mint – Batter Up With Sujata

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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Beetroot Dip

Beetroot dip with roasted beetroot.
A delicious and easy to make dip for your snacks with all the healthy and flavourful ingredients.
You will love the taste even if you don’t like beetroot. Roasting enhanced the sweetness and taste of beetroot.

You may like some more beetroot recipes in this blog.

1. Dairy free beetroot smoothie

2. Beetroot dal or lentil curry

3. Beetroot shot

4. Beet smoothie

5. Beetroot rice or pulao and raita

6. Black rice oats beetroot pancake

7. Beetroot appe

8. Beetroot cutlets

9. vegan fruit and veggie smoothie

10. Beetroot green with green peas and corn

Beets are packed with essential vitamins, minerals and plant compounds, some of which have medicinal properties.
1. Many Nutrients in Few Calories. Beets boast an impressive nutritional profile.
2. Help Keep Blood Pressure in Check.
3. Can Improve Athletic Performance.
4. May Help Fight Inflammation.
5. May Improve Digestive Health.
6. May Help Support Brain Health.
7. May Have Some Anti-Cancer Properties. 8. May Help You Lose Weight.
Source

Earlier I have made beetroot dip with boiled or raw beetroot.

But noticed a baked beetroot process in twitter from Gala in the kitchen. A detailed and well explained method shared on this blog. Followed the method and very happy with the result. Taste of the baked beetroot are much better than boiled or raw beetroot. You could also see the difference in colour.

Recipe is very easy and simple. If you have baked beetroot ready then you only have to blend all the ingredients. But if you don’t have oven then you can boil the whole beetroot with water in pressure cooker then peel and chop when cool before blending.

Recipe

Beetroot – 2 medium

Tomato – 1 medium

Walnut – 1 tablespoon, chopped

Mint leaves – 3 tablespoon

Sesame seeds – 1 tablespoon

Dried Basil – 1 teaspoon

Lemon juice – 1 tablespoon

Black or pink salt to taste

Pepper powder to taste

Lemon zest – 1/4 teaspoon

Method

1. Wash well and bake the beetroot. Get the method here.

2. I have used my halogen oven to bake. If you are using halogen wrap beetroot with baking paper and then aluminium foil as directed in the above link. Place beetroot on muffins tray.

3. Place the tray on high rack of halogen oven.
Select speed up at 230° for 40 minutes or till done. Insert a fork to check.

4. If you don’t have oven then boil the whole beetroot in pressure cooker with water till done.

5. Let the beetroot cool down. Peel and chop into small pieces.

6. Dry roast the sesame seeds. When it starts to change its colour to light brown remove from heat. Transfer the sesame seeds on a plate.

7. Roast the tomato.
Hold it with the help of a fork or knife on flame. Roast till the skin becomes black.

8. Dip roasted tomato in cold water.
Now peel the skin and chop roughly.

9. Blend everything altogether.
Taste and add salt and more lemon juice if require.

10. Pour the mixture in a glass bowl. Garnish with mint leaves, walnut and dry roasted sesame seeds. Serve with any snack.
You can keep it in refrigerator for 5 – 6 days.

Note

You can add garlic cloves if you want.

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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Vegan Fruit And Veggie Smoothie

Happy Maha Shivratri!
May this Shivratri bring blessings to you and your family. May the almighty Lord Shiva bless you with all the happiness!!

Vegan fruit and veggie smoothie.
Beet carrot cucumber smoothie with orange and mint. Smoothie is naturally sweet so you don’t need any sweetener. Perfect for fasting days.
Smoothie is not only delicious and nutritious but every ingredients of this smoothie will also help to nourishes your skin.

Monday again and this week’s 183 #Foodiemonday bloghop theme is #GlowingskinRecipes suggested by Amrita Iyer who blog at Food samaritan.
Do visit her space for many amazing recipes.

I have used cucumber, carrot, orange juice, beetroot, almond, walnut and lemon in this smoothie. And every ingredients helps you to make your skin glow.

