A well balanced diet |
It’s a no brain-er, but still we’re laying it out for you guys: It is none other than the largest democracy in the world & our motherland- India!
Yes, we’re celebrating our 71st Republic day as a Republic Nation.
Across our country, there are a lot of reservations about eating meat & non-vegetarian food in general. As a result, most of our diets lack sufficient quantity of protein. This Republic Day, let's try to improve our overall well-being by exerting our Right to Protein. This mostly involves adding protein elements in our diet, irrespective of animal or plant based proteins. This doesn't just stop at you as it is our duty to influence those around us so that everyone can lead a healthier life style.
Right to protein !
It is not unknown to the masses that our country has a huge population & a majority of the population does not have the privilege of consuming well balanced meals throughout the day. Hence, the awareness for this campaign is crucial to our development as a nation.
Ever wondered why majority of foreign athletes pack more power? It is mostly because of their protein rich diets! A protein rich diet not only boosts metabolism, but also helps in building muscle etc. With that been said, we take the pledge of making better & healthier diet choices & increasing the quantity of protein in our diet (Not that we consume any less).
We also consider It our responsibility to spread the knowledge & influence others. You should do it too!
We are Bengalis from the city of joy, Kolkata & majority of our protein intake comes from fishes & other meats.
However, since we pledged to make better diet choices, we’ll talk about a personal favorite of ours: soya bean. These remarkable nuggets pack a lot of protein & the reason why we chose a vegetarian item is to include those who do not prefer non-veg. Soya bean is a favorite back in our home town.
One of our favorite preparations is the Soya Chaap. It is insanely tasty & if prepared well, tastes as good as meat.
Fish- One of the highest sources of protein in the planet! |
So let us show you how you can earn your right to protein !
Soya beans soaked for 4 hours and drained 1/2 cup
Refined flour 3/4 cup cup
Salt to taste
Wooden ice cream sticks as required
Yogurt 1/2 cup
Gram flour 2-3 tablespoons
Chaat masala 1/2 teaspoon
Turmeric powder 1/4 teaspoon
Red chilli powder 1/2 teaspoon
Garam masala powder 1/4 teaspoon
Ginger-garlic paste 1 teaspoon
Oil to deep fry
Refined flour slurry as required
Soya mince as required
Onion rings to serve
Lemon slices to serve
Fresh mint to garnish
Let us walk you through the course of preparation:
- Blend soya beans with some water
- Mix refined flour with soya paste & salt to a semi-stiff dough
- Break the dough into balls & flatten them like a Roti
- Cut into strips & wrap it around a wooden stick ( we use ice cream sticks as they look appealing) Voila, we made the chaaps
- Heat water & blanch the strips (4-5 min). Then drain the water & keep them in some ice for the mixture to harden
- Take curd in a bowl along with gram flour, turmeric, red chilli, garam masala powder, ginger & garlic paste & a little water. Mix well with a pinch of salt
- Heat oil in a non-stick pan, Take the leftover refined flour in a bowl
- Dip the chaaps in the curd mixture, coat it with the refined flour & fry till golden brown. If you like to add a bit of zing, add minced soya after the refined flour. This adds some crunch to the Soya Chaaps.
After this we generally use napkins to absorb the excess oil. Tastes best with some lemon juice freshly squeezed on top.
Soya Chaap garnished with onions, lemon & coriander |
Coming down to the Right to Protein, which is a is a nation-wide public health initiative to increase general awareness about the importance of adequate and quality protein in everyday diet. It is an initiative to educate the people in India about the importance of protein for their general health, fitness and well being. The #RightToProtein campaign aspires to act as a catalyst in promoting consumption of different forms of proteins amongst Indians for better overall nutrition.
Under this initiative, there is a protein calculator called the Protein-O-Meter, which calculates one’s daily protein requirement basis basic individual information such as body profile, type of lifestyle and meals consumed at different times during the day. Apart from information on one’s possible protein gap, the platform also provides information on protein-rich foods, healthy habits, tips and busting myths about protein.
This takes the Indian dietary preferences into consideration & across all age groups.
As they say, our body is made up of 75% of what we eat! A healthier diet leads to a better lifestyle & that directly translates into better fitness, working capability & longevity in general.
That’s all from our side!
Do let us know if you have anything to say to us about the recipe or the post.
We’d love to hear from you!
Till then, Happy Republic Day & Bon Apetit!
- 14:02
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