long list of associated health benefits, including its ability to relieve pain, soothe indigestion, strengthen cognitive function, detoxify the body, boost skin health, alleviate oral conditions, reduce insomnia, increase immune system function.

Cardamom is related to ginger and can be used in much the same way to counteract digestive problems. Use it to combat nausea, acidity, bloating, gas, heartburn, loss of appetite, constipation, and much more. This spice helps the body eliminate waste through the kidneys.

Modern scientific research has given us a much better insight into how tea improves health and to what benefit.Tea contains antioxidants. Tea has less caffeine than coffee. Tea may reduce your risk of heart attack and stroke. Tea may help with weight loss. Tea may help protect your bones. Tea may keep your smile bright. Tea may boost the immune system. Tea may help battle cancer.

Turmeric has long been used for its digestive, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant benefits.

Nothing beats cold in the winter like a piping hot cup of ginger tea. With its high levels of Vitamin C, magnesium and other minerals, ginger root is extremely beneficial for health. Once made into tea, you can add peppermint, honey or lemon to mask the taste of the ginger.

When we have so many spices which have wonderful and important health benefits then why cant we use it in more than one way.Tea or chai is one drink which most of the people enjoy.Though tea is made in various ways but a sheer winter indulgence is gur wali masala chai/tea.Its so delicious and beneficial and every sip of this tea gives a unique warmth to the body.

This has been my grandma’s favourite chai and as a kid we used to just take a sip with the spoon and used to love it.Sharing here this amazing tea.

Recipe of Gur wali chai

Ingredients

• One cup water
• Half cup milk
• Small ball of jaggery (depends on the sweetness)
• A pinch of Elaichi powder
• A pinch of dalchini powder
• A pinch of nutmeg and saunf powder
• One clove
• Tea Leaves-1 tsp or more if u like a strong one
• a small piece of raw turmeric
• a small piece of ginger

Method

Mix all in the water along with milk and tea leaves.. Let it brew for 5minutes.Wash jaggery and put in the tea and immediately switch off the gas otherwise the milk will curdle.Cover and keep for few minutes.Stir and pour this in a cup. Enjoy this in cold winter.

Tip.. Make all the spices powder before hand and store in an airtight jar.Then put accordingly when required.

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Credit: All information are derived from google.

Roasted Pumpkin and Garlic Soup

Soup is a primarily liquid food, generally served warm (but may be cool or cold), that is made by combining ingredients such as meat and vegetables with stock, juice, water, or another liquid. Hot soups are additionally characterized by boiling solid ingredients in liquids in a pot until the flavors are extracted, forming a broth.

This soup of mine resulted after lot of research and mix and match of ingredients but I am happy with the end result.Its delicious and super healthy and great for winter indulgence.

So lets get going….
Ingredients
1  pumpkin,peeled, halved and seeds removed
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 plus a pinch freshly ground black pepper
3 tablespoons olive oil
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground clove and nutmeg

1 tomato quatered
3/4 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup chopped carrot
1/4 cup chopped celery
2 tablespoons minced ginger
1 tablespoon minced garlic
31/2 cups chicken/vegetable stock
1/2 cup heavy cream/milk
3 tablespoons of melted butter
1 tsp of dried parsley

some grated cheese

Method

Heat the pan and drizzle with olive oil..

Place the pumpkin cut side up on the pan. Season with 1/2 teaspoon of the salt and 1/4 teaspoon of the pepper. Invert to the cut side down, and drizzle with 1 tablespoon of the olive oil. Cook on a high to medium flame along with quatered tomato till its soft and mushy. Once cool enough to handle  set pumpkin aside until ready to use. .

Set a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil and, when hot, add the cinnamon and allspice and cook, stirring constantly, for 1 minute. Add the onions, carrots, celery, ginger and garlic to the pan and saute, stirring occasionally, until lightly caramelized, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the chicken/vegetable stock and reserved pumpkin to the pan and bring the stock to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and cook the soup for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the vegetables are soft.

Remove the soup from the heat and process with an immersion blender (*or in batches in a blender) until smooth. Season with the remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt and pinch of pepper. Add the cream to the soup and stir to combine. Add parsley now and stir

To serve, place 1 cup of the soup in each of 6 warmed soup bowls. Drizzle 2 teaspoons of melted butter and some grated cheese and serve.

Tip-When blending hot liquids: Remove liquid from the heat and allow to cool for at least 5 minutes.

Happy Cooking

Prerna

Mixed Fruit Smoothie

After any festivals the fat content in the body goes up. Even if we are fasting, the amount of carbohydrate that goes in, in the name of fasting is endless and harmful too. So What do we do? Go on to a healthy version and give the body a break from all fried and oily food.

Smoothie is one such option. Its healthy and very filling too. Smoothies have come a long way over the years. There are hundreds of recipes available to choose from today, on both ends of the health spectrum, containing a multitude of different ingredients.

Aam Panna

When mangoes are everywhere then why not put them to some use which is off the beaten path… ‘kuchh hatke’. 😉 Unripe mangoes have many health benefits. When made into a drink they are great for the digestive system and also help in countering the summer heat wave. Aam Panna has long been a favourite drink of mine and each time I drink it, my childhood memories come rushing back to me. When I used to come home from school in summers, my mum used to keep plenty of Aam Panna ready… fresh and chilled… and we as kids could not have enough of it!

So, do try this easy-to-make drink and let me know what you think.