Cucumber – Cucumbers are light on the stomach, and perfect for quenching thirst and staying hydrated.
In fact, cucumber’s high water content is excellent for the skin as it keeps it hydrated and well-nourished. It is also rich in silica, which enhances your natural complexion and adds a glow to it.
Cucumber contains potassium, magnesium, biotin, and vitamins A, B1, and C, and therefore helps to improve your skin condition.

Carrot – We have been told time and again that carrots are great for the eyes. What you do not know is that they are great for the skin too.
Carrots contain vitamin A, which fights acne, wrinkles, pigmentation, and uneven skin tone. The juice is rich in fiber, which eases bowel movement and excretion, thereby clearing out your stomach. This enhances your skin.
Carrots also contain vitamin C and potassium, which improve skin elasticity and help in the regeneration of new cells.

Orange – Along with boosting your mood, it also elevates your skin’s health.
Oranges are rich sources of citric acid that aid collagen and elastin formation in the skin. Hence, they dry acne, enhance your complexion, improve your skin texture, and make your skin firm. Oranges also hydrate the skin and treat sunburns.
They contain antioxidants that fight free radicals and prevent wrinkle formation and skin sagging, thereby controlling premature skin aging.

Beetroot – Fresh beetroot juice has anti-inflammatory properties and is a rich source of iron and potassium, which help purify the blood. The vegetable juice also contains vitamins A, C, K, copper, magnesium, folic acid, and zinc.
Dilute beetroot with another ingredient and drink the juice every day to fight skin problems such as blemishes, acne marks, and inflammations.

Almond – The regular consumption and the proper external application of soaked almonds can do wonders for your skin.
Vitamin E and other antioxidants present in these nuts can eliminate the harmful free radicals from your body. As a result, the aging process gets delayed and you remain younger-looking for a longer period.

Walnut – Walnuts are good for the skin as they are packed with B-vitamins. Vitamin B is an excellent stress and mood manager. Lower stress levels result in a better skin. Increased stress levels can result in the earlier onset of wrinkles, thus inducing faster aging. The presence of the B-vitamins, together with Vitamin E, a natural antioxidant, helps in fighting the free radicals induced due to stress. This further delays the aging process.

Lemon – Lemon is full of natural antioxidants. It can effectively combat damaging free radicals and remove them completely from your body. Being a good source of vitamin C, the fruit also repairs the damaged skin cells as well as helps you get rid of fine lines, blemishes, wrinkles, deep furrows etc. Hence, lemon water is considered as a great anti-aging solution.
Source – STYLECRAZE

You can add 1 – 2 tablespoon Aloe Vera gel and 1 inch piece fresh turmeric root in the smoothie to make it more effective for glowing skin. Add fresh turmeric if you like the flavour. I don’t like the flavour of fresh turmeric so I didn’t use it.

Recipe

Orange juice – 1 cup

Carrot – 1

Boiled or baked beetroot – 1

Cucumber – 1

Mint leaves – 3 tablespoon

Almond – 10, soaked and peeled

Walnut – 1 tablespoon, chopped

Lemon juice – 1 tablespoon or as require

Method

1. Peel and chop the beetroot and carrot.

2. Soak the almonds in hot water and peel when cool.

3. Peel and chop the cucumber. Taste before using. Cucumber should not be bitter.

4. Blend chopped carrot, cucumber, beetroot, mint leaves, almond and walnut.

5. Add orange and lemon juice in the blender. Blend again till the mixture becomes smooth and frothy.

6. Taste and add more lemon juice if require. I have added 2 teaspoon more.

7. Pour the smoothie in a glass. Garnish with mint leaves and lemon wedges.

8. Serve immediately or keep it in refrigerator to serve chilled.

Notes

1. You can add pink or black salt and black pepper powder if you like.
2. Ice cubes can be added in the smoothie while blending.
3. You can add 1 – 2 tablespoon Aloe Vera gel in this smoothie.
4. If you like the flavour of fresh turmeric root add 1 inch piece chopped turmeric root while blending the smoothie.

