Friday, January 31, 2014

Salsa / Tomato salad



When its time for some simple, healthy and snack time.....Salsa is all time favorite. Easy to make & healthy-tasty to eat.

INGREDIENTS
  1. 2-3 medium sized fresh tomatoes , finely diced.
  2. 1/2 red onion, finely diced.
  3. 1 chili finely diced.
  4. Juice of one lime.
  5. 1/2 cup chopped cilantro/coriander leaves.
  6. Salt to taste.
  7. Optional: ½ tsp of Mustard oil.

METHOD
1.        Start with chopping up 2 medium sized fresh tomatoes. Prepare the chilies. Be very careful while handling these hot chilies. If you can, avoid touching them with your hands. Use a fork to cut up the chilies over a small plate, or use a paper towel to protect your hands. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and hot water after handling and avoid touching your eyes for several hours.
2.       Combine all of the ingredients in a medium sized bowl including salt & oil. Taste. If the chilies make the salsa too hot, add some more chopped tomato. If not hot enough, carefully add a few of the seeds from the chilies.
3.      Let sit for 5-10 minutes for the flavors to combine.
4.      Serve with chips, tortillas, tacos, burritos or tostadas.






Begun Bhaja ( Brinjal Fry)


Begun Bhaja/ Beaingan bhaja is famous snack which can be taken along as snack or main meal.

Ingredients
        
  1. 1 large eggplant (begun/brinjal/baingan/aubergine) cut into half inch round slices
  2. ½ tsp turmeric powder/hadli
  3. salt as required
  4. ½ tsp of sugar
  5. mustard oil or sunflower oil for frying
  6. 3 tsp chickpea flour/besan or all purpose flour/maida/Corn flour
  7. A pinch of Kolonji/black cumin (Nigella sativa also known as black caraway, or black onion seed)
Instructions
1.       Rinse the eggplant (brinjal) well in water. Pat dry with a kitchen towel.
2.      Now slice the eggplant in ½ inch thick roundels.
3.      Now add all the turmeric powder, salt, sugar, besan/corn flour/black cumin together in a bowl with some water and mix well till it become thick dip.
4.      Then drop the brinjal pieces in to the dip & Marinate for 3-5 minutes.
5.      Heat oil in a pan.
6.      Take out the brinjal from the thick dip and start frying in the pan.
7.      Now pan fry the brinjal slices till crisp and golden brown on both sides.
8.      Drain baingan slices on paper tissues.
9. Serve brinjal fry just as snack or with with Rice or roti / naam.