Category Archives: Spices & Sauce

Raw Mango & Guava Chutney

Guava also known Amrood (in Hindi) is a seasonal fruit which could be readily available during its season all over India. This sweet & tangy mouthwatering chutney is prepared mainly using raw mango and guava, flavored with chaat masala and black salt. This delightful chutney goes very well with any Indian snacks like a cutlets, kabab, pakoras, samosa and so on.

Amla (Gooseberry) Candy

Amla (Gooseberry) is a fruit which is rich source of vitamin C. It has many health benefits related to hair, eyes, diabetes and heart related disease. Generally this fruit is available during Winter in India.  You can get it from Indian stores fresh or frozen. Obviously fresh ones would taste much better than frozen. There are various recipes which you can make from Amla like pickle, khati meethi chatney, murrabba, jam or candy. This recipe is to prepare khathi meethi Amla candy which you can just eat like that as part of you daily routine. The recipe is prepared by grating the Amla and cooking on a low flame either with sugar or honey with certain spices. Amla candy can to stored in refrigerator for long term use.

Amla Candy_

Homemade Rasam Powder

Rasam is a south Indian lentil soup flavoured with tamarind, tomatoes and rasam powder. Rasam can be served as a soup or as a side for white rice. Rasam powder is easily available in Indian grocery store however fresh homemade rasam powder gives a wonderful taste and aroma to your rasam. The rasam powder is made with blend of Indian dry roasted spices. In southern part of India, people make rasam powder or any spices mix in a bulk and it comes in various varieties. You can adjust the spiciness by adding chili & black pepper corn in this recipe as per your choice.

Mint Yogurt Dip

Mint Yogurt dip (chutney) is a recipe prepared from fresh mint leaves, coriander leaves and yogurt or curd. The dip/chutney goes very well with any kind of grilled/kabab starter recipes either vegetarian or non-vegetarian like grilled paneer, tofu, veggies, chicken, meat, tandoori chicken or fish. It’s very simple and easy to prepare.

Guacamole Dip

Guacamole Dip is a very common dip. The recipe is a classic Mexican delight and is very healthy due to the avocados. The dip goes very well with tortilla chips, and is also used as a salad or side with other dishes. There are many dips with different available flavors.

Lauki( bottle gourd) Raita

An Indian meal is not complete without curd or curd raita. There are variety of raita recipe like bundi raita, mint raita, cucumber & onion raita which goes well with various kind of dishes. Lauki raita is one of the recipe which is very healthy and tasty. This raita goes very well with biryani, pulav, roti. stuffed parathas or rice & daal combination.

Amla( Gooseberry) Pickle

Amla has a lots of health benefits. Amla is a seasonal fruit similar to mango and others and generally available in winter season. The fresh Amla is easily available in India however couldn’t find the same in US. I used the frozen Amla available in Indian grocery stores for this pickle however if you can get fresh it would be more delicious. This pickle is not as cumbersome as other like mango or chilies. Amla pickle can be stored for 3-4 months in refrigerator.

Soy Mayonnaise (Vegan)

Mayonnaise is generally available in any grocery store, but the downside is that it contains egg. This recipe allows vegans and vegetarians to enjoy mayonnaise without eggs. Surprisingly the taste is exactly that of egg mayonnaise and comes out really fresh. This recipe uses soy milk to truly make the recipe vegan friendly.