Protein is a significant nutritional component as it plays a crucial role in many of your bodily functions. This macronutrient is referred to as the ‘building block of life. As it is essential in building muscles and facilitating muscle recovery. It also helps in improving the health of your hair, nails, and skin. It plays a pivotal role in weight management. Here are 8 budget-friendly high protein recipes to prepare at home:
1. Chickpea Crepe – It makes an amazing breakfast. And if you find a perfect crisp chickpea crepe on your table, it is definitely going to salivate you!
Ingredients:
● Chickpea flour – 1 cup
● Water – 1 cup
● Salt – 2 tsp
● Onion – ½ sliced
● Chilli powder – 1 tsp
● Bishop seeds – 1 tsp
● Green chilli – 1
● Finely chopped fenugreek leaves – ½ cup
● Oil to fry – 4 tsp
Method:
● Mix all the ingredients (excluding the oil) by adding little water at a time to make a thick consistency.
● Keep it aside for 15-20 minutes.
● Heat the oil in a frying pan.
● Keeping the flame high, pour the batter into the pan spreading it evenly.
● Lower the flame and let it cook till the edges turn brown.
● Flip it on the other side to cook slightly. Serve it hot with yoghurt.
2. Kidney Beans and Rice – Kidney beans are an excellent source of protein and can be paired with rice.
Ingredients:
● Kidney beans – 2 cups
● Baking soda – ¾ cup
● Finely chopped tomatoes – 2 cups
● Chopped ginger – 1 tbsp
● Garam masala – 1 tsp
● Bay leaf – 1
● Roasted cumin seeds – 1 tbsp
● Salt – 1 tbsp
● Turmeric – ½ tsp
● Ground coriander – 2 tbsp
● Red Chillies – ⅔
● Butter – 1 tbsp
● Chopped coriander leaves – 2 tbsp
Method:
● Soak the kidney beans with baking soda for about 4 to 6 hours.
● Change the water and boil the beans until tender.
● Strain the beans and reserve the drained liquid.
● Mix together ginger, garam masala, cumin seeds and bay leaf. And grind them in the blender.
● Heat oil in a deep pan and add tomatoes. Fry till the oil separates.
● Add the ground ingredients and saute further until the oil segregates again. Then add the ground coriander, red chillies, salt and turmeric. Stir properly.
● Put in the green chillies and beans. Saute until properly mixed and slightly fried.
● Add the reserved liquid, 4 cups of water and beans to the above mixture.
● Let it boil and leave to simmer until the gravy is well-blended.
● Serve hot with butter. And garnish with coriander leaves.
3. Scrambled Cottage Cheese (paneer) – Scrambled cottage cheese is one of the popular North Indian dishes. It is a good source of protein.
Ingredients:
● Full cream milk – 1 litre
● Citric acid – ½ tsp
● Tomatoes – 4
● Green chillies – 3
● Ginger – 1 tsp
● Oil – 2 tsp
● Salt – 1tsp
● Turmeric – 1 tsp
● Ground coriander – 1 tsp
● Ground cumin – 1 tsp
● Red chilli powder – 1 tsp
● Grated cottage cheese – 3 tbsp
● Coriander leaves – ½ cup
● Dried fenugreek leaves – ½ tsp
● Garam Masala – A pinch
Method:
● Boil the milk in a bowl and add citric acid to it.
● In a while, drain the water in a vessel and separate the cottage cheese in a sieve.
● Grind tomatoes, chopped ginger and green chillies in a blender.
● Add some oil to a pan and the above paste to it.
● Saute until the oil separates. Add salt, turmeric, ground coriander, ground cumin and red chilli powder.
● Mix all the ingredients well and add cottage cheese.
● Stir the cheese and masala thoroughly.
● Add coriander leaves, dried fenugreek leaves and the drained paneer water.
● Let the mixture boil. Then, add a pinch of garam masala. Mix well.
● Serve hot and garnish with green chillies.
Relish your protein-rich diet!