Saturday 11 / May / 2024
When children move out of their homes for higher studies parents are fraught with innumerable concerns. From safety and security to their daily schedules, they worry about many things and cooking is one of them. After all, no parents would want their children to live off junk food or spend fortune on outside meals on a daily basis. Here are some easy-to-make recipes made with some easy-to-find ingredients.
EGG BHURJI
An Indian take on scrambled eggs that can be made very quickly.
Ingredients
• 1 tablespoon oil
• 1/2 teaspoon cumin seeds
• 2 large onions, finely chopped
• 2 green chillies, finely chopped
• 1” ginger, finely chopped (or 1 tablespoon minced ginger)
• 2 tomatoes, finely chopped
• 1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder
• 1/2 teaspoon red chili powder
• 1/2 teaspoon garam masala
• 5 eggs, lightly whisked
• 1/4 cup chopped coriander (cilantro) leaves
• Salt to taste
Preparation
Heat oil in a frying pan over medium-high heat. Splutter cumin seeds. Add onions, and cook, stirring occasionally, for 2 minutes or until the onions soften. Add green chillies and ginger. Sauté for a minute or until aromatic. Add tomatoes, and cook for 3-4 minutes or until tomatoes break down and turn mushy. Add ground turmeric, red chilli powder and garam masala. Sauté for a minute. Add eggs. Season with salt. Cook, stirring, for 3-4 minutes or until the eggs are cooked through. Sprinkle with coriander leaves. Stir to combine. Serve hot
with rotis.
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EASY CORN QUESADILLAS
Easy to make quesadillas loaded with veggies with a burst of cheese.
Ingredients
• 8 tortillas
• 2 teaspoons olive oil
• 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese
• 1/2 small onion, finely chopped
• 2 cups sweet corn
• 1 green bell pepper, seeded and finely chopped
• 1/2 cup fresh coriander leaves
Preparation
Heat oven or toaster oven to 204° C. Brush one side of each tortilla with the oil. Turn the tortillas over and top with the cheese, onion, corn, bell pepper, and coriander. Put the stuffing in the remaining tortillas like a sandwich to grill with the oiled /buttered side up. Working in batches, if necessary, transfer the quesadillas to a foil-lined oven tray. Bake, turning once, until the cheese melts, 6 to 8 minutes. Serve hot.
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LENTIL PANCAKES
Pancakes made from green lentils topped with grated carrots are power packed with nutrition and taste.
Ingredients
• 1 cup green moong dal/lentil
• 1/4 cup chopped coriander
• 2 teaspoons chopped garlic
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup water
Topping
• 2 carrots grated finely, 1 cup
Salt to sprinkle
Preparation
Wash the lentil well and soak in 2 cups of water for 2 hours. Drain the dal and grind to a paste/batter with coriander, garlic, salt, and 1 cup water, in a blender. Grease a non-stick pan and on medium heat, drop the lentil batter with the help of a spoon and immediately spread with the back of the same into a 3 inch diameter round. Let it cook for a few seconds. Sprinkle 2 tablespoons of the carrot topping on the pancake and press. Pour 1 teaspoon of oil on the sides and on the top too, so that the pancake turns crispy. When you see brownish patches, flip and turn over and cook till golden brown from both sides. Serve hot.
SIMPLE CHICKEN MACARONI
Making macaroni is easy and can be made for a filling meal.
Ingredients
• 2 cups elbow macaroni
• 2 1/2 tablespoons butter
• 2 1/2 tablespoons all purpose flour
• 2 1/2 cups of milk
• Salt and pepper to season as per taste
• 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese, grated
• 1 cup boiled chicken, shredded or chicken salami (cubed)
• 1 tomato, sliced
• 1/2 cup mix of green, red and yellow bell peppers, finely chopped
• 1 tablespoon of bread crumbs
Preparation
Cook the macaroni as per packet directions. In a pan, melt the butter. Stir in the flour. Add milk, continue to stir to make sure the flour mixes in smoothly. Bring the milk to a boil and simmer a few seconds more. Add the seasonings of salt and pepper. Take off the fire and stir in the cheese, chicken, and the cooked and drained pasta. Spoon into a baking dish and garnish with the tomato and bell pepper. Sprinkle the breadcrumbs on the top. Bake in an oven preheated to 180° C for 20 minutes or till the pasta is bubbling and the top is golden brown.
Oneza Tabish is a food blogger, consultant, and columnist based in Oman. She is also the owner of Oman’s popular Facebook group ‘What’s Cooking Oman.’
