HIGH PROTEIN SNACK.

I learnt a little bit more about proteins today. We would have heard from our school days how proteins, minerals and vitamins are important for our body’s nutrition. If you are not a Science student, then there are chances that you wouldn’t know much about these nutrients unless you have made an effort to learn. Or is it just I?

For now, let us stick to the basics.

Proteins -

They are the complex combinations of smaller chemical compounds, amino acids. The building blocks of human tissue, they are also a fuel source. They also repair tissues, helps in making enzymes, hormones and some body chemicals.

The main source of protein is our diet even though our body synthesizes some of the amino acids. For vegetarians like me, pulses and beans are the main and rich source of proteins. Here is a snack, which can also substitute as a meal.

Mixed beans/pulses chaat.

Ingredients:

Different types of beans (kidney, white, black eyed)

Pulses like green channa, chickpeas, black gram and green gram.

1 medium sized tomato finely chopped.

1 medium sized onion finely chopped.

Finely chopped fresh coriander for garnishing.

Herbs of your choice.

Chaat masala, salt and lemon juice – to taste.

Method:

Soak the beans and pulses for 8 hours.

Pressure cook them.

Mix all the ingredients together. I used a pinch of basil and thyme.

Garnish with finely chopped coriander.

Variation of this chaat.

Ingredients:

A bunch of mint leaves.

A bunch of coriander leaves.

A few green chillies.

Salt to taste.

Method:

Grind the above ingredients together in a grinder.

Mix this paste with the cooked beans and pulses. Heat it up a bit so that the masala is absorbed well by the pulses. Garnish with finely chopped coriander.

This can be eaten for breakfast / as an evening snack or even as dinner.