Sweet Corn Chaat/Salad

ashuskitchen- Sweet Corn Chaat/Salad

Salads are an essential part of the regular Indian meal. Most meals do have some or the other type of salad, chutney, koshimbirs, raitas etc as a component of the Indian Thali.  Foodies who love salads would understand how one is drawn towards the salad table at the buffets. I am very fond of salads and lately have been adding dried fruits too to my salads, it helps us to eat the daily intake that should be part of our food. Fiber is the undigested part of our food that is present in the whole grains, vegetables and fruits, whole pulses or legumes etc. that provide us with the essential roughage or bulk and thus aid in proper bowel movement and helps to prevent constipation .

I won’t be wrong if I write that for most Indians the word Chaat results in instant tingling of the taste buds and sudden mouth-watering moments. Chaats are blend of sweet, sour and spicy taste with the savory factor added too. It is a dish that creates a happy riot in the mouth with the over production of saliva by the salivary glands and one is left drooling till the Chaat vendor serves the ready dish in our hands.

When I am looking out to make easy, yet interesting, menu options at home from the ingredients that are almost always available in the refrigerator, I came up with this simple, refreshing, mouth tantalizing dish that I am sharing with you all.

One can call it a Chaat or Salad as I have added the sweetcorn for the fiber and its sweetness, crunchy salad vegetables, threw in some dried berries to give out the sweetness, sprinkled the lemon juice for the sourness, added the green chili/red chili powder for the spice, added the nuts for the nutty crunch in the bite and lastly sprinkled with the savory food-the fine Sev. I made this as a light dinner menu and served with lot of fine Sev sprinkled on top and savory Papdi and hence I called it Sweetcorn Chaat. If I avoid the Sev, then I would call it a salad and serve it with roasted Papad along with meals.

Sweetcorn Chaat/ Salad:

INGREDIENTS:

Sweetcorn: 2 Corn cob (Boiled)

Bell Peppers: 1/2 each Red/Yellow/Orange

Cucumber: 1 Medium-sized

Onion: 1 Medium-sized

Tomato: 1 Medium-sized

Fine Sev: 100 gm

Mixed nuts: 30 gm (Almonds, Pistachios, walnuts)

Dried Berries: 2 Tbsp (Blueberries/Cranberries)

Raisins: 1 Tbsp

Lemon: 1 Medium-sized

Green Coriander: 1 Tbsp finely chopped

Green Chilli: 2 or Red Chilli powder 1 Tsp

Salt: To Taste

Pepper: 1 Tsp

Chaat Masala: 2 Tsp

METHOD:

Boil the corn in a Pressure cooker, 2 whistles. (I used raw corn and hence preferred to boil it in cooker). Then remove the corn from the cob.

Sweetcorn Chaat

Finely chop all the salad vegetables (bell peppers, cucumber, tomato, onion, green coriander, chili as shown in the picture below.

Salad vegetables

Take a big glass bowl, add the boiled corn, the cut vegetables, the dried chopped nuts, the dried berries, raisins, the seasonings, chopped chilli and green coriander, sprinkle the lemon juice and then mix/toss all the ingredients. Check the seasoning and adjust according to ones taste. I have also added sliced almonds. (I oven roasted the Almonds, coarsely chopped and then added.)

Mix all the ingredients of the Corn Chaat in a glass bowl.

Just before serving add the fine Sev on top and give the final toss and serve along with papdi.

Sweetcorn Chaat

This chaat tasted so yum and ended up becoming the dinner menu. As one can note the salad is full of fiber and hence it becomes filling for the tummy. The fresh berries might not be regularly available at home, as here in the UAE it is not locally produced. We all are aware of the importance of including the berries in our diet and I keep the dried ones handy, works well to toss them into lot many dishes. These dried berries and raisins impart the necessary sweetness to the chaat, hence we do not need to add any sweet chutney which is essential for any chaat preparation. If one has mint and coriander chutney handy, one could also use that or the freshly chopped herbs too work well as they add the required freshness. Do give this sumptuous healthy dish a try to enjoy with each bite the different flavors and texture of this delicious Sweetcorn Chaat or salad from ashuskitchen :).

