protein rich

Cheesy Garlic Bhaji with Pav

πŸ§„πŸŒΏ Garlic Leaves Palak with Cheese & Pav

Serves: 1

Ingredients of Cheesy Garlic Bhaji with Pav

  • Palak – 2 cups
  • Garlic leaves – 1–1Β½ cups, finely chopped
  • Garlic cloves – 6–7, finely chopped
  • Green chilli – 1–2
  • Ginger – Β½ inch
  • Cumin – ΒΌ tsp
  • Turmeric – ΒΌ tsp
  • Coriander powder – Β½ tsp
  • Black pepper – ΒΌ tsp
  • Garam masala – ΒΌ tsp
  • Cream – 1 tsp
  • Cheese – 15–20 g, grated
  • Oil – Β½ tsp
  • Salt – to taste
  • Pav – 1–2

πŸ‘©β€πŸ³ Method og Making Cheesy Garlic Bhaji with Pav at home

  1. Make the palak paste: Blanch palak for 1–2 minutes. Blend it with green chilli + ginger and a little water until smooth.
  2. Heat Β½ tsp oil in a pan.
  3. Add cumin and chopped garlic cloves. SautΓ© on low heat until fragrant.
  4. Add the chopped garlic leaves and sautΓ© for 2–3 minutes.
  5. Add turmeric, coriander powder, black pepper and salt.
  6. Pour in the palak-chilli-ginger paste and cook for 3–4 minutes.
  7. Lower the flame and add cream + grated cheese together. Mix until the cheese melts and the palak becomes creamy.
  8. Finish with garam masala and serve hot with toasted pav.

Advanced prep: Make the palak + chilli + ginger paste in advance and refrigerate. Chop the garlic and garlic leaves beforehand. At mealtime, sautΓ© β†’ add paste β†’ add cream & cheese β†’ serve.

How to Make Scrambled Egg Rice Bowl

Serves: 1 | Quick & healthy

Ingredients of Scrambled Egg Rice Bowl

  • Cooked rice – 1 katori
  • Eggs – 2
  • Onion – ΒΌ, finely chopped
  • Capsicum – ΒΌ, finely chopped
  • Carrot – 2 tbsp, finely chopped
  • Spring onion – 1 tbsp
  • Garlic – Β½ tsp, finely chopped
  • Soy sauce – 1 tsp
  • Chilli flakes – Β½ tsp
  • Black pepper – ΒΌ tsp
  • Salt – as needed
  • Oil – Β½ tsp
  • Coriander or spring onion – for garnish

πŸ‘©β€πŸ³ Method

  1. Heat Β½ tsp oil in a non-stick pan.
  2. Add garlic and onion. SautΓ© for 1–2 minutes.
  3. Add carrot and capsicum. Cook on high heat for 2–3 minutes so they remain slightly crunchy.
  4. Push the vegetables to one side and crack in 2 eggs.
  5. Scramble the eggs until almost cooked.
  6. Add 1 katori cooked rice, soy sauce, chilli flakes and pepper.
  7. Toss everything together on high heat for 2–3 minutes.
  8. Finish with spring onion and coriander.

πŸ”₯ Advanced Prep of Scrambled Egg Rice Bowl

You can prepare the rice + chopped vegetables in advance and refrigerate them. At mealtime, simply stir-fry the vegetables, add eggs and rice, and you’re done in 5–7 minutes.

Tip: For a more weight-loss-friendly version, use plenty of vegetables and keep the rice to 1 katori cooked rice rather than increasing the rice portion.

Healthy Peri-Peri Soya Chunks β€” 30 g

Makes: 1 serving
Soya chunks: 30 g dry

Ingredients of Peri-Peri Soya Chunks

  • Soya chunks – 30 g
  • Thick yogurt – 1 tbsp
  • Peri-peri seasoning – 1 tsp
  • Kashmiri chilli powder – ΒΌ tsp
  • Garlic paste – Β½ tsp
  • Lemon juice – 1 tsp
  • Black pepper – ΒΌ tsp
  • Salt – as needed
  • Coriander – 1 tbsp
  • Oil – Β½ tsp (optional)

πŸ‘©β€πŸ³ Method to make Peri-Peri Soya Chunks

  1. Boil the soya chunks in water for 5–7 minutes.
  2. Drain, rinse and squeeze out the water very well. This is important for better texture.
  3. Mix yogurt, peri-peri seasoning, garlic, chilli powder, pepper, lemon juice and salt.
  4. Add the squeezed soya chunks and coat well.
  5. Rest for 15–20 minutes. You can also refrigerate it overnight.
  6. Heat a non-stick pan. Add the marinated soya.
  7. Cook on medium-high heat for 5–7 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  8. For a slightly crispy finish, cook uncovered for another 2–3 minutes. Add Β½ tsp oil if desired.
  9. Finish with coriander and a little lemon juice.

