Palak, Paneer and Matar Paratha

How to make Palak, Paneer and Matar Paratha | Palak, Paneer and Matar Paratha (shallow-fried Indian-style spinach, Indian cottage cheese and green peas flat bread)  are perfect breakfast or brunch consisting of a spinach dough and stuffed with mildly spiced paneer and green peas stuffing. Each and every morsel is bursting with delicious flavours that you won't forget in a hurry!

Indian breakfasts and paratha are synonymous, it is comfort food for many. In most of the North Indian homes, breakfast or brunch is incomplete without paratha, it could be plain paratha or stuffed paratha smeared with ghee or butter and what can be better with than these scrumptious and moreish Palak, Paneer and Green Peas paratha.

Waffle Idli Delight

How to make Waffle Idli Delight | Waffle Idli Delight is a savoury, fluffy and crispy waffle prepared with traditional Idli batter and served with mildly spiced potato filling and green chutney.

Serve traditional Idli in a new avatar and see friends and family come to you for second helpings. This vegan crispy waffle idli can be made with ease as long as you own a waffle maker. It can be served as breakfast, brunch or prepare for kids parties rather than deep-fried foods, low in fat and still tastes delicious!

Tandoori Cauliflower & Chickpea Taco

How to make Tandoori Cauliflower and Chickpea Taco | Tandoori Cauliflower and Chickpea Taco in a plain tortilla wrap with fresh avocado chutney. In this recipe, cauliflower florets and chickpeas are coated tangy tandoori marinated and baked until golden. Delicious and healthy! All Dairy-free, plant-based and vegan.

Tandoori Cauliflower and Chickpea Taco are a perfect meal to spice up your lunch or dinner. They bring the flair of fusion cooking to your house. Think of a clear sunny sky, breezy back garden and a plate full of these tandoori cauliflower and chickpea taco, an ultimate summer dining experience. These easy fusion, spicy and vegan tacos are your new favourite way to enjoy cauliflower and tandoori dishes and that too perfect for a vegetarian main meal and students who are living on a budget.

Jhunka - A guest post

How to make Jhunka | Jhunka/Zunka or Pitla is a traditional and popular dish of the state of Maharashtra, India. This vegan and gluten-free dish is prepared with besan (gram flour) and so easy and simple to prepare.

After so many years, on JCO we are having a guest here, that means we have a new recipe for you guys.  A very good friend of mine and fellow food blogger Jayashree of Evergreen Dishes is with us. A humble, but an enthusiastic friend whom I virtually met through one of the food group on Facebook and straightaway I knew that we both share the same passion and that is food, food and only food. We became friends when we decided to create our own group 'Desi Bloggers Connect' where we like-minded people blog hop and leave a comment on fellow bloggers blog. According to SEO experts, the more comments you receive and more engagement on your blog, your blog is more visible on Google search.

Best things to do in Bath

Things to do in Bath, UK | Travel to Bath | Visit Bath in a weekend |

Holidaying in the UK is the perfect staycation for when you want to squeeze in a day or two away. Recently, I visited Bath during a short break from university.

Bath is a small city known for its natural hot springs and honey-coloured Georgian architecture. It is rich in history and a wonderful way to immerse yourself in the past. Bath is in the valley of the River Avon - a mere 100 miles away from London. The city became a World Heritage Site in 1987. As a result - it is extremely instagrammable!

Here is my list of top things to do in Bath, Somerset - whatever the season!


Bath Abbey - Bath, BA1 1LT

You won't know where to look first once you step inside Bath Abbey. A perfect chance to rest your feet as you gaze up at the magnificent ceiling and beautiful windows. Entry purely to the Abbey is by donation. To visit the tower, you can get a ticket from the Abbey shop on the day for £8 for an adult. From the tower, you get a different perspective of the abbey with views of Bath and you can stand on top of the Abbey's fan vaulted ceiling.

Royal Crescent and The Circus - Royal Crescent, Bath, BA1 2LR

Just a 10-min walk uphill from Bath Abbey, you can reach the iconic Royal Crescent and The Circus - the most prestigious addresses in Bath. Bath is famed for its arched streets, which can be seen from various viewing points surrounding the city - and these Georgian masterpieces do not disappoint when up close. The Circus was designed by John Wood, the Elder and the Royal Crescent designed by his son, John Wood, the Younger.

The Roman Baths - Abbey Church Yard, Bath, BA1 1LZ

A visit to Bath would be incomplete without visiting the Roman Baths! It is a site of extensive ruins and is a well preserved Roman site for public bathing. Audio guides provide commentary in various languages - all that can be controlled by you. The water is not safe for the public, however the same thermal water but treated is used in the Thermae Bath Spa.

Thermae Bath Spa - The Hetling Pump Room, Hot Bath Street, BA1 1SJ

This state of the art spa complex opened in 2006 and would be the perfect way to round off your trip! A perfect fusion of glass, stone, light and water, the spa allows the public to experience bathing in thermal waters the way the romans did. A Thermae Welcome ticket (£36-40) allows you 2 hours to experience 2 thermal pools - one of which is in the open air and a wellness suite. At time of writing, a ticket to the Roman Baths, in the weekdays, gives you an extra 3rd hour in Thermae Spa.

