Courses: Side

Tzatziki | How to make Greek Tzatziki dip?

Cooling, refreshing Greek Tzatziki dip
09/29/2016 10:58:53 PM vindhyadesai

Tzatziki, (pronounced ta:t:si:ki) is a yogurt based dip from Greek cuisine. It is very similar to cucumber raitha differing only in the addition of certain ingredients like, olive oil and vinegar. Aromatic herbs like mint, dill (sabsige) are added to make the dip even more delicious. Mint leaves can be cut into chiffonades (mint leaves stacked up, rolled and then cut into thin long strips) or the dill leaves can be finely chopped and added to the dip. This emerald light green coloured grated cucumber dip is very refreshing and cooling. Make this for your Mediterranean platter, recipe up next on FOI. From top left, roasted red pepper hummus, plain hummus and tzatziki. As promised, I am posting the part of the photo of the mega Mediterranean platter. Perfect for the upcoming weekend. ... “Tzatziki | How to make Greek Tzatziki dip?”

Roasted Red Pepper Hummus | How to make red pepper hummus dip?

Hummus dip with notes of sweet roasted red pepper and creamy feta cheese
09/28/2016 9:48:05 PM vindhyadesai

In continuation to my previous post, plain hummus dip, this recipe is a simple extension of it. I wanted this recipe to searchable so I am posting it as a separate one. This is one of the most delicious variations of a hummus dip. It has roasted sweet red bell pepper and creamy Greek Feta Cheese. Feta cheese is available in superstores easily these days. If you cannot procure Feta cheese you can skip it or add some fresh paneer/cottage cheese in place of it, squeeze in some lime/lemon juice before using it. The texture will not turn out to be very creamy but paneer is a good substitute. In keeping with the Mediterranean cuisine, I will reveal the Mediterranean platter in tomorrow’s post. I prepared the platter with these hummus dips featuring in it. Wait and watch this space! ... “Roasted Red Pepper Hummus | How to make red pepper hummus dip?”

Hummus | Houmous | How to make hummus dip?

Textured, creamy, protein filled hummus
09/27/2016 8:05:41 PM vindhyadesai

Hummus is the most common vegetable or chip dip, a staple condiment. It is from the Middle Eastern Region and is a staple in the Mediterranean cuisine. Made from chick peas, it is rich in proteins and good fats. Sesame seed paste (tahini) and olive oil add a distinctive taste to the dip. It can be made smooth but a bit of texture always adds to the layered flavours. Many restaurants make this very dry because it is pre-made and left out to dry. Serve with roasted vegetables, pita or tortilla chips or use it as a spread for a quick sandwich. This is such a versatile dip, it practically goes with anything. Try making this easy dip at home and enjoy the goodness of chickpeas! Other variations of this classic recipe like roasted red pepper hummus to try. ... “Hummus | Houmous | How to make hummus dip?”

Shenga Chutney Pudi | Groundnut Chutney Powder | How to make groundnut chutney powder?

Spicy groundnut chutney powder, pre-made side dish
09/22/2016 9:52:21 PM vindhyadesai

Having a side dish always on hand in the form of a dry powder and which does not spoil is very useful. Chutney Powders/Chutney Pudis are a great side dish for chapathis, rotis, dosas, idlis or even hot rice with ghee. Shenga chutney pudi (groundnut chutney powder) is a very famous side dish from North Karnataka. All households make large quantities of this tasty spicy powder and store it. Try this with thalipeeth or with dosas. Dosas like rava dosa, open masala dosa taste really good with this chutney powder. The best combination has to be Bhakkri or Jowar Roti (plain sorghum flour oiless thin rotis) with this tasty shenga chutney powder mixed with yogurt/curd. A slightly different form called ‘shenga hinDi’ a coarser and rougher chutney powder with only oily shengas, is also a super delicacy from the beautiful land of North Karnataka (like Bijapur and other places). Other shenga/groundnut recipes to try. ... “Shenga Chutney Pudi | Groundnut Chutney Powder | How to make groundnut chutney powder?”

Pineapple Gojju | Ananas Gojju | Pineapple Gotsu | How to make pineapple gojju?

