Chilled Dahi Aloo chaat

In the sweltering May heat, Dahi aloo chaat makes a great meal accompaniment as well as an in between meals and tea time snack.

Ingredients

2 cups chilled blended yogurt
1-2  potatoes boiled peeled and cut into small pieces
1 small bowl of fresh pomegranate seeds
Salt, pepper/ red chilli powder and chaat masala to taste
few strands of coriander leaves

Method

In a bowl put boiled potatoes. add all dry spices and chilled yogurt. Mix well. Now pour out the contents in a glass serving dish. Garnish with fresh pomegranate seeds and coriander leaves and serve chilled.

New Flavour for Ice cream lovers !!

Ice cream Lovers are always experimenting with new flavors, either based on seasonal fruits or other exotic ingredients. While April and May are months when Alphonso mango ice cream is the favorite with young and old , I was surprised when a few days ago I got a gift of a tub of fresh jackfruit ice cream. Not being fond of jackfruit, I opened the tub a bit apprehensive about what lay in store, but was pleasantly surprised at the unique and delicious flavour of the ice cream. So next time you're looking for an original flavour think of Jackfruit!

Banana and Chikoo Shake !!

With the heat and humidity of Mumbai, one loses appetite for big meals and heavy food.  A wholesome fruit milkshake, had along with a few almonds/walnuts can be healthy and filling breakfast.

Method

Peel and cut 1 Banana/ Chikoo/ small mango. Put in a blender with 1 glass of chilled milk with 1/2 tspn of sugar (optional). Blend well. Serve chilled in a tall glass. Have it with 2 -3 walnut pieces and 5 almonds.

Left overs to Nothing Left .. !!

Most housewives are always confronted with the problem of storing  small quantities of left overs which no one feels like eating the next day. An easy way to make left over dry vegetables like potato bhaaji, aloo mattar, paneer bhurji etc interesting,  is to convert them to yummy filling  for toasts, Add one finely chopped onion, 1 to 2 green chilli, ginger, a little salt and pepper, 1 finely chopped tomato and a few chopped coriander leaves. Mix well. You may also add some grated cheese and and your filling is now ready. Place it between buttered slices of bread and grill/toast. Serve hot with chatni, ketchup, fries, chips, salad and it can become a full meal.

Turnip and Mint (Shalgam-Pudina) Soup

Ingredients
4-5 medium size turnips
1/2 cup mint leaves
1 small onion finely chopped
1 tspn butter
Salt and pepper to taste
1-2 tblspn lemon juice


Method

Peel wash and cut the turnips in small pieces. Add finely chopped onion, mint leaves to it and blend to form a smooth thick paste. Add 1 tspn to a pan and heat the pan on a medium flame. Pour the blended mixture in the pan and allow it to boil. add salt and pepper to taste. If the mixture is too thick dilute it with water to the required consistency. Add lemon juice to taste. Serve hot with bread sticks.

Summertime Salad

We are in the thick of summer, so time to share something cool and light on the stomach. Cool Summer salad fits the bill. You can make a meal of it along with a bowl of chilled watermelon/marsh melon or a glass of chilled watermelon juice.

Ingredients:

For salad dressing: ½ kg Curd
1 cup fresh cream

1” piece ginger

½ tsp citric acid or juice of one lemon

Salt and pepper to taste

1 medium sized cabbage

2 large carrots

2 onions/Spring onion
few slices of Tomato and Capsicum for 

Procedure:

Put curds in a muslin cloth and hang for about 2 hours.  Drain out all water.  Add fresh cream, ginger, salt pepper and lemon juice well.  Grate vegetables and mix well with dressing arrange in a salad dish and decorate with sliced tomatoes / capsicum etc.   

Melon Basil Smoothie

With the mercury rising there is a yearning for cool drinks that are healthy and wholesome as many of us don't feel hungry enough specially for lunch. Melon Basil Smoothie is to whip up in a minute, very refreshing and healthy!

Ingredients
1 medium size Marsh Melon peeled and cut into pieces
1 cup chilled yogurt
1/4 cup washed basil leaves
1/2 cup crushed ice


Method 
Put all ingredients in a blender and blend to a smoothie. If too thick, dilute with a little chilled water. Serve in a tall glass. You can add finely chopped pieces of marsh melon. You can also add a scoop of vanilla ice-cream if you feel like having a more sumptuous drink.