Tuesday, July 17, 2012

Radish Raita

Radish Raita - A summer delight!

The temperatures this summer seem to be soaring to an all time high! I personally love the summer - the hotter it is, the fun of jumping in the swimming pool multiples! :D However, it has been extremely hot consistently and air conditioning has become a necessity - which means less natural air! :(

This is also the time for some yummy cooling foods like buttermilk, cucumbers, other fresh salads and loads of fruits! Here is a very simple recipe for Radish raita -packed with iron and a delightful cooling side dish with any meal. You could use either white radish or the red radish. I find red radish to have a milder taste compared to the white variation. Personally I love them both. But if you don't like the the strong raw taste/smell of raw white radish, try the red one.

What you need: (for a small portion)
Red radishes - 4, grated
Curds (Plain yogurt) - 2 tbsp, slightly beaten.
Green chillies -1, sliced lengthwise
Cilantro/coriander leaves - 2 tsp, finely chopped
Salt to taste

Method:
Mix all the ingredients together and adjust salt.

Optional Tempering
Heat 1/2 tsp oil, add mustard seeds, cumin seeds and allow them to splutter. Add this tempering to the raita.

Enjoy the cooling raita with rice/dal or roti sabzi! :)

Tuesday, July 3, 2012

High Protein Dosa

Healthy/different dosa

The protein fixation continues!! :-D Mixed some dals and chana with brown rice and made dosa out of it. Was pleasantly surprised at the results! I made these a particular way - with onions and chillies and stuck to this all the time as it turned out tastier than making normal dosas out of it.


What you need :

Batter:
Urad Dal - 1/2 cup
Kala Chana (black chana) - 1/2 cup
Split green moong dal - 1/2 cup
Brown Rice - 1 1/2 cup
White rice - 1 1/2 cup
Fenugreek(methi) seeds - 2 tsp
Poha - small handful - optional

Dosa:
Onion - finely chopped
Green chilles - finely chopped or green chilly paste
Coriander leaves/cilantro - finely chopped
Salt - as per taste
Sugar -1 or 2 spoons
Oil

Method : 

1. Wash the dals and rice together, changing water multiple times.
2. Soak the rice and dal mixture with fenugreek seeds and Poha for 8-10 hours. You can soak the rice and dals separately or better mixing/smoother batter.
3. Grind it to a paste.
4. Keep the batter for fermentation overnight/depending on the weather. I usually keep the batter in oven with the light on for faster fermentation. The batter is ready when it is light and fluffy, with air bubbles formed on the surface.
5. Once the batter is ready add the onions, chillies, cilantro, salt and sugar. 
6. Make dosas out of this batter. 

Notes : The dosas are a little thicker than the normal thin dosas. Roast on both sides with oil to get the crispy crunchy taste.