❄️ Advanced Prep

Night before: Boil β†’ squeeze β†’ marinate β†’ refrigerate.

At mealtime: Simply pan-cook for about 8 minutes.

πŸ’‘ For a more filling meal: Add sautΓ©ed capsicum, onion and broccoli to the same pan without significantly increasing the calories.

How to Make Pepper Chicken

🌢️ Oil-Free Pepper Chicken

For 2 servings

Ingredients of Pepper Chicken

  • Chicken – bite-sized pieces
  • Thick yogurt – 2 tbsp
  • Ginger-garlic paste – 1 tsp
  • Crushed black pepper – 1–1Β½ tsp
  • Turmeric – ΒΌ tsp
  • Cumin powder – Β½ tsp
  • Coriander powder – Β½ tsp
  • Garam masala – ΒΌ tsp
  • Lemon juice – 1 tsp
  • Onion – sliced
  • Capsicum – sliced
  • Green chilli – 1–2
  • Curry leaves – 8–10
  • Salt – to taste
  • Fresh coriander

πŸ‘©β€πŸ³ How to make Pepper Chicken without oil

  1. Marinate the chicken with yogurt, ginger-garlic paste, spices, lemon juice and salt for 30 minutes or overnight.
  2. Heat a non-stick pan well.
  3. Add curry leaves, green chilli and onion with 2–3 tbsp water. Cook until the onion softens. Add a splash of water whenever it starts sticking.
  4. Add the marinated chicken and cook on medium-high heat for 5–7 minutes.
  5. Cover and cook until the chicken is completely cooked and releases its juices.
  6. Add capsicum and extra crushed pepper. Cook uncovered for 2–3 minutes.
  7. Finish with coriander and lemon juice.

⭐ My preferred version

Use just ½–1 tsp oil rather than completely oil-free. It gives better flavour and helps with browning while still keeping the recipe very light.

Advanced prep: Marinate the chicken overnight + chop the vegetables beforehand. At mealtime, you only need to cook everything together.

Chilli Garlic Prawns

Perfect for: quick dinner, meal prep, or pairing with rice/roti & salad.

Ingredients of Chilli Garlic Praw

  • Prawns – as required
  • Garlic – 5–6 cloves, finely chopped
  • Green chilli – 1–2, finely chopped
  • Onion – 1 small, sliced
  • Capsicum – Β½ cup, sliced
  • Soy sauce – 1 tsp
  • Red chilli flakes – Β½ tsp
  • Black pepper – Β½ tsp
  • Oregano – Β½ tsp
  • Lemon juice – 1 tsp
  • Oil – 1 tsp
  • Salt – as required
  • Coriander/spring onion – for garnish

πŸ‘©β€πŸ³ Quick Preparation of Chilli Garlic Praw

  1. Prep ahead: Clean the prawns and marinate with lemon juice, black pepper, chilli flakes and a little salt. Refrigerate.
  2. Heat oil in a pan and sautΓ© garlic + green chilli for 30–40 seconds.
  3. Add onion and capsicum. Stir-fry on high heat for 2–3 minutes.
  4. Add the marinated prawns and cook for 3–5 minutes, until just cooked.
  5. Add soy sauce and oregano. Toss everything together.
  6. Finish with spring onion/coriander and a squeeze of lemon.

πŸ’‘ Meal-Prep Tip

You can chop the vegetables and prepare the prawn marinade in advance. Keep them separately refrigerated and cook freshβ€”it takes only about 7–10 minutes.

For a complete meal, pair with a small portion of rice + cucumber salad or stir-fried vegetables.

Healthy Prawn Biryani β€” Easy & Meal-Prep Friendly

A lighter biryani with less oil, plenty of flavour and a good protein base.

Ingredients β€” 2 servings

  • Prawns – as required
  • Basmati rice – as required
  • Thick dahi – Β½ cup
  • Onion – 1 medium, thinly sliced
  • Tomato – 1 small, chopped
  • Ginger-garlic paste – 1 tsp
  • Green chilli – 1, optional
  • Turmeric – Β½ tsp
  • Red chilli powder – Β½ tsp
  • Coriander powder – 1 tsp
  • Biryani masala – 1 tsp
  • Garam masala – Β½ tsp
  • Cumin – Β½ tsp
  • Mint + coriander – handful
  • Lemon juice – 1 tsp
  • Oil – 1–2 tsp
  • Salt – as required
  • Water – as required

πŸ‘©β€πŸ³ Advanced Prep

1. Marinate the prawns
Mix prawns with dahi, turmeric, chilli powder, ginger-garlic paste, lemon juice and salt. Refrigerate for 20–30 minutes.

