healthy – Batter Up With Sujata

Fruity Salad With Dried Basil

Fruity salad with dried basil.
Sharing one of my favourite and simple yet tasty and flavourful salad.
A healthy, easy to make and delicious salad.
Serve this salad with lunch or dinner or enjoy a bowl full only salad. You can add any of your favourite fruit in it. I have used apple, pear, pomegranate, sweet corn and tomato. I have also added dry roasted almond and fresh coconut to add some crunch.
You may like some more salad recipes on this blog.

1. Corn salad

2. Fruity salad with parsley

3. Peas chickpeas low calorie salad

4. Mango pomegranate tender coconut salsa

5. Watermelon salsa

Sending this salad to this week’s Foodiemonday bloghop. I am late today. My kitchen is under renovation. So I have decided to skip this week. But my lovely friend Preethi Prasad suggested me to try something. In evening when the carpenters stopped their work for today I have made this simple yet healthy and delicious salad with whatever I had in my pantry. And very happy with the taste and flavour. Thanks Preethi.

This week 212 #Foodiemonday bloghop theme is salad stories suggested by our bloghop member and very talented blogger Narmadha. Narmadha blog at Nams Corner. Check out her space for different kinds of recipes. I especially love her dessert recipes. You can also get non-veg recipes on her blog.

I have used apple, pomegranate, pear, cucumber, coconut and tomato. You can use any fruit of your choice. Finely chopped onion can be used in the salad. Sometimes I also add little garlic powder but today I have made it without onion garlic. You can also use mint leaves or cilantro/coriander leaves in the salad if you want.

Recipe

Apple – 1 small, cubed

Pomegranate arils – 1/2 cup

Pear – 1 small, cubed

Fresh coconut – 1/4 cup, finely chopped

Almonds – 2 tablespoon, dry roasted

Sweet corn kernels – 1/2 cup, boiled

Cucumber – 1 small, peeled and cubed

Tomato – 1, cubed

Pink or black salt or rock salt – to taste

Freshly ground black pepper – to taste

Dried basil – 1 teaspoon

Ginger powder – 1/2 teaspoon, optional

Lemon juice – 2 tablespoon

Vinegar – 1 tablespoon

Method

1. Slice the dry roasted almonds.

2. In a glass bowl combine all the fruits, tomato, cucumber and sweet corn.

3. Add black, pink or rock salt, freshly ground black pepper, dried basil, vinegar and lemon juice.

4. Add dry ginger powder if using. You can also use ginger julienne or grated ginger if you like the flavour of ginger.

5. Mix well. Taste and add more salt and lemon juice if required.

6. Serve immediately or keep in the refrigerator and serve chilled.

Notes
1. You can use any herbs of your choice instead of basil.
2. Finely chopped or sliced onion can be used in the salad.

If you tried my recipe, you can share your food pictures with me in the social network sites by using the hashtag, #batterupwithsujata
I would love to see your creations.

I would love to hear from you. Please share your thoughts and suggestions in comment.
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Lal Saag Or Red Spinach Stir Fry

Lal saag or red spinach stir fry with garlic.
A very easy to make and tasty stir fry. You need only four ingredients with red spinach to make this stir fry.
After a simple and light Chicken curry, here is an easy to cook yet delicious red spinach or laal saag.
If you like the taste of garlic then its perfect for you. You can serve it as a side dish with rice or any bread. I have served it with steamed rice and easy microwave chicken. I will share the chicken recipe soon.

Amaranthus dubius, the red spinach, Chinese spinach, spleen amaranth, hon-toi-moi, yin choy, or hsien tsai is a plant species. It belongs to the economically important family Amaranthaceae. This plant is native to Asia, Europe and Africa, with origin most likely in the Indian subcontinent.
Source – Wikipedia

All of us are aware of green spinach and its benefits, but red spinach also contains numerous health benefits.
Let us look at the top 14 red spinach benefits of this wonderful gift of nature

Benefits of Red Spinach

1. Digestion
2. Kidney function
3. Anemia
4. Dysentery
5. Strengthen Hair Roots
6. Improves eyesight
7. Less blood
8. Food
9. Venomous bite
10. Grey Hair
11. Immune Support
12. Lose weight
13. Cancer
14. Fever

To read more about health benefits of red spinach in detail click here.

