It is the lockdown situation, which means we are all craving for good food, and those of us who are away from home are reminiscing mom-made food. I love my mom's and granny's aata halwa, and honestly missing it.  When it comes to Indian desserts, its hard to replicate many of them in vegan form. For example, vegan rasgulla - I am yet to get my hands on one of those. But thankfully, halwas can be easily veganised and if cooked properly, with right ingredients, they taste like the real deal.  The trick to making a good vegan wheat halwa is to ensure you add good amount of saffron and cardamom for flavor. This will overpower the smell of oil and give you the authentic taste.  I always ground the saffron in a mortar and pestle with hot water first, to release its flavor, before adding to the halwa. It makes all the difference.  Another thing is, use the oil that has more neutral flavor and freshly extracted is better. We have an oil extraction machine at home,

This deliciously creamy and rich Vegan Chickpea Curry makes for a warm and comforting meal that’s super easy to make. The best part about this recipe is that it uses basic ingredients that most of us have in our pantry or can find at our local supermarket. Gluten-free, soy-free, dairy-free, oil-free option and vegan, this chickpea curry is packed with flavor and taste. Served with brown rice, this hearty vegan curry surely makes for a nutritious meal, perfect for lunch or dinner! Nothing beats the flavor of freshly cooked chickpeas, and honestly it doesn't take much effort to cook either. I would strongly recommend that you soak the chickpeas early morning or overnight, and avoid using canned chickpeas. The addition of coconut milk to this curry adds a nice creaminess and flavor. I am a big fan of coconuts and this curry is one of my favorite recipes. Plus, it is so easy to make. I have made this curry so many times, and have perfected the recipe over time. This recipe is m

Try the traditional "Bajre Ka Khichda or Bajra Khichdo" - with no dairy, and no sugar and its gluten-free ! There are many treasures in India's culinary history. And as much as I love eating all the exotic food from foreign lands, I equally love the recipes closer to my roots (more so, actually!). Rajasthani cuisine is one of my favorites, especially the "Khichdas", which are mostly eaten in colder weathers (but the bajra khichda you can have any time of the year). However, I haven't seen this amazing dish ever shared on social media. In fact, there aren't many vegan Indian recipes on the internet, which is a shame, but I am hoping there will be; things like vegan rasgulla, vegan ras malai, vegan gulab jamun and the sweet bajra khichda (now you've got that). "Bajra Khichda" with its creamy consistency and amazing flavors is both comforting and satiating. You can call it the “Pearl Millet Sweet Porridge”. It’s super healthy too!

A vegan diet is packed with nutrition and offers you not only peace of mind but great health too. However, if your vegan diet is not planned, like any other diet, you may be prone to deficiencies. For vegans who want to stay healthy, consuming a nutrient-rich diet is very important. Here are 5 foods that must be part of every vegan diet to ensure you are getting optimum nutrition and are enjoying a lifestyle of abundance! 1. FRUITS AND VEGETABLES Vegetables, especially leafy greens, are packed with vitamins and minerals, keep your calories in check and offer a lot of health benefits – other than good skin and healthier body. For example, veggies like celery and carrots are known to naturally whiten your teeth by acting as natural stain removers. These foods increase saliva production, which serves as the mouth's self-cleaning agent. If you have discolored teeth, teeth whitening will help, but you have to remember that a lot of cleaning your teeth is about stimulating

A delicious smoothie bowl that's packed with nutrients, is rich and creamy and tastes as decadent as a dessert. A perfect meal to start the day. I love smoothie bowls, as they are not only delicious and simple to put together, but with the right combination of toppings, it can be a nutrition powerhouse that everyone will enjoy. This Banana and Cacao Nibs Smoothie has become one of my favorites. Its made with organic frozen bananas, peaches, and berries. The added antioxidant-rich cacao nibs give this smoothie the taste of a chocolatey treat. I love playing around with various toppings with this smoothie, but the toppings I've used in this recipe are my favorite so far. Bananas are high in potassium and are a rich source of protein, calcium, vitamin B6, and dietary fiber. They have zero fat and cholesterol. Bananas make the best base for a creamy smoothie and make it naturally sweet without any added sugar or natural sweeteners. Make sure you use frozen bananas for the

