Delicious Idli Upma !

I happened to have this delicious dish at a friend's place yesterday afternoon. It was something new I came across and so delicious that I got the recipe and tried it out today. Sharing the same with you all. So if you want to give your regular idlis a new twist do try this new recipe !!

Ingredients  

4 to 6 idlis (made the previous day)

1 small onion finely chopped

1/2 tsp udad dal

1/2 tsp mustard seeds 

1 tsp chopped Kerala green chillies or regular chillies

8 to 10 curry leaves

2 tblsps oil

Method

Crumble idlis with the hand to pulp. Heat oil In a kadai. When hot, add udad dal and mustard seeds. Allow them to splutter, next add the chillies and curry leaves, lower the flame and add onion. Saute on low flame for a couple of minutes till onion is translucent. Add crumbled idlis, a pinch of salt and mix well. Cover the kadai and steam for 2 to 3 minutes. Serve in a glass bowl. You can garnish with chopped coriander leaves if you choose. This tastes good even when had cold.

Refreshing Mango Salad !

Was at a friend's place this afternoon playing bridge and along with a couple of hot snacks and tea, she served a very refreshing chilled Mango Salad, which was yummy and just perfect for the muggy weather we are experiencing in Mumbai. Mango salad is most simple to make and needs just a few ingredients. Here's how you can make it. 

Ingredients

1 large Badami Mango (Ripe but firm)

A  couple of tsps of fresh lemon juice

1/4 tsp red chillie powder

1/4 tsp salt or to taste

10 to 15 mint leaves.

Procedure

Peel the mango and cut it into vertical strips like you would chop potatoes for french fries. Place the slices in a bowl. Sprinkle chillie powder, salt, lemon juice and finely chopped mint leaves. Mix well and arrange mango pieces nicely in a salad dish and chill for about 30 minutes. Serve  chilled with other snacks or a meal, or just by itself as a light filler in between meals. 

You may also ad a dash of pepper powder if you like.

Kiwi Quotient !!!

Over the weekend, I was invited to "Kiwi Quotient" an event hosted by Sofitel Hotel in association with New Zealand and Zespri Kiwi Fruit for food bloggers and food lovers. The event showcased the versatility of Kiwi in culinary creations and the distinctiveness of the new variety "Sun Gold Kiwi" which is yellow, sweeter and more juicy!

Not being a regular eater or an ardent fan of Kiwi fruit, I was not aware of it's multiple health benefits. It is rich in vitamin C and antioxidants, improves digestion and a good source of folic acid. Diabetics too can enjoy it.

Chefs Indrajit and Prakash of Sofitel demonstrated for us in a Bar setting, how we could make some quick, simple and unique creations... Kiwi Bruschetta- a very unusual, but delicious version of Bruschetta; Kiwi Tam - a yummy and nutritious salad; an exotic cocktail- Kiwi Mania and a non alcoholic beverage - Kiwi Cooler!

Since I am a vegetarian, I tried both the vegetarian creations and gave them a thumbs up - the Bruschetta and Kiwi Cooler. Here's how you can make them too.

Kiwi Bruschetta 
Ingredients                                            

20 gms (4) French Baguette slices

50 gms Avacado

50 gms Kiwi Fruit

5 gms green chillies

10ml Lemon Juice

5 gms salt

30 gms Racket lettuce

10gms Parmesan cheese

5 gms coriander leaves

For garnish, Gojo berries or any other berries or cherry tomatoes.

Method:    

Cut the kiwi and avacado in small pieces and keep aside in a bowl

Chop the coriander, green chillies and mix with avacado and kiwi 

Add in salt and lemon juice

Slice the baguette and lightly toast them. Drizzle with olive oil.

Spoon out the mixture on the toasted baguette slice and garnish with a few berries.

KIWI COOLER                                                                           

Ingredients:

60 ml Fresh Kiwi Pulp

10  to 12  Fresh Mint leaves

30 ml Sour Mix ( 2 parts lime 1 part sugar)

Dash of Soda

Method:

Gently muddle mint leaves and add all the ingredients into a cocktail shaker.

Add ice cubes and shake it well. 

Pour it in a HI- Ball glass

Garnish with Fresh cut slice of kiwi and mint sprig.

The sour mix and mint leaves bring out the flavour  & refreshing appeal of this drink.

I also realised that since Kiwi has a very mild taste and flavour, adding stronger flavours like lemon, garlic , cheese accentuate the taste of the different  creations! 

Beat the heat with Cold Cucumber soup ...

The summer heat coupled with all of us indulging on the lovely Alphonso mangoes, results in many of us having upset stomachs due to excessive body heat. An excellent thing to have in such situations is Cold Cucumber Soup.

Here's how you can make it in minutes.

                                                                   

Ingredients

4 cups buttermilk

1 medium sized cucumber

1/2 tsp  mustard seeds

1 tbsp oil

a few coriander leaves finely chopped

salt to taste

Put buttermilk in a pan. Peel the cucumber, slit into halves vertically and scoop out the seeds. Grate the cucumber shell on a grater and add to the buttermilk. Next add salt and mix well. In a small Tadka kadai heat oil. Put mustard seeds and allow them to crackle. Then pour the hot oil and mustard seeds on the buttermilk. Mix well and chill in the fridge for some time. Serve chilled garnished with coriander leaves. 

A very refreshing appetizer!