Tofu Tikka Quinoa Bowl

January 9, 2015 Karishma

I'm pretty sure Chicken Tikka and Paneer Tikka are everyone's favorite. For vegetarians Chicken Tikka is out the door. Paneer is the high in saturated fats so it is not the best alternative. But hey, tofu is a great protein packed option!

I created this recipe for a South Asian blog, The Society, a platform for food, fashion and lifestyle. Their theme this month is Healthy Living and this recipe focuses on a healthier alternative to the traditional Paneer Tikka recipe. Tofu is a great vehicle to any spice or cuisine. This Eastern Asian staple is quite bland but this feature makes it adaptable to any recipe you throw it in. Traditionally, white Basmati rice is served with Indian entrees but I chose to create a quinoa bowl that makes this a healthy meal all around. Go head, now you can justify eating dessert.

Avocado-Egg(White) Salad Wrap

January 7, 2015 Karishma

Remember this recipe??? I honestly can't get myself to eat egg salad any other way! This is truly a ridiculously healthy version of our beloved traditional egg salad. This whole situation is about 180 calories (per serving)! You can't beat that for a healthy AND delicious lunch option. Plus, don't you get sick of eating a salad every single day? If you're anything like me, you appreciate variety. You can make this wrap ahead of time and enjoy it at work. The best part is that you won't feel guilty at all!

Cauliflower-Brocolli Soup

December 17, 2014 Karishma

There is something therapeutic about grocery shopping. I enjoy walking through the aisles of grocery stores or farmers markets admiring the colorful seasonal produce. I get inspired by all the fresh produce and so many ideas run through my food-loving brain. Mesmerized by all the beautiful fruits and veggies, I often end up purchasing way too much. This turns into me struggling to stuff my refrigerator with the bounty. Since I hate throwing food away, I somehow have to figure out how to use up everything before it goes bad. This is exactly what happened when the broccoli and cauliflower were screaming, "Pick me! Pick me!"

Spiced Sweet Potato Bites

November 26, 2014 Karishma

Samosas are the most popular among all Indian food. But thats just my opinion. I have never met anyone who dislikes samosas. They're spiced potatoes wrapped in dough and deep fried - a staple at every Indian restaurant and a favorite snack across the board. There are some great ways to make them healthier by substituting them with sweet potatoes. Or you can bake them instead of deep frying like my friend Priya at Recipris did. I love indulging in these savory enclosed galette-like snack.

You may not know but there is another dish that's the underdog of this category of food. They're known as "puffs". A mixture of spiced potatoes, onions and peas wrapped in puff pastry and then baked. I mean, its potatoes enclosed in a buttery flaky goodness, whats there not to like?!

Roasted Tomato Soup Infused with Goat Cheese

November 14, 2014 Karishma

Oh how comforting tomato soup can be on a cold rainy night. Ok not rainy because I live in California and it hasn't rained much for a really long time. But it has been getting a big chilly at night. All I can think of is taking a break from the books and bundling up in my warmest clothes, putting on fuzzy slippers, wrapping myself in a soft blanket and sipping on warm soup. On another note, I am almost finished with the first semester of grad school! Woohoo! I am looking forward to cooking more often during my break!