Sprouted Mung Bean Patties

These yummy patties are made from sprouted mung beans and a great, light alternative to chickpea falafels.

Sprouted mung beans has less calories, with a lot of antioxidants and amino acids. These are some of the health benefits of sprouted mung beans.

Reduces Chronic Disease Risk.

Antioxidants Vitexin and Isovitexin that can help to prevent Heat Stroke.

May lower “Bad” LDL Cholesterol Levels, Reducing Heart Disease Risk.

Ingredients

4 cups of sprouted Ming beans.

I cup of fresh coriander.

2 tsp of cumin.

1 tbsp of olive oil.

1 tsp of baking soda.

Fresh Juice of 1 lemon.

Method

Preheat oven to 350f/175c

Put all the ingredients in a food processor and blitz till the mixture sticks together.

Add in the lemon juice and baking powder and mix throughly.

Place a sheet of baking paper on to over tray.

Start to module the mixture in to small balls and place on tray.

Brush the patties with oils and put them in the preheated oven for 18 minutes or till they they are golden brown and crisp.

Uttapam / Thick Pancake

Uttapam is a South Indian dish and usually prepared as a healthy breakfast dish. Uttapam has a thicker consistency compared to a dosa and is made by adding mixed veggies of your choice.

Prep Time: 15 Minutes

Cooking Time: 10Minutes

Serves: 1

Uttapam Recipe

Ingredients

1 cup of Idli Batter

2 finely chopped 🌶

1/2 finely chopped 🧅

1/3 cup mixed 🫑

1/3 cup finely chopped 🍅

1tsp oil

Salt

Directions:

Buy readymade batter from the grocery store. Add salt & water to the batter and mix well.

Heat a large non-stick pan over a medium flame. Sprinkle a few drops of oil on hot pan and spread all around. As this helps to spread the batter and avoids the batter from sticking to the pan.

When the pan is hot, pour 1 laddle of batter in the pan and spread it in a round shape by gently rotating the ladle clock wise.

Then Sprinkle 1 tablespoon of the finely chopped onion, tomato, capsicum and chilli to the batter and slightly press the veggies with a wooden spatula.

Then add a tsp of oil to the edge of the Uttapam and let it cook until bottom surface turns light golden brown. Then flip the uttapam around and cook the other side for a 2/3 minutes or until the bottom surface looks cooked.

Uttapam Is best served hot with coconut chutney.

Banana oat cookies with chocolate chips.

Ingredients:

1 ripe banana

60grams of oats

Handfall of chocolate chips.

Method.

Preheat the oven at 200C

Smash the 🍌 with a fork in bowl.

Add in the oats and mix together.

Sprinkle in a generous sprinkling of chocolate chips and mix again. Take small amount of mixture in hand and form into a small patty and place on tray.

Place the tray In the oven for 15 minutes. Check after 15mins and check if they are done or if you need to keep for another 5 mins

FAB FACT FRIDAY 🥦

I had to check this out when I first come across it, it’s totally true…

Broccoli is a super food, 🥦 not only does it contain more vitamin C than an orange 🍊 but is also high in Vitamin K, Fibre & Potassium!

Broccoli helps to

🥦 lower cholesterol

🥦 help with eye health

🥦 help prevent some cancers

Tacos with a Mexican-style corn salad filling

This is a really yummy salad that I use as a filling in Tacos or a topping on potato skins; you could add it as a side salad to a meal too.

Ingredients:

1 large red pepper chopped (2 cups)

1 medium tomato finely chopped

1/2 red onion finely chopped

1 cup sweetcorn (tinned)

1 cup Black Beans

1/4 cup lime juice

1 tablespoon maple syrup

1 teaspoon Paprika

1/2 teaspoon ground cumin

Salt to taste

Method:

Roast the mixed peppers in a preheated oven for approx 10 mins – season with salt and pepper as desired.

Put the sweetcorn and black beans in a microwavable bowl and heat for 1 min on a high setting. In a separate bowl make the dressing: mix lime juice, maple syrup, paprika, cumin and salt and mix well.

Pour the dressing over the corn and black beans and mix well. Add the peppers and toss to coat all the ingredients evenly.

Now mix in the tomatoes and red onions. You could also add some chopped coriander and roughly copped avocado chunks, if you prefer. Now it is ready to serve. Enjoy!

Vegetarian Paella

I love the beautiful colours of a Paella dish so here is my version which is vegetarian and free of fish and meat! Also I might mention I cook mine in a Paellera which is a special Paella pan made of steel. You can get one from Amazon: https://amzn.to/2Jh0TSG

You can of course you any normal pan for this too so don’t worry too much! 🙂

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons virgin olive oil

3 cloves of garlic

1/2 onion finely chopped

1/2 of each of a green, red and yellow pepper

2 medium size tomatoes

1/2 cup of frozen peas

1/2 cup of frozen green beans

1 1/2 cups of Basmati rice (this is my preferred rice)

1 litre of homemade veg stock

2 teaspoons of Turmeric

1 teaspoon Paprika

Salt to taste

Method:

Heat the oil in a paellera or a pan over medium heat and when it’s hot, add the garlic, onion, red, yellow and green peppers (chopped). Cook until brown.

