Friday, October 30, 2015

Healthy protein-rich snacks for the weekend


Healthy protein-rich snacks for the weekend











Protein is the key component to popular weight loss diets. Besides this, protein is also important for building muscle and blood. 

You want better skin and hair, protein is the answer then as well! Protein is the building block of the body, hence today we look at 10 interesting protein-rich snacks that are easy to make and healthy too. The recipes are apt for a party or a snack that will tickle your taste buds.

Coconut Chicken Nuggets

Ingredients:

250gms breast pieces cut into bite-sized nuggets

50gms grated coconut

Salt to taste

1 tbs ginger paste

1 tsp honey

1 tsp red chilli powder

2 tsp cumin powder

1 tbs olive oil

Method:

Marinate the chicken in a mixture of the olive oil, red chilli powder, cumin powder, salt, ginger paste, and honey. Refrigerate for 2 hours.

Heat a non-stick pan that is a bit greased with olive oil and toss the marinated chicken in. Cook on high heat for 5 minutes while making sure that both sides of each nugget turn white and then a light brown.

Remove from heat, and sprinkle the chicken with the grated coconut. Your coconut chicken nuggets are ready!

Green Peas and Soya Tikkis

Health Benefits: From nuggets to tikkis, but this time we look at soya granules to fulfil your intake of protein. Soya granules is also accompanied with green peas which is a source for vitamin A, C and K, antioxidants, and folic acid.

Ingredients: 

½ cup green peas

1/2 cup soya granules

1 tbsp finely chopped mint leaves

1 tsp finely chopped green chillies

1 tsp finely chopped ginger (adrak)

1 tsp oil

salt as per your taste

3 tbsp of besan

1 tsp rava

Method :

Soak the soya granules in hot water for 8 to 10 mins , squeeze out all the water.

Boil green peas for 5 mins and then dry it.

Blend green peas and soya granules to a smooth paste

Add the green chillies, ginger, besan, salt and mix well.

Divide the mixture into 3-4 equal portions and shape into round, flat tikkis.

Brush them with little rava on both sides to give it a crisp taste.

Cook them on a non-stick pan using a little oil till both sides are golden brown.

Serve hot with green chutney or a chatpata chutney.

Prawn with greens stir fry

Ingredients:

250gms medium sized prawns

1 tbs groundnut oil

Sesame seeds - 2 tsp

Greens of choice (we've used raw spinach in this recipe) - wash and soak in salt or potassium permanganate for 10 minutes and then dry

Salt to taste

1 tsp soya sauce

Balsamic vinegar

Lemon juice - for marinate (roughly 2 tbs)

Method:

Clean and marinate 250gms in lemon juice and salt. Keep aside for 15 minutes.

Toss the prawns into a heated pan with the sesame oil.

Add the sesame seeds, extra salt (if needed), soya sauce, and balsamic vinegar. Stir for 2-3 minutes or till the prawn turn slightly pink and curl.

Shred the greens, with your hands, into bite sized strips and add to the prawns. Remove from heat.

The greens will cook in the heat from the prawns and remain nutrient-rich when you're ready to eat the snack.

Vegetable Soya Frankie

Health Benefits: This recipe calls for the use of sprouted moong, carrots, cabbage, egg whites and soya. This is a recipe for a good snack and good health. Firstly sprouted moong has no calories and contains protein and calcium. While carrots and cabbage have an impressive list of skin benefits.

Ingredients:

Moong sprouts 1/2 cup

Soy granules 1/4 cup

Rotis -2

Green chillies -1

Shredded cabbage 1/4 cup

Shredded carrot 1/4 cup

Chopped onion-1/2

2 boiled egg whites

Tomato ketchup/ green chutney

Oil

Salt and pepper to taste

Method :

Boil soy granules in water for ten minutes, drain and keep aside.

Heat one tblsp oil in a pan, add chopped onions, green chillies to it.

Add moong sprouts and carrot and saute for few minutes.

Cut the boiled egg white into small pieces.

Add soy granules, cabbage, egg white pieces, salt and pepper and saute for 2 min.

On a Non Stick pan, spread a little oil all over and put a roti.

Put this filling in the middle of the roti and roll the roti to make it a Frankie.

Serve with green chutney/ tomato ketchup.

Mashed peas and chicken grilled patties

Health benefits: Ginger and garlic are two peas in a pod, and they surely help you with digestion, relief from cold, diarrhea, and blood clotting. This paste always serves as a great base to any dish.

Ingredients:

Frozen peas - 200gms

Minced chicken breast - 300gms

Meat masala - 2 tsp

Red chilli powder - 2 tsp

Salt to taste

Ginger paste - 1 tbs

Garlic paste - 1 tbs

Eggs - 2

Besan - 2 tbs

Olive oil - 2 tbs for marinate, and 1 tbs for greasing the silver foil

Method:

Dunk the peas into boiling water and leave in there for 3-5 minutes, till they turn a pale green. Remove, cool, and mash.

Dry the minced chicken - it should be lumpy when you're ready to start mixing it.

Add mashed peas to minced chicken, along with the oil, meat masala, red chilli powder, salt, ginger paste, garlic paste, eggs, and besan. Mix well and refrigerate for an hour.

