Onion, cucumber, tomato raita

All of us know how effective yoghurt is in fighting the summer heat.  And as we move towards summers I’d like to share a recipe that will help you beat the summer heat to some extent with ingredients such as cucumber, onion, mint and fresh coriander – a combination that is sure to help you protect yourself and your loved ones from heat wave.

Ingredients:

125 ml                  Yoghurt (dahi)

¼                            Cucumber (finely chopped)

1 small                  Tomato (finely chopped)

1 small                  Onion (finely chopped)

1 small                  green chilli (optional) (finely chopped)

Salt (according to test)

1 pinch                 Red chili powder

¼ Tsp.                   Mint powder

¼ Tsp.                   Cumin powder

10 gms                 Fresh Coriander (finely chopped)

Water

Procedure:

1. Take yoghurt and beat it into a thin mix.  Add a little water.
2. Add salt, red chili powder, mint powder and cumin powder.
3. Add finely chopped cucumber, tomato, onion and chilli and mix.
4. Garnish with finely chopped fresh coriander.

You can add other vegetables such as finely chopped carrots or capsicum.

Serve as a side-dish with rice-dal, pulao, puris or chappatis. 

Simply delicious potatoes - chaTapaTey aaloo

Potatoes… how we love to hate this veggie!  We, especially Indians, put them in several vegetables and then complain how we hate to do it because these make us obese, etc.  French fries, country potatoes, aaloo bhaja, aaloo bonDaa, aaloo Tikki… and we’ve not yet heard the end of this potato debate.  I’ll let those interested in talking talk and share another delicious potato recipe with you… many of you must have already tried it so it is just a ready reminder if you are still trying to think of a recipe that you'd like to cook this afternoon or evening.

Ingredients:

4-5 medium           Potatoes (boiled, peeled and cut into small cubes)
Salt (according to taste)
1 pinch                  Red chilli powder (according to taste)
¼ Tsp.                   Turmeric powder
1 Tb. Sp.               Sunflower Oil
1 Tsp.                    Cumin (jeera) 
1 Tsp.                    Coriander seeds (dhania)
1 pinch                  Asafoetida (hing)
1 Tb. Sp.               Garam masala powder
1 Tsp.                    Amchoor powder (powder made of dried unripe mangoes)

Procedure:

1.                   Heat oil.

2.                   Add cumin and coriander seeds.

3.                   When they start spluttering, add asafoetida, salt, red chilli powder and turmeric
             powder and mix well.

4.                   Add garam masala and amchoor powder.
5.                   Mix well.
6.                   Add boiled potatoes that you’ve already peeled and cut in small cubes.

7.                   Mix well.

8.                   Let it cook at low flame for approximately 5 minutes.

Serve as a side dish with chapattis, rice or poories.

This easy recipe is excellent if guests come uninvited and without informing (quite a few of us have gone through this experience). 

This dish can be eaten during Navaratri by those who avoid onions, etc., during this period.
These potatoes can be used in other ways that I’ll share with you soon.

Meanwhile, have a lovely potato day J