Around The World On Your Plate

Serves: 4 Ingredients: 2 cups grated cucumber 1/4 cup chopped cucumber (optional) 1 cup yogurt 1/4 cup grated coconut 1/2 tsp mustard seeds 1-2 green chilies Salt to taste Water as needed Cilantro to garnish Seasoning: 1 tsp oil 1/2 tsp mustard seeds 1 sprig curry leaves 1/8th teaspoon asafoetida  1-2 red chilies (optional) 1/4 teaspoon turmeric powder Method: This recipe uses a total of 1 teaspoon of mustard seeds, 1/2 teaspoon while grinding and 1/2 teaspoon for seasoning. Grind green chillies, grated coconut, and mustard seeds together. In a bowl, mix the grated cucumber and the above mixture along with yogurt and mix until everything is well incorporated, adjust the thickness by adding water as needed.  Add salt to taste and set aside. In a small pan, heat 1 teaspoon of oil and add mustard seeds and let them pop, next add asafotida and turmeric powder along with chilies and curry leaves and let it sizzle for a few seconds.  Turn off the hea

Ingredients: 2-3 tablespoon of oil 1 teaspoon of mustard seeds 1/8th teaspoon of asafoetida 1 sprig of curry leaves 1 teaspoon of turmeric powder 2 cups cooked rice 1-1/2 cup tomatoes chopped 2-3 green chilies slit Lemon juice as needed Salt to taste Cilantro to garnish Method: Heat oil and add mustard seeds and let them pop. Next add asafoetida, curry leaves and green chillies and saute for a minute. Add the chopped tomatoes and some salt and cook them until tender. Next add turmeric powder and mix well. Once the tomatoes are soft, add cooked rice and salt to taste and mix everything well.  Turn off the heat and add some lemon juice to taste and mix well.  Garnish with cilantro and serve hot. Notes: You can even garnish with freshly grated coconut.

Serves: 3-4 Ingredients: 1/3 cup masoor dal (split red lentil) 1-1/2 cup chopped spinach 2 tomatoes chopped 1/2 cup onion chopped 1 teaspoon crushed garlic 2 green chilies slit 2 tablespoons of oil 1 teaspoon cumin seeds 1 teaspoon turmeric powder 1-2 teaspoon red chilli powder Cilantro to garnish Salt to taste Method: Cook masoor dal along with tomatoes, spinach, salt and adequate amount of water in a pressure cooker and set aside. In a pan, heat oil and add cumin seeds and let it crackle.  Next add garlic, green chilies, onion and saute until translucent.  Next add the cooked dal mixture and mix well. Add turmeric powder and red chilli powder and mix well.  Adjust salt to taste.  Once dal comes to a boil, turn off the heat and garnish with cilantro and serve hot with steamed rice.