2. Prepare the rice
Cook basmati rice until about 80% done. Drain and keep aside.

3. Make the masala
Heat oil, add cumin and onion. Cook until lightly golden. Add tomato, green chilli, coriander powder and biryani masala. Cook until the tomato softens.

4. Add prawns
Add marinated prawns and cook for just 3–5 minutes. Don’t overcook them or they can become rubbery.

5. Layer
Add a layer of rice over the prawn masala. Top with mint, coriander and a pinch of garam masala.

6. Dum cook
Cover tightly and cook on low heat for 5–7 minutes. Rest for another 5 minutes before serving.

πŸ₯— Make it more weight-loss friendly

Serve with cucumber-onion raita + a large vegetable salad rather than adding extra fried onions or ghee.

Meal-prep tip: Keep the rice and prawn masala separately if preparing in advance, then combine and reheat gently. This keeps the prawns much softer.

Bombay-Style Vada Pav Besan Cheela Wrap

Serves: 2 | Makes: 2 wraps

🟑 For the Besan Cheela

  • Β½ cup besan
  • 2 tbsp finely chopped onion
  • 1 tbsp coriander
  • 1 green chilli, finely chopped
  • ΒΌ tsp turmeric
  • Β½ tsp ajwain
  • Β½ tsp red chilli powder
  • Salt to taste
  • Water as required
  • 1 tsp oil for cooking

Method:
Mix everything into a smooth, pourable batter. Rest for 5–10 minutes. Make 2 thin cheelas on a non-stick pan and cook until lightly crisp on both sides.

πŸ₯” Vada Filling

  • 1 cup boiled potato, mashed
  • Β½ cup boiled green moong dal
  • Β½ tsp mustard seeds
  • Β½ tsp cumin
  • 1 tsp grated ginger
  • 1–2 green chillies
  • Β½ tsp turmeric
  • Β½ tsp red chilli powder
  • Β½ tsp garam masala
  • Coriander
  • Salt
  • 1 tsp oil

SautΓ© the spices, add potato and moong, and cook for 2–3 minutes. Shape into small patties and pan-sear or air-fry until golden.

πŸ§„ Vada Pav Garlic Chutney

Blend:

  • 2 tbsp roasted peanuts
  • 2 garlic cloves
  • Β½ tsp red chilli powder
  • Pinch of cumin
  • Salt
  • A little water

🌯 Assemble

  1. Place the besan cheela flat.
  2. Spread a little green chutney + hung curd.
  3. Add a thin layer of garlic-peanut chutney.
  4. Add shredded cabbage, onion and tomato.
  5. Place the vada filling/patties in the centre.
  6. Sprinkle with coriander and a little dry vada pav masala.
  7. Roll tightly and serve warm.

⭐ Best Healthy Combination

Besan cheela + moong-potato vada + peanut-garlic chutney + crunchy vegetables = a satisfying, high-fibre, protein-rich version of your favourite Bombay Vada Pav without deep frying. πŸŒΆοΈπŸ’›

No-Bread Paneer Moong Dal Sandwich (High-Protein & Healthy)

🌿 Ingredients (Serves 2)

For the Moong Dal “Bread”:

  • 1 cup yellow moong dal (soaked for 4–5 hours)
  • 1 inch ginger
  • 2 green chilies (optional)
  • ΒΌ tsp turmeric
  • Β½ tsp cumin seeds
  • Salt to taste
  • 2 tbsp water (if needed)

For the Paneer Filling:

  • 100 g low-fat paneer, crumbled
  • 1 small onion, finely chopped
  • 1 small tomato, deseeded & finely chopped
  • 2 tbsp grated carrot
  • 2 tbsp capsicum, finely chopped
  • 2 tbsp coriander leaves
  • Β½ tsp black pepper
  • Β½ tsp roasted cumin powder
  • Β½ tsp chaat masala (optional)
  • Salt to taste
  • 1 tsp lemon juice

πŸ‘©β€πŸ³ Method

  1. Drain the soaked moong dal.
  2. Blend it with ginger, green chilies, turmeric, cumin, salt, and just enough water to make a thick batter.
  3. Heat a non-stick pan and lightly grease it.
  4. Spread a ladle of batter into a thick square or circle (about Β½ cm thick).
  5. Cook on medium heat for 3–4 minutes, flip, and cook another 2–3 minutes. Make 4 pieces.
  6. Mix all the paneer filling ingredients in a bowl.
  7. Place the filling between two moong dal slices like a sandwich.
  8. Toast the sandwich on the pan for 1–2 minutes per side until crisp.
  9. Serve hot with mint yogurt dip or green chutney.

