Tropical Fruit Barley Risotto -Tropical Temptations Challenge

Soaked in with the warmth of the sunny tropics,the luscious sweet tropical fruits make up a good part of my fruit feast.Although I was raised in tropics,I wasn't a vivid fruit lovers as a child,only recently did I discover the bounty of tropical fruits.Limited to a few that make it up to the north,there are still so many more to try,if only I could take trip to the exotic lands and devour some more.



It was one of those days I had the plethora of tropical delights in my fruit basket and the theme of tropical fruits stuck me.
The barley risotto,that I normally cook up with vegetables ,got a whole new look and taste with the sweet fruity make over.Barley for all its excellent benefits makes a perfect substitute for the starchy arborio rice that is normally used to give the risotto a creamy consistency.The richness of coconut milk and the mellow appealing tropical fruit makes this a very special kind of risotto,which I would say makes a great breakfast\brunch meal or a dessert course.
I wouldn't encourage cooking the soft and sweet fruits,its best to add the fruits towards the end of the cooking process for this risotto.

Recipe : Tropical Fruit Barley Risotto
Serves 2-3
Ingredients
1 cup barley,rinsed
2 cups light coconut milk
1 cup fresh pineapple chunks
2 tablespoon brown sugar
1 tablespoon Agave nectar or honey
1 kiwi,peeled and sliced
quarter of a papaya,peeled and sliced
1 small ripe mango,sliced
1 very ripe plantain,peeled and sliced
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2 teaspoon virgin pressed coconut oil
1/8 teaspoon salt

Method
Heat oil in a large sauce pan,add the sliced plantains and a teaspoon of sugar,cook 4-5 minutes on each side until caramelized.Set aside.
In the same pan,add the barley and saute until pearly white,stir in the sugar,now start adding the coconut milk ,about 1/4 cup each time and stir until the barley absorbs it all,cook until is soft and creamy. Add the pine apple pieces,vanilla and agave nectar towards the end of cooking process.
To serve,lay the caramelized plantains,kiwi and top the sliced fruit over the risotto.



Health Nut Challenge 7 : Tropical Temptations

I am very pleased to reveal Tropical fruits as the next theme of Health Nut challenge.This has to be a simpler challenge than the previous.Satiate your fruity desire,pick the most exotic or common tropical fruit found in your part of the world,and dish up a tropical fruit temptation and share them at the Health nut challenge.

Here are the challenge 7 guidelines:
* Prepare a healthy appetizing dish with any one or all of the tropical fruits.Mention about the nutrition and health benefits of each of the fruit.
-> Avocados
-> Bananas
-> Coconuts
-> Mangoes
-> Kiwi
-> Papaya
-> Plantains
-> Pine apples
-> Jack fruit
-> Star Fruit
-> Dragon fruit
-> Passion fruit
-> Guava
-> Lychee
-> Tamarind
-> or other exotic tropical fruits known to you.

* Limit 3 entries per blogger.Please use the logo(the big or smaller in the side bar) and link your post to this announcement page.Send the entries before last day of September 2010, using the form below.

Health Nut Challenge Form

Your Name
Your Email Address
Blog Name
Recipe Name
Recipe URL
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I'm allowing ample time for this challenge in scope of more entries and also the next couple months(Aug-Sept) your truly is planning for a vacation and blog in inactive mode.
The Ice cream Challenge round up is scheduled for next week,so you can still send in the entries till the end of this week.

Cruciferous Celebration

Who's up for the basket of health?


BokChoy,Broccoli,Brussel Sprouts,Kohlrabi,Cauliflower,Cabbage and Kale,all are honored members of cabbage family ,also referred as Cruciferous vegetables.There are crucial to our diet for being a good source of essential :
Soluble fiber,
Vitamins(A,B-1,B-2,B-6,C,E)
Folic acid
Plant Omega 3s
Disease fighting phytochemicals.

Thanks to every crucial participant of the challenge who celebrated these supper veggies,shared there appetizing recipes.Enjoy the following round up of recipes categorized by the meal time and meal courses.


Breakfast\Brunch

Umm Mymoonah's Cauliflower Adai with Kale Chutney,the South Indian Pancakes are wholesome with lentils,brown rice besides the hearty cauliflower.And the kale chutney adds another level of nutrition and flavor to the meal.


Priya's Japanese Cabbage Pancakes,is an eggcellent brunch idea.

Health Nut's Kale Dosa with Asparagus Chutney,an all green South Indian brunch.

Flat breads
Kanchan's travel friendlyCabbage Parathas ,gets the boring out and yum in,with this cabbage flat bread.

Sangeeta's revitalizing Cauliflower and broccoli Parathas are made with garden fresh vegetables.

Kiran's Broccoli Parathas are packed with excellence of broccoli.


Umm Mymoonah's Garlic and Kale Naan,made traditionally in smoking hot tandoori ovens,are baked in the recipe for convenience.Garlic with kale is a whole new flavor,one ought to try for the love of spice and greens.


Umm Razeen's kid approved Broccoli Soy Phulkas are soft and tasty, with hidden nutrition of soy and broccoli.


Priyanka's heartyGobi Parathas with curd and chutney are good enough for a shaadi ki thali(wedding feast)


Salads
Sangeeta's relishing Red Cabbage Salad in oil free Mustard Dressing with cabbage fresh from home garden,is as good as a salad can get.

Health Nut's Mediterranean Cauliflower Tabbouleh,is flavored with the tangy chunks of home made preserved lemons.

