Tag: save time

Spicy Roasted Nuts-चटपटा भुना मेवा

On By lavinamehraIn Less than 10 minutes Quicker RecipesLeave a comment


Why this recipe? How is it green? How am I contributing to making this earth green by following four steps or less recipes?

Using microwave and stove cooking in place of oven cooking for this recipe will take less than 10 minutes in all whereas it will take 20-30 minutes otherwise. 

This recipe saves you : more than 70% of fuel energy and 20 minutes of your precious time that is about 16 to 20% of the total time you spend in kitchen on an average (assuming you spend a total of 2-3 hours in a day in the kitchen)

Allows you to explore your creative side. Add any nuts, herbs and spices or no spices as you like. 

COOKING TIME- 8-10 minutes

INGREDIENTS:

200 grams Almonds
200 grams Cashews
200 grams Pistachos
1/4 glass of water
1 table spoon melted butter or oil
1 teaspoon salt
2teaspoon red chilli powder
2 teaspoon all spice -garam masala powder

STEPS:
1. Mix all nuts together in a microwaveable plate and put it in microwave for a total of 2-3 minutes moving it every minute.
2. Move all nuts into a pan with heated butter or oil. Add salt, spices and water. Cover the Lid.
3. Move nuts in 2-3 minutes once, replace the lid. After 5 minutes remove the lid and sauté for another 2 minutes with lid removed.

HANDY TIPS:IMG_0777
1. Be creative and add other nuts or spices or herbs that you like.
2. Crushed dry mint tastes very good on nuts.
3. Try using Maple syrup or fresh orange juice instead of water. It will give a distinct flavour to the nuts and very few people will be able to find out the secret behind the unique flavour.

Reason to be here..

On By lavinamehraIn MusingsLeave a comment

lavina masand mehraIt’s taken me weeks and days to finally put these thoughts down. This is about a recipe that is THE reason why I endeavoured to start my blog Four Steps or Less. This simple recipe first hit me hard and then motivated me to do something about what struck me most. Looking at it positively, this recipe for चटपटा भुना मेवा – Spicy Roasted Nuts – that I will be posting later today is the source of inspiration for me to think about, and talk about green cooking or being energy smart. This started when a TV cooking show hosted by a popular chef was running in the background and my subconscious self was possibly paying attention to it while I was actually doing something else. I was dismayed and shocked to see that a conventional recipe of roasting nuts suggested that the oven needed to be preheated  to 300 to 400 degrees then left running for another 20-30 minutes to roast nuts. Considering that we are becoming mindful and feeling responsible about making the earth green and reducing our carbon footprint, this much oven time for the simple pleasure of enjoying roasted nuts seemed criminal to me. This subliminal viewing of a cooking show made me pay attention to the amount of oven cooking happening in this part of the world. After some research and observing more conventional recipes for most popular dishes I discerned that most recipes that asked for an average of 30-45 minutes of oven time could actually be prepared using alternate cooking methods in less than half the time that oven cooking took. That would mean if we are really serious about saving energy and time and genuinely trying out alternative cooking methods, we could reduce the carbon footprint of our cooking by half.

I fully recognize that oven baking is popular as it is convenient, it gives that scrumptious golden brown colour and a delectable crisp crust to savour. To add to these reasons, all of us are so used to conventional oven cooking that it seems like it is the only way to cook a particular dish. However, I honestly feel that the colour and crust both could still be achieved by using alternate green and smart cooking methods. I am determined to try out some conventional oven recipes by replacing the energy-sucking oven cooking method with alternate smart cooking methods or a fusion of green cooking being used for most of the cooking time with some time on the oven, if needed. I sincerely hope that this will contribute to minimizing damage to the environment. This recipe will be the first one in the series that I will try my hands at and post them on my blog in the days to come. If it makes even one of you try this energy efficient method, I would have achieved my purpose of starting this conversation about green cooking.

Crazy Spicy Cranberries- फ़िरंगी करौंदे

On By lavinamehraIn 10 minutes or more recipesLeave a comment

Why this recipe?

This is a quick recipe. Unique flavour of spices added to cranberries.

Cranberries are loaded with vitamin C and dietary fibres, calcium and other vitamins. Needless to say cranberries are a known remedy for so many gynaecological problems, so try it if you want to experience a different flavour of the same good old cranberries.

