Pure Veg Recipes from ManeThindi!

Indian gooseberry is called as Amla in Hindi, nellikai in tamil and kannada and usirikaya in Telugu. Gooseberry is an immunity booster since it is high in vitamin C and has been used for years to prepare ayuvedic medicines.It is very healthy and has the power to control many ailments. Try this very easy and quick nellikai thokku recipe which tastes heavenly with hot rice and ghee!! INGREDIENTS : 1 cup of chopped nellikai/gooseberry pieces 2 tbsp. Sesame seeds  8 red chilies (adjust more or less as needed) ½ tsp cumin seeds Salt to taste Seasoning : 1 tbsp. oil 1 sprig curry leaves(dint have these:() ¼ tsp mustard ¼ tsp cumin ¼ tsp urad dal 1 broken chilli Pinch of hing HOW TO MAKE : Roast sesame seeds lightly or chana dal and urad dal till golden. Set aside to cool. Fry red chilies in 1 tsp oil and set aside, add cumin to the hot chilies. Fry nellikai pieces in the same pan on a medium high flame for 3 to 4 mins, do not burn them. Powder t...

Cream of mushroom soup is a very comforting soup on chilly days.Mushrooms are low in calorie,fat free,cholesterol free,gluten free abd very low in aodium,yet they are a powerhouse with the most important nutrients like vitamin D,Selenium, potassium and more! Mushrooms were never cooked at our home and it was an unknown veggie for us!First time I tried mushroom in the form of  cream of mushroom soup at a restaurant and just loved it!Tried making the same and it turned out to be great! Try this yummy soup yourself and let me know what you think! INGREDIENTS : Button mushrooms - 1 cup finely sliced Onion  (small)-1 finely chopped  Garlic-2 flakes finely chopped  All purpose flour or maida -1 tbsp Milk - 1 1/2 cups Butter- 1 tbsp  Fresh cream -1 tbsp  Oregano powder- 3 tsp Pepper -ground to sprinkle/taste Salt to taste HOW TO MAKE : Peel the mushrooms,rinse and chop them fine. Take a pan.Add maida and saute it on medium flame for...

Palak [Spinach] and Methi[Fenugreek] are the most commonly used greens in everyday cooking in the Indian Subcontinent and the Middle East. It has great nutritional value.. It is a power house of nutrition and one of the must haves for expectant mothers and a boon for Type 2 diabetics. In this particular curry/sabzi we are using Potato to go along with Spinach n' Fenugreek. It balances the taste and gives the dish volume. Have used very less cooking oil and goes well with hot Phulkas/Roti/Indian breads.  INGREDIENTS  : Spinach/Palak - 2 Big bunches Fenugreek/Methi - 2 Big bunches Potato - 6-7 [smaller ones have intense flavour and suits this dish better] Onion - 2 Big Garlic - 4-5 cloves finely chopped Oil - 1 or 2 tbsp Cumin/Jeera - 1 tsp Turmeric - 1/2 tsp Green Chillies - 2 Red Chilli powder - 1 tsp Kitchen King Masala or Garam Masala - 1-2 tsp Yogurt - 2 tbsp Amchoor/Dry Mango Powder - 1/2 tsp [Optional] Salt - As per tast...

Crackers with toppings has always been a tea time favorite across countries. Crackers are of different types.. cheese crackers.. salted.. salt n sweet.. and many more.. comes in interesting shapes too. Cheese and Veggie toppings on crackers make it an healthy, nutritious, colorful and interesting combo and as mentioned in the title of this recipe its fire free cooking and is safe for kids to try and encourage their creativity! This can be eaten guilt free as the calories are very few compared to heavier options like Pizzas! This can be served as one of the starters in a party.. Kids especially love them! So.. Lets get cracking! :) INGREDIENTS : Crackers of your choice (I have used the Salted ones) Vegetables finely chopped (Onions n' Tomatoes) Chopped Green olives/Jalapeno  Cheese (any.. i have used the bits from cheese slices) Mixed Herbs, Ground pepper and salt for seasoning. HOW TO MAKE : Take a colourful plate and pla...

Aloo paratha is a Popular breakfast /brunch dish. INGREDIENTS (measure 1 cup = 250 ml) for the aloo or potato stuffing: 3 to 4 medium potatoes or aloo, boiled and mashed 1 or 2 green chilies, chopped finely 3/4 tsp chilli powder  1 tsp of garam masala powder  ½ to 1 tsp amchur 2 to 3 tsp finely chopped coriander leaves (optional) salt as required oil or ghee as required for roasting parathas for the whole wheat dough: 2 cups whole wheat flour ½ tsp salt 1 to 2 tsp oil or ghee water as needed HOW TO MAKE : To prepare the aloo stuffing: first boil the potatoes and peel them.  Now mash the potatoes very well, there should be no lumps or small pieces in it. Now add the chopped green chilies, garam masala powder, red chili powder, dry mango powder and salt. mix the spices and green chilies with the mashed potatoes very well. check the taste and add more salt or red chili powder or dry mango powder as per your taste. To prepare whole...

Try this exotic side dish with chapathis or rotis for your guests and I am sure that they will go gaga!! INGREDIENTS : Beans -cut in to small chunks-1 big cup Oil -1 tbsp Mustard seeds -1 tsp Jeera seeds -1tsp To grind : Almond powder - 4 Tbsp Chillies - 3 to 4 Ginger - 1 small piece Tamarind paste -3/4 tsp Jeera seeds - 1 tsp Mustard seeds - 1 tsp Coriander leaves - 3 to 4 strands Salt to taste HOW TO MAKE : Take a kadai. Add oil and when it is hot add mustard and jeera seeds. Add in the washed cut beans and fry for about 10 mins with little water n salt. Meanwhile grind all the ingredients under"to grind" with about half a cup water and keep it ready. Now add the ground mixture to the beans and fry it for about 2 to 3 mins. Simmer it for 2 mins and switch off. Serve hot with rotis or chapathis. Serves 4 Preparation time:15 mins

Tried this raw banana curry with a variation and it tastes great with rotis! INGREDIENTS : Raw bananas - 2 Onion chopped -1 Besan mixed with water ,chilli powder and salt.for dipping the raw banana) Jeera 1 tsp Mustard seeds  1 tsp To grind: Onion  1 Tomatoes 2 Cinnamon 1 inch Cloves 4 Jeera 1 tsp Chillies 4 to 5 HOW TO MAKE : Take a kadai. Add oil and when it is hot add mustard and jeera seeds. Add in the cut Raw banana after dipping in besan and fry for about 10 mins .keep it aside. Meanwhile grind all the ingredients under"to grind" with about half a cup water and keep it ready. Take one more kadai and add oil and Mustard seeds.fry the ground mixture for couple if minutes until the raw smell vanishes. Now add the ground mixture to the fried raw banana  and fry it for about 2 to 3 mins. Simmer it for 2 mins and switch off. Serve hot with rotis or chapathis.