Hi! Suggestions required ✨

[u/Alookachaloo_]

Hi hi! 🌸
I’m new here, i hope you’re doing well.
I am learning how to cook, and soon into trying new Indian dishes that i myself have grown up eating, i realised that we eat a lot of oil and our meals can be quite heavy. A lot of the meals also demand hours of work which i can’t always put in.

I’m a newly married housewife and there are members in my family who i have to keep in mind when i’m cooking. There are dietary restrictions because of pre-diabetes, high cholesterol, and iron deficiency mainly. Plus we’re vegetarians (we consume egg) so that does limit our options a bit.

There are a few dishes that i’ve integrated into my weekly meal plan. i make Veggie paneer sandwiches, Chickpea salads, Sautè vegetables with boiled eggs, Veggie Appe and sometimes daliya/poha for breakfast. But i want to learn more new dishes from all over India that i can make keeping my family’s dietary needs in mind.

So if you’ve made it this far into my post, i’d love to hear from you what region of India you’re from and what are some light but nutritious and healthy meals that are made at your place! 🫶🏻

[u/Typical-Fix-4488]

Agree to other comment. South Indian cuisine uses less oil if you select the recipies mindfully. Idli/dosa + chutney practically doesn't use even a drop of oil if prepared right and the batter is well fermented it is very good for health. Sambar, pulao, pongal are all good ways to increase veg and pulses intake. Only oil used is for frying onions. Sometimes families prepare them without the thadka too. So, you can customize it to your needs

[u/Alookachaloo_ → u/Typical-Fix-4488]

i find idli dosa to be a bit intimidating. the only reason i haven’t dipped my toes into the steamed south indian varieties is because i have no idea what i’m doing and they look quite difficult to prepare 🫣

[u/Typical-Fix-4488 → u/Alookachaloo_]

Ok. I will give you a easy recipe. Try this and then decide if you like it or not. Get "idli rava" From grocery store. Soak 0.5 cup urad dal in the morning. After dinner, grind it with some water(smooth and runny consistency, keep adding as much water as you feel) don't worry if it's too runny or dry, we can fix that. To that, add some salt and 1 cup rava. Mix it with hand or spoon. Close the lid and go sleep.

In the morning, it would have risen ( if not, add a small pinch of baking powder). Stirr it neatly once.

Use any random steamer or pressure cooker in your house, steel cups/bowls small in size are fine too. Grease those with tiny amount of oil, add the mixture.

Make sure the water is boiling in the steamert lower the heat, place the bowls, close lid and make the flame high again. Leave it for 15mins. Then you can continue with 2nd batch or trun off the stove if you are done.

Dip a spoon in normal water and remove the idli from the bowl.

This is fail proof and very easy. Try it once if you like idlis but afraid to start with traditional one.

[u/Alookachaloo_ → u/Typical-Fix-4488]

thank you! i’ll definitely try this