Spaghetti with Carrots & Sauce

The sauce is store-bought pizza sauce = what I had. A few weeks ago, when I made Carrot & Zucchini Kofta with grated veggies, some of the ends of the carrots didn't quite get grated. However, I didn't want to waste them. So, I added them to the water for the spaghetti. When I'm just making a small amount of pasta like this, I like to use a small pan and less water. Once the pasta is cooked, I add some sauce, and cook it a little further, until it looks like this. I might add some dried Italian herb seasoning, as I did this time, for a little extra flavor. And here we are!

Broccoli-Potato Pancakes

My grandma used to make this for me, although it didn't look exactly the same. She also called them "warm potato pancakes," as the potatoes are already cooked (vs "cold potato pancakes," in which grated raw potatoes are used).

I left out the egg she would've used , as it didn't seem necessary this time to bind the veggies together. I steamed cubed potatoes and frozen broccoli, and then mashed them together, added some salt, and left it in the fridge overnight. The next day, I mixed in some onion powder and rice flour, and fried the pancakes in oil (but not too much, so it wouldn't be too rich). Even with so few seasonings, they were a little sweet and a little spiced. Yum! 

One trick she used, was to fry some chopped onions in oil, and then fry the pancakes in that same oil. She did this, rather than add onions directly to the veggies. It was a more subtle onion flavor, that way. I didn't do that this time, but perhaps another time!

Idli-Rasam

This is the same Rava Idli, or South Indian steamed dumpling, as 2 posts ago, and from the same batter as that of another post. (Please see that post for more details, if you like.) This Rasam is a South Indian soup-like dish, based on tomatoes. The simple Rasam was easy to prepare, and very cheerful in the cold and snowy weather. 

The Tomato Rasam recipe is from Healthy South Indian Cooking by Alemalu Vairavan and Patricia Marquardt.

Chai (Indian spiced tea)

My simple version of Chai. It's decaf green tea, not too strong, with some ground cinnamon and cardamom, as well as a generous amount of honey and sugar. (I actually like unsweetened tea; it's just not good for me.)

I like to dip crispy baked cinnamon-sugar Mediterranean crackers, as well as homemade biscuits, in my tea. The Chai is very warm and soothing. A few winters ago, when I had aches and pains from the very cold weather, this was one thing that helped a lot. This post is in honor of #internationalteaday !

Rava Idli (South Indian Savory Dumplngs) 

with Carrot & Zucchini Sambhar

This Idli was made at the same time as those in the photo featured 2 posts ago. (Please see it for more info on the Idli.) However, I steamed it in an ovenproof bowl, on a steaming rack, in the Instant Pot (not sponsored). I steamed it for the same amount of time as the more dumpling-like Idlis. Later, once they were cool, I cut them into wedges. I wasn't sure how that would turn out, but it ended up being a nice alternative. 

Here, the Idli is served with a Sambhar from Healthy South Indian Cooking by Alemalu Vairavan and Patricia Marquardt. This is a soupy South Indian dal/legume dish, which here contains masoor dal/red lentils, tomatoes, and lots of veggies. A very healthy and delicious combination. 

Zucchini & Carrot Koftas

These were made in an ebelskiver pan rather than deep-fried. The recipe is from Just a Girl from Aamchi Mumbai. These weren't actually crisp, as I didn't quite manage to squeeze all the water out of the veggies. However, I liked the flavor, and didn't mind. It was a nice way to get one's veggies! 

Just a Girl from Aamchi Mumbai Website, Zucchini & Carrot Koftas

Rava Idli (Savory Steamed Dumplings)

These steamed dumplings from South India are from the recipe of Nisha Madhulika on YouTube, and made from rava/sooji/farina/like Cream of Wheat. I steamed them in an Instant Pot (not sponsored 😉), basing it on Instapottin with Poonam's instructions for Dhokla. These Rava Idli were simple but tasty. I used an egg poacher, but now that I know the method that works, I should get an idli steamer! 

Nisha Madhulika Website, Rava Idli Recipe [English] 

Nisha Madhulika YouTube, Rava Idli Recipe  

Instapottin with Poonam Website, Dhokla

Instapottin with Poonam YouTube, Dhokla