Chickpea Crepes (Besan ka Puda)

While my mom was visiting this summer, she made a lot of my childhood favorites for breakfast, lunch and dinner :) !!! And yes, I gained several pounds during her 2 month stay which have been tough to shrug off ... oh but the food!! Awesome!! 

This recipe can be used as a vegetarian/vegan omelette if you stuff the crepes with the usual fixin's ... diced mushrooms, onions, spinach, green peppers and whatever else you fancy in an omelette. I preferred mine plain with a side of hummus ... it was truly a treat and made me miss mom all over again!! 

Prep Time: 15 min

Ingredients (makes 2-4 crepes):

1. 1/2 cup Chick pea flour
2. 1 tsp Cumin Powder
3. 1 tsp Carom Seeds
4. 1/4 cup Red Onion, finely diced 
5. 2 tsp Cilantro Leaves, finely diced
6. Salt and Pepper, to taste
7. Cooking Oil spray

Directions:

Mix all the ingredients together with water to make a thick slurry, just slightly thinner than pancake batter. Let sit for a couple of minutes to allow the flour to imbibe the water completely. 

Heat a non-stick skillet to medium-high. Once heated, spray on a thin layer of cooking oil and spread about 1/3 cup of the batter on the skillet and spread it out in concentric circles using a large spoon. 

Allow to cook on one side, very similar to how one would cook a pancake (letting it bubble on one side before flipping). Flip once, cook thoroughly and serve warm with a side of hummus or green chutney. Enjoy! 

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving): Calories 104 (Fat Calories 16)
Total Fat 1.8 g; Carbohydrates 15.4 g; Fiber 3.0 g; Sugars 3.1 g; Protein 5.6 g


If you liked this recipe, be sure to check out my Recipe Index for more Whole-Food, Plant-Based, No-Added-Oil recipes. You can also like Rugrat Chow! on Facebook. Thanks! 

Wilted Beet Greens on Toast

So yesterday I made Braised Beetroots and the beets came with large leafy greens, with the most brilliant red stems (very reminiscent of Swiss Chard, which belongs to the same plant family as Beets).  Of course, there was no way I was going to let those greens go to waste .. no maa'm, no way! I made them New Veggie #56. So here's what I made, and quite honestly, I like Beet Greens a lot more than I liked Beetroots.

Wilted Beet Greens on Toast

Prep Time: 10 min

Ingredients:

1. 1 bunch of Beet Greens, washed well and diced, including stems
2. 1 tbsp Minced Garlic
3. 1 tsp Ajwain (optional)
4. 1 tsp Powdered Cumin seeds
5. Salt and Pepper, to taste
6. 2 tbsp Hummus
7. 2 slices of All-Wheat or Multi-Grain Bread, toasted.

Directions: 

Line a skillet with water and add minced garlic, spices and chopped greens. Mix well, making sure there is enough water to prevent burning. If needed, add another splash, or two. Cover, reduce heat to medium-low and allow to cook for 5-7 minutes, mixing once in between. Once the stems are tender, add salt and pepper to taste. Toast the bread, spread with a tbsp of hummus and create an open-faced sandwich. Enjoy warm. 

My Assessment: I loved my easy-peasy dinner. 10 minutes to a delicious dinner. the greens have a hint of bitterness which is often noted in mustard and collard greens and the red stems added a nice punch of color. I went for the easy route of topping toast but this preparation of beet greens, by itself, would also make a great side dish. Yum!

Herb & Spice Fact of the Day

Ajwain (Carom) seeds are a pale tan in color and look like a smaller version of cumin seeds. 

The overall flavor is similar to Thyme, with a strong, dominant flavor. In Indian cuisine, ajwain is often used in vegetable dishes (for its distinctive taste) and in pickles (for its preservative qualities). It is believed to aid in digestion and also in reducing flatulence (e.g. from consuming beans). When distilled, Ajwain produces Thymol which is used a medicinal ingredient in Ayurveda! Water boiled with ajwain is used for relieving symptoms associated with diarrhea, dysentery and indigestion. For colds and flu-like symptoms, inhaling the steam of ajwain water has been shown to be effective. And ajwain oil massage has been shown to provide relief rheumatoid arthritis and joint pain.