Russian Salad

Sometimes we would like to have a non-boring and filling salad. Russian salad would be one of the most appropriate items in this category. It is creamy and very delectable and yet simple to make. I had made this with things that I had at home but there are other ways to make it which you can find on web.

Ingredients:

1.      Carrot – 1

2.      Apple – 1

3.      Capsicum – 1 cup

4.      Crushed white pepper – ¼ tsp

5.      Salt – 1 pinch

6.      Mayonnaise – 1 tbsp

7.      Fresh Cream – 2 tbsp (can be replaced with yoghurt or sour cream as you like it)

8.      Sugar – ½ tsp

9.      Lemon juice – 1 tsp

10.   Herb for garnishing (Mint, Coriander, Basil or so)

Method:

Step 1: Make juliennes out of carrot and apple. Mix apple, carrot and cabbage in a bowl and coat with lemon juice to avoid oxidation. Refrigerate salad for sometime.

Step 2: In a small cup take mayonnaise, fresh cream, salt, sugar, pepper and beat until smooth; add few drops    of milk if the paste is too hard and make the dressing to ketchup like consistency

Step 3: Before serving, pour the dressing over the salad and toss them to coat evenly. Garnish with herb of your choice and serve chilled.

Carrot Rice

I remember those school days when my mom used to try all possible ways to make me eat vegetables because I was choosy with vegetables. I couldn't eat carrot in any form other than raita but that can’t be packed for lunch. So she tried this carrot rice which became favorite dish for me and my friends.

  

Ingredients:

1.        Steamed rice – 2 cups

2.        Carrot grated – 1 cup

3.        Green chillies – 2

4.        Mustard seeds – ¼ tsp

5.        Cumin seeds – ¼ tsp

6.        Urad dal – 1 tbsp

7.        Bengal gram – 1 tbsp

8.        Curry leaves – 1 sprig

9.        Onion – ½ cup finely chopped

10.    Ginger garlic paste – ½ tsp

11.    Turmeric powder – ¼ tsp

12.    Garam masala – 1 tsp

13.    Chili powder - 1/2 tsp

14.    Coriander – 2 tbsp finely chopped

15.    Salt as per taste

16.    Oil – 2 tbsp

Method:

Step 1: Heat oil in a pan, splutter mustard seeds, cumin seeds, add Bengal gram and urad dal, put chopped green chilies, throw in curry leaves and sauté onion in it, and then add ginger garlic paste and turmeric powder

Step 2:  Mix grated carrot, sprinkle salt and garam masala, and cover the lid to cook for 2 minutes by simmering the heat

Step 3: Open the lid, sprinkle chopped coriander and steamed rice and mix thoroughly with light hand to avoid breaking the rice. Adjust salt if required

Step 4: This can be served warm without any side dish or chilled plain curd to complement it

Kulcha

Couple of months back, we invited one of his colleagues who had recently got married for lunch. I wanted to try something really good for the couple. Butter kulcha is my husband’s favourite when he goes to restaurant, so wanted to try it at home. The recipes from internet seemed simple and I gave an attempt and it actually was good enough.

Ingredients:

            1.    Refined flour/ Maida – 2 cups
2.       Salt – ½ tsp
3.       Sugar – 1 tbsp
4.       Baking powder – 1 tsp
5.       Baking soda – ½ tsp
6.       Curds – ½ cup
7.       Oil – 2 tbsp
8.       Coriander or kasuri methi to sprinkle on the kulcha (optional)
9.       Butter for brushing the kulchas (in case you want to have butter kulchas)

Method:

Step 1: Sieve flour and mix salt, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, oil and curds. Then by adding water slowly make soft dough by working on it for 10 minutes. Be light handed to keep the air in the dough intact for softness

Step 2: Wrap the dough loosely in a wet cloth and leave aside for 30 minutes to 1 hour.

Step 3: open the dough to find it risen in size; divide in small portions, sprinkle dry flour on it and with the help rolling pin roll them into thick kulchas (triple the thickness of phulka). Wet you fingers in water, press over the chopped coriander or kasurimethi and tap slightly on the surface of kulchas.

 Step 4: Heat the tawa, grease with a little oil or butter and rolled kulcha over it. When it starts bulging, keep rotating it, when one side is done flip it and press to see it fully puffed and done.

Step 5:  Brush with butter or place a blob of butter on the kulcha and serve hot with chole masala or any other side dish of your choice.