Homemade Salsa Verde#SundayFunday

Salsa Verde is a Green Salsa made from roasted green tomatoes, garlic, onions, and peppers. It's incredibly delicious! The main difference between regular Salsa and Salsa Verde is that green tomatoes are used instead of regular red ones.

These are from my garden - organic green tomatoes
Salsa Verde is really easy to make from scratch, all you need are green tomatoes, onion, jalapeño/green chilly, lime and coriander/cilantro leaves.

To make the Salsa Verde, you can cook the tomatoes, which you can be done either by boiling them, broiling them in the oven or pan roasting them. All three approaches are quick and easy, though with broiling or pan roasting, you get added smoky flavor from the searing of the tomatillos.

I used my air fryer ( @ 200°C for 30 minutes) to roast the tomatoes, garlic, onion and chillies. 

All got roasted perfectly, except the chillies they got charred and dried there was no flesh in it. 

I, then roasted 2 green chillies on the fire and used them after washing the charred skin. 

I did not remove the seeds and used them so my salsa verde is quite spicy, but, I am loving it, taste awesome. Please read My Notes before you make this.

Makes 1 Heaped Cup (250Ml)
Ingredients
450 Grams Firm Green Tomatoes
2 Jalapeno Peppers/Spicy Green Chillies
2 Cloves Garlic
½ Cup Coriander Leaves - finely chopped
1 Small Onion
1 Tablespoon Fresh Lemon juice
½ Teaspoon Pink Himalayan Salt or to taste
A Pinch Cumin Powder 

A Pinch Black Pepper powder

Method

Chop the green tomatoes in halves. Place the tomato , onion and garlic roast them in the oven at 200°C for 30  minutes, I used the air fryer (at 200°C for 30 minutes) and then place them in a blender with cumin and black pepper powder, salt and a teaspoon of olive oil. 

Blend it then add the coriander/cilantro leaves and lemon juice, just pulse it once or twice.

Taste for salt and lemon juice. Remove this into a serving bowl and Enjoy.

My Notes

To maintain the green bright color of the Salsa Verde, drizzle a teaspoon of extra virgin olive oil while grinding. Do not add the coriander/cilantro leaves while grinding the tomatoes. Chop the coriander leaves fine and at the end just pulse the grinder for once or twice. If you grind it along with the tomatoes you will get a green tomato chutney not the look and taste of Salsa Verde. 

If you want to store this for a longer period then drizzle EVOO on top at least to cover the top, this will maintain the color and also preserve it.

Labels: Chutneys & Dips, Jams & Sauces, Green Tomato, Green Chilly, Roasted, Spicy, Mexican, Sunday Funday, Vegan, Gluten free

For our event called Sunday Funday, wherein we share recipes our families will love to enjoy on a Sunday. Our host for this week's event is Karen of Karen's Kitchen Stories.

Chile Pancakes from Sid's Sea Palm Cooking
Chili Plum Sauce from Food Lust People Love
Creamy Chicken Tortilla Soup from Amy's Cooking Adventures
Beef Enfrijoladas from Making Miracles
Homemade Salsa Verde from Sneha's Recipe
Maharashtrian Green Chilli Thecha from Cook with Renu
Mirch Ka Salan from Mayuri's Jikoni
Roasted Monkfish Over Mole Negro from Culinary Adventures with Camilla
Southwestern Casserole from A Day in the Life on the Farm
Spicy Carrot and Broccoli Salad from Karen's Kitchen Stories
Thai Curry Noodles from Palatable Pastime

A Chunky Peanut Butter Dip#SundayFunday

A Chunky Peanut Butter Dip is delightful for fresh crudités or hors D’oeuvres/appetizers, a great crowd pleaser. Tasty, low in calories, you must try this for your coming party.

Makes ¾ Cup
Ingredients
1/3 Cup Crunchy Peanut Butter
2 Tablespoons Brown Sugar
½ Teaspoon Red Chilly Flakes
Fresh Lemon juice of a small lemon
1 Tablespoon Sriracha or Chili sauce - I used Sriracha 
1 Tablespoon Ketchup
1 Teaspoon Light Soy sauce

Method

Mix all ingredients until well-blended. 

Serve with crudités/raw vegetables sticks like (cucumber, radish, boiled turnip, bell pepper, carrot or vegetables of your choice).

Or with these Cajun Tortilla Chips. Enjoy!!
Labels: Chutneys & Dips, Peanut Butter, Peanuts, Crudités, Sunday Funday, Nibbles, Low Cal, Healthy, Vegan, Gluten Free

Today I’m joining a new group of bloggers for an event called Sunday Funday, wherein we share recipes our families will love to enjoy on a Sunday. I thank our host for this week's event Wendy of A Day in the Life on the Farm the theme is "Nibbles".

