Showing posts with label Healthy. Show all posts

Tuesday, August 5, 2025

Homemade Badam Milk Mix | Badam Milk Recipe

Badam Milk Mix, a delicious and healthy nut mix that is used to make a healthy drink by mixing it with milk. Badam milk is quite popular throughout India and even considered as a luxurious food because of the addition of almonds which is quite expensive.

Badam Milk can be made either with the freshly grounded almond paste or with the instant powdered mix. Making badam milk with the freshly grounded almond paste is little time consuming however making and storing this Badam milk power/mix in a container comes handy for making instant Badam milk.

So if you have never tried this homemade badam milk mix then do give a try ! It's so easy to make with a handful of ingredients and the taste and flavor are really amazing and way better than any store bought instant mix.

Almonds

Almonds are the key ingredient in this mix. So use a good quality of almonds for great flavor and richness. In this recipe, i have used cashews in addition to the almonds. In our family, we like the combination of almond and cashew more than the almonds alone.

But it's really a personal choice so you can make this mix only with almonds too. It tastes equally good.

Saffron

Saffron is the key ingredient for that typical badam milk flavor. So buy a good quality of safron and use it generously. I'm the person who rarely uses saffron in my cooking and rarely buys & stock it in my pantry. So always skip when the recipe calls for it.

But for this mix, i wouldn't make it without saffron so i highly recommend to use it generously in this recipe.

Sweetener

Today, i have used panam karkandu / Palm sugar candy for the sweetness since i'm giving this to my toddler also. However you can use plain white sugar too.

Also i have used only 1/3 cup of sugar candy which is very less for the given quantity so you can use up to 1/2 cup of sugar. Keep in mind that you can add more sugar later while making the badam milk too if needed. So keeping the sugar as minimal in the mix would be great.

Other uses of Badam milk mix

You can use a couple of tsp of this mix in the pancakes , it would tastes awesome.
You can also use it in the onion tomato based curries like paneer masala, chickpeas curry. Add a few tsp of this mix in the end of making curries, it gives thickness and richness to the curry and also the mild sweetness balance out the other spices.
You can use this mix for making Badam kesar kulfi too.

Ok, now let's check out how to make this Badam Milk Mix.

Homemade Badam Milk Mix

Preparation Time : 5 mins | Cooking Time : 10 mins | Serves : 2
Recipe Category: Health Mix | Recipe Cuisine: Indian

Ingredients

Almond - 1/2 cup

Cashew - 1/4 cup

Cardamom - 7

Palm candy sugar / Panam karkandu - 1/3 to 1/2 cup

Turmeric powder - 1/2 tsp

Saffron - a big pinch

For Badam Milk

Milk - 1/2 cup

Badam Milk Mix - 1 tbsp

Procedure

First heat a thick bottomed pan, add the almonds and roast till the skin starts to turn brown and then transfer the almonds into the mixie/blender jar.

Next add the cashews and roast till dark spots appear here and there and then transfer the cashews into the mixie/blender jar.

Finally add the cardamom to the pan and roast it for 2-3 mins and then transfer that into the mixie/blender jar. Let the roasted ingredients cool a bit and then grind into a coarse mixture.

Then add the palm candy, turmeric powder and saffron and grind into a smooth mixture. That's it! Badam Milk Mix is ready. Store it in the airtight container and use as needed.

To make Badam Milk.

Pour the milk in a saucepan, add the Badam milk mix and bring into a boil. Delicious Badam milk is ready.

Pour into the serving glass and garnish with a few strands of saffron.

Related : How to make Rosemilk at home

Notes:

Badam milk can be served warm as well as cold. It tastes good either way.
For 1 cup of milk, you can use up to 2 tbsp of badam mix.

Wednesday, May 24, 2023

Almond Flour Cookies | Almond Cookies

Almond Cookies, delicious and flavorful cookies made from just three main ingredients like almond flour, sugar and coconut oil. It's one of the easiest cookies that i have baked so far yet it's super tasty and you can't stop by one.

Recently, i have been looking for some easy homemade cookie recipes for my little one. That's when i remembered about these almond cookies that i had baked a long time ago. So after a bit of browsing through my drafts, found the recipe which was actually saved from some pinterest board(not exactly know the source of the recipe now) and baked instantly. As expected, it turned out good and to my surprise, my little one also enjoyed it as much as i did.

These cookies taste similar to coconut cookies without any coconut and are buttery without any butter in the recipe and so flavorful without any flavoring agents. The key ingredient in the recipe is the coconut oil that gives all the flavor and taste.

