Vermicelli (Semiya) Upma/ Shavige Uppittu

This will probably be my last post for the Light Lunches Event here @RedChillies an on-going event for the month of June. This event focuses on light lunches that are easy on the calories, yet rich in taste and delicious.  Once such dish that fits the bill and one which I make often is this Vermicelli Upma (called as Shaivge upma in Kannada). Semiya is Indian vermicelli and is available in the Indian grocery stores.  At our home it has transformed from a breakfast/tiffin/evening snack dish to a main course lunch/dinner dish owing to lack of time. The good thing…

Lentil Vegetable Soup

Lentils are commonly available and as we all know they are high in protein and nutritious. For this recipe, I brought the lentils from our regular store and not the Indian store. While writing this I realized that maybe the brown lentil is same as brown Masoor Daal that is available in the Indian store. I searched over the internet, but haven’t come to a strong conclusion yet. So any input from the reader to confirm either way would be appreciated.  Truth be told that I do not make soups too often during summers, as I feel that they are…

Garden Pasta Salad

Don’t we all look for light healthy food options?  I do and I look for low fat, healthy, vegetarian lunch ideas all the time and that is the idea behind the Light lunch Event. Throughout the month of June I will be posting recipes of salads, sandwiches, rice, breads etc food that not only looks good, but tastes good too and which is easy on the stomach.  Also head over to Jaya’s space as she is joining me in this Light Lunches event and check out her lunch ideas as well. I make this Pasta Salad pretty often at home.…

Guacamole Sandwich Flats

Thin buns, sandwich thins, slim sandwich bread, sandwich flats—whatever you call them, they’re essentially the same. Companies just use different names to market their brands. If you’re unfamiliar with them, picture regular old chubby buns minus the extra trimmings, and you’ve got a thin sandwich bun. Personally, I prefer the name Sandwich Flats and use it consistently. These buns are thin yet hearty, boasting just 100 calories each, making them perfect for a light lunch or a quick snack. My favorite way to enjoy them is as a sandwich with a layer of guacamole. Guacamole, an avocado-based dip, is very…

Black beans, Corn & Rice Salad

I am thrilled to kick start the Light Lunches event here with one of our favorite rice salads; South west inspired corn, black bean rice salad. We eat this regularly at Chipotle (chain of fast casual restaurant) and its enticing taste has prompted me to try this at home. With stuff like corn, black beans, peppers, cilantro and lime it is not only eye catching but bursting with flavors as well. It is light on the stomach but delicious and pleases the taste palette easily.  The quantity mentioned in the ingredients is for reference. You may change the quantity as…

Light Lunches Month @RedChillies plus a Cookbook Giveaway

Remember the Dosa Month event I had a while ago? Well, I plan to do another event on similar lines for the month of June and the theme that I have chosen Light Lunches.  I have had several friends ask me what I do for lunch at work like if I eat out, pack lunch etc. Well, I pack my own lunch and take it to work 95% of the time. I do not have anything against eating out, but being a vegetarian I think the choices are limited when eating out.  We do have a small, decent cafeteria in…

Chettinad Potatoes

Inspiration as they say comes from unexpected places and this recipe is a testimonial to that. Few weeks ago, I was looking for some North Indian styled recipe using spinach on Sanjeev Kapoor’s website, hoping to find some inspiration and ideas, but few searches and clicks later I landed on a recipe of Spicy Tempered Potatoes called Urulai Chettinadu with which I was pretty impressed. Strange! I would have never imagined searching for Chettinad and Sanjeev Kapoor at the same time.  Here is a good description of what Chettinad cuisine is on Sig’s blog. This cuisine originated in the southern…