This week 211 #Foodiemonday blog hop theme is #NaturallyColorful suggested by Mayuri Patel who blog at Mayuris Jikoni. Do visit her space for many wonderful recipes. I always amazed by her baked recipes, specially different kinds of bread. She has a vast collection of baked recipes.

I have made this red spinach for my fussy eater daughter. She loved the taste. And happily clicked the picture.
I made it without any spices except very little cumin. You can use one more chopped green chilli if you want it spicy. Or skip chilli if you are making it for kids. Recipe is very simple and don’take much time to cook.
Picture credit my daughter Suchismita Roy. Have a look on her blog for some beautiful pictures. Hope you will also like her write up.

Recipe

Red spinach – 250 gram

Garlic cloves – 8 – 10

Salt to taste

Green chilli – 1, finely chopped, optional

Cumin powder – 1/2 teaspoon

Oil – 2 teaspoon

Method

1. Rinse the red spinach. Drain the water. Chop and keep aside.

2. Heat oil in a pan. Add the garlic cloves.
Fry the garlic cloves till brown.

3. Add chopped spinach, chopped green chilli, salt and cumin powder. Mix well.

4. Spinach will leave water. Cover and cook on low flame till spinach becomes soft and dried up. You can add little water if required.

5. Serve hot with steamed rice or Roti/Indian flatbread.

Note
You can add one more chopped green chilli with spinach if you want it spicy. Or skip chilli if you are making it for kids.

If you tried my recipe, you can share your food pictures with me in the social network sites by using the hashtag, #batterupwithsujata
I would love to see your creations.

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Gluten Free Apple Jaggery cake / Vegan Cake

Apple jaggery cake with gluten free flour. An easy to make, healthy, delicious, gluten free and vegan cake. A cake with all the nutritious ingredients. Delicious dairy free, sugar free and butter free cake.

Cake is super soft and moist. Mixed taste of apple and jaggery made the cake divine.

I have used rice flour, soyabean flour and oats powder in the cake. You can use any flour of your choice like whole wheat flour or atta, refined flour or maida, cornmeal, buckwheat flour etc. You can also use brown sugar or normal white sugar instead of jaggery. Any fruit can be used instead of apple.

Sending this post to Facebook group Recipe swap challenge initiated by Jolly and Vidya.
We have to recreate a recipe from a fellow blogger’s blog. This month my partner is Jolly who blog at Jolly homemade recipes.
Do visit her space for many delicious recipes she shared We know each other since I started my blogging journey. Jolly is not only a talented blogger, she is a very good person and friend, always ready to help others. I have bookmarked this jaggery cake recipe just after posted. Never used vanilla essence with jaggery, sounds interesting. And really loved the mixed flavour.
If you want to make it with whole wheat flour then follow this recipe.

Apple is absolutely optional. You can use any fruit instead of apple or simply skip it. But I recommend to add one apple to enhance the taste and flavour. You can use any dry fruits instead of tutti fruity. I have used bundt pan, you can use square or round any cake pan. Even you can make loaf cake with this batter. Choice is yours. Vegan people can use almond milk, soy milk or any other vegan milk. But coconut milk taste better. You can also use dairy milk.

Recipe

Rice flour – 1/2 cup

Soyabean flour – 1/2 cup + 1 tablespoon

Oats – 1/2 cup

Baking powder – 1 teaspoon

Baking soda – 1/2 teaspoon

Jaggery – 3/4 cup tightly packed, grated or powder

Coconut milk – 1/2 cup, slightly warm

Olive oil or any vegetable oil – 1/2 cup

Vinegar or lemon juice – 1 tablespoon

Vanilla essence – 1 teaspoon

Tutti fruity – 1/2 cup

Apple – 1

Cashew nuts – few, optional

Method

1. Grease a cake pan and dust with little soyabean flour or any flour you are using.

2. Preheat the oven at 180°.

3. Grind the oats into fine powder.

4. Peel and grate the apple.

5. Mix 1 tablespoon soyabean flour with tutti fruity and keep aside.

6. In a bowl mix rice flour, soyabean flour, oats powder, baking powder and soda. Mix well with a whisk. You can sieve the dry ingredients but I don’t like to discard the fibres of the flours. So I have just mixed well with a whisk, you can use your food processor.

7. In a large bowl whisk grated or powdered jaggery, slightly warm milk and vinegar. Whisk well till jaggery completely melted. See notes for more options for milk.

