AMERICAN MOMENTS
  • Quick & Easy Vegetarian/Vegan Recipes
  • Book Reviews
  • Press Release
  • CONTACT

Deliciously quick & easy vegetarian/vegan recipes 

5 Minute Salsa

10/27/2017

1 Comment

 
Picture
A super easy 5 minute salsa that requires only ingredients to be washed, cut and whizzed in a food processor. They all can be cut into roughly big pieces because they are all going to get chopped up small in  the processor. I got the recipe for this delicious preservative free salsa from a fellow docent trainee Jane at National Museum of Singapore just yesterday.  I made and served this today at a small gathering of friends and it was a SUPER HIT!

​Ingredients (yields 2 cups)  
​1/2 medium red onion, cut big
​2 medium tomatoes, cut into big pieces 
1/2 green chilli, sliced
​1 cup roughly chopped coriander leaves
​A small piece of yellow capsicum, cut into chunks
10 pieces of pickled jalapeno
juice of 1 lemon
Salt and pepper  
Picture
Method
​1) Wash and cut everything big. Place it in a food processor with lemon juice, salt and pepper. 
Picture
2) Whizz it for 3-5 secs only.
Picture
Picture
3) Check for seasonings and serve with nacho bowl, chips or dips. 
Picture
1 Comment

Cilantro Hummus

4/25/2017

1 Comment

 
Picture
We all love hummus at home. Hummus - the creamy protein-packed paste that is made primarily from mashed chickpeas which can be used as a dip or a spread.

History of the Humble Hummus

According to ancient scriptures, it was first consumed in Egypt around the 13th century but it was very different from what we having today. Early Egyptians omitted tahini and garlic and used pickled lemons, herbs, spices and other nuts instead. It was only during the 16th century that the Mediterraneans started consuming the way we do today.  It is so popular all over the world and its not surprising that restaurants have sprung up recently dedicating their menu to this humble but highly nutritious dip/spread - namely Hummus Grill in Philadelphia, Hummus Cafe in Seattle and many more.

​Hummus Health Benefits
Hummus, with its protein rich chickpeas, highly wholesome EVOO, raw garlic and calcium rich sesame seeds in its tahini,  is packed with many health benefits. It
  • helps to lower cholestrol
  • ​reduces the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis
  • ​helps to lessen the chance of developing Alzheimer's disease, cancer, cardio vascular disease and daibetes 
Picture
Basic hummus consists of chickpeas, tahini (which is essentially ground roasrted sesame seeds), olive oil, garlic, lemon juice and salt. I wanted to make a version with cilantro (coriander) to see how it would turn out. I used only 1/2 cup which gave a faint green shade to the hummus and a hint of cilantro flavor. I believe it will be even more delicious with a full cup.

​Ingredients (yields 2 cups)
​1 can of  garbanzo beans (15 oz)
2 tbsp tahini
3/4 cup EVOO
2 tbsp lemon juice
​ 1 garlic clove
​1 cup cilantro leaves and stems, chopped
Salt per preference
3-4 tbsps water
​Extra EVOO, cilantro leaves and a dash cayenne pepper for prettying it up 

Method
1) Put everything into  a food processor and blend. Please don't make the mistake of putting the ingredients into a blender, like I did. It took a long time to blend it to a smooth paste. Only use a food processor. 
Picture
2) Remove from food processor, pour it into a shallow serving bowl with a coloured interior for that extra impact. Swirl EVOO, add a dash of cayenne and place the coriander leave in the center.

​Serve with your fav dip chips or on your wrap as a spread. It's really delicious. You won't regret trying out this super easy recipe. 
Picture
1 Comment

Simple Hummus

3/15/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture
Hummus is of Egyptian and Levantine in origin. But this simple mix of pureed sesame seeds and chickpeas has been devoured all over North Africa, Middle East and the Mediterranean for centuries. It makes a delicious dip, no doubt.  I haven't made Hummus for a long time - I wondered why. It is quite tasty and so easy to prepare. I had it with wholewheat flatbreads called chapathis, and it made quite a nice snack.

I remember having Hummus with baked pita chips in Philadelphia when we had visited one of my husband's colleague Gaurav and his wife in 2014. We drove from Bluebell where we lived to Philadelphia which was just an hour away. Philly is a vibrant happening city, if you look past the dark alleys and certain unappealing areas.  