Right before baking !!

Coconut Oil

As i mentioned earlier, coconut oil is the key ingredient for these cookies. Hence make sure to virgin coconut oil for that great flavor.

For this recipe, coconut oil should be in liquid state and at the same time shouldn't be hot. So if you're living in the cold places where coconut oil always freezes, then melt the oil in the microwave or on the stove top and let it come to lukewarm temperature before using it.

Sugar

For 1 cup of almond flour, i have used just 2tbsp of sugar in this recipe which is perfect for us since i have baked these cookies for my kid and I don't want to over-sugar them. But you can add an extra tbsp of sugar if you want really sweet cookies.

Also, i have used powdered sugar in this recipe. But regular sugar/ light brown sugar can also be used .

Cookie Dough

Cookie Dough should be slightly sticky so that it can be shaped easily. If the dough is too sticky, then add a tbsp of almond flour and mix it well again.

Likewise, if the dough is too dry and unable to shape them, then add a tsp of water, mix it well. Yep, it's such a forgiving dough :-)

Cookie Texture

These cookies are slightly crispy on the day of baking. Afterwards, it's slightly chewy like coconut cookies. However, it tastes delicious either way !

Finally, if you're looking for some healthy cookies to bake for your kids/adults, i would highly recommend to try these cookies.

Now let's check out on how to make delicious almond cookies.

Almond Flour Cookies | Almond Cookies

Preparation Time : 10 mins | Cooking Time : 20 mins | Serves : 2
Recipe Category: Cookies | Recipe Cuisine: General

Ingredients

Almond Flour - 1 cup

Powdered Sugar - 2 tbsp

Coconut Oil - 2 tbsp

Salt - 1/8 tsp

Water - 1 1/2 to 2 tbsp

Almond Slices - a few (optional)

Procedure

Preheat the oven @ 350F

In a bowl, add the almond flour, sugar and salt, mix it well together.

Next add the coconut oil & water and start mixing it with the dry ingredients.

It will form a slightly sticky dough. Now, pinch a small amount of dough from the mixture and roll into a ball.

Then flatten it a bit in your palms and place it on the parchment lined baking tray. Do the same for all the dough and then place a sliced almonds(it's totally optional) on each cookie dough and press it gently.

Bake it on the preheated oven @350F for 15-18 mins. Delicious and flavorful almond cookies are ready.

Related: How to make Peanut Butter Cookies

Notes:

Depends on the oven, the baking time varies, so keep an eye on the cookies after 15 mins.
Once the cookies are completely cooled down, store it in air-tight container.

Tuesday, May 9, 2023

Avocado Chapati | Soft Avocado Roti

Avocado Chapati / Avocado Roti, a delicious, healthy and soft roti made from wheat flour and avocado. Making of this roti is as simple as the regular roti however it's so healthy, super soft and pairs great with any Indian curries or it can be used as wraps.

If you have too many ripened avocado at the same time and bored of eating as it as or as guacamole , then i highly recommend giving a try on these yummy roti.

Related : How to make Avocado Quesadilla with leftover Chapati

Avocados are a great source of healthy fat and eating them makes you feel full for a longer time. Including them regularly in the diets gives a lot of health benefits according to science. So i have been including avocado in our diets frequently in the forms of salad, smoothies and rotis.

Before moving on to the recipe, let's check out FAQs.

Does the colour of the avocado roti change after cooking?

No ! So far, i have kept this roti at room temperature for about 6 hours and it doesn't change its color.

Does the dough change its color when you keep it for a longer time?

Yes ! The dough color starts to change after around 20 mins. So i highly recommend to make this dough when you're ready to make roti. However, after cooking, it won't be in dark brown color.

Can i add any other spices to it ?

Yes, of course. You can add chili powder as per your spice level and some garam masala for the flavor. Or you can squeeze a little bit of sriracha sauce while making dough.

If you add more spices, then you don't even need side dish, a simple raita /yogurt would be enough

Ok, now let move on to the recipe.

Avocado Chapati | Soft Avocado Roti

Preparation Time : 10 mins | Cooking Time : 20 mins | Serves : 12
Recipe Category: Curry | Recipe Cuisine: Indian

Ingredients

Wheat flour/Atta - 2 cups
Avocado - 1
Lemon Juice - 1/2 tsp
Salt - to taste
Water - as needed

Oil - for cooking the roti

Procedure

First, take an avocado , cut into half, remove the pit and scoop out the flesh into a bowl.

