Buddhism and Thukpa - Keep it simple

“The fundamental precept of Buddhism is Interdependence or the Law of Cause and Effect. This simply states that everything which an individual being experiences is derived through action and experience. From this understanding are derived the Buddhist theories of consciousness and rebirth”. That’s how the 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso explains Buddhism in his autobiographical book “Freedom in Exile”. If I were to simply decipher those lines written above, it’d be - whatever you do, its consequences will follow you. If you do good, then you’ll meet good and if you do something bad, then of course you know what. It’s Karma. Since this blog is about food - well I should say since I am a foodie - we’ll diverge slowly towards food. 

 

The way he described Tibet and its beauty is exceptional. Though I have never been to Tibet but I can somehow get a feel of that place - Mountains, snow, people still living that simple life contrary to their neighbor. Though Tibet has changed, thanks to China. I won’t get into political things. Tibet’s temperature - which is quite cold - gives it a unique cuisine. It’s mainly meat and butter - you need calories, a lot of calories and heat. Being Dalai Lama is about being simple, keeping simple and at times eating  simple and healthy recipes. As a kid, the 14th Dalai Lama loved the visits from her mother to the Potala Palace. This is a palace where he was kept separated from his family to become a spiritual leader in the future. Apart from motherly love, there is one more reason he loved such visits - Thukpa. Let’s make this Tibetan noodle soup and try to make it good else Karma will haunt us!

Ingredients:

For Thukpa:-

Salt as required,

Pepper as required,

Coriander as required,

300 gms Rice Noodles,

100 gms sliced Carrots,

½ sliced Red Capsicum,

1.5 litres Chicken Stock,

300 gms diced Chicken,

2 pieces Green Onions,

1 tablespoon Lemon Juice,

1 tablespoon Vegetable Oil.

For Spice Paste:-

1 chopped green chilli,

1 chopped small onion,

2 chopped garlic cloves,

1 teaspoon ground cumin,

1 pinch asafoetida powder,

1 teaspoon chopped ginger,

½ teaspoon ground turmeric,

200 gms chopped tomatoes,

¼ teaspoon ground timur powder.

Preparation Method:-

1. First of all make spice paste. Combine all the ingredients in a blender. Set aside.
2. Heat oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Add spice paste and cook, stir for 7 minutes. Pour in chicken stock. Bring to boil. Simmer for 15 minutes. Add chicken thigh and simmer for 10 minutes. Remove from stock and shred roughly.
3. In the mean time bring 2 litres of water to boil in a large saucepan. Add rice noodles. Cook for 2 minutes. Place in huge strainer and pour cold water over it such that noodles don't stick to each other. Drain water and set noodles aside.
4. Add carrot and capsicum to stock. Simmer for 3 minutes until vegetables are a bit tender. Add lemon juice and season to taste.
5. Divide the noodles in bowls. Top with chicken. Ladle stock and vegetables over the noodles. Serve!
   
   
   

Healthy and Happy Eating!

Homemade Gluten-free Vegan Carrot Cake

Holidays are over but the spirit of the festive season is still on. Though I am not a gluten-free or vegan by nature, I wanted to try a recipe for my friends. So I tried Gluten-free Vegan Carrot Cake. I chose a beautiful cake tin to flaunt my recipe to the fullest, though the cake making procedure is extremely simple. Any celebration is incomplete without dessert, especially cake. 

Hope you liked the dessert that I had recently prepared, Low Calorie Lattice Christmas Cherry Coffee cake recipe. Yesterday, I invited my newly married neighbors for evening tea. I prepared very lite snacks coz everyone was tired of fritters and other heavy snacks that we had during the Christmas and New Year holidays. This carrot cake is very lite. I never allow desserts to finish at my home, as I’m very fond of them, my blog trail must have told you by now. So let’s go ahead with the recipe.

For the Cake:-

2 cups Sugar,

4 grated Carrots,

1/2 cup Cashews,

14 oz. Coconut milk,

1/4 teaspoon Ginger,

1/4 teaspoon Nutmeg,

1 teaspoon Cinnamon,

1/2 cup White Rice Flour,

1 tablespoon Molasses,

1/3 cup ground Flax seed,

1 teaspoon Baking soda,

1/2 cup Buckwheat flour,

2 teaspoons Vanilla extract,

2 teaspoons Baking powder,

3/4 cup Garbanzo Bean Flour,

1 tablespoon Apple Cider Vinegar,

1/2 cup unsweetened Coconut Flakes.

For the Frosting:-

60 grams Honey,

2 tablespoons Lemon Juice,

1 tablespoon Vanilla Bean Paste,

200 grams Thick Coconut Cream.

Preparation Method:-

1. Preheat oven to 350 D.F. In a bowl sift flours, baking soda and baking powder. Now take a large measuring cup and combine coconut milk, vinegar, molasses and vanilla. Pour this liquid into the dry mixture. Add sugar and flax seed. Blend until smooth.

2. Now add grated carrots, chopped cashews and shredded coconut. Mix well. Pour into greased cake pan. Bake for 45 minutes.

3. Cool for 15 minutes. While cake is cooling, make the frosting. Blend the ingredients under frosting.

4. Add frosting on the cake when cool. Sprinkle with additional shredded coconut or nuts of your choice.

Happy New Year!

New Year Begins with a Healthy Breakfast

First of all wish you a very Happy New Year. Thank you so much for loving my yummy and mushy dessert recipes. After a grand dinner on New Year’s Eve, it’s better to munch on something healthy on the brand new day of the year. Isn’t it? A great year begins with a filling, healthy as well as yummy breakfast. Eating healthy throughout the year may not be our New Year resolution but a healthy beginning on 1st January, 2015 is always welcomed. These are some of the yummy recipes, this time not prepared by me but mom. But they are pretty simple and even a novice can prepare them. Eating the food cooked by your mom has its own charm and I hope everyone agrees with it. 

Healthy Tortillas (Whole Wheat or Rice Tortilla with Grilled Chicken Guacamole) - Though my mom prepared wheat tortillas, people allergic to gluten can go for rice tortilla as well. Grilled chicken breasts with chunky guacamole is a great option. Guacamole is an avocado-based dip. Cilantro, lemon juice and pepper give this guacamole a tangy and spicy kick. Nevertheless the hotness quotient can be managed accordingly. This rich filling if baked for a minute, gives an ultimate crispy and crunchy treat.

Lite Shake (Lychee and Coconut Shake) - Breakfast is incomplete without a shake. A low-calorie shake adds smile on everyone's face. Low-calorie lychee and coconut shake sounds amazing. A blend of my favorite fruit, lychee with coconut water really made my day. This fruit contains flavonoids in the pulp that helps in preventing some fatal and lethal diseases such as cancer. Coconut water is itself a very refreshing health drink. It helps you in reducing weight and gives you glowing skin. It is also a remedy for hangover. I'm sure everyone must have had lot of drink on New Year’s Eve.

Fruity Kick (Split Banana Fruit Treat) - Including fruits in your breakfast is always a healthy option. Banana is my favorite fruit. This yummy fruitful kick was a real surprise. A salsa of orange, strawberries, kiwi and ginger to serve with a banana split along with strawberry yogurt as a topping on it, is a brilliant idea. Well now I can say that the breakfast was not only an excellent beginning for the day but the entire year. So thumbs up for my mom’s yummy treat. 

Happy New Year!