I wanted to share a healthy, nutritious snack menu with you all and hence the post for this March month. Do also give importance to include some part of physical activity in your daily schedules, apart from eating healthy meals.

Eat well and stay fit :).  Enjoy!

ashu

 

Flaming Hot Tomato Dip For Momos

Here is the recipe of the dip that I mentioned in my previous post of Kheema Momos. (Click momos for recipe)

As the filling inside the momos is kept simple or mild in taste, the dip that accompanies should be spicy enough. This is how we like in our home and is also served in most of the restaurants. Here is my recipe of the fiery tomato dip that I first tasted in Nagarkot in Nepal that was served with momos, the taste that still lingers.

TOMATO DIP:

INGREDIENTS: (Makes 1 bowl of Dip)

Tomato: 1 (Big sized)

Ginger: 1″ (or Medium) piece (the sharp ginger taste should come)

Red Chilli Flakes: 1Tbls

Mustard seeds: 1Tsp

Green Coriander: Few Springs (cleaned and washed)

Red Chilli Powder: 1 Tbsp (or more if preferred a more fiery taste)

Turmeric: 1/2 Tsp

Salt: To Taste.

Oil: 1Tsp

METHOD:

Wash all the vegetables and cut into small cubes or pieces. (This will go in blender so do not worry about the shape to cut).

Heat a pan and add the oil. We need less amount of oil for this dip. Add the mustard seeds, as they splutter then add the ginger, chilli flakes and tomatoes. Cook till the tomato is soft, then add the red chilli powder, turmeric powder and salt. Then add the cut green coriander. Remove the pan from fire and empty contents into a bowl and cool. Put the cooled chutney into the blender and blend on medium speed so that we get a smooth dip. If you want a thin dip then add little water, but it is not required as the tomato has juice. Empty the tomato dip into the serving bowl and serve it with piping hot steamed momos.

The red chilli powder can be adjusted according to personal preference or eating habit. If you do not want very a hot dip then reduce the quantity of the chilli added to the dip. The tanginess of the tomato, sharpness of the ginger and the fiery hot chilli makes a fantastic combination and definitely makes one go for the dip with each bite of the momos.

Enjoy! Happy eating in 2015.

Spicy Tomato Chutney/Dip

Tomato chutney is one of the easiest and tastiest side dishes that goes well with any form of parathas, be it plain paratha or the numerous stuffed parathas that one can think of or few rice preparations like masala khichadi. It is my son’s favourite chutney and hence a frequently made recipe. It goes well my Baked Thalipeeth recipe too, the post where I have shared this same dip.

Ingredients:

Red Tomatoes: 2 Large

Onion: 1 Small

Green Chillies: 2 0r 3(spicy variety)

Garlic-2 cloves

Salt/Red chilli Powder/Turmeric-As per taste

Oil-2 Tsp.

Mustard Seeds: 1/2 tsp for seasoning.

Sugar-1 tsp (optional, I do not add.)

Method:

1. Heat oil in pan and add the mustard seeds, chopped green chillies, garlic and onion. Sauté till they are soft.
2. Then add the red chilli powder, turmeric, and salt.
3. Add the chopped tomatoes and cook till done.
4. Remove from heat into a bowl and cool.
5. Blend this in blender to get the smooth dip.

Tip: If one does not wish to use a blender or mixer, then you can add a little water to the tomatoes and cook them to a very soft and saucy consistency.

Baked Thalipeeth with Spicy Tomato Chutney, my alternative for a Pizza Dinner.

Most of us are fond of eating pizza, I am no exception. Pizza is something the kids would never say no and possible would eat almost regularly, every day, only if I allowed it. When the mood is for eating pizza, but to avoid the frequent intake of refined wheat flour and yeast to make the pizza base, for those evenings this is my quick menu to satiate the pizza hungry kids. My mother used to make something similar to this recipe but used the regular gas stove for cooking, but I baked it and the family was happy with the final product. It does not take very long time for making this recipe, except for the baking time.

Thalipeeth: Thalipeeth is a type of flat bread, a dish from Maharashtra state in India. Though typically it is made of multigrain flour mix, but for today’s dish I am using only wheat flour as the main ingredient.  It is mixed with onions, spring onions, green chillies, seasoned to personal taste and baked to get the desired crunch and crispy taste. An extremely spicy tomato dip/chutney is served along with it.