Prior Park - Ralph Allen Drive, Bath, BA2 5AH

Just south of Bath, roughly a 15 minute drive away is the spectacular landscaped garden Prior Park. It houses one of the only 4 Palladian bridges in the world with 3 in the UK and 1 in Russia. You can easily spend a few hours here taking the park and the beautiful view of Bath in the distance. You can either walk the shorter route or the longer route with the map given to you.

There is no parking onsite, unless you have a disabled badge, but there is enough parking near the residential roads a 2 minute walk away.

Alexandra Park - Main gate at: Shakespeare Avenue, Bath, BA2 4RQ

For alternative, uninterrupted views of Bath,  the short trip up to Alexandra Park is well worth it. Perfect for when the sun is setting, all of Bath's highlights can be seen clearly. You can either walk up to Alexandra Park or take the car. Parking and entry is free.

Lacock Village and Lacock Abbey - Lacock, Chippenham, SN15 2LG

If you are driving to Bath, then a quick visit to Lacock Abbey is a must. If you are a Harry Potter fan, then a visit is mandatory! Roughly 10/15 miles from Bath, Lacock is the quintessential picture perfect English village. It almost becomes a game to stroll through the village and see how many filming locations you can spot, examples include the Sign of the Angel and Chapel Hill (used in Harry Potter 6 when Dumbledore and Harry meet Horace Slughorn). Lacock is also the birthplace of photography and there is a display within the Fox Talbot Museum which is next to Lacock Abbey.

There is a free carpark in the village, a 5 minute walk to the Abbey.

Lavender Scones Eggless

How to make Lavender Scones | Lavender Scones with an excellent floral aroma and taste would look great for any summer afternoon or cream tea. There is nothing like a plate of lavender scones smothered with clotted cream and strawberry preserve!

These delightful and most delicious lavender scones were baked in our kitchen just a few days ago. The kitchen filled with the freshly baked aroma of lavender and took us back to Mayfield lavender fields where we enjoyed them first. Although there are no eggs include here, this recipe makes light and well-risen scones. Scones turned out crumbly and feather light, how they should be.

Dal Methi Paratha

How to make Dal/Daal Methi Paratha | Dal Methi Paratha or lentil and fresh fenugreek pan-fried Indian flatbread are delicious and flavourful yet so easy and quick to make.

This recipe is prepared with wholewheat flour, cooked lentils and fresh fenugreek. It is a  healthy and wholesome and is perfect for breakfast, brunch or lunch box that can be served with plain yogurt, raita or pickle. If you are preparing during winter or monsoon season then must try these with Indian Masala Chai.

Aloo Lauki Stew

How to make Aloo Lauki Stew | Aloo Lauki Stew (Potato and bottle gourd stew) is an easy and simple curry recipe that is most popular and regular during the summer season in Jharkhand, India. This amazingly delicious vegan curry is prepared with humble potato, bottle gourd and minimal spices.

This dish is the answer for those who want to enjoy a simple and nutritious meal without compromising on taste. Serve either roti, paratha or plain boiled rice, you are definitely going for a second helping.

Mug/Mag Ni Chutti Daal - A Guest post for Evergreen Dishes

How to make Mug ni chutti daal | Mug ni chutti daal is a simple, delicious and homely Gujarati side dish that can be served in a daily Gujarati meal. This daal requires just a handful of ingredients that are easily available in the Indian kitchens. This dish makes a perfect protein-rich dish without using any expensive ingredients.

When one passionate foodie meets another passionate foodie, what would you do?  You become best pals, don't you agree? Mine and Jaya's friendship is not even a year old, but it seems like we know each other for years. I met Jayashree virtually on Facebook through one of the group. We became very close friends since we created our facebook group 'Desi Bloggers Connect'. She is a dedicated and enthusiastic food blogger who creates delicious, tasty yet easy to prepare recipes. I love all her Karnataka specialities and can't wait to try them in my own kitchen.

I was so delighted and honoured when Jayashree of Evergreendishes request for the guest post and that when I decided to share this delicious and healthy Gujarati daal recipe. A really tasty and protein packed dish that is perfectly suitable for vegan too, also it is made without onion and garlic thus this recipe can be prepared during fasting season when such ingredients onion and garlic are prohibited.

We Gujarati try to eat a well-balanced meal every day and when we prepare a thali, we make sure that we cook everything making sure that in the one meal, all flavours and nutrients can be found. So for protein, we make at least two dishes, and whenever there is Gujarati kadhi on the menu, Mug Ni Chutti daal, automatically becomes a side dish in the thali.

BTW Chutti translates Sukhi in Hindi and Dry in English - Dry Yellow Moong Daal Sabji 

Thank you Jayashree for giving me this honour to share my recipe with your readers, hope they like it and make it in their own kitchens. Please shoot with any questions and inquiries regarding this recipe.