8. Add vanilla essence and grated apple. Mix well.

9. Now add the dry ingredients gradually.

10. Mix till everything blend well. Make a lump free smooth batter.

11. Fold in flour mixed tutti fruity.
Pour the batter into greased or lined and flour dusted cake pan.

12. Tap the pan gently on your kitchen counter to remove the air bubbles.

13. Bake in preheated oven at 180° for 30 – 40 minutes or until the toothpick comes out clean.
Every oven takes different time so insert a toothpick in the middle of the cake to check.

14. Let the cake cool down before slicing. Enjoy slightly warm or cool cake, taste yummy in both ways.
Happy baking 😊

Notes
1. Whole wheat flour, refined flour or any flour can be used instead of these gluten free flour.
2. You can use cinnamon powder, cardamom powder or any other flavour instead of vanilla.
3. If you don’t have Bundt pan then you can use square, round, loaf or any cake pan. Even you can make cup cakes with this batter.

4. Dairy milk, almond milk, soy milk or any other dairy free milk can be used instead of coconut milk.

If you tried my recipe, you can share your food pictures with me in the social network sites by using hash tag, #batterupwithsujata
I would love to see your creations.

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Gluten Free Oats Cornmeal Lemon Crinkle Cookies

Gluten free eggless oats cornmeal lemon crinkle cookies.
Delicious lemon flavoured crispy outside and fudgy inside cookies made with cornmeal or makke ka atta, oats and lemon.

I have made it with gluten free flour but you can use whole wheat flour or refined flour or any flour of your choice. I didn’t want to use colour so used cornmeal. Cornmeal will give a beautiful light yellow colour to your cookies. But if you are using whole wheat flour or refined flour then you have to use little yellow food colour or you can keep your cookies simply white. Taste will be equally delicious.
I always try to bake with gluten free flour because some of my readers are suffering with gluten intolerance. But everyone can enjoy it. These cookies are hot favourite among my family and friends.
You may like some more gluten free cookies on this blog.

1. Oats almond cranberry cornmeal cookies

2. Fennel oats millet cookies

3. Pearl millet cashew almond honey cookies

4. Rose flavoured shortbread cookies

5. Pearl millet sesame oats cookies

And one more crinkle cookies.

Finger millet or ragi chocolate crinkle cookies

Monday again and this week 208 #Foodiemonday bloghop theme is #Meethebandhan suggested by Archana Gunjikar Potdar who blog at The Mad Scientists Kitchen. Archana have a vast collection of healthy and delicious recipes. I have already bookmarked her honey cake. Do visit her space for amazing recipes from different cuisine. I am sure you will love her recipes.

You can use butter or ghee/clarified butter, whatever you want. I have tried both. If you like the flavour of ghee or clarified butter, then make it with ghee. I love the taste of ghee cookies. Cornmeal will give a beautiful light yellow colour to your cookies.

Recipe

Oats powder – 1 cup

Cornmeal or makke ka atta – 1/3 cup + 1 tablespoon

Baking powder – 1 teaspoon

Baking soda – 1/4 teaspoon

Powdered sugar – 1/2 cup

Butter or ghee/clarified butter – 1/4 cup

Curd – 3 tablespoon

Lemon juice – 1 tablespoon

Lemon zest – 1/2 teaspoon

Powdered sugar for coating

Method

1. Preheat the oven at 180°.

2. Grease or line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

3. In a bowl sift oats powder, cornmeal or makke ka atta, baking powder and baking soda.

4. In a large bowl cream ghee or butter, and powdered sugar. Whisk well.

5. Add lemon juice, lemon zest and curd. Mix well.

6. Now add the dry ingredients. Mix and make a smooth dough. Dough will be sticky. Keep the dough in refrigerator for 30 minutes.

7. Spread powdered sugar on a plate.

8. Take out the dough and make small balls.

9. Roll the balls in the powdered sugar. Press gently. Powdered sugar should be coated well all over the cookies.

10. Bake in preheated oven at 180° for 10 – 12 minutes. For fudgy inside cookies don’t over bake.
If you want crisp cookies bake for 1 – 2 minutes more.

11. Let the cookies cool down completely before serving.
Enjoy the divine taste. You can store the cookies in a airtight container.

Notes
1. Whole wheat or refined flour or any flour can be used instead of cornmeal and oats.
2. Don’t skip to refrigerat the dough.

If you tried my recipe, you can share your food pictures with me in the social network sites by using hash tag, #batterupwithsujata
I would love to see your creations.