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.
Please visit my facebook page and hit the like button to get the latest update
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Adas Bil Hamod Or Lebanese Lentil Lemon Soup

Adas bil hamod.
Brown lentil soup or Lebanese lentil soup with lemon.
A delicious comforting and filling hot thick soup is perfect for winter.
This soup is made of brown lentil or whole Masoor dal. Brown or red lentil is rich in protein, vitamins and Iron.

You may like one more brown or red lentil recipe on this blog

Whole Masoor dal or red lentil curry

Here are some other dietary and health benefits of masoor dal: Helps Stabilise Blood Sugar Level. Keeps The Heart Healthy by Lowering Cholesterol. Effective Remedy Against Weight Loss. Anti-Ageing Properties. Nourishes Teeth and Bones. Helpful In Maintaining A Healthy Vision. Beneficial For A Glowing And Radiating Skin.
Source

Sending this post to 181 #Foodiemonday bloghop #Levantine cuisine.
This week very talented blogger and our group member Sujata Shukla who blog at Pepper On Pizza
suggested the theme. Do check her blog for many wonderful recipes. She has a vast collection of regional and continental recipes.

Levantine cuisine is the traditional cuisine of the Levant, known in Arabic as the Bilad ash-Sham and Mashriq, which covers a large area of the Eastern Mediterranean. It continues to carry an influentially mainstream character in a majority of the dishes today. It is found in the modern states of Jordan, Lebanon, Israel, Palestine, Syria, and parts of southern Turkey near Adana, Gaziantep, and Antakya (the former Vilayet of Aleppo). In the broader family of Mediterranean cuisine, Cypriot cuisine also has strong Levantine influences. Conversely, some of the dishes may have early origins in neighboring regions, but have long since become traditions in the Levant.

I am sharing this healthy and delicious lentil soup from Lebanese cuisine.
Lebanese cuisine is a Levantine style of cooking that includes an abundance of whole grains, fruits, vegetables, starches, fresh fish and seafood; animal fats are consumed sparingly. Poultry is eaten more often than red meat, and when red meat is eaten, it is usually lamb on the coast, and goat meat in the mountain regions. It also includes copious amounts of garlic and olive oil, often seasoned by lemon juice. Chickpeas and parsley are also staples of the Lebanese diet. Lebanese cooking derives its style from various influences, such as Turkish, Arab, and Mediterranean cuisines.
Source – Wikipedia

This soup can be serve with pita bread or enjoy it as an appetizer.
Browned onion, spinach, cilantro, dried mint leaves and lemon makes it lip-smacking.

Recipe

Brown lentil or whole Masoor dal – 1 cup

Onion – 1 large, finely chopped

Garlic – 3 cloves, minced

Spinach – 50 gram

Cilantro or coriander leaves – 1/2 cup, chopped

Dried mint leaves – 1 tablespoon, crushed

Salt – 1 & 1/2 teaspoon

Black pepper powder – 1 teaspoon or to taste

Cumin powder – 1 teaspoon

Lemon juice – 3 tablespoon

Olive oil – 2 tablespoon

Water – 5 – 6 cup or as require

Method

1. Wash and soak the lentil for 30 minutes. Drain the water and keep aside.

2. Chop the spinach leaves. Discard the stem.

3.Heat oil in a pan. Add finely chopped onion.

4. Fry till the onions becomes translucent.

5. Add minced garlic and fry till the onions becomes brown.

6. Add chopped cilantro and spinach. Saute for 1 – 2 minutes.

7. Add lentil, salt, dried and crushed mint leaves, black pepper powder and cumin powder. Mix well.

8. Add 5 cup water and mix. When it starts to rolling boil reduce the heat.

9. Cook on low heat until the lentils becomes soft. Stir in regular intervals. It will take 30 to 35 minutes.

10. You can add 1 cup or more water if require to get your desired consistency.

11. When lentils becomes soft remove from heat and add lemon juice. Taste and add little more salt if require.

12. Garnish with mint leaves.

Serve hot with pita bread or enjoy as an appetizer.
This soup also taste great with Indian flat bread.

