Ripe Mango Chutney

Well this is something that I got inspired from Konkani 'sase? or sasme' - but I just tweaked for our taste.


Ingredients:

Ripe Mango:1 (over ripe or very soft works best here)
Green Chilies - according to your taste. Slit them.
Curry leaves - few
Mustard seeds black - 1 teaspoon
Coconut oil - 2 teaspoons ( if you not like coconut oil use whatever you like but this adds a distinct flavor)

Method:

Step 1: Peel the ripe mango and mush it up.



Step 2: Heat coconut oil and add mustard seeds (let it pop) caution: be careful and cover it or keep moving it with a spoon.

Step 3: Add the chilies (Slit them) and curry leaves - again exercise caution as it can splatter oil all over.



Step 4: Add this hot tadka (seasoning) to the mango pulp and add salt.



Mix and serve with roti, rice and dal, or with any appetizer.

I love the sweet and sour - you can add tamarind paste or jaggery to please your palate.

Note: I tried to use different color chilies - I found some purple chilies at farmer's market and added it here for color contrast. You can also use bell peppers instead of chilies to add color to this dish.

Squash Flower Fritters

Another dish that is courtesy of Farmer's Market. This is an inspired dish and not authentic - I got it from my Bengali friend so if follow a different recipe please let me know. Crunchy and soft at the same time with the onion and poppy seeds adding texture love this with little ketchup or masala chai.

Ingredients:

One bunch squash / pumpkin flowers - 8 to 10 pcs
Rice Flour - 1/2 cup
Kalonji (onion seeds) - 1/2 teaspoon
Poppy seeds (white) - 1 teaspoon
Chilli powder - according to taste
Turmeric powder - 1/4 teaspoon
Salt according to taste
Oil for frying (peanut is best)


Method:

Step 1: Wash the flowers in running water and keep aside.


Step 2: Make the batter by mixing all the ingredients listed and add little water. Make sure the batter is of pancake consistency.



Step 3: Heat oil

Step 4: drop a small dollop of the batter and it should raise immediately - that means the oil is ready for frying.

Step 5: Dip the flowers one by one and drop in hot oil carefully.



Step 6: Fry till light golden brown.




Note: you fill with any veggie or cheese or meat filling. Though as is in it's simplest form is what I like.

Tulsi or Tulasi Podi (Holy Basil Powder)

Farmer's market always brings so much inspiration and motivation to create new dishes. That is exactly what happened - I saw Tulsi and grabbed a bunch with no idea on what to make of it. Initially I thought I could just add it to water and drink the water - to get the tulsi benefits. Later in the week I was talking to chef friend and he casually mentioned about different podis (powder) and added Tulsi to the list. I immediately created it.

In South India from where I come we use different types of lentil based powder as a base for rice and then have it with yogurt and a veggie a complete meal and comes in handy for week nights when you do not want to add more dishes or if you want something quick and flavorful.

Ingredients:
2 bunches of tulsi (Holy Basil) well washed and spun. Remove the leaves from the stem. Throw the stem or use them to make infused water.
Channa Dal - 2 teaspoon
Urd Dal - 2 teaspoon
Tuvar Dal - 2 teaspoon
Coriander seeds - 1 teaspoon
Sesame seeds - 1 teaspoon
Red Dry Chilly - 4 or 5 nos (or more if you want it spcier)
Sesame oil - 2 teaspoon


Method:

1. Heat a wok and add the oil.
2. Add all the ingredients mentioned above.
3. Keep frying till you see a light brown color - make sure to not leave the ingredients alone it can burn easily.
4. Take the fried ingredients out and keep on a plate to cool.
5. Now in the same wok (no need to wash) just make sure there are no seeds or dals in it. Add now add the tulsi leaves.
6. Saute till they wilt - not too much.
7. Cool and grind to a rough consistency or fine (depending on what you like.)

NOTE: you can use any type of dal or not use them and use just peanuts or other nuts. Also if tulsi is not available you can use curry leaves, coriander leaves or basil leaves. There is NO constraint on creativity for ingredients here.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ocimum_tenuiflorum - benefits of Tulsi