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Whole Wheat Flour Jam Filled Cookies

Whole wheat flour jam filled eggless cookies.
Buttery and melt in mouth cookies made with whole wheat flour or atta.
Jam filled cookies are all time kids favourite cookies. I still love these buttery jam cookies. Next time I will try to make these jam cookies with gluten free flour. Till then enjoy these utterly butterly delicious jam filled cookies. You can use any jam or fruit preserve of your choice.

Sending this post to Facebook group Recipe swap challenge
initiated by Jolly and Vidya.
We have to recreate a recipe from a fellow blogger’s blog. This month my partner is Priya Satheesh who blog at
Priyas menu. Check out her space for delicious and authentic recipes. I have selected this recipe from her space.

I have made it with whole wheat flour or atta but if you want you can use refined flour or maida or half whole wheat flour and half refined flour. I have used mixed fruit jam here. You can use any jam of your choice or whatever you have.

Recipe

Whole wheat flour or atta – 1 cup

Butter – 1/2 cup

Powdered sugar – 1/4 cup

Vanilla essence – 1/2 teaspoon

Baking Powder – 1/2 teaspoon

Baking soda – 1/4 teaspoon

Jam – 3 teaspoon

Method

1. Preheat the oven at 180°.

2. Grease or line a baking tray with parchment pepper.

3. In a bowl sieve whole wheat flour, baking powder and soda. You can use half cup Whole wheat flour or atta and 1/2 cup refined flour or maida.

4. In a large bowl cream butter and powdered sugar.

5. Add vanilla essence and dry ingredients.

6. Make a smooth dough. If the dough is too soft then keep it in refrigerator for 15 – 30 minutes.

7. Make small balls. I have made 12 balls.

8. Arrange the balls on greased or lined baking tray 1 inch apart.

9. Make holes in the middle of every cookies with your finger.

10. Fill 1/4 teaspoon jam in the holes.

11. Bake in preheated oven for 18 – 20 minutes or until the edges becomes golden brown.

12. Let the cookies cool down completely before serving.

Notes
1. Refined flour or maida can be used instead of whole wheat flour or atta. Or use half whole wheat flour and half refined flour.
2. Any flavoured jam can be used.

If you tried my recipe, you can share your food pictures with me in the social network sites by using hash tag, #batterupwithsujata
I would love to see your creations.

Watermelon Salsa

Watermelon salsa.
Here is a healthy and quick recipe for my 400 post. Thanks everyone for your love and support.

Watermelon salsa is a perfect appetizer for summer. Very easy and quick to make. Just combine everything. Refrigerate for few minutes and enjoy. If you have mango, strawberry or any other fruit then you can add them in this salsa. Use the fruits according to your choice. Bowl full of this salsa is refreshing, filling, healthy and delicious. And also great for weight watchers. You can get one more fruit salsa here.

Loaded with vitamins, minerals and nutrients, watermelon is one fruit you should not miss this hot season.
own as a body-healing fruit, watermelon is full of amazing health benefits, especially during the summer season. Because clearly, it is the best time to indulge in this fresh, succulent melon, as it has to offer an array of nutrients, vitamins and minerals. The fruit is incredibly hydrating, with up to 92 per cent water content, making it naturally low in fat.

If you eat watermelon on a daily basis, it can improve your cardiovascular health and protect your eyes and immune system.
Source

You may like some more watermelon recipes on this blog.

1. Watermelon rasgulla

2. Watermelon cantaloupe mint smoothie

3. Watermelon sandesh

4. Watermelon muffins

5. Virgin watermelon mojito

6. Mocktail with watermelon and Fanta

7. litchi watermelon date peach Tulsi and almond smoothie

8. Watermelon cooler with Tulsi and Aloe Vera

Our this week’s 194 #Foodiemonday bloghop theme is Summer fruit fest suggested by Swaty Malik who blog at
foodtrails.
Do visit her space for some wonderful recipes she shared.

I have used boiled sweet corn, cucumber and tomato in this salsa. You can use red and yellow bell pepper, mango, pineapple, strawberry or any fruit of your choice.