COOKING TIME: 5-8 Minutes

INGREDIENTS:
1 teaspoon cooking oil
250 grams of frozen or fresh cranberries (karonde)
2 inch of frozen green chillies or 4 fresh green chillies
¼ glass of water
1 tablespoon of cumin seeds (jeera)
1/2 tablespoon salt
1 tablespoon sugar
2 teaspoons red chilly powder
IMG_0812STEPS:
Step 1. Put cumin seeds (jeera) in heated oil, sauté for 30 seconds
Step 2. Add all of the rest of ingredients to the pan and cover lid. Keep on heat for 3 to 4 minutes.
Step 3.Open lid and sauté for 1-2 minutes.
Step 4. Enjoy spicy, sweet, sour crazy cranberries.

Roasted Garlic-भुनी लहसुन

On By lavinamehraIn TipsLeave a comment
As healthy as garlic is, it adds a distinct flavour to our foods. This stinking rose, if roasted does wonders and turns an ordinary recipe into a gourmet meal. Check out the steps below for a quick way to always have roasted garlic ready with you to add to any recipe.
STEPS:
Step 1. Cut the garlic bulb into half horizontally.
Step 2. Wrap the halves of bulbs in silver foil and throw it in the oven when the oven is already in use for something else. Roast for 15-20 minutes.
Step 3. When the foil cools down, open the foil and hold the half cut bulb in the foil and press it to squeeze roasted garlic out of it. It will smoothly come out completely mess free leaving the shell of the cloves within the foil.
Step 4. Store roasted cloves in an airtight container in the fridge. These can be stored for months without it going bad.
Handy Tip:
Add mashed roasted garlic to yogurt dips, hummus or any other recipe that requires garlic as an ingredient.

Quick Savoury Gluten Free Crispy Crepe-बेसन सोंधा चिला

On By lavinamehraIn Less than 10 minutes Quicker RecipesLeave a comment


Why this recipe?

GLUTEN FREE- loaded with vitamins and minerals

QUICK TO MAKE- Takes 6-10 minutes to cook and come out yum.

This recipe saves you :  your precious time and provides a nutritious snack or breakfast option

You can be creative -add other ingredients like nuts, raisins, tomatoes, cottage cheese, spring onion, chopped spinach or mushrooms.. Amaze yourself and your family by being different each time you try this recipe. For non vegetarians, you could try rolling a sausage or adding sautéed chicken pieces inside the crepe before you serve it or minced cooked meat in the dough.

COOKING TIME : 6-10 MINUTES
SERVES – 2 to 3
Will make 7-8 crepes

INGREDIENTS: 

2 tea spoon oil
200 grams chickpea flour
250 ml glass of water
2 tea spoon salt
1 tea spoon red chilli powder
1 tea spoon garam masala (all Spice)
2 square inch of frozen ginger or fresh grated ginger (optional).
1 small tomato- chopped (optional)
1/2 medium green pepper/capsicum – chopped (optional)
1/2 small onion – finely chopped (optional)
1 handful of chopped fresh coriander leaves (optional)

STEPS

Step 1. Add salt, red chilli powder and garam masala to chickpea flour in a mixing bowl, add water and whisk it well for 2-3 minutes. If adding cut veggies, fold in all chopped veggies.
Step 2. Pour a ladle of mixture on heated non-stick pan surface. (Optional- Put a few drops of oil around the crepe . Let it cook for a minute
Step 3. Turn around the crepe, let it get brown/roasted for about a minute other side as well. It is ready to serve.

HANDY TIPS:IMG_0757
1. You can be creative with adding veggies to this crepe. Spring onion, grated cottage cheese, chopped spinach, green chillies, other herbs, all go well.
2. Adding vegetables will make the crepe more moist and soft.
3. This crepe will go well with spicy or sweet tomato chutney, coriander

Freeze Fresh Herbs-हरी बर्फीली सलाह

On By lavinamehraIn Tips1 Comment


We all love herbs and their distinct flavours, however whenever we buy fresh herbs we do not use them all at the same time. It seems cumbersome to save them and keep them fresh until the next use. For me, it is really painful to see the herbs die down and then thrown away.

IMG_0706An easy way to use the herbs multiple times is that you can freeze fresh herbs by simply washing and chopping them while they are fresh and wet (no need to dry them out). Put chopped herbs in an empty ice cube tray. Put as much quantity in each cube as you would need for your average recipe. Add a little water to the cubes to help herbs freeze well and form the shape. Once frozen, store these cubes in the tray itself or in a freezer zip bag or container. When you use frozen herbs, you will find them in the same colour and as flavourful as they are when fresh.

Healthy Green Beans-फलियाँ आलू

On By lavinamehraIn 10 minutes or more recipesLeave a comment

Why this recipe? why should I try it? How is it green? How am I contributing to making this earth green by following four steps or less recipes?