• Barbecue Smokehouse Almonds by Palatable Pastime
• Cheddar Horseradish Dip by A Day in the Life on the Farm
• Chunky Peanut Butter Dip by Sneha's Recipe
• Confit de Gesiers by Food Lust People Love
• Fontina Salami Bites by Making Miracles
• Olive Tapenade by Pandemonium Noshery
• Spiced Cheese Wafers by Culinary Adventures with Camilla
• Tomato Bread by Our Good Life

Homemade Plain Garlic Salt & All-Purpose Seasoning

Gather the ingredients for this seasoning which are just two and you are ready to go.  

This recipe is homemade, cheap and so naturally pure which is absolutely preservatives free of additives, no flavoring enhancers etc.

Measurement 200 Ml Cup

Ingredients

20 Big Cloves Or Big Pod Garlic or 
1 Cup Sea Salt 

Method

To peel the garlic (I just microwave it for 30 seconds to a minute and the peels fall right off).

Add the  sea salt and  garlic cloves to a small spice grinder and process until the garlic is finely minced and the consistency is like moist sand--approx. 30 seconds of processing.

Spread the salt/garlic mixture on a large baking sheet that's been lined with parchment paper or silicone / silpat mat . (use the parchment paper or silicone / silpat mat or else it will stick to the baking pan and damage it)

Bake it at 120°C for an hour or more until it's dry and crisp. It should break off in pieces. It shoudn't brown; the low oven temperature dries it out and also cooks it without browning it. Cool this completely. When cooled, take is out and again just pulse it it in a spice grinder your homemade plain Garlic Salt & All Purpose Seasoning is ready to use. It so easy, If you check out many of my recipes I have used this. You have to just be careful while adding salt to the dish.

I use this on fried eggs they taste amazing. Use this all purpose seasoning where ever garlic and salt is required and everything else that needs a savory flavor boost, it gives a amazing taste to the dish. Stays at room temperature to 6 to 8 months. In the refrigerator for years, the container should be air tight.

Labels : All Purpose Seasoning, Garlic, Garlic Salt,  Sea Salt, Chutneys & Dip, Homemade, Masalas

Sama Chawal Ki Puri - Vrat Ki Puri

Sama/Samo rice is a gluten free millet known by different names like, Moraiyo in Gujarati, Kuthiraivali in South, Bhagar/ Vari Che Tandul in Maharashtra and Barnyard millet in English. This millet mostly consumed during fasts. Today we are making scrumptious tasty puris.
Making these puris  is quite easy, to make them perfectly  first read my notes. Let's make these!!

Makes 10 - 12
Ingredients
¾ Cup Samo Rice
 ¼ Teaspoon  Sendhav Namak  
8 Black Peppercorns
1 Teaspoon Oil - 1 tsp
Oil - as required  for frying

Method

Wash the sama rice thoroughly and soak them in water for at least  2 hours. Strain the rice in a colander to remove the excess water. 

Grind this rice  along with the peppercorns to very fine paste.  I did not add any water while grinding it,  but if needed, add a teaspoon or two of  water  for grinding.

Add this paste to a pan/kadai, add the salt and oil, mix well.

Place this on medium  flame. Stirring constantly for about 2 minutes on  until the mixture gets cooked and 

comes thick in consistency. 

There should not be any kind of moisture in the dough. Switch off the flame  and allow it to cool down slightly. 

When still warm , start to knead the dough until smooth and firm. Dough for making pooris is now ready. 

Cling wrap the dough and leave it aside for 5 minutes.

In the meantime, heat enough oil in a wok/kadai for frying the puris.

Pinch  small balls from the dough and cover the remaining so that it will not dry up.  

Grease your hands with some oil and between two oil greased  polythene sheets place the small ball of dough.

Roll out into  thick poori by pressing it gently with your fingers. 

Make thick puris.

Now very gently lift the puri from the polythene and place it into the hot oil for frying.   Fry the pooris on high flame. Gently press the poori with a ladle so that it puffs up. Fry until poori turns golden brown in color.

Take out the fried ones on kitchen paper towel placed over a plate. Likewise, roll the rest of the puris. 

Samo rice poori for fast is ready.

Enjoy this with  Red Coconut Chuntey or with any of the below given sabzi recipes

My Notes
Make sure to grind the rice to a very fine paste.
Try using a non stick wok or pan for cooking the rice past to prevent it from sticking to the bottom.
Keep the pooris thick while rolling it out.

Red Coconut Chutney - Vrat/Vegan/Gluten Free

Ingredients

2 -3 Fresh or Dried Red Chillies - I used Fresh
1 Teaspoon Level Cumin Seeds 
½ Fresh Coconut - chopped

1 Teaspoon Sugar

1 Tablespoon Lemon Juice

Sendav Namak to taste

For the Tadka

1 Teaspoon Oil

A Pinch Of Each Mustard & Cumin Seeds

2 Curry Leaves - optional

Method

In a mixer jar add all the given ingredients,  add little water and grind to a fine paste.  Remove this into a bowl add tadka if necessary. 

