I am also trying to make lighter healthier iftaars and then dinner or not. I made pakoray 2 times and felt gross afterwards, although they tasted good at the time. Besides baking desi samosas…try making Southwestern Eggrolls (Google Chili’s Southwestern Eggrolls). You add filling to Flour Tortilla rounds. Instead of frying, just spray with oil and bake in the oven. I have done this successfully. You can omit the cheese or just add less and use fat free cheese and it still turns out great. Serve Avocado sauce or just a guacamole and it is good.
I also like over baked fish/fish sticks. Plenty of recipes. Use any white fish you like cut into small strips. Marinate in buttermilk along with salt/pepper/Cajun seasoning and maybe even a dallop of hot sauce for about an hour. Dip each piece in eggwash and then flour or cornmeal/flour mixture and then redip in egg and then dip into panko bread crumbs. (I flavor the breadcrumbs with salt/pepper etc. Place on baking sheet that has been sprayed. Lightly spray the top and bake to a light golden brown. Pretty good. Serve with tartar sauce or even a nice desi chutney
Oh and you can go wrong with different bean salad variations, such as Chana Chaat with Chick peas, boiled sweet potato or regular potato and diced cucumber/tomatoes/onions etc and some tangy dressing. You can also do corn, black beans, red bell peppers, diced tomatoes/cucumbers with a lemon/olive oil vinaigrette. Maybe even add tamarind paste or lemon juice for taste or any spices you prefer.
Another one I really love is an Avocado salsa, basic recipe is diced avocado, tomatoes and onions with lemon juice and some cilantro. Salt pepper to taste. Vary it by adding diced peaches, or diced semi ripe mango, even diced strawberries are good. Taste great with baked tortilla chips or as is as a side. I usually always do a salad for dinner and even a yogurt item…so we fill on that and then dinner so we eat less Dehi bhallay might get heavy. Sometimes I make the yogurt with chat masala etc, and only add chopped salad items to it (cucumbers, onions, tomatoes, mint) and serve on the side for a healthy treat with rotie salan.
