Cold Cucumber Soup

Cold Cucumber Soup 

A tropical country with all the mangoes and fresh fruits in the summers is still dreadful even for people who have been born and raised in this beautiful land which turns terribly hot from march till almost June when the first showers bring some relief.

Exhausted and dehydrated I have stocked up on a lot of summer vegetables and the cucumber is one of the coolest summer vegetables and extremely versatile. You can use it in salads, use it as a healthy alternative to snacking with dips and then there is the no cooking cold cucumber soup a perfect solution to this oppressing weather because spending hours in the kitchen during the summer months can be quite challenging. This is quick and chilled and a delight

This is what you need for 2 servings : -

1 fat cucumber de-seeded
1 large yellow bell pepper
Pinch of cayenne pepper
Pinch of paprika
1/2 tsp dried Oregano
1/2 tsp fresh thyme
1/2 tsp mint leaves
Salt as per taste
250gm curd
3 to 4 sliced jalapeno from a jar which is soaked in vinegar

Just simply blend everythign together and chill for 2 hours and serve.

Mint tomato salad

Mint Tomato Salad 

The summer is approaching with all its fury. The moment we mortals step out,  his nostrils are flaring up and he is bellowing and spitting out fire. While the temperature is rising and we mortals are almost cursing , it is time to get refreshed and the one summer herb which refreshes me instantly is the minty fresh mint leaf. Mint has this amazingly cool effect which cools down my body very quickly.

In this trying weather some fresh mint tomato salad is what I crave .Some firm  tomatoes, fresh mint leaves and a tangy dressing is all you need.  The reason I personally love making this salad is the simplicity of the recipe.

Serves 2

What one needs :-

4 firm tomatoes
2 tbsp fresh mint leaves
1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1/2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
Salt as per taste
Freshly ground pepper as per taste

De-seed the tomatoes and cut them in rings and then cut the ring on one side to make long thin strips of tomatoes. Clean the mint leaves and chill the tomatoes and mint leaves. Make the dressing by whisking the salt, pepper, evol and vinegar to make a thick emulsion. Toss the dressing with the salad right before serving and enjoy this summer salad. 

Green chutney

Spicy green chutney / Hara Bhara Chutney 

This is the most common fresh chutneys one comes across in the Indian subcontinent. Requires no cooking, is fresh, spicy , hot , tangy and delicious. It goes well with most Indian snacks be it the samosas, kachoris, pakodis, dahi vada or with potato chips or well you do the experiments  now.

One needs :

1 bunch of mint leaves
1 bunch of corainder leaves
1 inch of ginger
5 to 6 garlic cloves
1 tsp cumin seeds
half the juice of a lemon
Rock salt as per taste
A few black pepper corns
Half a tsp of coriander powder
Half a tsp of cumin powder
4 green chilies
1 tsp mango powder for the extra jazziness
Water

Pluck the leaves out from the mint stalks and soak them in a bowl of water to get rid of all the dirt and wash your coriander well. Put everything in a blender and blend away adding the water bit by bit and checking for the consistency which appeals to you. I like it thick and smooth and so I added about 4 tablespoonful of water and perhaps a bit more sprinkling of it :)

P.S. The garlic and ginger simply makes this a more delicious affair :) Had previously tried it without those two gems and the difference stares you in the taste buds. If you have little ones do adjust the green chilies.