​The recipe below is for a basic Simple Hummus. You can also add coriander leaves to get Coriander Hummus or grilled Red pepper to get Red Pepper Hummus.

​Ingredients (yields 2 cups )
​1 can of chickpeans (15 oz)
​1/2 cup of  roasted white sesame seeds ( or 2 tbsps Tahini)
1 small clove of garlic
2/3 cup EVOO
2 tbsps lemon juice
​1/4 tsp cumin powder
Salt
​2-4 tbsps water (if needed to make the paste smoother) 

For garnish 
​2 tbsps olive oil
A dash of paprika
​2 olives and a small sprig of coriander leaves

Method
​1)First, grind the sesame seeds into a paste.This is essentially the Tahini. This ought to yield 2 tbsps.
​2) Then, put all the other ingredients and the tahini into a food processor and process untill the whole mixture forms a light brown thick paste. DO NOT use a blender as it takes forever to grind and you'll find yourself adding more and more EVOO or water to grind to a smooth paste. 
​3)  Serve in a small bowl, garnished with swirls of EVOO and a dash of paprika nd the olives and coriander leaves.
​4) Enjoy it as a dip for vegs, pita chips and more!

0 Comments

Spicy Cilantro Dipping Sauce

3/21/2015

0 Comments

 
Picture
This is a basic dipping sauce using cilantro and vinegar, among other ingredients and it leaves a sweet, sour spicy taste in your mouth... Great with any fried dishes like Vegetable Spring Rolls or Lentil Patties (Masala Vadais) and many more... 

Ingredients (yields 2 cups of dipping sauce)

1/2 cup distilled white vinegar (only 1/2 cup!)
1/4 tbsp salt
3/4 cup to 1 cup sugar (yes,  1 cup!)
1/2 cup sambal oelek
1/2 cup chopped cilantro

Method

Dissolve the salt and the sugar in the vinegar using a whisk for 2-4 mins.

Pour into a small pot and bring it to a rolling boil, stirring continuously.

Remove from fire and let it cool.

Pour half of this vinegar syrup into a blender and add in the sambal oelek and cilantro.

Blend for 2 minutes and then pour this mixture back into the pot with the remaining half. Mix well and your Cilantro Dipping Sauce is ready.

Cilantro can also be substituted with Chinese celery leaves.


0 Comments

Mushroom Seasoning

3/10/2015

0 Comments

 
Picture
Mushroom seasoning is used widely in a lot of Asian cuisine, to enhance the flavor of the vegetable dishes. I discovered this seasoning when my neighbor and dear friend back in Singapore,  Yew Hong,  introduced me to this store selling all kinds of products for vegetarian cooking. It resembles light brown granules and it is mainly made of dried mushroom  and used in place of MSG without its side effects...It comes in convenient sachets, containers and packets of various sizes and is available in many Asian stores around the world.

I use it quite a bit in a lot of my Chinese or Thai cooking...it is a life saver for vegetarians because it gives a natural flavorful taste to many dishes. And it has a lot less sodium than other seasonings. Because it comes in concentrated dry granules, use it SPARINGLY! You can always add in more later per your taste preference....

0 Comments
<<Previous
    Picture

    Hi guys! I'm Nilofar Iyer and I have shared my dishes here for you to cook for your own family and friends with love and most importantly with their long term good health in mind. 

    Bon Appetit!

      Subscribe to my mailing list HERE!

    Submit

    Categories

    All
    Basics
    Breads/Pizzas
    Cakes
    Chinese Cuisine
    Chutneys
    Cookies
    Curries
    Desserts
    Drinks/Smoothies
    Indian Cuisine
    Italian Cuisine
    Korean Cuisine
    Lentil Curries
    Main Meals
    Malay Cuisine
    Mediterranean
    Rice Dishes
    Salads
    Sandwiches
    Sides
    Snacks
    Soups
    Thai Cuisine
    Vegan Cuisine
    Vietnamese
    Western Cuisine

    Archives

    February 2021
    November 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    June 2019
    April 2019
    February 2019
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    July 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    December 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • Quick & Easy Vegetarian/Vegan Recipes
  • Book Reviews
  • Press Release
  • CONTACT