When it comes to breakfast, we often get stuck in a rut and end up either eating cereals right out-of-the-box or something on the lines of peanut butter and sandwich that doesn't really qualify for healthy. Other times, we're confused what really to fix for breakfast that's healthy yet easy to prep. Honestly, I've been there but with time I have honed by breakfast skills. After a lot of research, advice from experts and trials and errors I exactly know what to eat for breakfast that's vegan, healthy, yummy and gets ready in no time. Breakfast is a great time of the day to pack in extra fiber, healthy fats, and protein that not only makes your gut happy but also keeps you satiated well until lunch. Scroll down for quick vegan breakfast ideas that are balanced, packed with nutrients and delicious too. The firsts........ As soon as I wake up, I either have hot water with lemon, one glass of ash gourd juice or celery juice on an empty stomach. These are great

At sundown on the first Sunday of the month, the Muslim holy period of Ramadan kicked off and will continue until the evening of 4th June. Well-known for the fasting period, Ramadan is one of the holiest months for Muslims that commemorates the first revelation of the Qur’an to Muhammad according to Islamic history. The term Ramadan literally translates to scorching in Arabic. The idea behind 'fasting' is to emphasize on self-sacrifice and use the experience of hunger to grow in empathy with the hungry. Observing Muslims abstain from all food and even water from the crack of dawn until sunset, every day of this month. Not just this, Muslim communities around the world work together to raise money for the poor, donate clothes and food, and hold iftar dinners for the less fortunate for the complete period of Ramadan. It is a month of giving, peace and introspection. Many Muslims across the world have started observing peace on their plate by shunning animal foods from their d

We all want to be healthy and fit, lose some weight, get that healthy glow and detox our bodies. Its easier said than done but adding s ome healthy habits in our routine can really help us get closer to our goals. One such habit is adding detoxifying and nutrient-packed Ash Gourd Juice in your diet. Ash Gourd is one of the most detoxifying vegetables and is high in vitamin B & C and minerals. I discovered this nutritious vegetable through a nutritionist and fell in love with it. Also known as winter melon (or petha), it is widely available during summers and belongs to the nutrient-packed gourd family. Ash gourd has many health benefits and is also used in Ayurveda. It is alkaline, has a very high fiber content and it increases the metabolic rate. These properties help in weight loss. It is well-known to help patients with diabetes, acts as an anti-depressant and helps in treating sleeping disorders. Ash gourd juice is known to suck-in all the toxins and act like a sponge i

Upma-style quinoa is a delicious and nutritious twist to the classic upma that can be eaten hot (as I like it) or cold and is perfect for breakfast or a light (early) dinner. While I love my quinoa salads , a change is always good. In case you didn't know, upma is a South Indian recipe made with semolina and spices, sometimes perked up with veggies. Some of the best quinoa recipes are cold, but when it comes to dinner I prefer a hot meal that's light yet filling and, of course, nutritious. So when I need something easy and nutritious for dinner, this is my go-to recipe. Quinoa is a nutrition powerhouse, its gluten-free and low in calories. It is a complete protein containing all 9 amino acids (a great vegan protein source), high in fiber, and also iron. This simple quinoa recipe (I call it quinoa upma) is my go-to for dinner and sometimes breakfast. What I like the most is it requires minimum chopping and prep time. Its ready in no time and is yet incredibly healthy a

Sometimes you need a breakfast that doesn't only taste good and is packed with nutrition but also looks beautiful. A bright colorful Dragon Fruit Smoothie Bowl completely meets the job description and is the perfect quick-and-easy breakfast. I was lucky to find pink dragon fruit at the supermarket and I had to get it for making my own delicious pitaya smoothie bowl. Lots of Pitaya Smoothie Bowl recipes on the internet use the frozen pink dragon fruit, but I don't use any packaged frozen fruits or veggies ever. If I am planning a creamy smoothie bowl in the morning, I freeze fresh fruit overnight. My recommendation for preparing your smoothies is to only use fresh and seasonal fruits. They are the best kind and deliver the most nutrition and health benefits! Dragon fruit on its own doesn't have any flavor or taste but it is packed with vitamins (high in Vitamin C), minerals and is high in protein. It also gives a gorgeous pink hue to the smoothie. A delicious flavorf