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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Iced Green Tea With Orange And Mint

Iced green tea with orange and mint.
Weather is too hot these days. We want some refreshing drink to stay hydrated and feel energized. So here is a delicious refreshing chilled drink . Make and keep it in refrigerator and enjoy whenever you feel low.

I have used orange juice but you can use watermelon, grape juice, pomegranate juice, mixed fruit juice or any other fruit juice of your choice. If you are using sugar use sugar syrup. Because sugar takes more time to dissolve. Or you can use honey or any artificial sweetener.

Our this week’s 153 #Foodiemonday bloghop theme is tea. And my humble contribution is this chilled refreshing iced green tea with orange mint and cinnamon.

I don’t like milk tea. Love black or green tea without milk and very little sugar. But in this hot weather refreshing and chilled iced tea is a good option to cool us down. So get ready to beat the heat.
Flavour of orange, lemon and cinnamon made this drink super yummy. Just add lots of ice cube and enjoy.

Recipe

Orange juice – 1 cup

Green tea – 2 bags

Mint leaves – a fistful, Finley chopped

Cinnamon powder – 1/2 teaspoon

Water – 2 cup

Lemon juice – 1 & 1/2 tablespoon

Sugar syrup or honey to taste, optional

Ice cubes – as require

Few mint leaves and lemon wedges to garnish

Method

1. Boil 2 cup water. Remove from heat and tea bags and cover for 10 minutes.

2. Now add chopped mint leaves and cinnamon powder.
Stir and let it cool down completely.

3. Keep it in refrigerator for at least least 2 hours or until chilled. Squeeze and discard the tea bags.

4. Strain the mint mixed tea with a sieve.

5. Add orange juice and lemon juice. Add sugar syrup or honey to taste.
If you like light sweetness omit sugar.

6. In a glass place some ice cubes and few mint leaves.
Pour iced tea over it.

7. Garnish with lemon wedge.
Serve chilled.

Notes

1. If you don’t like cinnamon then you can omit it.

2. You can also make it with black tea instead of green tea.

3. You can use watermelon, grape juice, pomegranate juice, mixed fruit juice or any fruit juice of your choice instead of orange juice.

4. You can use artificial sweetener instead of sugar syrup or honey.

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.

Please visit my facebook page and hit the like button to get the latest update

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Spicy Pineapple Virgin Margarita

Spicy pineapple virgin margarita.
A chilled delicious refreshing alcohol free drink.
Sweetness of pineapple, flavour of cumin and mint, hint of chilli and pink salt and tanginess of lemon makes the drink super yummy 😋

Pineapples are rich in vitamins, enzymes and antioxidants. They may help boost the immune system, build strong bones and aid indigestion. Also, despite their sweetness, pineapples are low in calories.
Source

So you can call it a healthy drink. Diet conscious people can enjoy this guilt free delicious drink.

I made it with or without sparkling water. Both are superbly delicious. You can serve it as a party drink. I didn’t add sugar in it. But if you like you can add sugar or sugar syrup according to your taste. I love this drink with the natural sweetness of pineapple.

Recipe

Pineapple – 1 heaped cup, chopped

Mint leaves – 7 – 8

Water – 1/2 cup

Black salt – 1/2 teaspoon or to taste

Chilli flakes or red chilli powder – 1/4 teaspoon

Cumin powder – 1/2 teaspoon

Lemon juice – 2 tablespoon

Method

1. Blend pineapple and mint leaves with water in a blender.

2. Strain the juice with a strainer.
Add pink or black salt, chilli flakes or powder, cumin powder and lemon juice. Blend again. You can add some ice cube with it.

3. Taste and add more salt and lemon juice if require.

4. Rub lemon on the rim of the glass. Now dip the rim in pink salt.

5. Place some ice cube in the glass. Pour pineapple mixture over it.

6. Garnish with lemon wedges and serve chilled.
Enjoy…….

Notes

1. You can add sugar or sugar syrup if you like.

2. I didn’t use sparkling water but if you want add it just before serving.

I would love to hear from you. Please share your thoughts and suggestions in comment.