Priya's crisp Nutty Cabbage Salad is utterly tasty.

Nithu Bala's perfectly presented,raw and vibrantMixed Vegetable and Fruits Salad

Sangeeta's Tomato Salsa Salad with Arugula is another pleasing salad,with roasted tomatoes,radishes and tender green arugula.

Nithu Bala's snowy white Cauliflower Orange Salad is a juicy citrusy start of a meal.

Health Nut's Citrus Coleslaw ,a combination of savoy cabbage,orange segments,soy nuts and sunflower seeds in citrus dressing

Soups

Nithu Bala's gorgeousApple and red Cabbage Soup


LK's microwave Potato Cauliflower Soup with hint of spice from green chillies is quick to fix and warming to the soul.

Gita's Kale and White Bean Soup topped with alfa-alfa sprouts,is complete meal in itself with wonderful balance of greens,buttery beans and crunchy sprouts.

Nithu Bala's healthful Broccoli Cauliflower Spinach and lima Soup

Starters and Appetizers
Curry leaf's Cauliflower Mash is a winning replacement for a starchy potato mash.

Srividhya Ravikumar's sumptuous Cabbage Pakoda


Umm Razeen's crunchy munchy Kohl Rabi Murmera Chat


Priya's Broccoli patties are crusted with wholesome oats.

No-Fuss Saute and Bake

Harini-Jaya's Baked Brussels Sprouts,brings out the best of the not so favored vegetable among the picky eaters.

Kiran's Broccoli Yum-Yum is a simple saute with perfect seasoning of spices,just the way I like it.

Harini-Jaya's simply Baked Broccoli


Sides(Curries,Stir fries,Gravies ,Dal and such )

Saveur's elegant Tofu Hoisin with Baby Bok Choy


Gita's Broccoli Stalks Poriyal,enlightens about the tasty and nutritious stalks .

Sangeeta's Cabbage Stir fry is infused with the fiery sesame curry paste.

Cooking Foodie's spicy and juicy Cabbage Stir fry

LK's simply delicious Cabbage & Peas curry

Nithu Bala's flavorfulCabbage Beans Curry with coconut and Chana lentil.

Priya Mitharwal's Cauliflower Methi Subzi is low in fat, has the capturing aroma of kasoori methi and other piquant spices,making it a guilt-free side dish.

Kiran's heart-healthy Kale Mushroom Curry

Vidhya Ravikumar's Mixed Vegetable Sabzi is a mellow medley of cruciferous vegetables.

Vidhya Ravikumar's sumptuous Mixed Vegetable Kurma

Priya Vaasu's Cauliflower Pepper Stir Fry ,prepared in a snap,is a snack perfect for satiating sudden hunger pangs.

Umm Razeen's spicy and sour Cauliflower in low-fat Yogurt


Meena's Cauliflower Podimas,the South India side-dish,is perfectly seasoned with spices with touch of tangy lemons.

Nithu Bala's Cauliflower Gravy is rich with nuts,paneer and spice balance with juicy tomatoes and peas.

Swathi's Carrot Cauliflower Masala ,a stir-fry of pure vegetable and spice bliss.


Nisha's Kale Junka,is a Maharastrian style dish,the green is roasted with chickpea flour and spices until mellow and aromatic.

Priya's Pepper Cabbage Dal,warming soupy side with a bowl of brown rice.

Harini-jaya's Cabbage Kootu,one of the delicious Dal variations.

Suma Gandlur's heart warming Kohl rabi Sambhar

Kiran's Kale-Cranberry-Drumstick-Carrot Kootu Yogurt Sambhar,is just as filling and tasty as it sounds.


An open book's Mallu-style Brussel sprouts thoran with fresh coconut and spices,is one of the most flavorful ways of serving up the cabbage cousin.

Kiran's simple quick and easy ,Cauliflower Stir fry

My Spicy Kitchen's Cabbage Pachadi,a tangy spiced pickle .

Non-Vegetarian
Health Nut's Grilled Kibbeh,the Middle Eastern appetizers with added excellence of kale and carrots.

Health Nut's Kale Chicken Saag,is a beloved North Indian side,enhanced with protein.


Tazaika's appetizing Chicken Broccoli,has the Chinese season goodness of roasted sesame oil

Entrees

Lori's Nutty Cauliflower Quinoa is a thoroughly nourishing meal enriched with one of the best kind of nuts,vegetable and whole grain.


simply.food's easy and simple Cabbage Rice, a healthy, delectable and nutritious entree.

Sweet artichoke's one of kind savory French pastry, Cabbage and Tofu Millefeuli .


Saveur's spring special Chilled Soba With Baby Bok choy ,with Soba noodles, fresh green veggies, including baby bok choy, snow peas and spinach, lightly steamed, then combined with cool silken tofu in chunks and smothered with a ponzu soy sauce.These are light yet satisfying.

Health Nut's low fat wholesome Broccoli Quiche with brown rice crust.

Health Nut's Wholegrain Spanakopita(Greek Spinach Pie),is special for this is made with home made whole grain phyllo dough and the filling is wholly green.


Desserts
Priya's unique Carrot Cabbage Halwa,took me by surprise,for I never heard of cabbage for dessert.


Priya's Cabbage Almond Kheer,stumped me again with the creative veggie twist to the kheer.

That's all for this edition of Health Nut Challenge :D


Please join me for the next celebration of healthy frozen treats,by taking the "I Scream for Ice Cream " Health Nut Challenge and also be eligible to win the amazing Rachel Albert-Matesz's Ice Dream Cook Book.