Ingredients For Thalipeeth:

Whole Wheat flour-3 cups (300-350g)

Oil: 3 Tbsp

Onion: 1 large (finely chopped)

Spring onions: 1 cup (finely chopped)

Green chillies: 3-4 Medium sized (finely chopped)

Green Coriander: 1-2 Tbsp (finely chopped)

Carom seeds: 1 Tsp. (Ajwain)

Flaxseed: 1 Tbsp (I use it, its a good source of fibre and omega-3 essential fatty acid)

Sesame seeds: 1 Tbsp

Salt: To taste

Turmeric powder: 1/2 Tsp.

Curd: 2 Tbsp

Baking powder: 1/2 Tsp

Water: As required to make a medium soft dough.

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 180C/160C fan assisted. Grease a square baking tin, I used a brownie baking tin.
2. Sift the wheat flour and baking powder together.
3. Take a clean, dry bowl and add the sifted wheat flour. To it add the finely chopped onions, spring onions, chillies, coriander,  the three types of seeds mentioned above, salt, turmeric and curd.
4. Mix all the ingredients of the bowl thoroughly. Add 2 tbsp oil to it and mix well.
5. Using the required quantity of water make a medium soft dough and knead well.
6. Taking the greased baking tin firmly press the dough inside the tin. Press with fingers to get even thickness on all sides.
7. Brush the top of the dough with oil and drop few drops along the walls of the tin.
8. Bake in the preheated oven for 25-35 minutes or till we get golden brown crust.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One can enjoy this dish with chilli sauce or a curd dip, but I prefer the tomato dip. Recipe of the tomato dip follows.

Spicy Tomato Chutney/Dip:

Ingredients:                  

Ripe red tomatoes- 2 Large

Onion-1 small

Green chillies- 2-3 (spicy variety)

Garlic-2 cloves

Salt/ red chilli powder/ turmeric- As per taste.

Oil- 1-2 tsp.

Mustard seeds- for seasoning

Method:

1. Heat oil in pan and add the mustard seeds, chopped green chillies, garlic and onion. Sauté till they are soft.
2. Then add the red chilli powder, turmeric, and salt.
3. Add the chopped tomatoes and cook till done.
4. Remove from heat into a bowl and cool.
5. Blend this in blender to get the smooth dip.

Tip: If one does not wish to use a blender, then you can add a little water to the tomatoes and cook them to a very soft and saucy consistency.

Boiled Egg Sabzi

This is one of my favorite way of cooking boiled eggs to make a sabzi that the family enjoys for meals during travel, by either road or train.  Food is an essential part of travelling for my family. So much so, that they agree to come along based on the food available during long journeys! This recipe is just one of the few easy on-the-go recipes I use to satiate my hungry kids. Going through the pictorial depiction of the ingredients and method of cooking, you would agree with me how easy and yummy this simple recipe turns out. Go ahead and have fun cooking this, and do let me know your comments.

Ingredients:  

Boiled Eggs, Onions, Green Chilies, Tomato, Ginger, Garlic, Oil- 30 ml, 1 tsp Cumin, 2 tsp Red Chilli Powder,  Salt to taste and Sprig of fresh mint. Little water will be needed for mixing the ingredients.

Prepare the Ingredients for use:

I sliced the onions and chopped the tomatoes. Each egg was sliced into four. As the yolk is not preferred, I used yolk of only two eggs.

The cumin, green chilies, garlic and ginger were roughly crushed using mortar and pestle as we don’t need a fine paste.

Method:

Heat oil in a Kadai/frying pan and add the sliced onions to it.  Fry onion till pinkish in color.  Add the coarsely ground chilies and ginger garlic mix.  Then add the chopped tomatoes.

Cook the tomatoes for sometime, then add the turmeric, and chili powder and salt.

Then add the sliced eggs and little water to mix all the ingredients. Simmer for few minutes. Garnish with mint and green chili and serve either with paratha or roti or any type of bread.

The onion masala can be kept ready in the fridge to be used for later and thus by just adding boiled eggs to it the dish can be made in no time.

Enjoy.

ashu:)