My Weekend Kitchen

phool makhana kheer, makhane ki kheer banane ki vidhi

Makhana Kheer | Lotus seeds pudding

Happy Diwali to everybody!

Thank you for being such a support in my journey of bringing simple home cooking back (in homes).

This year, I am welcoming the Diwali festival with bowls of this delicious Makhane ki kheer. This traditional Indian dessert pudding is made with makhanas slightly roasted in ghee and then cooked in milk with coconut and cardamom.

Makhanas are a nutrition powerhouse and have been used in traditional Indian medicine since ages. Makhanas are actually very popular in Eastern and Central Indian cuisine. Most commonly they are eaten as roasted snacks (just like popcorns) but they make a delicious savory curry and an equally delicious dessert pudding like this one! I first had makhana kheer during the Navratri season and I loved it sooo much that I making them again during the Diwali celebrations!

What desserts are you planning over these 5 deliciously festive days? 🙂 Also, do check out my post on 4 very easy to put together Diwali dinner menu ideas! How about a chaat party? or a Rajasthani themed Diwali dinner? I’ve got menus for different food preferences with vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options.

Wishing everyone a happy and Joyous Diwali!

Blueberry Banana Smoothie

This Blueberry Banana smoothie is a nourishing, feel-good breakfast smoothie. Filled with antioxidants and immunity boosters, this healthy blueberry Banana smoothie is just 4 ingredients and 5 minutes from start to finish.

During summer I froze 2 big bags of blueberries and they don’t seem to be lasting for long :-). Blueberry has become my favorite breakfast fruit. It is healthy and delicious and I wouldn’t mind adding some blueberries in just about every breakfast plate! If you haven’t already, check out my frozen blueberry syrup for oatmeal and also the vegan blueberry banana bread. After this smoothie, next up I will be making blueberry pancakes in the coming weekend!

I like to slowly sip in its rich thickness with my morning paper but if you are on the run, it easily goes in a bottle for to-go!

Happy Cooking. Happy Drinking.

Roasted Butternut Squash Soup

It’s November already! Can you feel the chill in the air? We have nice warm afternoons and from 6 pm onwards the temperatures start to drop. It is the perfect season to bring back soup dinners!

And what better vegetable to start the soup season with than butternut squash. The recipe is super simple, just roast, stew, and blend. My special “secret” to his soup is a twig of fresh rosemary. It adds such an intense flavor and aroma. I love it and I hope you like it too! I would love to know :-).

Butternut Squash is my favorite autumn vegetable. Don’t get me wrong, I love carrots, pumpkins, and sweet potatoes. You know I do… I cook so much with them! But I have a sweet spot for butternut squash. I think it goes back to the time when I first discovered them and then went from wondering how to even cut them to cooking all sorts of things with them. Did you check my latest video on how to easily cut and roast Butternut Squash?

Happy Cooking. Happy Eating.

Indori Poha | Steamed red rice poha

Indori poha recipe, Indian breakfast recipe gluten-free

Light and fluffy, Indori poha recipe is a signature breakfast dish from Madhya Pradesh (MP).

I fell in love with MP cuisine two years ago when my sister used to live in Indore. Every morning we used to go for a walk and then eat a plateful of poha from the roadside vendor. Sometimes we would pack it and eat it later in the day. What was surprising for me was how that poha stayed soft and fluffy even after several hours.

The secret of the softness of Indori poha is that it is steamed on a water bath and not by sautéed in oil like it’s done in other regions. It is amazing how different States in India cook the same flattened rice in different ways. Indian cuisine really is special in that sense.

In this simple recipe, I share step by step photos to show how to make steamed poha with very little oil and light seasoning. We do add a lot fo crunchy toppings on top of it! You can try adding these toppings to regular stir-fry recipes too. It will add a nice twist to them. What are some of your favorite toppings for stir-frys?

I hope you enjoy this recipe.
Happy Cooking. Happy Eating.

How to cut and roast Butternut Squash

how to cut and roast a butternut squash in oven, butternut squash soup recipes

With the seasons changing, a warm bowl of soup is all I need to warm my body in the chilly evenings and butternut squash happens to be the veggie of the season!

The first time I saw a butternut squash, I was wondering how to start with it. How do I even begin to cut it let alone how to roast it! Until I realized that the first thing one needs to cut a butternut squash is a big sharp knife!

In this quick video, I show how to cut and roast a butternut squash to perfection for use in soups, stews, sauces, and purée for baking.

If you want to use only a small quantity for a recipe at hand, you can purée the roasted butternut squash flesh and freeze the purée or store in the fridge for 2-3 days. Add just a couple of tbsps of butternut squash purée in a regular curry recipe for a sweet autumn-y twist! 🙂

Vegan tofu stir fry with rice & veggies | Tofu Pulao

tofu indian recipes, tofu pulao, vegan tofu stir-fry with rice

Some days you just want a comforting and nourishing meal. No fancy jazz and simple to put together.

On Friday night, after finishing all the preparations for the weekend’s big children’s carnival at the orphanage, I wanted something really simple. I had some leftover cooked brown rice from the day before and a veg tofu stir-fry was like the perfect answer to my tired and hungry soul.

This delicious tofu stir-fry with rice and vegetables is a perfect one-dish weekday dinner and also a great make-ahead lunch box recipe. Make extra serving for dinner and pack for the next day! It is easy to pack and stays well in the refrigerator. I love such simple meals that also reduce morning madness :-).

Happy Cooking. Happy Eating.

peanut laddus with Jaggery – sugar-free, vegan, & gf

jaggery and peanut laddus, sugar-free Indian desserts, peanut energy balls

The festival season is here! yay 🙂

What delicacies are you planning to make this year? May I suggest these super-easy peanut laddus?

These are made with just 4 ingredients – Peanuts, jaggery, dry fruits powder, and some seeds to boost the nutrition. They are nutty, earthy, and very filling. I added the chia and hemp seeds because I also wanted to eat these laddus as energy balls during the day for that mid-meal-hunger.

The first batch that I made got over in just 2 days between us and then I made a second much bigger batch for making small festive gift packs for friends. Aren’t these just perfect for gifting? Wish you a healthy, sweet, and nourishing festive season!

Happy Cooking. Happy Eating.