The Perfect Summer's Sandwich

We all look forward to Summers. The Mangoes (yum!), Pool Parties, Holidays, Ice Creams, Golas - everything becomes better with Sunshine it seems! On a warm Summer's day, it's often best to stay away from spicy curries and biryanis. A light meal is perfect for Summer and it helps our bodies to stay cool, calm and feel energetic. Here's what I love making and serving during Summer - The Perfect Summer's Sandwich. It's packed with goodness of Vegetables & Sprouts and makes up for a fantastic Lunch with a bowl of Soup or just a nice light Dinner.

A perfect balance of textures, flavours and colours - this is a visual treat and culinary delight of a Sandwich!

Ingredients (for 2 Sandwiches):

• 4 slices of Bread - preferably multi-grain - lightly toasted.
• 1 Avocado - scooped and sliced.
• 1 Tomato - sliced.
• 1 Cup of Alfalfa Sprouts (or any sprouts if you don't have them handy).
• Few Black Olives - Sliced.
• 2 Cloves of Garlic, Minced.
• Few leaves of crisp Lettuce.
• Olive oil & Mustard, Salt & Pepper to Taste.

Everything Fresh, Everything Simple!

Recipe:

• As is with any good sandwich, it's all about the assembly - so get creative and bring in nice visual and proportional balance of things.
• Apply Olive oil to bread and smear it with minced garlic and mustard.
• Begin layering Lettuce, Tomatoes, Olives and Avocado. Season with Salt and Pepper.
• Top off with a nice, hearty heapful of Alfalfa sprouts and close the sandwich.
• Slice in half and Serve!

Tip: Try adding Hummus to this sandwich, it goes really well! A healthy sprinkling of Toasted Sesame Seeds will take this dish to next level!

A Simple Watermelon Salad

It's fun to see how something as simple (and delicious!) as a Watermelon can be taken to fantastic new heights by a few ingredients. While the main highlight of this salad is indeed Watermelon - grab a bite and suddenly you're talking Gourmet! I've tried a variation of this salad at Cafe Suzette (excellent food btw.) in Mumbai and that's what got my mind ticking for this recipe :-)

Looks good, Tastes better - The Super-Simple Watermelon Salad!

Ingredients (for 1-2 servings):

• 2 Cups of Watermelon - Diced into Bite sized cubes. 
• 1 Spoon of Feta Cheese - Crumbled.
• 1-2 Spoons of Roasted Flax Seeds.
• Herbs: Mint or Coriander Leaves - I used fresh coriander leaves here.
• Seasoning: Salt / Pepper to taste.
• A drizzle of Extra Virgin Olive Oil.

With Feta Cheese and Flax Seeds - this salad is testimony to magic :-)

Preparation:

• Being a relatively simple salad - I tried my best to present it well for visual appeal! I cut a disk of water melon and rounded it with triangles for a nice visual presentation!
• Top off the Watermelon cubes (or triangles like me!) with crumbled Feta cheese. 
• Season (go slow on salt because Feta is salty) with Salt and Pepper. Garnish with Herbs and Roasted Flax Seeds (they take this salad to next level!).
• Drizzle a little Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Serve! This salad best goes when slightly chilled.

Enjoy!

Spicy Vegetable Stew

We made Idi-appams. We make Stew!

If anything, Life's should be like a bowl of Stew - Delicious, Spicy and Full of Goodies!

Ingredients (for 4-5 people):

1 Cup Chopped Carrots
1 Cup Chopped Onions
1 Cup Chopped Cauliflower
1 Cup of Sweet Corn
1 Cup of Chopped French Beans
1 Cup of Chopped Broccoli
1 Table Spoon of Chopped Ginger
1 Table Spoon Chopped Chilly
1 Stick of Cinnamon (whole)
20-25 Whole Peppercorns (whoop!)
5-6 Curry Leaves
3-5 Cloves
1 Bay Leaf
1 Can of Full Fat Coconut Milk
2 Table Spoons of Coconut Oil (absolutely must, yet optional)

This is how we bring together a beautiful, spicy, savoury Stew.

