What first comes to mind when we think of healthy eating – bland/boiled food, isn’t it? Whether it is a health freak in search of a perfectly balanced diet or a mother who wants her child to get all possible nutrition, healthy eating becomes boring/tasteless at times.
In some cases, working professionals want to adopt a healthy diet in their daily lifestyle while in others; It’s the kids who are trying to cut down on their moms’ junk food intake. In the rest of the cases, the husband constantly complains that the home food is bland and monotonous. The challenge in each of the three scenarios is that eating healthy can often become a drab and dragging affair that no one expects. Result: a few days of a healthy diet and you want to go back to that delectable piece of chocolate cake and not worry about overall health.
Well, it’s time the cooks put on their thinking cap and sprinkle some flavor and spice into the regular ‘ghar-ka-khana’. And what could be better than being able to eat something that is not only delicious but also healthy?
Almonds can be a simple yet delicious addition to everyday dishes that can help add that quirky twist to your meals. Other than this? Almonds contain nutrients like vitamin E, fiber and protein. All it takes are magic ingredients to become a rockstar cook in your own home!
Here are some great ways in which you can add almonds to any dish to add a touch of magic to your everyday meals:
1. Almond and Chicken Momos (without skin)
These skinless momos are easy to make, healthy and will give you lip-smacking gluten even before you make them. If you serve it hot, the novelty of this dish is sure to make you a star among your circle of friends and/or family!
Serves: 4
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cooking Time: 15 minutes
Component:
Chicken mince – 250 grams
Garlic, chopped – 1 tbsp
Carrot, finely chopped – 3 tbsp
Green onions, finely chopped – 3 tbsp
Ginger, finely chopped – 1 tbsp
Soya sauce – 1 tbsp
Oyster sauce – 1 tbsp
Sesame oil – 1 tsp
Black pepper powder – 1 tsp
Egg – 1 no
Soaked and chopped almonds – 1/2 cup
oil – for greasing
Method:
Place the chicken mince in a bowl. Mix all the ingredients except almonds and make balls of equal size. Roll these balls in blanched and chopped almonds and carefully place these small balls on a greased plate. Prepare a steamer and steam them on high flame for 15 minutes. Take out the momos and serve hot.
nutrient analysis
calories
1003
protein
70.55 grams
total fat
69.36 grams
wet
10.931 grams
monounsaturated
37.824 g
polyunsaturated
16.167 g
carbohydrates
33.45 grams
fiber
11.505 grams
cholesterol
379 mg
sodium
1516.5 mg
calcium
321 mg
magnesium
293 mg
potassium
2316 mg
vitamin e
20.635 mg
2. Chunky Almond
A simple way to stop yourself and/or your family members from reaching for that bar of chocolate or packet of unhealthy fried goodies, this recipe will get your taste buds drooling while keeping you steadfast on your mission to eat healthy Gives reason Chunky Badam is one such preparation that is easy to carry along to work, school or even the gym.
Serves: 2
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cooking Time: 15 minutes
Component:
Oil – 2 tbsp
Cumin – 1 tsp
Heeng – 1/2tsp
Dry red chili – 1 no
Kasurimethi – 3 tbsp
Ginger garlic paste – 1 tbsp
Turmeric – 1/2 tsp
Coriander powder – 2 tsp
Red chili powder – 1 tsp
Tomato puree – 3 tbsp
Almonds boiled and peeled – 1/2 cup
Green peas – 1/2 cup
Salt – 1 tsp
Method:
Soak kasurimethi in half a cup of water. Heat oil and add dry red chillies, sprinkle cumin seeds and asafoetida. Fry till the cumin seeds crackle. Add ginger garlic paste and fry for 2-3 minutes. Now add turmeric, red chili powder and coriander powder. Fry on low flame for a minute. Take out water from fenugreek and squeeze it. Add fenugreek and cook for 3 minutes. Pour some water so that the masala does not stick to the bottom.
Now add almonds, peas and salt. Fry and add tomato puree. Add little water and cook on low flame. Cook for 5 minutes and serve hot after removing from the fire.
nutrient analysis
calories
991.42
protein
36.72 grams
total fat
75.529 g
wet
6.356 grams
monounsaturated
48.654 grams
polyunsaturated
13.913 g
carbohydrates
73.44 g
fiber
29.3 g
cholesterol
0 mg
sodium
2619.5 mg
calcium
449.75 mg
magnesium
408.5 mg
potassium
1782.5 mg
vitamin e
30.585 mg
3. Gluten Free Almond Cake
And finally, we bring you a recipe that is not the cherry on the cake, but the cake itself! Who doesn’t love cakes and pastries and how delightful it would be if we could add some innovation to our cakes! A gluten-free almond cake is delicious, healthy and will leave you ready for more as soon as you polish off the delectable cake. There never was, and never will be, a better combination!
Serves: 4
Prep Time: 25 minutes
Baking Time: 20 minutes
Component:
Almond powder – 350 grams
Egg (separated) – 200 grams
Honey – 100 grams
Baking soda – 10 grams
Vanilla essence – 10 grams
Salt – 5 grams
Honey – 20 grams
Chopped almonds – 50 grams
Method:
Preheat the oven to 180°C. Coat a 9-inch pan with butter and flour. Line the bottom with parchment paper. In a large mixing bowl with an electric mixer on medium speed, beat 4 egg yolks, 100g honey, vanilla, baking soda and salt until well combined. Add almond powder and whisk on low heat till smooth. Then, in another large bowl with an electric mixer on medium speed, beat 4 egg whites until very foamy but not stiff enough to hold peaks. Using a rubber spatula, fold the egg whites into the walnut mixture until just combined. Scrape batter into prepared pan.
Bake the cake until it is golden brown and a skewer inserted in the center comes out clean, about 20 minutes. Let cool in pan for 10 minutes. Run knife around edge of pan and gently remove side ring. Let cool completely. Carefully transfer cake to serving platter. To serve, drizzle honey over cake and sprinkle with slivered almonds.
tip: Make sure the almonds are slightly roasted before making the powder and there is absolutely no moisture in the grinder jar to avoid any lumps in the cake.
nutrient analysis
calories
3008
protein
112.3 G
total fat
226.6G
wet
21.3 g
monounsaturated
136.9G
polyunsaturated
53.3G
carbohydrates
157.1G
fiber
35 grams
cholesterol
1088 mg
sodium
5076 mg
calcium
1183 mg
magnesium
1101.2 mg
potassium
3211 mg
vitamin e
107.6 mg
Source by Anurup A