Spicy quinoa and bean burger

I had heard rave reviews on the Black bean burger from Chili's. Recently we had been to Chicago and there is a Chili's at O'Hare airport. I could not eat there, but I heard reviews from my brother that there is no burger as tasty as the Chili's Black bean burger and I wanted to try making it. Now, I have added some healthy ingredients like quinoa. But this is optional. This burger can be completely made out of beans too and this is one burger that is moist, tasty and very filling and can challenge any meat lover. The toppings include luscious guacamole, caramalized onions, grilled peppers and juicy tomato slices.

Ingredients:
2 cups Kidney beans (or any bean such as garbanzo, or black beans) - cooked
(if using can, use one large can of beans, drain the beans and rinse it thoroughly)
1/4 cup quinoa
1/2 yellow pepper - chopped fine
2 cloves garlic - chopped fine
1 medium onion - chopped fine
2 table spoons cilantro - chopped
1 fresh red chilli - minced fine (this is to add heat; can be omitted if not making spicy)
1 tsp smoked paprika
1 tsp cumin powder
salt and pepper to taste
1 cup bread crumbs
olive oil
Whole wheat burger buns

Toppings:
Red onions, thinly sliced
Yellow peppers - Cut into batons
Guacamole (Recipe below)
Tomato slice

For the toppings:
1. Heat 1 tsp oil in a pan (Use cast iron pan for maximum results)Saute thinly sliced red onions. Add a pinch of salt and pepper and saute until the onions are brown in colour. Remove onto a plate
2. In the same pan, saute the yellow peppers until glazed. Do not over cook. They just have to be coated with a little oil left over on the pan.


To make burgers:
1. Add 1/2 cup water to quinoa and bring it to a rapid boil. Cover and simmer for 15 mins until all the water is absorbed. Fluff with a fork and set side to cool.
2. In a pan, heat 1 tsp oil, add chopped garlic, chopped fresh red chilli, chopped onion and saute until soft and pink. Switch off the heat and then add the chopped yellow peppers. Mix all and saute for about a minute.
3. Mash the beans coarsely with a fork or a potato masher. If using a food processor, pulse until coarsely ground and remove onto a mixing bowl.
4. Add the sauteed red onions, chilli, peppers and garlic mixture and mix well
5. To this add the cooked quinoa, breadcrumbs, salt and pepper to taste, smoked paprika,cumin and chopped cilantro and mix well.
6. Shape into patties and shallow fry on a griddle or bake at 350 F until browned on the edges.

How to proceed:

1. Butter the bun slices and slightly toast on a grill
2. Spread some guacamole on both slices
3. Arrange some lettuce/mixed greens and then place the patty.
4. Place a generous amount of guacamole on the burger and spread evenly
5. Top it with caramalized onions, grilled peppers and a slice of tomato
6. Seal it with the other half of the bun and enjoy!

To make Guacamole

1 ripe avacado
1 shallot - minced fine
1 clove garlic - minced fine
1 table spoon lime/lemon juice
1 cherry tomato - chopped
1/2 tsp red chilli powder
1 tsp jalepeno pepper or fresh green chilli pepper, minced for some extra heat
Salt and pepper to taste
1 tsp chopped cilantro

Remove pit from avacado and scoop out the pulp into a bowl. Mash it with a fork. Add the other ingredients and mix well.

Apple Rabdi

Ingredients:
Apples - 2 large (Peeled, cored and grated or diced fine)
Condensed milk - 1 tin (200 ml)
Ghee (clarified butter) - 1 tablespoon
Ground Cardamom - 1 tea spoon
Pistachios/ Almond Slivers - 1/3 cup (chopped)

Method: 1. In a heavy pan, heat the ghee and cook apples until soft and the colour slightly changes and set aside to cool.
2. Add condensed milk, cardamom and mix well.
3. Blend the mixture to required texture. Add milk or water if it is too thick.
4. Add nuts and serve chilled

Note: Do not reheat after adding condensed milk. Cool the apple completely before added milk/ condensed milk. Otherwise, it will curdle.
A pinch of nutmeg or cinnamon can also be added instead of cardamom as per taste.

Healthy Oats and Semolina Utthapam

Utthappam is a savoury version of a pancake very traditional to Southern India. In India, there are a variety of pancakes served with different toppings, but mostly all are savoury dishes unlike in western countries, we come across mostly the sweeter version. Also, it is most common to make pancakes with all purpose flour and eggs. This one that I am posting today does not have either all purpose flour or eggs. This has oats!! Yes, it is surprising that a boring ingredient like oats can also be transformed into a delicious wholesome meal that you can ever imagine. So, lets begin.

To make this, you will need:

1 cup Oats
1/2 cup Semolina (This is also called Rava or Sooji in India, or cream of wheat)
1 cup Yogurt
1 tsp cumin seeds
1 pinch baking soda
1 medium onion - chopped fine
1" piece ginger - finely chopped
2 tsps Chopped fresh Coriander leaves
1/4 cup green pepper chopped (coloured peppers can also be added for extra colour)
1 tsp red chilli powder (or according to taste; can omit if not eating spicy)
1-2 green chillies - chopped (this is also optional)
2-3 spring onions - sliced
1 pinch of asofoetida
water if needed to mix
Salt to taste
oil to fry

Method: Grind the oatmeal, asofoetida and the semolina in a coffee grinder or a blender and transfer into a bowl
2. To this add salt, yogurt, onions, peppers, spring onions, ginger,chopped coriander leaves green chillies and red chilli powder (if using) salt and water to make a batter of flowing consistency
3. Heat a non stick griddle and spread some oil using a paper towel.
4. With a ladle, pour the batter and spread lightly. Drizzle some oil around and cover with a lid
5. Cook on both sides until golden brown and crisp
6. Serve hot with your favourite chutney or a dollop of butter.

Quick Eggless Microwave Chocolate cake

This very moist cake is ready in 5 minutes!! Yes, and that too this can be done using a microwave in a jiffy. If you have all the ingredients ready, the total cooking time is only 5 minutes and this does not require a lot of fancy ingredients.

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups All purpose flour
1 cup milk (at room temperature)
1 cup sugar
3 tbsps cocoa powder
3 tbsps oil
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
1 tbsp lemon juice
1/2 tsp vanilla essence
1 tsp orange rind (optional)

Method:
1. Grease a mocrowave safe bowl with oil and line the bottom with wax paper
2. Mix sugar and milk until sugar is completely dissolved
3. Sift the dry ingredients well and break lumps if there are any
4. Add this dry mixture to the milk and sugar mixture
5. Add vanilla essence and oil and mix well until a smooth mixture is obtained
6. Add orange rind (if using) and lemon juice and mix quickly and pour into the greased dish (Lemon juice will act with the baking soda to make the cake soft and fluffy)
7. Microwave for 5 minutes on HIGH power.
Note: that microwave temperatures vary and the cake is done only when a toothpick inserted in the centre of the cake comes out clean.
8. Cool on a rack for 5 minutes, release the sides and transfer to a serving dish. Serve either warm or cold

Serving suggestions: Serve warm with a scoop of vanilla icecream or decorate with your favourite icing.