Add the chopped tomatoes and cook for another 5 minutes.

Add the frozen peas and beans to cook a further 5 minutes.

Add in the rice and cook until rice begins to look translucent. Pour the vegetable stock in (water will do if you do not have stock), add the turmeric powder, paprika, also add salt to taste.

Stir the paella until all the ingredients are mixed and cook over medium heat for 15 to 20 minutes or until the rice is cooked. Add more vegetable stock / water if the rice is still uncooked.

Let stand the paella (covered) for at least 10 minutes before serving.

Kitchari – pronounced “ kitch -uh-ree”

Kitchari is a made up of a mix of Basmati rice and split green mung beans. It is a delicious, healing recipe usually a favourite during an Ayurveda cleanse. It originates from the Asian subcontinent and dates back thousands of years. It is such a versatile dish that everyone almost certainly has their own way of making it, adding vegetables and spices of their choice.

Here is my version which is simple and quick to make and wonderfully healing; I eat this when I am recovering from a winter illness, the day after I have had an indulgent meal and my digestive system needs a break; or just because I love it so much and it tastes great! I hope you enjoy it too.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup Basmati rice

1 cup mung beans (split green)

1/2 teaspoon salt (or to your taste)

1 teaspoon Turmeric

a pinch of asafoetida (found in a Indian grocery store)

Method:

Mix the rice and lentils together and wash well in warm water; at least twice. Then put in a steel pan and add 6 cups of water, salt, turmeric and rich of asafoetida and bring to a boil. As it come to a boil lower the heat and simmer on a low flame for 20 minutes. You can half cover the pan with a lid. The consistency and texture is similar to porridge. Once cooked mix and serve. I eat this with plain yoghurt and sometimes add a sprinkle of chopped coriander on top for taste.

Chia Seed Breakfast

This is a vegan recipe and very simple to prepare. I usually have it for breakfast but you could eat it any time of the day.

Ingredients: (servings 3-5)

2 cups of coconut milk (you can you any dairy alternative)

1/2 cup of chia seeds

Pomegrante seeds

Coconut flakes

Method:

In a large mixing bowl add the coconut milk and chia seeds and mix. Use a fork or a whisk to mix and stir the mixture so that the seeds don’t lump together, too much.

Let it sit for approx 10-15 mins, then give it another whisk, cover and put in a the fridge. I usually do this overnight to have it for breakfast the next day.

Give it a good mix before you serve. Sometimes the consistency is too thin in which case you add some more chia seeds to thicken it. Alternatively if it is too thick, just add some more milk to bring it to a consistency you like.

Scoop out a desired portion and add your favourite toppings. This can be fruit, nuts, seeds, honey – whatever you like. My favourite toppings are pomegranate seeds and coconut flakes!

Quick Lunchbox idea

Preparing quick and easy meals for lunch is not only healthy but will stop you from snacking on bad foods and save you money in the process. Follow this quick recipe which can be made even quicker if you use Tilda’s ready made rice pouch! Rice is filling, gluten free and paired with peas & cumin adds flavour and nutrition to your lunch!

Ingredients:

1 cup Basmati rice

2 cups water

1/2 cup frozen green peas (I use Bird’s Eye Petit Pois)

2 tsp olive oil

1/4 tsp cumin

1/4 tsp turmeric

season with rock salt

Method:

Boil the rice in water until cooked. Wash the frozen peas in water to remove the ice.

In a frying pan heat oil and cumin seeds until they colour and crackle slightly.

Add the peas and cook for approximately 2 mins; add turmeric, season with salt to taste and mix well. Remove from the heat.

Once your rice is cooked and the water is drained – I use a steel colander for this – then add the peas to your rice and using a fork mix it well through the rice. The rice will get infused with the yellow colour from the turmeric. Enjoy with a blob of low fat Greek style or homemade yoghurt and a nice green salad.

The Magic of Cucumber 🥒 🥒

Cucumber is my favourite vegetable! I am a fiend when it comes to cucumber – I just can’t get enough of it!

Cucumber contains Vitamin B1, Vitamin B2, Vitamin B3, Vitamin B5, Vitamin B6, Folic Acid, Vitamin C, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Potassium and Zinc.

Cucumber has enough sugar, B vitamins and electrolytes to replenish essential nutrients in the body to avoid headaches.

Cucumber has been used for centuries as a beauty product, it lightens, brightens, hydrates and tones the skin too!

Get eating more of this vegetable in your diet!