2 min Raita ( Yogurt dip)

You know how sometimes you look at a recipe and you think is this even a recipe, why did I not think of it before? Or it is so simple, will it really taste any good? Try this and you will know. This is one of those instant recipes that works very well with any parathas - like this Aloo Paratha or kulchas as a side especially if you have another spicy side dish too.

Difficulty Level: Very Easy

Time: 10 min (max)

Ingredients:

• Thick yogurt or Greek yogurt ( a cup)
• salt (to taste)
• a pinch of sugar
• 1 tsp cumin (jeera) powder
• 1 tsp garam masala powder

Method de Preparation:

1. Take the powders and a bit of sugar and salt. Mix them well with a spoon of yogurt.
2. When they are mixed well add the rest of the yogurt and mix well. Taste and adjust spices as needed. Alternate is you can blend fresh cumin and peppercorn in a blender and add that too to provide some zing.

Potato Poduthuval (Simple Potato Fry)

This recipe is very simple and very kid friendly. Has a total of about 5 ingredients and very little spices if any. A great finger food that a little one can eat on his/her own. And if you have an adult child who loves potatoes then make sure to make extra!

Difficulty Level : Easy

Time : 15 min

Ingredients:

• 2 potatoes
• salt
• turmeric
• 2 tsp mustard
• 2 tsp urad dal
• oil (to saute)

Method de Preparation:

1. Wash and peel the skin from the potatoes, chop them into small cubes.
2. Take oil in a pan, when hot add mustard and when it splutters, add urad dal. 
3. When it is slightly browned, add the potatoes. Use a wide pan so that the potatoes don't crowd on top of each other rather have space to cook separately.
4. Add turmeric and salt and continue to saute till it slightly browns and is cooked.
5. Keep heat medium throughout and turn off heat when done. Serve hot with paruppu sadam (toor dal rice) for kids and adults alike :)

Puthina Thogayal (Mint Chutney)

This is very easy to make and tastes great with rice or with bread and butter. Great for those sandwiches you want to take on trips. Goes with cucumber,butter or mayonnaise and some pepper. With rice this can be paired with any kootu ( lentil soup) on the side. 

Difficulty level : Easy

Time: 30 min

Ingredients

• Mint leaves ( 1 bunch)
• Cilantro ( 1 bunch)
• 1 medium size onion
• Urad dhal ( 3-4 tbsp)
• garlic ( 1-2 pods) - optional
• red chilly ( 4-6 nos)
• asafoetida (hing)
• salt to taste
• tamarind paste ( 1- 1 1/2 tsp)
• oil

Method de Preparation

1. Take a little bit of oil in a pan and roast the urad dhal and the red chillies along with the asafoetida and keep aside.
2. In the same pan, add a bit more oil and saute the chopped garlic and then the onions. When almost done add the mint to saute just for a minute.
3. Once both are cooled, blend the first mix first coarsely and then add on the second mix and the tamarind, along with washed cilantro and blend till desired texture is reached ( 30 secs or so). Like a coarse paste.Some people like it a bit crunchy and not too mushy.
4. Add salt to taste.
5. Enjoy with rice, chappatis , plain or pita bread.

Sandwiches: Take two slices of bread. One one side spread mayonnaise or butter. The other side spread this. layer with thinly sliced cucumber and sprinkle a bit of pepper. A yummy cold cucumber mint sandwich is ready too! These work great for treks/ drives and stays good for a day without a cooler.