Fruity, spicy, festive pineapple gojju
9/03/2016 4:21:01 PM vindhyadesai

In traditional South Indian cuisine it is customary to have a balance of all flavours when eating a meal, especially a big meal on a festival or in big spreads like in weddings. A pickle and a palate cleansing gojju are the most important dishes to get a balance of all the flavours. Gojju is like a curry but thicker and is served in small quantities as a little side dish to eat with hot rice. When we make gojju at home, it is often served as a side dish with chapathi or akki rotis(rice flour rotis). Pineapple gojju has a very festive taste to it with all the different spices, fruity, sweet and sour flavour of pineapple. Gojju/gotsu need not have a lot of oil added to it to make it tasty but it has to be mildly spiced and made into the right consistency. Try making this special pineapple gojju at home, here’s the recipe. Other gojju recipes on FOI. ... “Pineapple Gojju | Ananas Gojju | Pineapple Gotsu | How to make pineapple gojju?”

Yellu Gojju | Sesame Seed Gojju | Yellu Tuvayil

Rich sesame flavoured gojju to accompany uddina bhaat
8/12/2016 9:47:01 PM vindhyadesai

This sesame seeds gojju is both a gojju and a chutney. It is very tasty because of the various kinds of flavours, bitterness, light oiliness from sesame seeds, sweetness from jaggery and coconut and sourness from tamarind, spiciness from red chillies. The perfect balance for your palate. Try this with uddina bhaat, the combination is a delicacy. ... “Yellu Gojju | Sesame Seed Gojju | Yellu Tuvayil”

Nellikayi Chutney | Amla Chutney | Gooseberry Chutney

Coarsely ground tangy nellikayi/amla chutney
08/06/2016 7:48:30 PM vindhyadesai

All of us would have heard about the various benefits of amla/nellikayi/gooseberry especially for hair as it is rich in Vitamin A. But on occasions when we do procure nellikayi/amla during season we might not find many dishes to make out of it. It is actually quite a versatile berry used to make sweet, spicy and savoury dishes. It can be made into pickles, jam, a flavourful bhaat, pies, chutney etc. Here’s a recipe of a chutney which my mother makes in a jiffy. The stone ground version of it will be very tasty. ... “Nellikayi Chutney | Amla Chutney | Gooseberry Chutney”

Mixed Vegetable Raitha

Cool and simple mixed vegetable raitha
07/15/2016 8:03:16 PM vindhyadesai

Cool and easy to make mixed vegetable raitha. When you make a dish like pudina pulao or bisi bele bhaat or any bhaat you need something to cool down and mellow down all the spices and hot food. Mixed vegetable raitha is the easiest accompaniment to make with those dishes. ... “Mixed Vegetable Raitha”

Shenga Chutney | Groundnut Chutney | Kadalebeeja Chutney

Super tasty shenga/groundnut chutney a side dish for dosa, idlis
07/04/2016 8:14:37 PM vindhyadesai

If you are looking for a change from coconut chutney (which obviously is the easiest choice) for idlis and dosas, then shenga/kadalebeeja/groundnut chutney is a great choice. The grainy texture of groundnuts and the added flavour like amchur(dry mango powder) makes this chutney quite rich in taste. ... “Shenga Chutney | Groundnut Chutney | Kadalebeeja Chutney”

Maavinakayi Chutney | Raw Mango Chutney

Mouth-watering raw mango chutney North Karnataka style
06/30/2016 10:01:22 PM vindhyadesai

A speciality chutney from North Karnataka. Raw mango chutney or maavinakayi chutney that can be preserved like a pickle for a good few weeks. It is very tasty and is a must-have side dish in most households in North Karnataka in summer. I learnt to make this from my mother, it is her signature chutney. Use raw mangoes which are not very sour so that a lot of jaggery is not required. Make a big jar of this, use it to smear on hot chapathis with ghee, hot steamed rice with chutney and groundnut oil and aralu sandige. This is a mouth-watering chutney, big bold flavours, spicy, tangy and sweet and a little bit of bitter from the methi seeds. The perfect balance! ... “Maavinakayi Chutney | Raw Mango Chutney”