Lean Chicken meat balls

I had been off late experimenting on different foods under strict diet, trying to get rid of my obesity. My trainer and doctor had recommended to avoid all kinds of  oily, salty and starchy food, exercise an hour hard and strong and drink 1.5 gallons of water.

I started hating the meat in the form I was taking and wanted to have some variety. Then I thought I shall try to make baked chicken meatballs with lettuce and sweetpotato.

Ingredients

1.5 lb chicken breast¼ tsp. thyme¼ tsp. oregano¼ tsp. rosemary¼. tsp. sage½. tsp. salt1 medium onion2 garlic cloves2 tbsp. olive oil2 egg whites only

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place a tbsp of olive oil on a baking sheet and set aside. In a food processor place chicken breast and pulse until it looks like a paste, place in a bowl and set aside. On low to medium heat add a tbsp of olive oil to sauce pan and let warm up; chop up the medium onion and garlic and add to the oil and sauté until the onions are translucent.  Once the onion and garlic has cooled add to the bowl. Place salt and spices to the bowl and mix. Add egg and mix. Form into balls and place on baking sheet. Place in the oven for 15-20 minutes. Let cool and serve.

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Pamir Grill Kabob - Philadelphia

Had a session today and was around to explore some "close to home food". Saw a Restaurant named Pamir Grill Kabob. I thought of trying it once and hopped in. It was early in the evening and there were not much people in. I was welcomed by 2 lovely people.

I ordered a chicken kabob and a vegetable soup. You can view more on the menu in their website

www.pamirgrillkabob.com

 The Soup was more like the ladakhi thukpa soup and was delicious with lot of herbs like dil, vegetables etc. It was great to savour it especially when it was steaming hot.

The Kabob was very tasty and had some bread rice and salads with it which felt filling and satiating. It felt yummy with some Afghan folk music running on the back ground.

They gladly posed for a photo and ensured if the food was good. It was simply awsome.

This is the front view of the Kabob House.

If you get a chance to try it once..! it is worth it.

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Sweet potato and black bean chili

Chili con carne  or simply chili is a spicy stew containing chili peppers, meat, tomatoes and beans with seasonings like garlic, onions and cumin.

History of this dish dates back to early american settlers who savoured it with their nomadic lifestyle. It consisted of dried beef, suet, dried chilli peppers and salt, which were pounded together, formed into bricks and left to dry, which would then be boiled in pots on the trail.

We are going to make a chili sin carne or chili without meat.

Ingredients:

1 tbsp olive oil
1 small red bell pepper
1 small green bellpepper
1/2 medium yellow onion
2 cloves garlic minced
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper
1 large sweet potato- cut into 3/4 inch cubes
Salt

Preparation

Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a hard bottom pan and add diced bell peppers. saute for about 5 mins until peppers are softened and onions translucent.

Stir in chili powder paprika crushed red chili, oregano for abt 2 mins till they are fragrant.

Add sweetpotatoes, tomatoes, black beans, diced tomatoes, and vegetable stock. Bring to boil.

Lower to a simmer and cook, covered, for about 30 mins until sweet potatoes are very tender. Remove the lid and simmer for 10 more minutes or until the chili has thickened slightly.

Serve hot. If you like cheese..grate it over too as a garnish with some cilantro leaves.

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Dried Anchovy & Roasted coconut chammanthi

Ingredients:

•        Grated and Roasted coconut – ½ Cup
•      Cleaned dry Anchovy ¼ cup
•          Red chilli powder – 1 teaspoon
•          Red chilli crushed – ½ teaspoon
•          Pearl onions – 2-3
•          Tamarind – for taste
•          Curry leaves – 1 frond
•          Salt – to taste

Grind all these ingredients in a mixer coarsely.

Ingredients to Saute:

·         

•  Mustard seeds
•    Black lentils (ഉഴുന്ന് പരിപ്പ്)
•   Coconut Oil
•   Curry leaves
•   Red Chilli – 2 counts

Pour a teaspoon of coconut oil in a frying pan and add mustard seeds. Once the mustard seeds splutter, add lentils, curry leaves, redchillis broken etc.

Add the ground powder above to this and mix well. 

Chammanthi is ready.

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