AMBADA AND COCONUT CHUTNEY-HOG PLUM AND COCONUT CHUTNEY

AMBADA ARE HOG PLUMS AND USED AS A SOURING AGENT ESPECIALLY ON THE WESTERN COASTLINE OF INDIA.

INGREDIENTS FOR 1.25 CUPS CHUTNEY

1.5 CUPS GRATED FRESH WHITE MEAT OF COCONUT.

1 RAW GREEN HOG PLUM OR AMBADA, PEELED

1-2 INDIAN GREEN CHILLIES (OR TO TASTE)

FOR TEMPERING

5 SMALL YOUNG GREEN CURRY LEAVES

1/2 TEASPOON BLACK MUSTARD SEEDS

PINCH ASAFETIDA

METHOD

THE LIME SIZED AMBADA HAS A GREEN SKIN THAT SHOULD BE PEELED TO REVEAL A HARD WHITE FRUIT. IF ITS VERY RAW THE SEEDS INSIDE WILL BE RELATIVELY INSEPARABLE FROM THE PULP. USE HALVE THIS FRUIT AND GRATE COARSELY. ADD MORE TO TASTE.

GRIND THE GREEN CHILLI COCONUT AND AMBADA TO A SMOOTH PASTE. ADD A LITTLE WATER TO FACILITATE GRINDING. ADD SALT TO TASTE AND MORE AMBADA IF YOU WANT IT MORE SOUR.

HEAT OIL ON HIGH HEAT. ADD MUSTARD SEEDS AND COOK 30 SECONDS. ADD CURRY LEAVES AND ASAFETIDA AND REMOVE FROM FLAM. COOL AND POUR OVER CHUTNEY. STIR WELL.

TASTE AGAIN AND ADJUST FOR SALT. SERVE WITH BATATA WADAS, PURIS, DOSAS AND IDLIS.

 

 

MANGO,AVOCADO AND CUCUMBER SALSA

Mango Avocado Cucumber Salsa

This is a simple but delicious dip I like to serve with baked potato or tortilla chips, banana chips even rice crackers. Add more or less green chilli to suit your taste. Avocado blackens very quickly so if you plan to wait several hours before you eat this dip peel, chop and add the avocado just before you serve it.

Ingredients for 6-7 persons

2 large ripe but firm mangoes (lambda, Chausa) peeled and cubed into half inch pieces
1 large ripe avocado (1 Florida or 2 Haas) peeled and cubed into half inch pieces
Zest of one lemon
Juice of half a lemon
2-3 Indian green chillies or use 2 bird chillies finely chopped and mixed with a teaspoon of kitchen salt
5 bulbs scallions or green onions finely chopped, set aside 2 tablespoons as a garnish
5 inches of green onion stalks or scallion stalks finely chopped
1 seedless cucumber peeled and diced into half inch pieces
More salt to taste

Method-
Combine all the ingredients and toss well but do not mash, you want the pieces to stay intact. Add more salt to taste. Garnish with two tablespoons green onion stalks Serve cold with chips of your choice. If you are worried about spiciness serve some sour cream or strained yogurt on the side.

CRISPY, BUTTERY SMASHED POTATOES WITH GARLIC AND CHIVE CREAM DIP

THESE ARE SO GOOD!! YOU CAN USE MEDIUM SIZE POTATOES AS WELL IF YOU PREFER A LARGER SCOOP. THESE POTATOES SHRINK WHEN BAKED.SERVE THEM AS CANAPES WITH CREAM CHEESE PIPED ON TOP, SERVE THEM AS A CHIP AND DIP OR AS A SIDE WITH A GOOD ROAST. IF YOU USE ONLY OIL AND A CREAM CHEESE SUBSTITUTE THIS DISH IS VEGAN.

 

 

SERVES 4-5

INGREDIENTS

400 GRAMS BABY POTATOES (MIXED COLORS IF YOU CAN FIND THEM)

SALT AND WHITE PEPPER TO SEASON

1/4 CUP VEGETABLE OIL

2 TBSP BUTTER MELTED OR JUST USE OIL

METHOD FOR POTATOES

WASH THE POTATOES AND STEAM THEM USING A PRESSURE COOKER OR STEAMER UNTIL THEY ARE JUST TENDER ENOUGH TO BE PIERCED BY A FORK.

DRAIN THE POTATOES COMPLETELY AND LINE THEM ON A BAKING TRAY.

PREHEAT OVEN TO 375F AND PREPARE MIDDLE RUNG.

USING A POTATO MASHER SMASH EACH POTATO UNTIL JUST BROKEN.  THIS SHOULD TAKE NO MORE THAN ONE BASH. THE AIM IS TO FLATTEN THEM A BIT AND OPEN THEM UP. DONT MASH THEM.

BUTTER THE POTATOES ON BOTH SIDES GENEROUSLY WITH A BRUSH  THEN OIL THEM WITH THE SAME BRUSH. YOU WONT REQUIRE ALL THE OIL SO SAVE IT FOR ANOTHER RECIPE.

SEASON WITH WHITE PEPPER AND THEN  LIGHTLY WITH SALT (REMEMBER YOUR DIP HAS SALT SO YOU NEED TO BALANCE THE SALTINESS)

BAKE IN THE OVEN FOR 35 MINUTES UNTIL GOLDEN AND CRUSTY.

SERVE IMMEDIATELY  WITH DIP.

 

 

 

 

 

 

FOR THE DIP

YOU CNA REPLACE THE CREAM CHEESE WITH A VEGAN TOFUTTI OR ALMOND CREAM CHEESE FOR A VEGAN DIP.

180-200 GRAMS CREAM CHEESE AT ROOM TEMPERATURE

4 BULBS  GREEN ONIONS OR SCALLIONS FINELY CHOPPED

8-10 CHIVES FINELY CHOPPED

1.5 TBSPS FINELY MINCED GARLIC

1 TEASPOON LEMON OR LIME JUICE

ZEST OF ONE LEMON OR LIME

SALT TO TASTE

METHOD:

WHISK THE CREAM CHEESE UNTIL FLUFFY. ADD REMAINING INGREDIENTS AND BEAT UNTIL WELL INCORPORATED. ADD SALT AS REQUIRED AND STIR WELL.