Salsa two ways- Healthy snacking Recipe | Tomato Salsa | Strawberry Salsa

Tomato Cucumber Salsa Recipe

Salsa a very famous Spanish term for sauce. There are umpteen number of variations of salsa today but here I am sharing you the famous Tomato Salsa along with my twist to salsa a Strawberry Salsa. This year I am trying my best to have healthy snacking and it all kick started with my earlier post of Roasted Malasa Makhana (Lotus Seeds). Everyone talks about including coloured food (veggies & fruits) into our daily diet. Sometimes it does become monotonous to simply chew them plain as a fruit/ veg. Making a salsa with veggies and fruits is one way to relish these colourful goodness. Salsa you may say is a dipping sauce how can be a snack? well chop the ingredients into bite sized bits and enjoy as a salad too. Usually Salsa is served along with Tortilla chips/ any crisps you can make a baked version of potato chips too for this salsa. 

Tomato Salsa is a little tangy & with a touch of spice, I have used veggies that are locally available. If you get hold of jalapeños and include in tomato salsa that would be great else no issues they anyways taste good. Strawberry Salsa is perfectly sweet yet tangy and somehow if I had to pick between the two I could jump for the Strawberry one. Next time around I plan to add in one for fruit to go with Strawberry. Since strawberries are in season now why not try this simple salsa for a quick snack?

Karuvepillai Podi | Curry Leaves Powder | Brahmin Podi Recipe | Podi Dosa

Tamil Brahmin are known for their vegetarian delicacies and no doubt they sure will make anyone love their recipes simple yet delicious. I must say that its sure a skill to cook without onions and garlic and still make recipes that are delicious. Not only their cooking but also their day to day habits will surely astonish everyone, I have had brahmin friends and neighbours from whom I have learnt so much, not like something they sat and taught me but something I learnt by seeing their day to day habits. So today I will be sharing Karuvepillai Podi / Curry leaf powder which is a great accompaniment with dosa, idly and also can be used to make mixed rice with ghee. 

Curry leaves are known for many of its health benefits which include liver health, digestion, eyesight, cholesterol control and many more. Apart from all these Indians believe that curry leaves help in hair growth and also for long black hair. Many Indian ayurvedic hair oils use curry leaf extract and paste. So make it a point to include these health leaves in your daily diet

Simple Guacamole Mint Spread ~ An Indian Blend

This is a simple and easy dip/spread done with ripe avocados. It can be paired with sandwiches, tortillas, roti or some crisps. I have made an Indian twist with the usual Guacamole recipe.

Carrot Chutney ~ a sweet & tangy, healthy treat!

Today being a Saturday, we had a long day out and when we were back home we were really tired and like always I wasn't sure about what to cook for dinner. Long story short I had some dosa batter left and wanted to make some chutney that wasn't coconut based. I quickly remembered this carrot chutney which I had done long long ago. So quickly went to do it, to tell you this is the most simple & healthy chutney and its filled with goodness. The sweetness of the carrot with a tangy from the tamarind and spice from the chilli make it a perfect accompaniment for a plain dosa dish.

Kids and elders will love it and a great way to bless our body with a vegetable filled with goodness. Its a must try one and I hope you love it as much as it do. I am sure that this recipe is for keepers!!! I am linking this to hearth & soul blog hop.

Cooking & Prep time ~ 15 mins

Serves ~ 2 

Recipe Source ~ Own

Ingredients 

1 cup chopped carrots 

1 tsp thick tamarind paste

1 green/red chilli (i used green)

5-6 curry leaves

1 tsp oil

Salt- as per taste

Method 

In a hot pan, heat oil and add carrots, green chilli and let it cook for 3 minutes, add the tamarind paste and curry leaves and cook for another 2 mins with a closed lid

Once its cooked, add salt and let it cook down for 5 minutes 

Then grind in a mixie into a fine paste

Serve along with idly or dosa

Onion Tomato Chutney

A spicy and yummy chutney/ spread that my husband and I love. Dosa and this chutney are made for each other like us ;-), a hot pair. Usually when I make this chutney we would fight over it. Usually when I make this, I would make egg dosa for my husband, he loves this so much that he would come early for dinner. This is my own recipe and a better alternative to the usual coconut chutney

Prep time ~ 20 mins
Serves ~ 2


Ingredients 


Onion - 2 medium
Tomato - 1 medium
Curry / corriander leaves -1 string
Green/ red chilli - 1 (optional, as per spice tolerance)
Red chilli powder - 1/2-1 tsp (this gives the color)
Oil 1 tsp


Method 

• In a hot pan, add oil and fry the onions, once cooked add the tomato and close lid
• Add green/red chilli and red chilli powder and let it cook
• Add corriander/ curry leaves and off the stove, let this cool well
• Blend them into a fine paste
• Serve with dosa/idly