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. 

Tomato Chutney

Here’s a quick dish that I love having as an accompaniment with several types of food-dishes and it is the perfect replacement for ketchup minus preservatives.

Ingredients:

1 Tb. Sp.              Oil

1 Tsp.                    Cumin (jeera)

1 small piece      Cinnamon (dalchini)

4-5 big                  Tomatoes (Cut in cubes)

1 Tb. Sp.              Raisins (kishmish)

Salt (according to taste)

Red chilli powder (according to taste)

1 Tb. Sp.              Sugar

Preparation:

Heat oil in a pan and add cumin and cinnamon to it.

Once the cumin starts spluttering, add salt and red chillies.

Add Tomatoes, some water and cover.

Once the tomatoes are well cooked remove the lid.  Add Raisins and let it simmer for about five minutes.

Add Sugar.  Mix well and let it simmer for another 5 minutes.

Serve as an accompaniment with rice or khichadi or chapattis or pakodas or puris or in any other way that you like.  I love it even with sandwiches instead of regular ketchup bought from the market.