Spicy Soba Noodles w/ Almond-butter Sriracha Sauce

Here is a spicy and flavorful Asian inspired noodles recipe. You can make this with any good quality noodles, soba, udon, rice noodles or even your spirooli cut veggie noodles. Though this is best served warm, it can be served at room temperature too, and hence can be great for pot-lucks. Add your choice of vegetables to good measure. As always, use clean and organic ingredients as much as possible.

Ingredients:

• Organic Soba Noodles - 1 packet (I buy this brand - Hakubaku or KOYO)
• Homemade almond butter - 3 Tbs 
• Homemade Sriracha sauce - 2 Tbs (more or less as per preference)
• Bell pepper (yellow/orange/red) - 1
• Carrot - 1 medium
• Fresh ginger root - 1 inch
• Garlic - 2 cloves 
• Toasted sesame oil - 2 Tbs 
• Sesame seeds - 1 Tbs 
• Sea salt - as per taste
• Red chilly powder - optional (if you need extra heat)

Directions: 

• Cook Noodles as per package instructions, rinse in cold water and keep aside.
• Meanwhile, slice the bell pepper, carrots, ginger and garlic into matchstick slices.
• Heat sesame oil in a pan, add sesame seeds. Once they start popping, add ginger/garlic slices and saute for a minute. 
• Add veggies and saute till cooked enough and soft, for about 5 minutes.
• Add almond butter and Sriracha and mix well over low medium heat taking care not to burn the sauce. Adjust the taste, add salt and optional chilly powder as needed.
• Add the noodles and toss carefully without  breaking or mashing the noodles. Coat the noodles evenly with the veggies and sauce. 
• Keep aside for 20-30 minutes before serving for better flavor. 
• Serves 3 to 4. Enjoy!!

Turmeric Cumin Oats w/ Lemony Avocado Cream

I gave you a sweet breakfast in my last post, but today I have a savory breakfast idea. Made with a small list of wholesome and clean ingredients and can be put together in no time. There is a lot of buzz around turmeric these days, but that is not something new to Indian cuisine. Indian cuisine uses turmeric in pretty much everything. Here, I am just adding a dash of Indian flavors to the simple, everyday oatmeal. 

Ingredients:

• Thick rolled oats - 1 cup (optionally soaked overnight)
• Turmeric powder - 1/2 tsp
• Sea salt - as per taste
• Cumin seeds - 1/2 tsp

Directions:

• Start boiling oats in 2 cups of water, salt and turmeric powder. Cook till well done.
• Toast cumin seeds in a small pan and mix with the cooked oats.
• Serve warm with a dollop of lemon avocado cream.
• Makes about 3 servings. Enjoy!!

Lemon Avocado Cream:

• Avocado - 2
• Lemon juice - from half a lemon
• Green chilly minced - 1-2 (optional as per taste) 
• Sea salt - as per taste
• Cilantro chopped - 1/4 cup (substitute with your preferred chopped herbs)

Directions:

• Take out meat from avocado and mash with the back of a fork. Mix remaining ingredients and whisk till creamy.
• Enjoy!!

Apple-Pie Chia-Pudding

Apple-Pie Chia-Pudding does sound like a dessert right? I am talking about an awesome breakfast idea though. If you are using wholesome and clean ingredients, you don't really need to worry about eating dessert for breakfast anyway :). The best part is that you can put this together the night before, and you have a high energy, wholesome and satisfying breakfast to start your busy day. Made with wholesome and organic ingredients, and sweetened with only dates and an optional dose of raw honey. No refined or processed ingredients are used and it is gluten free, dairy free, raw, vegan-friendly and quick'n'healthy:). 

Ingredients:

• Apples - 3 
• Dates - 1/4 cup 
• Honey - 1 Tbs (optional)
• Fresh ginger - 1 tsp
• Cinnamon - 1 tsp
• Nutmeg - 1/4 tsp
• Cardamom - 1 skin removed
• Himalayan pink salt - a pinch
• Lemon juice - 1 Tbs 
• Chia seeds - 6 Tbs
• Homemade almond milk - 2 cups

Directions:

• Soak chia seeds in almond milk overnight
• To make 'apple pie': 
• Roughly chop one apple. Add to a blender jar along with dates & spices and blend to make sort of an apple sauce. 
• Chop remaining apples fine, toss with lemon juice. Mix with the 'apple sauce' and honey (if using). Leave this mixture on your counter-top overnight. 
• When ready to serve, divide chia pudding into serving bowls and serve topped with 'apple pie' on top. 
• This makes 2 to 3 servings. Enjoy!!

Coffee Bites

For the coffee lover traveler looking for a good bite, here is something just for you. When I am on travel or just on a long drive I like to carry a bunch of homemade goodies with me that I can reach out when I need a quick bite. Usually I make small bite sized bars or balls which give you some quick energy. Here is a recent addition that was added to that collection. This one is for the coffee lovers who like good coffee flavor and are looking for a quick coffee feel without the diary and sugar that goes with a cup of coffee. Made with organic German instant coffee powder and pure raw cacao powder, and sweetened with only dates. Clean, gluten-free, diary free, no-sugar-added snack coffee bites for your long afternoons at work, for long drives, pre-workout or any time you need a quick bite, a coffee bite. 

Ingredients:

• Almonds - 1 cup
• Dates - 1 cup packed
• Organic instant coffee powder - 1 Tbs
• Cacao powder - 2 Tbs
• Himalayan pink salt - a pinch

Directions:

• Pulse almonds in a food processor or blender to almond meal consistency.
• Add dates and process till dates and mashed and binds everything together.
• Add remaining ingredients and continue till everything together forms sort if a dough. 
• Make small walnut sized balls and roll them using your palms. 
• Store in an air tight container.
• Makes about 24 balls. Enjoy!!