Mash the avocado well with masher/fork, add the lemon juice and salt.

Mix it all well together. Then add the wheat flour and mix it with the avocado mixture.

Next add the needed water and make a soft pliable dough. Divide the dough into golf sized ball.

Roll into thin disc with rolling pin(if needed using flour for dusting while rolling). Heat the pan, grease it with little oil and then add the rolled dough, cook it on both till brown spots appear.

Tada, healthy and soft avocado roti is ready.

Related : How to make Rumali Roti

Notes:

Dough colour tends to change after a while, so don't rest the dough for more than 15 mins.
The proportion of wheat flour to avocado is purely up to your preference. You can add more or less of avocado for the given quantity.
Instead of oil, butter or ghee can also be used for cooking the roti.

Wednesday, May 19, 2021

Mixed Berries Smoothie | Chia Seed Smoothie

Mixed Berries Smoothie, a delicious and fulfilling smoothie made from the varieties of berries. This mixed berries smoothie is a healthy breakfast smoothie and can be prepared in minutes.

As spring is in full swing here now, the fresh produce aisles are filled with different varieties of berries. So I have been snacking on the berries a lot nowadays and also making these kinds of smoothies often as breakfast when I'm planning for an earlier/heavy lunch meal.

Though I have used fresh berries for this smoothie, it can also be made with frozen berries, tried a couple of times and it tastes equally good. In addition to the fruits, I have used some soaked chia seeds for extra nutrition and also it gives thickness to the smoothie.

Ok, let's check out on how to make this delicious smoothie.

Mixed Berries Smoothie

Preparation Time : 10 mins | Cooking Time : 0 mins | Serves : 1
Recipe Category: Smoothie | Recipe Cuisine: Indian

Ingredients
Apple - 1/2
Blue Berry - 1/4 cup
Raspberry - 1/4 cup
Maple syrup/Honey - as needed
Milk - 1 cup
Chia seed - 1/2 tsp

Procedure

Take the chia seed in a bowl, add the water(1/4 cup) and set it aside for minimum 20 to 30 mins to bloom or until it becomes all gel like consistency.

Next, in a blender/mixie jar, add apple & berries, grind them into smooth puree, then add the milk.

Next add the maple syrup and soaked chia seed, again pulse it until all mix together.

Healthy Mixed Berries Smoothie is ready.

Related: How to make Pomegranate Milkshake

Notes:

In addition to blueberry & raspberry, you can add whatever the berries you like or have it.
Instead of maple syrup, you can use whatever the sweetener you like too.
Soaked chia seed stays well in refrigerator up to a week.

Monday, December 7, 2020

Ragi Idli and Dosa using Whole Grain | Kezhvaragu Idli and Dosai

Ragi Idli and dosa, a healthy breakfast / dinner item made from finger millet, rice and urad dal. Finger millet(Ragi/Kezhvaragu) is one of the staple and ancient grains used in many parts of India. It's a gluten free whole grain, rich in fibre and packed with so many nutrients. Adding ragi to your diet regularly would give immense benefit to your health.

I had been wanting to try the ragi idli and dosa with whole ragi grains for a very long time now. But somehow, I find that my ragi dosa recipe with flour is super easy to make and didn't bother much with whole grains. Ever since the start of the pandemic, Indian store in our place carry the ragi flour on & off .

Most of the time when we visit the store, it's out of stock, so without much choice, i had bought the whole ragi grains and made the batter for idli and dosa. As expected, it turned out so good, it tastes great with both sambar and chutney. Now I have been making this batter regularly at home for the past couple of months.

Before moving on, to the recipe, let's see the FAQs.

How long can I store the batter ?

After fermentation, it stays well in the refrigerator for 2 or 3 day maximum. Unlike regular idli/dosa batter, it can't be stored for a long time. I highly recommend finishing the batter within 3 days.

Why can't I store it for a longer time?

Unlike regular dosa batter, millets tend to ferment faster even in the refrigerator . After around 3 days, it becomes very sour and has a stingy smell, so it's advisable to make the batter in less quantity and finish with 3 days.

Related: How to make ragi dosai with ragi flour

Why haven't I used the fenugreek seeds ?

Usually fenugreek seeds help to ferment the batter. In all kinds of millet batter, millet itself takes care of that job, so no need to add ferment seeds otherwise it becomes too sour easily.

Ok, now let's check out on how to make this healthy & tasty ragi idli and dosa.