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.

Please visit my facebook page and hit the like button to get the latest update.

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Aloo Chutney Pulao Or Spicy Green Rice With Potatoes

Aloo chutney pulao. Or Spicy tangy delicious green rice with potatoes. One pot meal to serve in a jiffy.
After Gujarati cuisine now a dish from Hariyana.

Haryana is a state in Northern India.
Haryana became one of the most economically developed regions in India with its agricultural bloom. The state enjoys a blend of urban and rural population and boasts a rich culture and tradition. If we talk about Haryana’s cuisine, it evokes simplicity. Haryanvi cuisine is just like the people in Haryana – simple, grounded and inevitably linked to the land. You will not find people opting excessively for restaurant food, especially in the smaller towns, as home-made meals are most cherished, using ingredients grown mostly in their own land.
Source

This month in Shhhhh cooking secretly challenge
facebook group we are sharing different dishes from Hariyanvi cuisine. In this group members are paired up every month. And the pairs give each other two secret ingredients. This month my partner is a very talented blogger Priya Satheesh. Who blog at Priya’s menu.
Priya gave me two delicious ingredients potato and coriander leaves. And I gave her moong dal and bajra. Check out her blog for the amazing recipe she shared with these ingredients.

I have made this rice according to my taste , if you want to make authentic recipe you can omit cumin powder, green cardamom and lemon juice. But these ingredients enhance the taste. I like tangy taste but if you don’t like your rice tangy use less lemon juice or skip it.

Recipe

Rice – 1 cup

Potato – 8, small sized

Black Cardamom – 1

Green cardamom – 2 – 3

Cinnamon – 1 inch piece

Cloves – 3

Bay leaf – 1

Coriander or cilantro leaves – 1/2 cup

Mint leaves – 1/2 cup

Ginger paste – 1 teaspoon

Garlic paste – 1 teaspoon

Anardana or pomegranate seeds – 1/2 teaspoon

Fennel seeds or saunf – 1/2 teaspoon

Green chilli – 3 – 4 or to taste

Lemon juice 1 – 2 teaspoon

Salt to taste

Cumin powder – 1 teaspoon

Black pepper powder – 1/2 teaspoon

Ghee/clarified butter or oil – 2 tablespoon

Water – 3 cup

Method

1. Wash the rice and soak for 15 minutes.

2. Peel the potatoes. Wash, drain and prick allover the potatoes with a fork. Keep aside.

3. Grind coriander or cilantro leaves, mint leaves, green chilli, fennel seeds and anardana or pomegranate seeds. Make a smooth paste. Add ginger garlic paste and blend again.

4. Crush the green cardamom, cinnamon and cloves. I have used my mortar pestle to crush.

5. Marinate the potatoes with half of the ground mixture.

6. Heat oil or ghee in a pressure cooker. I have used half oil half ghee or clarified butter.

7. Add black cardamom and crushed green cardamom, cloves, cinnamon and bay leaf.

8. Then add the marinated potatoes, remaining ground mixture, salt, cumin powder and black pepper powder. Saute for 4 – 5 minutes.

9. Add the drained rice. Mix well. Saute for few seconds.

10. Add water and lemon juice. Close the lid.

11. Switch off the heat after 3 whistle.
Don’t try to open the pressure cooker immediately. Let the pressure settle down on it’s own.

12. Open the pressure cooker. Fluff the rice gently.

I have microwave the cooked rice for 3 minutes on full power before serving. But this step is optional. You can serve immediately.
Serve hot with any raita.
Happy cooking!!

Notes

1. You can make it in your rice cooker with same process.

2. Add chilli according to your taste. If you like more spicy then you can add more green chilli and pepper powder.

3. If you don’t like your rice tangy use only 1 teaspoon lemon juice or skip it.

I would love to hear from you. Please share your thoughts and suggestions in comment.

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