Houmous

Houmous can be used as a spread or as a dip. This houmous recipe is very easy and simple to make. Less time consuming as well....

houmous sprinkled with paprika

Ingredients:

• Chickpeas - 250gms(boiled and skin removed)
• Tahini - 100gms
• Ground cumin - 2 tbsps
• Chilli powder - 1 tbsp
• Salt - 1 tsp
• Olive oil - 1 tsp
• Lemon juice - 5 tbsps

method:

• Put the chickpeas in a blender and whizz with little water until smooth. 
• Add tahini, ground cumin, chilli powder, olive oil, salt and whizz again until its all combined. You can add a bit of water if required. Take care not to add much water.
• Serve with any kind of dosa, oatcakes or pancakes. Try using it as a dip for carrot sticks or cucumber batons.

This can be stored in fridge for a week or so in a sealed container.

Coconut sambal

This is a chutney which can be used for idly, dosa or can be stirred through rice to go along with fried chicken or cauliflower. It is also a good side dish for the lemon rice or tamarind rice. Hope you like it.

Ingredients:

• Coconut - 1
• garlic- 4 cloves
• Green chillies - 3
• Red chillies - 2
• Grated ginger - 1 tbsp
• Coconut milk - 4 tbsps
• salt to taste
• Lemon juice - 3 tbsps
• Onion - 1
• Oil - 1 tsp
• Black mustard seeds - 1 tbsp
• Few curry leaves
• Ground cumin - 3 tbsps
• Turmeric - 1 tbsp

method:

• Chop the coconut into small pieces. Crush the garlic. Deseed the chillies and slice them.
• mix the coconut, garlic, chillies with coconut milk, salt and lemon juice. Blend it to a puree.
• Splutter the mustard seeds in the oil, add the curry leaves, onions. Season with the cumin powder and saute them. stir this in the coconut mixture.
• Serve hot or cold as a meal accompaniment.

I find that this sambal is delicious when served with the lemon rice. To serve for the dosa or idly just add a bit of water. You can make it as hot as you want it. Just increase the red chillies.

Totmato dates chutney

This is a very interesting combination of the tangy tomatoes and the sweet dates. It goes well with most of the dishes. Try it and enjoy.

Ingredients:

• Dates - 6 seedless 
• Tomatoes - 2
• Ginger freshly grated - 3 tbsps
• Onion - 1
• Garlic - 2 cloves
• Olive oil - 2 tbsps
• Cumin powder - 2 tsps
• Fennel powder - 1 tsp
• cardamom - 1 tsp
• Ground cloves - 2 tsp
• Brown sugar - 1 tsp
• Bay leaves - 1
• Salt to taste
• Chili powder - 1 tbsp
• Turmeric - 1 tsp
• Vinegar or lemon juice - 4 tbsps

method:

• Wash and finely chop the tomatoes and the dates. mix them with the ginger.
• dice the onions and the garlic finely.
• Saute the onions and garlic and add the tomatoes and dates.
• Stir in the remaining ingredients along with the vinegar or the lemon juice.
• Let it simmer for about 20 min or so.
• serve the chutney either hot or cold .

A real good combination of tanginess and the sweetness along with a twist of the spiciness.