Avocado-Corn Salsa

During summers,I like to keep it simple.The heat is too much to add up anything more to the hassle.So,at times, I go simple with food,easy yet delicious.Here is a no-work-at-all kind salad recipe,try it and beat the heat.

Ingredients:

1/2 avocado, diced.
1/2 cup thawed frozen corn kernels.
5-6 cherry tomatoes, chopped.
2 tsp chopped fresh cilantro.
Lime juice, to taste.
Salt, to taste.

Method:

Combine avocado, corn, tomato and cilantro in a small bowl. Add lime juice and salt to taste. Voila! you have a super quick salad ready in just minutes.

Enjoy!!!

Mum's Birthday Part 2: Skewered Cottage Cheese Balls with Raw Mango Twist!

I was suddenly humming and dancing to this song all day "Aao twist karein",I kinda like the dance moves full of twist! twist! and twist!

So,why would twisting limit itself just to dance moves,why not try it in food..ha! ha! ha!
Today's post is just on it with twists so enjoy the video and dance while you cook as well.

This was the second dish served in the evening to her(my mother) along with the Dahi Vada.

Ingredients:

For the Cottage Cheese Balls:

Cottage cheese/paneer 250 gm.
Raw mango pulp finely diced for filling.
Readymade Kasundi mustard sauce 1 tbsp.
Refined flour/Maida 3 tbsp.
Black pepper 1/2 tsp.
Green cardamom powder 1/2 tsp.
Salt to taste.
Turmeric powder 1/4 tsp.
Cherry tomatoes 1 pkt.
Green leaf lettuce 4 leaves washed and cleaned.
Chat masala for sprinkling.

For the Red sauce:

Readymade Chilly sauce 2 tsp.
Tomato ketchup 2 tsp.
Pudina leaves 3-4 leaves finely cut.

For the Raw Mango Chutney:

Raw mango 1 pc with the skin cut into 5-6 pc lengthwise.
Salt and sugar to taste.
Sunflower oil 1 tbsp.
Turmeric powder 1 tsp.
Fennel seeds a pinch.
Fenugreek seeds a pinch.
Whole dried red chilly 1 pc.
Black mustard seeds a pinch.
Mix Roasted spices(fennel,fenugreek,mustard,carom,dried red chilly) grind to powder.


Method:

For Skewered Balls:

Soak the skewers in a jug full of water.

In a bowl take panner and add maida,black pepper,green cardamom powder,salt,turmeric powder and mix well to form a dough.

In a small bowl mix the raw mango pieces with the kasundi sauce.

Now make small balls of the panner and put the raw mango mixture as the filling in the center and make round balls with them.

Deep fry in a pan all the balls and set aside in a paper towel.

Lightly marinade the cherry tomatoes with salt and butter and put it in the skewers.

Now in a grill pan grill the tomatoes well on all sides.

Alternatively put the panner ball and the tomatoes in the skewers.

Serve on a bed of lettuce leaves and sprinkle the chat masala over it.


For the Red sauce:

In a bowl,mix tomato ketchup,red chilly sauce and the pudina leaves and mix well.

****(You could avoid this sauce if you are not to fond of hot sauces)


For the Raw mango chutney:

Boil the mango pieces along with salt and turmeric powder and strain the water and keep aside.

In a skillet, heat oil and add dried red chilly broken into two halves,fenugreek seeds,fennel seeds,mustard seeds and let it crackle.

Add the boiled mangoes,turmeric powder,sugar and stir.

Now add water as required and let it simmer.

Once the mango looks well cooked add the roasted spices powder.

After 5 mins take it off the flame.

****(Now if the seeds bother you,then use a strainer to strain the chutney and re-drop the mango pieces in it and serve).

 Birthday isn't complete without the cake cutting photo.

Do you see that smile and sparkle on her face. Isn't what this every daughter seeks for.Ooh! I love her too much..so Cook. Eat and Enjoy!!!!! and don't forget to Dance...

Keema Dahi Vada

Dahi Vada is a popular appetizer for the hot summer days.It is always served chilled.The yogurt,together with the balls,cools the body from the heat and takes care of the protein supply as well.The aromatic herb cilantro,adds to the cool aftertaste.

Truly,its too hot in here (Kolkata),as a friend of mine said, "We were misinformed in school that the season of March-April is called Spring!"...hahaha! really 41 degrees,are you kidding me! anyone would say that,isn't it?

So,to beat the heat I cooked this non-vegetarian dish,I hope you like it. 

Ingredients:

For the balls:

Chicken keema 250 gm
Salt and sugar to taste
Besan 4 tbsp
Cornflour 2 tbsp
Ginger-garlic paste 1 1/2 tsp
Garam masala 1/2 tsp
Black pepper 1 tsp.
Red chili powder 1/2 tsp.
Sunflower oil for deep frying.

For the Sauce:

Semi sour yogurt 100 gm

Tamarind chutney 2 tsp
Sugar to taste
Black salt to taste
Chat masala 1 tsp
Roasted cumin powder a pinch.
Cilantro (Corriander)leaves,bhujia or sev and beresta (fried onions) for garnish.

Method:

Wash the chicken keema well and mix all the ball ingredients together except for oil.

In a skillet,heat oil and fry them into small ball shapes and set aside to cool down.

Now,in another bowl mix the sauce ingredients except for the garnish and with a whisker blend it smoothly.

Then with a toothpick,make 4-5 small holes in each balls and dip them in the sauce.

Cover with a cling sheet and refrigerate for least for 2-3 hours.

After it has cooled,take it out and garnish it with cilantro,bhujia and beresta.If required,you could add a pinch of roasted cumin to top it.

Serve chilled.

See it was easy nah! Enjoy and keep the heat at bay *smiles*