Heat oil in a tadka pan, add mustard and cumin seeds, when the crackle add the curry leaves and pour this over the chutney.

Delicious chutney is ready!! 

See Other Recipes For Vrat

Vegan & Gluten Free Barnyard Millet Pulao/Kuthiraivali Vegetable Pulao
Kuthiraivali Thinai Crisp Dosa - Instant, Vegan & Gluten Free
Sabudana Vada 
Sabudanyache Thalipeeth 
A Side Dish With Baby Potatoes- No Onion No Garlic
Rajgira Roti
Dahiwale Aloo ki Sabzi Kacche Kele Ke Kebab / Raw Banana Cutlets
Aloo Tamatar Jhol - No Onion No Garlic
Sitaphal Basundi/Custard Apple Basundi
Roasted Coconut Chutney

Labels: Gluten Free, Vegan, Vrat, Puris, Kuthiraivali, Breakfast, Main course, Deep Fried, Breads, Chutney

Falafel Layered Salad & A Bhatura Sandwich -A Combo Post#Improv

This an exotic meatless , a complete and delicious meal which is healthy too. Have vegetarian guests then make this super meal which will make them ask for more for sure. Falafel is a Middle Eastern starter but,  is also a favorite street food here in Mumbai.

For the Falafel

Ingredients
1 Cups Dried Chickpeas 
½ Cup Chopped  Coriander Leaves
1 Tablespoon  Chopped Parsley
3 Cloves Garlic - minced
1  Medium Onion - finely chopped
Salt & Black pepper powder to taste
¼ Teaspoon Cayenne pepper
½ Teaspoon  Chopped Green Chilly 
½ Teaspoon Cumin powder
½ Tablespoon Coriander powder
2 Tablespoons Fresh Breadcrumbs
A Pinch Baking soda
Oil for deep frying

Method 
Wash and soak the chickpeas in water and let soak for at least 6 hours. 
 Drain the water and wash them once again.

Transfer the chickpeas to a food processor and chop until you get a fine crumbly texture. Add the coriander, parsley, garlic cloves, onion and green chili and pulse the food processor till well mixed.  Add in salt, peppers, coriander and cumin powder,  breadcrumbs and mix well. Take this out into a big bowl and mix it with you hand well. Keep aside
In the meantime heat the oil for deep frying and set the heat to medium.

Now add in the baking soda to the chickpea mixture and mix it well.  Shape into round balls or ovals using two spoons or a falafel maker.  I made oval and round shape Falafels.
Fry the falafels in it until browned and crispy from outside. Take out on a kitchen paper to drain the excess oil.

For The Tahini Yogurt Sauce
Ingredients
1/2 Cup Fresh Yogurt - beaten
2 Tablespoons  Tahini paste - Homemade
Salt & Black pepper to taste
Chopped Parsely  for  garnishing

1/2 Teaspoon Lemon juice

Method

Mix all the ingredients and make a paste. Your dip/sauce is ready! Chill it in the refrigerator till we get all other ingredients ready.

For the Salad

1 Small Onion - finely chopped 
½ Cup  Finley Shredded Purple Cabbage
½ Cup  Finely Shredded Lettuce Leaves
½ Cup   Grated Carrots
1 Medium Tomato - de seeded & cut into strips
Salt to taste
A drizzle of Lemon Juice
 Method 
For Assembling / Serving  Into Glass Verrines 

Layer the vegetables on top of each other in a clear glass. Season with salt and  black pepper powder. Just a drizzle of lemon juice. Pour a tablespoon of Tahini  Yogurt Sauce on top. 

In a wooden skewer pierce two oval falafels and place it on the glass. 

Serve the cold salad with crispy warm falafels.

For the Yeasted Bhatura Sandwich

Slice the Yeasted Bhatura (but not till the end). Fill it with the salad. Season with salt and  black pepper powder. Just a drizzle of lemon juice.  Add two or three round falafels. Pour a tablespoon of Tahini  Yogurt Sauce on top.

Enjoy!!  These Falafels are a great sensation to the taste buds!!!

You can even serve these with toothpicks and at the side Tahini  Yogurt Sauce as a starter.

Labels : Yeasted, Bhatura, Sandwiches, Falafel, Middle Eastern, Chickpeas, Street food, Starters, Chutneys & Dips, Yogurt, Healthy, Improv Cooking Challenge, Vegan

Lemon and Lettuce

Improv Cooking Challenge

• • Greek Meatball Salad by Cookaholic Wife
  • Strawberry Cucumber Salad by Pandemonium Noshery
  • Grilled Lemon Herb Mediterranean Chicken Salad by Making Miracles
  • Falafel Layered Salad & A Bhatura Sandwich - A Combo by Sneha's Recipe
  • Mixed Greens with Roasted Golden Beets and Lemon Vinaigrette by A Day in the Life on the Farm
  • Wilted Spinach Salad with Bacon and Avocado by Palatable Pastime
  • Bitter Greens Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette by Culinary Adventures with Camilla