Hung Curd Dip

Hung Curd Dip

As dips go this one is very easy to make. It does not have any mayonnaise so it is relatively healthy. The only time taking thing is making the hung curd. It takes about an hour for all the water to drain away from the curd. I usually make a lot of hung curd and keep it in the fridge to use as and when required. Any leftover hung curd I use for marination.

I have used lots of olive oil here. You can increase or decrease the amount of olive oil according to your preference. I have got into the habit of large dollops of olive oil after I started eating at Nando’s. There they serve Pita bread with hummus and olives swimming in extra virgin olive oil. And it tastes awesome!! Extra virgin olive oil is something one can have without guilt.

Ingredients

1 cup hung curd

5 black olives

1 tbsp of the brine the olives are kept in

1 tbsp olive oil

1 tbsp chopped coriander

Salt to taste

Chop the olives into small pieces. I have used the brine here because it is also infused with the flavour of the olives. And why waste a good thing??

Mix all together and season with salt according to taste. I love having this dip with naan. 

Thousand Island Dressing

Thousand Island Dressing

Recipe source : food.com

Dips and sauces are an integral part of food. They might take up very little space on your dining table but the starters are incomplete without them. You can easily get bottled sauces from your nearest departmental store. However it is fun making your own sauces at home.

 Of course mayonnaise is the basic sauce to start with. And the best part is that you can keep experimenting. Just keep adding stuff and with every addition a new flavour is created.

Ingredients

½ cup mayonnaise

2 tbsp ketchup

1 tbsp white vinegar

2 tsp sugar

2 tsp sweet pickle relish

1 tsp white onion, finely chopped

Pinch of salt

Dash of pepper powder

Mix all ingredients in a bowl. The sugar will not dissolve so easily. Keep the sauce in a covered dish and keep stirring every once in a while so that the sugar dissolves eventually and all the flavours combine. 

Sweet Cucumber Relish

Sweet Cucumber Relish

Now no more buying that bottled stuff. This sweet cucumber relish can be made at home in a jiffy with very basic ingredients. It keeps well in the fridge for a month or two. Use the relish in your pizzas, sandwiches and dips.

Ingredients

5 seedless cucumbers, sliced very fine

2 white onions, sliced fine

2 tbsp whole yellow mustard

½ cup white vinegar

½ cup water

1 cup sugar

2 tbsp whole black pepper

3 green chillies, sliced

Put a big pan on flame. Mix together water, sugar and vinegar. Add chillies, whole mustard and black peppercorns. Boil till the sugar dissolves. Add the cucumber and onions. Cook till the cucumber turns translucent. Cool completely. 

Arrabbiata Sauce

Arrabbiata Sauce

A luscious, creamy, garlicky tomato based sauce to have with your pasta. No more introduction is required for the Arrabbiata Sauce!

Ingredients

2 onions, finely chopped

6 garlic cloves, chopped

5 tomatoes, blanched and chopped

3 tbsp tomato puree

2 tbsp olive oil

1 tsp sugar

1 tsp salt

1 tsp black pepper

1 tbsp red chilli flakes

3 tbsp fresh cream

1 tsp dried oregano

Heat the olive oil. Add the garlic and saute. 

Add the chopped onions. Cook till the onions become soft. Add the tomatoes, tomato puree, sugar, salt, pepper and chilli flakes. 

Cover and cook till the whole thing comes together. The tomato should be cooked and mushy. 

Take off the heat and cool a little. 

Take about ¾ of the mix and puree it well in the mixer. Now add it to the rest of the mix. Put it back on the gas again. Check the seasoning. 

Now add the cream and oregano. Switch off the flame. Your Arabbiata sauce is ready. It should be served warm with pasta.

Caramel sauce

 Caramel sauce

Ingredients 

1 cup granulated white sugar
5 tbsp butter
½ cup cream

Put the sugar in a pan and put it on medium heat. Once the sugar starts caramelizing then add the butter. Keep on low flame and cook till the sugar melts. Do not stir. 
Take off the heat and add the cream and mix well till no lumps remain. Do not worry if you are still left with lumps. Put it back on low heat and cook. 
Keep stirring all the while and soon any lumps remaining will dissolve and the sauce will thicken. 

Homemade Tomato Sauce for pizza topping

Homemade Tomato Sauce for pizza topping

There is something bout homemade pizza. Once you start making your own pizza you will never want to go out and eat one. Apart from the fact that they are obscenely costly the very satisfaction of making them yourself is something else. 

The two main ingredients that go into making a great pizza are the dough and the tomato sauce topping. The topping is best made and eaten fresh. The measurements here are for approximately two pizzas.


Ingredients

5 ripe tomatoes
8 garlic pods
2 tsp oregano
Salt to taste
Pinch of sugar

Put the tomatoes, garlic, oregano, salt and sugar to boil with 1 ½ cups of water. Boil till the liquid is reduced to half. Cool. Peel the tomato and discard the peel. Blend all to a fine paste along with the liquid. 
Heat a pan and put the tomato paste to boil till it becomes thick. Your tomato sauce topping is ready.