Ingredients

1 cup yellow moon daal ( Mug Ni Daal )
2 Tbsp. oil
1/2 tsp. Mustard seeds
1/2 tsp. Cumin seeds
Pinch hing
1 red dry chilli
1 tsp. red chilli powder
1/2 tsp. turmeric powder
1/2 tsp. green chilli and ginger minced
Lemon juice
Fresh coriander leaves to garnish

For the full recipe and method, please visit Jayashree's blog Ever Green Dishes and read Mug/Mag Ni Chutti Daal recipe.

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If you make this recipe, please don't forget to click a picture and hashtag it #jcookingodyssey. We really want to see :) 

No Onion Garlic Curry/Daal Recipes

How to make No Onion Garlic Curry/Daal Recipes | No Onion Garlic Curry/Daal Recipes can be as tasty and delicious without onion garlic too. You don't have to compromise on taste or texture if you use the right ingredients. There are plenty of other ingredients which you can use to make dishes flavourful and even you won't notice the lack of onion and garlic.

Usually, 90 % of Indian cooking is dominated by these very two root ingredients onion and garlic. These are synonymous with Indian cooking.  No doubt that these two ingredients land so much flavour, texture and taste to Indian dishes. Many Punjabi and Mughlai curries are not even imagined to cook without it. Although these two ingredients are packed with nutrition, in many Indian households and places such as temples don't like to use in their cooking.

Hibiscus, Rose and Basil Seeds Sharbat

How to make Hibiscus, Rose and Basil Seeds Sharbat | Hibiscus, Rose and Basil Seeds Sharbat is a floral thirst-quenching water-based non-alcoholic drink that keeps you hydrated during scorching summer days. This gorgeous and alluring looking drink makes a perfect drink for any occasion.

This particular cooling and refreshing drink is a tart and sweet fruity mix of hibiscus and rose flowers and basil seeds. This easy and fuss-free recipes can be done in a few ticks and leaves you plenty of time to enjoy the warmer weather.

Everyday Gujarati Thali

How to make Everyday Gujarati Thali | Everyday Gujarati Thali is a quintessential example of what a balanced meal looks like. A right serving of carbohydrates to the right amount of protein and fibre. A typical Gujarati thali offers a nutritious yet delicious and satisfying food with no frills.

Wish I was making my thali every day like this one, I don’t remember when I prepared proper Gujarati thali - ( thali means plate ) that has each and every item is pure Gujarati. In everyday Gujarati thali, you don't serve any farsan (savoury dish) such as Dhokla or Bhajiya OR Mishtaan (Sweets or pudding) such as Shrikhand or Churama Na Ladoo.


Usually, Gujarati thali is served in a stainless steel plate, and bowls, also water or buttermilk ( chaas) served in a steel glass too. Here in my Gujarati thali consisting of a little portion of various Gujarati dishes such as 

• Gujarati Kadhi ( Chickpea flour and Yogurt soup) recipe here
• Mug Ni Chutti Daal ( Dried Yellow Moong Daal Sabji ) when there is a Kadhi on the menu Mug ni Daal had to be there too. Recipe coming soon
• Cabbage and Green Peas Sabji - Recipe here ( I have added green peas instead of potatoes as we are trying to cut down on potatoes)
• Sambhariya Bhinda ( Dry Okra Sabji ) recipe here.
• Gajar No Sambharo ( Shredded Carrot Stir-fry) recipe here.
• Rotli ( wholemeal flour chapatti hence brown in colour) Most of the Brit-Asians use wholemeal flour for making roti. It’s healthy and full of fibre. 
• Kachumber ( Lightly spiced salad ) 
• Boondi Nu Raitu ( Gram flout pealrs Raita ) and last but not least mixed vegetable pickle ( which I never touch while I eat a thali like this 🙈) as everything else is enough spicy for me. BTW according to our grandmas actually pickle is good for our metabolism. 
• Plain boiled rice
• Roasted papad not in the pics as I totally forgot to put 🙈🙈🙈

In Gujarati thali we serve every dish at the same time, even dessert and farsan ( Savoury snacks) and eat all at the same time. Gujarati thali is full of pure vegetarian and vegan dishes, you can omit dairy products and make suits for vegans too!
Gujarati thali has everything that our body needs for a day. You can get all the necessary nutrition from this thali.
Kadhi and Mug ni Daal provides protein
Sabji, Stir fry and salad lends all the vitamins and minerals
Roti and rice gives you enough carb for the day
Yogurt is full of calcium and protein! 

Corn and Rajma Pulao Rice

How to make Corn and Rajma Pulao Rice | Corn and Rajma Pulao Rice is a one-pot flavourful and vegan dish that can be served with any type of raita, salad and roasted papad for a well-balanced meal. It's a clear winner for those who love spicy and delicious rice dishes.

This hearty and comforting pulao rice is prepared with pre-cooked rajma/red kidney beans, frozen corn, rice and aromatic spices. It can be done under 30 minutes if red kidney beans are pre-cooked. This dish can be an ideal for lunch box too.