 Preparation:

1. Take a deep bottomed Pan (or better a Wok) and heat Coconut Oil in it. Enjoy the wonderful aroma!
2. Add your spices now - pepper corns, cinammon, cloves and bay leaf and saute gently. Add green chillies and saute. Add ginger and saute. Add curry leaves and saute. Add onions and saute until they're translucent. Please follow this order and process 1-by-1 for really getting the most of your spices and making a delicious Stew.
3. Add about 2-3 cups of water - roughly as much to cover all your vegetables. Season with Salt and cover the lid. Let everything cook with a closed lid for about 10 minutes.
4. Add coconut milk once your vegetables are done and bring everything to a nice boil. That's it!
5. Serve Hot with Idi-appams (or appams) and relish the goodness with friends and family! :-)

Tip: Follow my Step #2 of Preparation to get best results. Experience speaks, literally!

Guacamole - Viva Mexicana!

I've always loved dips. They're versatile, easy and fun! Plus, you can always customize them to your taste - sweet / tangy / spicy / garlicky etc.
Guacamole is a personal favourite! This incredible Mexican (so they say - but it's practically popular everywhere) fare is fresh, zingy, fast and perfect way to have a healthy snack. Anytime!

A Classic Conversation Companion - Guacamole & Chips - Always Share!

Ingredients (for 4 people):

• 2 Medium Sized Ripe Avocados (Darker the Avocado, Riper it is!), Scooped and Diced into Cubes.
• 2 Small Tomatoes - Chopped
• 1 Onion - Chopped
• 2 Jalapeno Peppers (preferably Fresh) Finely Chopped. I used canned ones because fresh ones weren't readily available - they work equally well.
• 1/2 Cup Coriander - Chopped.
• 1 Lemon - Juiced.
• Pepper / Salt - optional to taste.

Beautiful, Fresh and Delicious - A perfect dip every time!

Preparation:

• Begin by mashing diced Avocado cubes in a bowl with a Fork. Season with pepper and add 1 Lemon Juice to prevent them from browning.
• Add Tomatoes, Onion, Jalapeno, Coriander and continue mashing everything until you have a nice, chunky dip!
• Serve in a nice, deep (for obvious reasons!) bowl with a dash of Lemon Juice and Garnish with Fresh Coriander. 
• Do not forget a bag full of Tortilla chips to dip in!

Tip: To add more punch to this dip - I added a spoon full of Jalapeno Brine from my canned Jalapenos and it really worked!

The Summerooty Salad!

Summerooty!? Well it's Summer and this salad is all about Rooty veggies - Carrots & Beets! Isn't that a cool name I came up for it!

This wonderful salad is very very easy to make and tastes delicious. Plus it's a great way to beat heat and stay fresh this summer. Try it!

The Summerooty Salad!

Ingredients (for 4 servings):

• 8 Medium Sized Carrots - Peeled, Grated.
• 2 Medium Sized Beets - Boiled, Peeled, Cut into Cubes.
• 1/2 Cup Raisins - Soaked overnight in water.
• Dressing: 1 Lemon Juice, 1 Spoon Honey, 1 Spoon Olive Oil, Salt, Pepper, Dried Basil.

Cute Carrots, Beautiful Beets and Ravishing Raising - YUM!

Preparation:

• Make the dressing by mixing together all the Dressing ingredients. Cool the dressing for an hour in a fridge.
• Mix the Carrots, Beets, Raisins gently together. Ideally, use hands.
• Add the Dressing and keep mixing gently - ensure you don't squish the beets, or everything becomes too red!
• Garnish with some chopped mint, coconut bits (they taste yum with this!) and a drizzle of olive oil.

Tip: This salad is a wonderful meal in its own right, just enjoy with a glass of lemonade and beat the heat!