Recipe

Watermelon – 2 cup, scooped or cubed

Sweet corn – 1/2 cup, boiled

Cilantro or coriander leaves – 2 tablespoon, chopped

Green chilli – 1 finely chopped

Cucumber – 1, peeled and cubed

Tomato – 1 cubed

Red onion – 1, chopped

Freshly crushed black pepper – to taste

Dried mint leaves – 2 tablespoon, crushed

Fresh mint leaves – 2 tablespoon, chopped

Orange juice – 1/4 cup

Lemon juice – 1 tablespoon

Rock salt or black pepper – to taste

Method

1. Combine everything in a glass bowl. Mix gently.

2. I have used dried mint leaves. If you are using dried mint leaves like me then crush the dried leaves with your both palm and mix.

3. Garnish with cilantro or coriander leaves or mint leaves.

4. Refrigerate for 30 minutes and serve with tortilla chips or papad. Or enjoy bowl full as appetizer.

Notes

1. You can use jalapeño, red and yellow bell pepper, mango, strawberry, pineapple, fresh coconut pieces or any fruit of your choice.
2. Add chilli and black pepper according to your taste.

If you tried my recipe, you can share your food pictures with me in the social network sites by using hash tag, #batterupwithsujata
I would love to see your creations.

I would love to hear from you. Please share your thoughts and suggestions in comment.
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Oats Almond Cranberry Cornmeal Cookies / Gluten Free Cookies

Oats almond cranberry cornmeal cookies. Eggless and gluten free cookies.
Taste of butter and cranberry and flavour of nutmeg and vanilla made these cookies utterly butterly delicious.

If you are my regular reader then you know that I love to try different flour in my bakes. Already made some cakes and cookies with oats. And recently shared Cornmeal carrot cake
and Blackberry preserve stuffed gluten free eggless cherry cupcake.
This time I have used cornmeal in these cookies with oats and almond. Definitely a healthy and yummy treat for kids. But if you want you can use any flour instead of oats and cornmeal.

You may like some more gluten free cookies on this blog.

1. Fennel oats pearl millet cookies

2. Rose flavoured nankhatai or shortbread cookies

3. Pearl millet sesame oats cookies

4. Finger millet oats chocolate cookies

This week our 192 #Foodiemonday bloghop theme is one spice ingredient suggested by Sasmita Sahoo Samanta who blog at First Timer Cook.
Do visit her space for some fabulous recipes.

Sasmita told us to use only one spice in a dish. But how could you make a dish with only one spice. And this theme reminds me of our humble aloo morich. Only dish which we make with one spice black pepper. But its a very common dish of Bengali household. And I wanted to bake something. So here is a delicious cookies with nutmeg. My home filled with pleasant smell while baking these cookies. Try out this and feel the aroma.

Recipe

Oats – 1 & 1/2 cup

Cornmeal – 3/4 cup

Almond – 1/4 cup

Baking powder – 3/4 teaspoon

Baking soda – 1/3 teaspoon

Nutmeg powder – 3/4 teaspoon

Unsalted butter – 3/4 cup, room temperature

Powdered sugar – 1 cup

Vanilla essence – 1 & 1/2 teaspoon

Dried cranberry – 1/3 cup

Method

1. Preheat the oven at 180°.

2. Grease or line a baking tray with parchment paper.

3. Grind the oats and almond separately into fine power.

4. Chop the dried cranberries into small pieces.

5. Sieve the cornmeal, baking powder, soda and nutmeg powder. Mix ground almond and oats in it.

6. In a bowl cream butter and powered sugar. Whisk well. Add vanilla essence and whisk again.

7. I have used 1 cup butter but then I had to keep the dough in refrigerator for a whole day. Because it was difficult to give shape. So use 3/4 cup butter or if you want to use 1 cup butter for more buttery taste then keep the dough in refrigerator for some extra time. Or don’t give shape, drop two tablespoon of dough in the baking tray 2 inch apart.

8. Add add cornmeal, baking powder, soda, nutmeg powder, cranberry, ground almond and oats.

9. Mix everything to combine. Keep the dough in refrigerator for 30 – 40 minutes.

10. Now make small balls and flatten gently with your palm.

11. Press with a fork and arrange on a greased or lined baking tray. Place the cookies 2 inch apart. Cookies will expand so don’t forget to keep space.

12. Bake for 12 – 15 minutes or till the edges become golden brown. If you want more crispy cookies bake for few minutes more.

13. Let the cookies cool down completely before serving.
Store in a airtight container for later use.

Note
1. You can use whole wheat, refined or any flour instead of cornmeal and oats.

2. Any dry fruits can be used instead of cranberry.

If you tried my recipe, you can share your food pictures with me in the social network sites by using hash tag, #batterupwithsujata
I would love to see your creations.

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