Make 6'' diameter patties, or as per the size you want.

Grease the silver foil and line the patties on it on the grilling tray.

Put the tray into the oven and grill on high for 7 minutes - on each side.

Serve with some spicy green chutney or tamarind chutney.

Soy and Mix Veg Salad

Health benefits: We are under the impression that all salads are healthy, not if you include a good dose of mayo and processed meats. The following recipe includes different vitamins and minerals that you need for a balanced diet.

Ingredients:

Soy chunks - 1 cup

American Corn kernels - 1 cup

Celery sliced - 1 cup

Red and green capsicum - ½ cup

Broccoli- steamed- 3-4 florets

Paneer-4 to 5 cubes

Steamed Mushrooms- 4 to 5 in no.

Purple and white cabbage- thin cut slices-1/2 cup

Onions - ¼ cup sliced

Olives - ¼ cup

Soy oil/ olive oil - 2 tsp

White vinegar- 1-2 tsp

Yoghurt - 2 tbsp

Salt and pepper to taste

Method:

Steam soy chunks and American corn.

In a salad bowl, add the sliced celery leaves, chopped capsicum and onions, sliced olives, steamed mushrooms, slices of fresh paneer and thin cut purple and white cabbage, steamed broccoli along with the soy chunks and corn.

Prepare a salad dressing by mixing soy oil/ olive oil and vinegar with salt and pepper.

You may also use yoghurt dressing by adding a spoon or two and mixing it well.

Once it is all mixed well, refrigerate for 10 minutes.

Serve the salad chilled.

Two minute pan grilled fish

Health benefits: Fish is an underestimated snack, we always associate fish as a main dish but not today. Fish is a rich source of protein and Omega 3. And we know the benefits of Omega 3 - it improves the condition of the heart, beneficial for pregnant women especially in the third trimester, improves eyesight, ideal brain food and improves mental health. So dig in!

Ingredients:

2 basa steaks (can be substituted with kingfish or rawas), roughly 250gms each

Garlic paste - 1 tsp

Ground black pepper - 1 tsp

Salt to taste

Olive oil - 1 tbs

Lemon juice - optional - 1 tsp

Chilli flakes - optional - 1 tsp

Method:

Mix ingredients 2 to 7 together and rub on both sides of the fish steaks.

Let it sit for at least 30 minutes.

Grease a pan and heat the oil.

Add fish steaks and cook for 4 minutes on each side. (You want the fish to become brown, but not black, so adjust the time accordingly)

Serve with onion rings, lemon juice, or a side salad.

Soy Veg Paratha

Ingredients:

Soya flour - 1 cup

Wheat flour - 1 cup

Paneer -3-4 cubes

Finely grated palak and methi leaves- ¼ cup

Cauliflower-1/4 cup

Fine chopped chilly - ½

Ginger garlic paste - 1tsp

Yogurt - 1/4 cup

Sesame seeds - 1tbsp

Oil - 2tbsp

Salt - to taste

Method:

Mix the soy flour and wheat flour along with the finely grated Cauliflower, palak and methi leaves.

Add ginger garlic paste, salt, sesame seeds, yogurt, and oil to the flour.

Knead into dough

Roll out into parathas

Warm the tava

Add oil and put the paratha

Cook until brown on both sides

Serve hot with yogurt

Egg white and brown rice salad

Health Benefits: Looking for protein, you came to the right place. Egg whites are rich in protein and low in cholesterol. Whereas brown rice is rich in magnesium, fiber and it will pump up your energy.

Ingredients:

6 boiled egg whites - shredded

50-80gms cooked brown rice (depends on volume needed)

Greens of choice - spinach, lettuce, iceberg lettuce, rocket leaves, cabbage

Almonds and walnuts - chopped very fine or simply pulsed in a food processor until they're the consistency of rawa.

Extra virgin olive oil - 2 tsp

1 tsp vinegar or lemon juice

1 tsp English mustard (Kasundi is a good substitute)

Optional - shredded leftover chicken.

Salt to taste

Ground black pepper - 1/2 tsp

Method:

Wash and soak greens in salt or potassium permanganate for roughly 15 minutes. Drain and dry.

Mix ingredients 1 to 4 and refrigerate, if needed.

Mix ingredients 5 to 10 and carry/store separately.

Mix the dry mix with the wet mix once you're ready to eat the salad.

Peanut and almond butter roasties

Health benefits: Got just a few minutes to spare? Dish out some almonds and peanut butter along with sweet potato and you have a power packed snack to kickstart your evening.

Ingredients:

Peanut butter - 2 tsp

Almonds - 3 tbs

Sweet potatoes - 1 big - sliced into thin long strips

All spice powder - 1 tsp

Salt - for sprinkling

Olive oil - 1 tsp

Method:

Wash and scrub the sweet potato, cut into thin long strips and lightly rub with olive oil.

Grease a roasting dish, add the sweet potato strips to it, and put into a pre-heated oven.

Roast for 30 minutes.

Remove from oven, allow to cool.

Meanwhile, pulse the peanut butter with almonds.

Spread this nut butter to the sweet potatoes and your protein-rich and good carb snack is ready!

Source : TImes of India 

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