International Egg Day: Five variety dishes to enjoy the protein-packed food

Often called every cook's best friend, eggs can come to your aid even when your pantry is thin. The delicious food is not just a rich source of protein, but it's also as versatile as a super-food can be and amplifies the taste of most things it gets paired with. On International Egg Day, we bring you five interesting recipes that can be whipped up with egg as the key ingredient. Make the most of the simple, budget-friendly ingredients and enjoy the dishes:

Mutta churul: A sweet treat with eggs and coconut
If you are looking for a filling and healthy breakfast option or evening snack, here's what you should try. All you need are some bananas, grated coconut, sugar and of course, eggs.

Ingredients
1 cup wheat flour
¾ + ¼ cup water
Salt as required
A pinch of turmeric powder
1 egg
1 big banana
1 cup grated coconut
3 tbsp sugar
¼ tsp cardamom powder
10 - 12 chopped cashews
1 tbsp raisins
2 tsp ghee

Preparation
Blend the wheat flour with ¾ cup water, turmeric powder, egg and salt in a mixer jar into a smooth batter
Heat 1 tsp ghee in a pan
Fry the cashews and raisins; set them aside to be used later
Add 1 more tsp ghee to the same pan
Sauté the banana pieces for a few seconds
Pour ¼ cup water
Cook for 2 minutes on low flame until the water reduces
Add the grated coconut, cardamom powder and sugar when the water begins to reduce
Mix for a minute (The banana pieces shouldn’t be overcooked and mushy)
Now add the fried cashews and raisins
Give everything a good mix; this is the filling
Grease a hot pan with some ghee
Pour a ladle full of batter
Spread into a thin pancake
Flip the pancake when one side gets cooked
Place 2 tbsp filling in the centre
Fold from both sides into a packet
Delicious mutta churul is ready

Potato omelette: A spicy, wholesome and filling dish
If you want to add some 'filling' layers to your regular omelette, this is the way to go. Also rich with onions, green chillies, tomatoes and more, it can stop you from binge eating for a long time.

Ingredients
3 eggs
1 tbsp butter
1 potato
1 onion
Green chillies
2 tomatoes
1 tsp chilly powder
1 tsp pepper powder
¼ tsp turmeric powder

Preparation
Heat butter in a pan
Add grated potato (Squeeze out the water)
Sauté for 2 minutes
Now add onion and green chillies
Sauté well
Into it add tomatoes
Add chilly powder, pepper powder and turmeric powder
Mix well
Close the lid and cook for 5 minutes
After this mixture is cooked well, set it in the shape of the pan
Add the eggs on top of this
Sprinkle salt and pepper
Cook for 3 minutes with the lid on
Add chopped coriander leaves
Close the lid and cook for 2 more minutes on low flame
Cut the potato omelette into slices and serve with toast

Eggs-drumstick leaves scrambled: High on nutrients and taste
Pair moringa leaves with eggs and you get an extra super-food, that can be relished both as a side dish and a stand-alone meal that is nourishing any time of the day. Grab some fresh leaves and start cooking:

Ingredients
1 ½ cups moringa leaves
2 eggs
4 tablespoons scraped coconut
1 teaspoon crushed green chillies
½ teaspoon mustard
3 cloves garlic
Salt
Coconut oil

Preparation
Blend together moringa leaves, scraped coconut, crushed chillies and salt
Heat oil in a frying pan and add in the mustard
Once it splutters, put the garlic in and sauté well
Add the drumstick leaves, cover the pan and cook the leaves well
Once the leaves are cooked, move them to the side of the pan
Break the eggs into them and add salt as per requirement
Once the eggs are well scrambled, mix it with the cooked leaves
Turn off the flame and serve while hot

Cheese egg sandwich: Fast food with a healthy twist
In the mood to eat something wholesome but have no energy for elaborate cooking? A cheese egg sandwich is your best friend on such days. Get hold of your regular kitchen ingredients and in a few minutes, you can whip up this sandwich that gives fast-food vibes but is healthy enough.

Ingredients
2 eggs
2 tbsp chopped onions
1 tsp chopped green chillies
Salt to taste
¼ cup milk
2 slices of bread
¼ tsp pepper powder
¼ tsp dry red chilli flakes
1 cup mozzarella cheese
¼ tsp oregano
½ cup capsicum (yellow, red)
¼ cup olive

Preparation
In a bowl, add egg, chopped onion, chopped green chillies, salt and milk and mix well
Put 2 slices of bread in another bowl and pour the egg mixture on top of it
Sprinkle pepper powder, chilli flakes, mozzarella cheese, oregano, capsicum (yellow and red) and olives on top of it
Add a little more mozzarella cheese on top and bake at 180 degrees for 20-30 minutes
Alternatively, you can make the sandwich in a frying pan on low flame

Egg salad: A crunchy, one-pot meal
Loaded with protein and other nutrients, this delicious salad made with boiled eggs is filling and healthy. Here is how you could easily make this eggs-veggies salad.

Ingredients
2 boiled eggs
1 onion
1 tomato
1 small carrot
1 tbsp chopped coriander leaves
2 green chillies
Half capsicum
Pinch of cumin powder
1 tsp lemon juice
Salt as required

Preparation
Cut the boiled eggs into small pieces
Finely chop the onion, tomato, carrot, green chillies, capsicum and coriander leaves
Add cumin powder to the vegetable mix
Mix well
Dress with salt and lemon juice
Add the boiled eggs just before serving