Summer Meal - Grilled Cottage Cheese,Sauteed veggies with charred onions and tomato rings.

It is a known fact that we like to drink more than eat in summers. The hot sunny days calls for more beverages and lemonade than other varieties of food. We like to incorporate more colours in our diet in terms of fruits and vegetables as they are more appeasing to the eye and to our palette. 

I usually avoid fried,junk and heavy food in this weather and prefer eating light, colourful and flavoursome food as i can enjoy it without having any indulgence aftereffect. 

Yesterday I prepared a nutritious meal which was full of flavours and colors and absolutely barred the need for wheat rotis or bread. Assortments of veggies,greens,cottage cheese and herbs makes this dish light & fulfilling. Enjoy this Summer fresh meal with a chilled glass of lemonade. 

"Summer Meal - Grilled Cottage Cheese,Sauteed veggies with charred onions and tomato rings"

Ingredients:

For Cottage Cheese -

250 gms fresh low fat cottage cheese

3 tbsp mustard sauce

1 tsp olive oil 

1 tbsp ginger garlic paste

1 tsp lemon juice

1 tsp tomato ketchup

1 tsp black pepper powder

salt as per taste

1 tbsp oregano / italian seasoning mix

2 tbsp olive oil for grilling

For Veggies - 

1/2 cup green peas

8-10 baby potatoes

100 gms french beans / asparagus

2 carrots

1 small cup sweet corn kernels

1/2 cup button mushrooms

1 brocolli ( optional)

salt as per taste

2 tbsp Oregano powder

1 tbsp red chilli flakes

1 tbsp olive oil 

3 flakes garlic crushed

For charred rings - 

2 big onions

2 big tomatoes

1 tbsp oilve oil

salt as per taste

Italian seasoning mix

Preparation:

• For preparing the cottage cheese, mix mustard sauce, olive oil,ginger garlic paste,lemon juice,tomato ketchup, pepper powder,salt and oregano in a bowl. Slice the cottage cheese in thick square chunks.Dip these slices in the prepared marinade and leave aside for fifteen minutes.
• Heat a grill or pan and add olive oil. Place the marinated cottage cheese slices and grill them on low flame for 3-4 minutes on each side till crisp and brown. Remove and keep aside
• To prepare the veggies, boil them together and strain. Take a deep pan and heat olive oil. Add crushed garlic and let it infuse it for a minute. Add the sieved vegetables and toss them in the oil properly. Season with salt,oregano and red chilli flakes. Keep aside
• For making charred rings, make round slices of onions and tomatoes. Seperate the onion rings and remove the centre pulp from the tomatoes.
• Heat oil in the griddle or pan and once hot drop the onion rings and char them on high heat. Season with salt and italian seasoning mix and keep tossing. They will become a little pale in colour. Remove aside. Repeat the process with tomato rings and char them for a minute (Do not overcook else they will become squishy)
• To place all hte things together, place grilled cottage cheese on the plate. Add the sauteed veggies and charred onion and tomato rings on the side. Garnish with little olive oil before serving ( as per choice)
• Serve warm as a complete meal. 

Note : You can use any other vegetables of your choice in this recipe. You can add zucchini, capsicum etc to add extra flavour.

I have made the same recipe with grilled chicken instead of cottage cheese and paired it up with sauteed veggies and rings. You can use any marinade and grill the chicken to perfection before serving. The same can be done with prawns,fish and other sea food items. If you like you can also serve this dish with some warm flatbread and butter. 

While preparing the charred onion and tomato rings please be careful to not overcook them. They should have a bite and taste sweet after cooking. 

If you want to make this dish more healthy then you can skip the use of oil while grilling.