This recipe is quick, is loaded with dietary fibre, vitamins, minerals, and plant derived micronutrients.

You save:  considerable fuel energy and precious time by using water in the recipe to make the ingredients cook fast. By using alternate high and low heat you get the right colour that appease your eyes and flavour that satisfies your taste buds.

SERVES: 2-3

COOKING TIME: 6-10 minutes

INGREDIENTS:

1 palm sized potato cut in small pieces
500 grams cut french beans (fresh or frozen)
1 teaspoon oil
1 pinch asafoetida powder (hing)- optional
2 teaspoon cumin seeds (jeera)
1 teaspoon red chilli powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon turmeric powder (haldi)
1/4 glass of water
1 teaspoon mango powder or lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon all spice (garam masala)

STEPS:
Step 1. Put asafoetida powder and Cumin in heated oil, after 30 seconds add cut potatoes, cut beans, salt, red chilli powder and turmeric.
Step 2. Add 1/4 glass of water, cover the lid and turn heat to high for 3-4 minutes.
Step 3. Turn potatoes around and keep it with lid open on low heat for 2-3 minutes.
Step 4. Add mango powder and garam masala before putting it into serving dish.

HANDY TIPS:IMG_0467
You can replace mango powder with lemon juice.

YOGURT DILL DIP-दही की चक्का सोई चटनी

On By lavinamehraIn Less than 10 minutes Quicker Recipes5 Comments
Gluten Free, quick and nutritious
Ingredients:
750 grams yogurt
1 teaspoon salt
2 inch frozen crushed green chilli
2 teaspoon dill weed or fresh dill
Preparation:
Put yogurt in the muslin cloth and hang it for 1-2 hours for the water to drain out.
STEPS:
Step 1. Remove yogurt block from the muslin cloth and put it in a container.
Step 2. Add salt, frozen garlic, frozen crushed green chilli and dill weed.
Step 3. Mix everything thoroughly and store in refrigerator.
Handy Tips:IMG_0450
1. You can be as creative as you want to be , replace Dill weed with other herbs like chives, rosemary, basil, mint, coriander or spices like red chilli pepper, black pepper.
2. You can also add finely chopped bell peppers, mushrooms or cucumber.

Energy Smart Tip-बिजली बचाओ सलाह

On By lavinamehraIn TipsLeave a comment

When baking a cake or using an oven for a recipe, consider using the same electric energy and your time to roast/bake/ grill ingredients for another recipe for another day. If you think hard, there will always be something that can be done like roasting an eggplant, potatoes, or another vegetable, or meat or nuts that can be stored in the refrigerator for use for another meal. Conventional cooking range ovens have enough space to accommodate several dishes on its racks, so make use of the space, energy and time.

This way not only you get better organized for the next meal, you help make the earth green, save some carbon footprint you may otherwise leave with using oven time and again.  To add to this, be Energy Smart and check out the off peak time for your province and plan using the oven at a time when it costs the least and you can save energy cost.

Coconut Veggie – Cocotom curry-तु॑गटम सब्ज़ी

On By lavinamehraIn Less than 10 minutes Quicker RecipesLeave a comment


SERVES: 3-4

Why this recipe?

Gluten Free , Quicker than a quick recipe. 

COOKING TIME: 6-8 minutes

INGREDIENTS:
1 teaspoon oil
2 teaspoons of mustard seeds
5-10 tender curry leaves
2 medium sized chopped tomatoes
1 can of coconut milk or coconut cream
500 grams of mixed frozen or fresh vegetables
½ teaspoon of red chilli powder
1 square inch of frozen chopped green chilli
2 square inch of frozen grated ginger or 25 grams fresh ginger

STEP 1. Put mustard seeds and curry leaves in heated oil. Stir for 30 seconds to a minute.
STEP 2. Add chopped tomatoes, ginger, green chilli and red chilli powder and let it simmer for 2 minutes with lid covered.
STEP 3. Thaw frozen vegetables or steam fresh veggies in microwave in the meanwhile for 2-3 minutes
STEP 4. Add coconut milk, thawed frozen vegetables and salt. Keep it on the heat for 2-3 minutes with lid covered.

HANDY TIPS:thumb_IMG_0374_1024
1. You can add boneless chicken or any other meat to make it a non-vegetarian option.
2. This preparation can be served as a soup, a topping on grilled veggies or meats or as curry to go with rice or with roti, naan or bread.
3. Bring your creative side to play and add some flavourful herbs like lemon basil, rosemary, cilantro or dill.