Winter is here and so is the urge for meals that feel like a warm hug. But that’s not enough to have a good winter season. Our body needs protein-rich food to stay healthy and strong in the chilling winter of north India. Also, did you know protein helps in beating those winter blues? So, try these protein-rich food recipes for a healthy and happy winter.

1. Cauliflower rice recipe

Ingredients:

½ cup basmati rice

1 cup cauliflower florets (phool)

1 tbsp oil

1 cup water

1 tsp ginger-garlic paste

½ tsp cumin

¼ tsp turmeric powder

½ coriander powder

¼ tsp garam masala

½ red chilli powder

Salt to taste

Coriander to garnish

Method:

Heat oil in a pressure cooker and add cumin. Add ginger-garlic paste and sauté until aromatic. Add chopped cauliflower, red chilli powder, turmeric, coriander powder, and garam masala. Stir and cook for 5 minutes. Add the rice, some salt and water, and let it boil for a minute. Close the lid of the pressure cooker and cook for 2 whistles. Season with coriander and serve hot.

2. Soybean fry recipe

Ingredients:

1 cup soy chunks

1 tbsp vegetable oil

1 small onion, sliced

1 small tomato, chopped

1 green chilli, chopped

1 tsp Maggi masala

½ tsp mustard seeds

Salt to taste

Method:

Boil soy chunks in water for 5 minutes and squeeze out excess water. Heat oil in a pan, add mustard seeds, onions, and sauté until golden. Add tomatoes, chilli, Maggi masala, and salt, cooking until the tomatoes soften. Toss in soy chunks and fry for 5 minutes. Serve with roti or enjoy it by itself.

3. Chickpea chaat recipe

Ingredients:

1 cup boiled chickpeas (or according to your appetite)

½ boiled potato, cubed

1 small carrot, grated

1 onion, chopped

1 tomato chopped

1 tbsp lemon juice (adjust according to taste)

Salt and chaat masala to taste

Method:

Mix all the ingredients in a bowl. Drizzle with lemon juice and season with salt and chaat masala. Toss well and serve fresh.

4. Garlic mushrooms recipe

Ingredients:

Oil

Mushrooms, cleaned and sliced

2 red chillies or 1 tbsp red chilli powder

1 onion, finely chopped

½ tsp sugar

½ tbsp lemon juice

2 cloves of garlic

½ tsp cumin seeds

Salt to taste

Coriander to garnish

Method:

In a mixer jar, add red chillies or powder, sugar, lemon juice, garlic, and salt, and grind it. Now, in a pan, heat oil and add cumin seeds. Once they splutter, add onions and sauté until they become translucent. Add the ground paste. Sauté on a medium flame for 3-4 minutes. Add the mushrooms and mix well. Cover the pan and cook until the mushrooms become soft. Don’t overcook or the mushrooms will change their texture. Garnish with coriander and serve with rice or roti.

5. Bajra khichdi recipe

Ingredients:

½ cup bajra (pearl millet), soaked overnight

½ cup green moong dal, washed

1 tbsp ghee

¼ tsp cumin seeds

1 small green chilli, slit

A pinch of asafoetida

½ tsp turmeric powder

Salt to taste

2 cups water

Method:

Add bajra and dal in a pressure cooker and add salt and water. Pressure cook for 4 whistles. Allow the steam to escape before opening the lid. In a pan, heat ghee and add cumin seeds, green chilli, asafoetida, and turmeric powder. Sauté for a few seconds. Mix the cooked bajra and dal and add salt. Cook for another 3-4 minutes. Serve hot.

6. Fried paneer recipe

Ingredients:

Paneer cubed (according to your appetite)

Salt to taste

1 tsp butter

1 tsp Maggi masala

3 tbsp curd

Method:

Add salt, Maggi masala and curd to the paneer pieces and let them sit for 20 minutes. Heat butter in a pan and toss the paneer cubes with curd. Roast for 10 minutes until the curd starts to leave the pan. Serve with roti or rice.

Note: If you want more gravy, use a good quantity of curd.

7. Pithala (Gram flour curry) recipe

Ingredients:

½ cup gram flour (besan)

1 cup water

1 tbsp oil

1 small onion, chopped

1 green chilli, chopped

¼ tsp turmeric powder

½ tbsp cumin seeds

½ mustard seeds

A pinch of asafoetida

1 tbsp chopped garlic

Salt to taste

Coriander to garnish

Method:

Mix gram flour with water to make a smooth batter. Heat oil in a pan, add cumin and mustard seeds. When they splutter, add onion, green chilli, chopped garlic, asafoetida, turmeric powder, and salt, and sauté until onions turn translucent.
Turn the heat low, add the flour batter and keep stirring to avoid lumps. Then cover the lid and cook for 5 minutes. Garnish with coriander and serve with rice or roti.

8. Egg tikka masala recipe

Ingredients:

2 boiled eggs, sliced

1 tbsp oil

1 small onion, chopped

1 small tomato, chopped

½ tsp tikka masala

½ tsp cumin seeds

½ tbsp turmeric powder

Salt to taste

Method:

Heat oil in a pan and add cumin seeds. Let them splutter. Add onions and sauté until golden. Add tomatoes, turmeric powder, tikka masala, and salt. Cook for 5 minutes. Add boiled egg slices and mix gently.

Try these protein-rich food recipes to keep yourself healthy and cosy this winter.

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