Sweet Tamarind sauce - Imli ki chutney

Cannot imagine chaats without Imli ki chutney and when you have this chutney ready, chaats can be made in no-time at any short notice demands from your little-ones.
Other than chaats it is an excellent accompaniment as a dip for any kind of pakoda, chips, cutlets, boiled potatoes etc....

One day I just mixed 1 tbsp of this sauce in chilled water, added some more salt and cumin powder and gave it my daughter, Since then its her favorite drink.






This recipe can be stored at room temperature for more than a year.

250 g tamarind
3 cups sugar
1 tbsp rock salt
1 tsp plain salt
2 tsp black pepper powder
1 tsp red chili powder
1 tsp kalonji
2 tbsp cumin seeds
1/4 cup pitted and sliced dates
handful of broken cashew nuts and raisins(optional)

1.  Soak the tamarind for about 30 min-1 hr in enough warm water. Mash the tamarind and strain to extract the pulp. 
2. Add some more water to the tamarind , mash and strain. Repeat this process until all the pulp is extracted from the tamarind. This will give you near about 1 1/2 litre of tamarind extract.
3. Now add sugar and switch on the gas. Stir on medium flame until all the sugar dissolves in it.
4. Simmer for about 10-15 min. Keep a check on its consistency, it should be less than 1 thread consistency. It doesn't matter even if it looks a little watery, when cool it will turn thick and saucy.
5.  Add Remaining ingredients and bring it to a boil.
6. Cool and store in sterilized bottles. 

Orange-gram salad

Serves 3
A unique combination of vegetable, fruit and cereal loaded with different flavors.
Tangy mandarins/oranges, pungent and spicy radish, sour lime , Crisp Lettuce, and wholesome sprouted black grams along with sweet honey make this salad my favorite.

2 oranges/mandarins
1 raddish
1 cup sprouted black grams
5-6 lettuce leaves torn
salt and pepper to taste
2 tsp powdered sugar/honey
2 tsp olive oil
1 tsp lime juice
5-6 mint leaves for garnishing

Boil the grams with little salt for 1 whistle in a pressure cooker. Drain the grams and allow to cool.
Lettuce can be kept in ice cold water for some time to make it crisper.
Peel and take out the segments from oranges.
Grate the radish and combine with orange, grams and lettuce.
Mix together lime juice, sugar/honey, olive oil, salt and pepper for the dressing and pour over the salad.
Toss lightly and garnish with fresh mint leaves.

Related Recipes:

Stir Fried Garlic Beans

Stir Fried Vegetables are usually a favorite during cold evenings. They can be served as warm salad or as a side dish.

For this recipe the beans used must be fresh. These crunchy-garlicky beans are a good accompaniment for dal-chawal.

200g Fresh tender french beans

7-8 garlic cloves chopped

1 tbsp olive oil   

salt and pepper to taste

1 tbsp roasted sesame seeds

Boil the beans until half done. Strain and keep aside.

Heat olive oil and add garlic and saute for a min. 

Add the beans and again saute for 2 min.

Add the seasonings and sprinkle roasted sesame seeds.

Serve immediately. 

my entry for
http://www.fullscoops.net/2014/11/event-announcement-in-my-veg-box.html
http://citrusspiceuk.com/