Minted Cucumbers and Strawberries
Though mint and cucumber are a year-round favorite salad combination in India, strawberries are a rare treat. The first time I savored them, they were hand-delivered –carefully wrapped in a khus leaf parcel and perhaps the importance of the occasion made them the sweetest I had ever eaten. Because they are such a rarity in India, they are almost always relished on their own or in this type of simple salad. In England I...
Batter-coated Mashed Potato balls
This finger food is popular as the focal point of a late afternoon Tiffin or as the savory part of a late night supper. The ginger-flavored mashed potatoes are dipped in an herbed chickpea flour batter and deep-fried into golden globes. One note of caution: be sure to thoroughly coat the balls with batter; expressed areas of mashed potatoes tend to splatter and disintegrate in the hot oil. Preparation and frying time...
Fried Bitter Melon with Ground Almonds
Aside from the fact that no Bengali meal is complete without a bitter dish, Bengalis also assert that bitter melon dishes aid digestion, cleanse the blood and encourage a failing appetite. Because most Americans feel that bitter foods are akin to medicines, this version tones down the bitterness. The cut vegetables are parboiled in salted water before they are fried and then liberally coated with ground almonds, nut butter and...
Green Tomato Pakora with Cornmeal
If you have a trouble patch or even one plant on the patio, harvest 3 or 4 tomatoes when they are green and try this delicious dish. Alternatively, you can purchase green or firm red tomatoes, but if they are soft and ripe, they will exude too much moisture when heated. Though cornmeal makes the most flavorful coating, a mixture of half semolina and half chickpea flour is also pleasant. Semolina flour is sold at Indian grocery...
Creamed Potatoes with Lemon pepper
Root vegetables are popular on Ekadasee menus. This substantial variation is ideal for cold winter days, when everyone gravitates to the warmth of the kitchen. With pooris, hot rolls or toast, your family will likely find it a welcome change from Sunday hash browns. The potatoes can be half-cooked –either steamed or pan-fried the night before or early in the morning –and finished at meal time. ...