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The overwhelming craving for hot, comforting food on a rainy day can take the most of foodies. For generations, the craving has been answered with deep-fried samosas, oily pakoras, and ghee-laden halwas. While these dishes are what bring back nostalgia and make up your childhood, giving in to the craving for a deep-fried snack can’t be healthy.
But the good news is, with the advent of technology, the kitchens have evolved as well, and so has the relationship with food. Fitness enthusiasts are looking for familiar flavours whilst looking for healthier ways to satisfy their cravings. This is exactly where Usha’s steam oven can come in handy. Minimising the use of oil, you can make steamed and baked alternatives for your monsoon staple snacks. So, this rainy season, brew some adrak vali chai and cook through the downpours, but a little differently.
Assorted Pakoras
Image Credit: Magnific
Pakoras, also known as bhajiya in the Southern parts of India, are the go-to rainy-day snack. Following the same process, you can make a besan-based batter, chop your favourite veggies, and coat them well in the batter. Just remember to keep the batter thick instead of a runny one, which you usually make while deep-frying. Line the coated veggies on a baking tray in Usha’s steam oven and cook till golden brown. Serve the low-oil pakoras with your favourite chutney and masala chai.
Paneer Steamed Momos
Whether it’s a hill station or an Indian metro city, you can spot long queues in front of a momo stall, especially on a chilly rainy evening. Using fresh ingredients, you can make a healthier batch of paneer momos at home. Mix some cumbled paneer with grated carrot, cabbage, and onion with soy sauce and mayonnaise. Add the filling to a rolled maida-based dough and steam to perfection. Pair the protein-rich momos with a chilli chutney or a bowl of soup for a rainy-day dinner.
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Paneer Tikka
Image Credit: Magnific
You don’t need a tandoor or even an OTG oven to make paneer tikkas. If you’re craving the North Indian starter this monsoon, just preheat Usha’s steam oven and marinate paneer cubes in a spiced yoghurt-based paste. Skewer the marinated paneer cubes with chopped capsicum, tomato, and onion. Steam for about 10 minutes and then switch to dry heat mode to give the paneer tikkas their signature char.
Steam-Baked Samosas
By swapping deep-frying for the steam-based cooking of the modern Usha appliance, you can enjoy crispy samosas without lingering guilt or skipping dinner. The steam-baked version of samosas uses minimal oil and can be made even healthier by using a paneer-based filling instead of the traditional aloo-based one. Pair the crispy samosas with imli and pudina chutneys and enjoy with a cup of tea.
Vegetable Cutlets
Image Credit: Magnific
For a quick and indulgent snacking option, vegetable cutlets never fail to impress. Made with basic kitchen ingredients, cutlets are highly customisable and don’t require a lot of preparation time. You can use a leftover sabzi like paneer bhurji or jeera aloo to make patties. Lightly brush the patties with oil, cook in Usha’s steam oven till crispy, and then serve with a chutney or tomato ketchup.
