Garden Veggie Burger

I was not kidding when I wrote on FB that this dish is versatile and international in its appeal - it is called by different names depending on where  - One ma's cutlet is another man's patty and one man's vadai is another's falafel and patty to one is burger to yet another and so on - it can morph into the name you choose for it since all it is a luscious, delicious vegetable preparation that can be eaten by itself or with a bun/pita. The best part is it is loaded with  quinoa flakes thus making it a highly nutritious and protein enriched all in one burger.  So you can reasonable avoid all other carbs and eat it solely.

This was an idea conceived literally 20-25 minutes before it became what it is in the pictures below - Opened the fridge door, saw a couple of zucchinis which were aging but still intact, and some fresh heads of broccoli - I knew exactly what I wanted to make and how.

Finely grate the veggies in question - take a cup of besan or chick pea flour, 2 cups of quinoa flakes and 1 tbsp of freshly homemade sambar powder of spices of your choice - the only other thing I added was garlic flakes.

NO WATER needed - The juice from the veggies is enough to mix into a thick batter
Spray your pan, make lemon sized balls of veggie mix and pat down to flatten
Broil for 15-18 minutes
or Use your Kuzhi paniyaram dish to make them like Falafels.

This is my protein rich recipe for this month's Avant Garde Cookies first post.


Ingredients:

• 3 medium sized broccoli heads finely grated
• 2 medium zucchinis finely grated with skin on
• 2+cups of Quinoa flakes
• 1 cup of besan (chickpea flour)
• (spice it the way you like best - garlic, green chili, ground black pepper or ginger)
• I used 1 tbsp of Sambar powder - (this contains cumin, coriander, dry cayenne chilies, split peas, sesame, fenugreek, turmeric and a couple of other ingredients (recipe to follow soon) 
• 1tsp garlic flakes
• a fist full of peanuts, ground (entirely optional)
• salt
• NO WATER

Method

1. Add the dry besan, sambar powder, salt and garlic flakes in a large bowl and mix them
2. Add the grated veggies and mix in with the dry flour and spices
3. Considering how much water zucchini and broccoli can let out, the mix may be a little liquidy
4. Now add 1 cup of quinoa and stir in
5. Add the second cup and check consistency after stirring in -
6. If it is still too sticky, add more flakes 
7. Spray a baking pan and make lemon-sized balls of the batter
8. place and flatten to patty style
9. Broil for about 15-18 minutes depending on your oven
10. I turned them over at about 14 minutes
11. If you have the dippy donut pan, you can spray them lightly and use that as well for making this  - will look more like falafels. 
12. Enjoy with buns, pitas or just like that.

Broccoli & Coconut Usili Curry

This is the simplest and tastiest and healthiest broccoli preparation if one is looking to Indianize this green and great veggie. It is light and delicious and can be paired with chappatis or rice or couscous or can even be had as is. Takes 10 minutes flat to make and is highly satisfying.

Ingredients

• 2 medium broccoli bunches
• 1/2 grated coconut
• 2red chilies
• 1/2 tsp urad dal
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp oil

Method

1. Grate the broccoli with the bigger scraping side
2. Steam broccoli until tender (not soggy) this keeps the lush green color intact
3. In a pan, heat oil, add urad and brown
4. Add chilies and broccoli and turn in the pan
5. Add the salt and the grated coconut and let all the flavors blend
6. Serve as desired

Broccoli–Cilantro Curry Sauce

This simple yet superb curry is something I adapted from my wonderful blogger friend, Aysha of Schmetterlingwords
We had just bought some fresh broccoli when she posted this rather handy recipe – I say adapted because I decided to go cilantro & coriander all the way – And while I did use some masala ingredients like bay leaves, I added coconut and made it more like a kootu style! Can be enjoyed with chappatis or rice sticks, or carb of your choice (:

Ingredients
2 broccoli heads chopped in medium sized florets
1tbsp coriander seeds
1 bunch cilantro
¼ cup grated coconuts
2 Bay leaves
2 green chilies
1 dry red chili
10-cashews
Thadka materials (mustard, urad, cumin, asafetida)

Preparation
Steam the broccoli for 2-3 minutes tops in the MW
In a pan add the coriander seeds, cilantro, coconuts and green chilies and roast for a bit, until the incredible smell of the coriander seeds waft around the kitchen or even up stairs (this is usually when my kids poke their heads out of their rooms sniffing with this perpetual question –whatchya making ma- smells SO good yo if it is my son or ma if it is my daughter!

Add some cold water to this and grind to a fine paste in the blender
In a kadai or large wok, add 1 tsp of oil (olive or sesame) and thadka with mustard seeds, urad and asafetida and red chili)
Toss the steamed broccoli in and stir a few times
Add the curry sauce and let the broccoli simmer in the sauce for until the sauce is bubbling and dwindling.
Remove from stove and transfer into a hot pot
Keep your carb ready and attack with gusto ☺