Healthy Nut & Seed Energy Laddoos (which you can also leave in loose powder form as Panjiri).

Here is a recipe for Healthy Nut & Seed Energy Laddoos (which you can also leave in loose powder form as Panjiri). This recipe uses every single ingredient you mentioned and is packed with healthy fats, fiber, and natural sweetness.

πŸ“‹ Ingredients List

Ingredient GroupIngredientsQuantity (Approx.)
NutsAlmonds (Badam), Cashews (Kaju), Walnuts1/2 cup each
SeedsSesame seeds (Til), Flax seeds (Alsi)1/4cup each
Seeds (Raw)Chia seeds2 tbsp (do not roast)
Base & SweetenersMakhana (Foxnuts) powder, Jaggery (Gur), Dates (Khajur)1.5 cups makhana, 1/2cup jaggery, 1/2 cup pitted dates
BindingGhee3-4 tbsp

πŸ‘©β€πŸ³ Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Roast the Nuts & Seeds

  1. Makhana: Heat 1 tsp of ghee in a pan. Roast the makhana until they are crunchy. Let them cool and grind into a fine powder (if you don’t have pre-made powder).
  2. Nuts: Add another tsp of ghee and roast the almonds, cashews, and walnuts on low heat until aromatic (about 3–4 minutes). Remove and let them cool.
  3. Seeds: In the same dry pan, roast the sesame seeds and flax seeds for 2 minutes until they start to pop. Do not roast the chia seeds. ### Step 2: Grind Everything
  4. Put the cooled nuts, sesame seeds, and flax seeds into a blender. Pulse them into a coarse powder. (Don’t over-blend, or the nuts will release too much oil and turn into butter).
  5. Transfer this mix into a large bowl. Add the makhana powder and the raw chia seeds. Mix well.

Step 3: Prepare the Sweetener Base

  1. Blend the pitted dates with 1-2 tablespoons of warm water to form a smooth paste.
  2. In a pan, add 1 tbsp of ghee and melt the jaggery on low heat with 1 tbsp of water just until it dissolves. Add the dates paste to this and cook for 1 minute on low heat until combined.

Step 4: Mix and Shape

  1. Pour the warm jaggery-date mixture into the bowl with the dry powder.
  2. Add the remaining melted ghee.
  3. Mix everything rapidly with a spoon (it will be hot!). Once it’s cool enough to handle, use your hands to mix thoroughly.

For Panjiri: You are done! Let the mixture cool completely and store it as a loose, nutritious powder.

For Laddoos: Take small portions of the warm mixture in your palms and press firmly to shape them into round laddoos.

πŸ’‘ Quick Tips

  • Binding Trouble? If the mixture feels too dry to shape into laddoos, add a teaspoon of warm melted ghee or a splash of warm milk (note: adding milk reduces shelf life).
  • Storage: Store in an airtight container. Because of the dates, keeping them in the fridge will make them last longer (up to a month).

Strawberry Oats Milkshake

Ingredients

  • 1 cup strawberries (fresh or frozen)
  • 3 tbsp rolled oats
  • 1 cup milk (dairy or plant-based)
  • 1–2 tsp honey or sugar (optional)
  • 3–4 ice cubes

Method

  1. Soak the oats in a little milk for 5–10 minutes if you want a smoother texture.
  2. Add strawberries, oats, milk, sweetener, and ice cubes to a blender.
  3. Blend until smooth and creamy.
  4. Taste and adjust sweetness or thickness:
    • Add more milk for a thinner shake
    • Add more oats or frozen strawberries for a thicker shake
  5. Serve chilled.

Variations

  • Add 1 tbsp peanut butter for extra protein.
  • Add chia or flax seeds for more fiber.
  • Use yogurt instead of some milk for a richer smoothie-style drink.
  • Add a pinch of cinnamon or vanilla extract for extra flavor.

Quick Nutrition Benefits

  • Strawberries: vitamin C and antioxidants
  • Oats: fiber and slow-release energy
  • Milk: protein and calcium