Monday, August 11, 2008

Healthy Zucchini Soya Cakes

Healthy & Tasty Zucchini and Soya cakes

Summer is here and so are the garden fresh veggies and herbs sizzling around in everyone's backyard. Well I don't have a backyard!! but can always count on endless supplies of garden fresh beauties from our local farmer's market. I believe in buying the local produce, so that you can help reducing the growing fuel use. A little effort goes a long way to curb global warming. And to top it homemade breads, pies and ice creams are a bonus to get the taste of homemade goodies.

Last week I bought some Zucchini and thought of grilling them, but instead ended up making cakes with them. When Sia of Monsoon Spice announced about JFI-Soya started by Indira of Mahanandi. I thought of making some zucchini cakes with soya chunks and soya flour for this event. JB loves to have snacks in the evening after a tiring day at work., though only few times I surprise him with some Indian fritters, snacks and salads, sad huh!

This is a very simple recipes and you can play around the ingredients pretty smoothly. I adapted this recipe from FoodTv ~ Paula Dean show. I added soya flour instead of the traditional A-P Flour (maida). Play with your veggies and you will create a fabulous snack item. Grated carrots, squash (yellow & green), green onions etc can be added too. Eat it with your favorite sauce, yogurt dip, chutney or simply with ketchup!

Cuisine: American, International
Prep time: 10 mins
Bake time: 30 mins
Makes: 8-10 cakes
Serves: 2-3
Ingredients:
1 Zucchini, grated

½ C Soya chunks, dried ones
2 T Soya Flour
2 T bread crumbs, seasoned
1 T extra virgin olive oil

1 large egg, lightly beaten
1/4 t garam masala powder or any spice mix of your choice (optional)
1/4 t cayenne pepper/chilli powder
freshly grounded black pepper
salt to taste
Oil spray

Method:
  • Grate the zucchini and drain the liquid by placing the shredded zucchini in a colander for 20 mins or place it in between two kitchen towels or papers and gently press. The extra liquid will be soaked up in the paper/towel.
  • Pre heat oven to 350 F (177 C), arrange aluminum foil on a large baking sheet and oil spray it.
  • Put the dried soya chunks in hot water, let it stand for 10 mins, squeeze the extra liquid out of it and shred them in a food processor. Shredded soya chunks it will look like ground kheema (goat/lamb meat).
  • Place shredded zucchini in a large bowl, add shredded soya, soya flour, bread crumbs, extra virgin olive oil, salt and freshly ground black pepper. Mix well and add chili powder/cayenne pepper, garam masala or any spice mix of your choice or you can opt it out completely.
  • Add lightly beaten egg and mix well shape the mixture into patty form. Place them on the baking sheet and spray once again over the patties.
  • Bake them for 30 mins turning the sides once for even cooking on both sides.
  • Serve hot with your favorite dip, chutney or sauce.

Variation:
  • If you don't have oven no worries! you can shallow fry them with little oil in a large pan just like you'd fry some ragda patties :)
  • You can add shredded carrots, cucumber, squash (yellow and green), green onions, shredded tofu/paneer (Indian cottage cheese) for variety of taste.

9 comments:

Usha said...

Wow this looks very very tempting :)

Cham said...

These pancake look fantastic Padma!

Sukanya Ramkumar said...

This is really healthy. Looks so good. Nice click. Turned out so prefect for u.

Kitchen Flavours said...

Wow yaar they look yummy and nice pic too. Why don't u send it to soya event held by http://www.monsoonspice.com/. Check out the link if possible.

Amu... said...

Great Idea with using Soya Chunks Padma...

I make another version...using feta and mit and basil mixed...you must have heard Zuchinni Fritters...

But I like your Healthy Idea better...Gonna give it a Try....

Thanks..:-)

Sia said...

u made my day padma dear:) what a innovative recipe. soya chunks and soya flour with courgettes, i am loving it:) thank u for sending me this delicious entry :) i am gonna try it soon.

Cynthia said...

Oh Padma, these look fantastic.

Rajani said...

zucchini soya cakes, sounds & looks good. lovely entry and i can't wait to try it out.

Rashmy said...

I followed your recipe for these soy cakes.. It was awesome. Thank you for posting such innovative and healthy dish...

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