Multigrain Dosas

My mother has been making multigrain Dosas for years. I recently tried a version of my own that gave up white rice entirely. Here it is:

Ingredients:

1/2 cup urad dhal

1/2 cup oats

1/2 cup cooked quinoa

1/2 cup cooked brown rice

1/2 cup millet flour (ragi)

Salt to taste

1) soak urad dhal in water for at least four hours (ideally overnight)

2) drain and rinse urad dhal. 

3) place urad dhal and remaining ingredients in a blender or grinder. Add about 1/2 cup water. Grind till smooth. 

4) place batter in a bowl and let stand, covered, for 12 hours, until fermented. Resulting batter should smell slightly sour and may have a few bubbles. 

5) make dosas by pouring a small quantity on a hot, lightly oiled griddle and spreading batter to a thin consistency. Roast Dosas for a few minutes, then turn over and roast for a few more minutes to ensure thorough cooking. Resulting Dosas should be golden brown. 

Spiced Broccoli

I just tossed together some frozen broccoli and a few spices today, and liked the results enough to share. It's a great, quick recipe for a busy week-night.

2 cups frozen broccoli

2 tbsp clarified butter (or olive oil)

1 tsp mustard seeds

1 tbsp cumin seeds

3-4 dried red chillies

Salt and pepper to taste

1) Heat oil on medium heat and add mustard seeds. 

2) When mustard seeds start to pop, add cumin and red chillies and fry for a few seconds. 

3) Add frozen brocolli, salt and pepper.  Toss with oil mixture and spices until broccoli is evenly coated. 

4) Cover and allow to cook on low heat for 5-10 minutes until broccoli is heated through. 

5) Serve warm.

Kale smoothie

I hate smoothies. Really. I know it's presently un-p.c. for me to say so, but I do. Yes, I know they're great for me, they'll give me more energy and make me wonder-super-woman.........but I just. can't. stand (!) the idea of drinking my vegetables. Yeeck!

But then........ I actually tried a smoothie out today, and.....not too bad. It's not too sweet, and I had it as an end-of-the day drink. The feedback I had from my husband was that it could be sweeter. So, in place of the milk, you could try a slightly acidic juice like orange or apple juice that will add both sweetness as well as a sour note to balance the bitterness of the kale.....

2 cups baby kale

1 tsp ginger paste

1 apple, cored and chopped

1 cup milk (or orange or apple juice)

1) Throw all ingredients into the blender and whir away till smooth. Enjoy immediately.