Tools of the Trade Tuesdays: My Masala Box (Stainless Steel Masala Dabba)

It is not an exaggeration to say that along with all the heirlooms a mom gives her daughter - this masala dabba is a prime addition to her kitchen. Such a simple yet effective design, most Indian homes have one. The number of boxes inside, whether each has a spoon, lid etc vary slightly but the purpose remains universally same - A simple box that holds a variety of spices one uses commonly in cooking esp. for seasoning. 

Having them close together really helps when you need to drop them into oil/ghee for tadka in unison or one after the other pretty quickly.

Below are pictures of my masala dabba that my mother gave me. It has 7 containers and I only use one spoon that goes across all these spices.

clockwise (from top center) - pepper corn, turmeric, chana dal (split chickpea), jeera (cumin), menthium (fenugreek seeds), urad dal (black gram) and in the center is mustard. I tend to use this masala dabba to store spices usually used for seasoning in south Indian cooking.

These are available fairly inexpensively in most Indian pathra kadais ( vessel stores) , but for all others who would love to have it in their kitchen, here is a deluxe version on Amazon that is not too bad on the wallet - Stainless Masala Dabba Deluxe.

Peanut Sundal

Usually Garbanzo (Chick pea) sundal is heralded as the king of sundals but of the varieties I made for Navrathri 2011 I liked this one best. It is hardly a wonder because I love peanuts. If you have grown up in India and that too along the coast, you cannot have missed sampling these peanut sundals that vendors hand out on the beach for a few rupees. I somehow think the sand and the salty air add taste to those foods that can never be replicated in our pristine kitchens :)

Make this as a sundal, as a side salad or a snack for those hungry tea time bites.

Difficulty level : Easy

Time: Preparation time ( 2 hours), Cook Time ( 10 min)

Ingredients:

• a cup of raw unsalted peanuts with their skin on
• salt
• a pinch of turmeric
• water

To temper:

• oil
• 1 tbsp mustard seeds
• 2 tsps urad dal (split black gram dal)
• 3 green chilies slit or chopped in small pieces, or you can use 4 red chilies
• 1 to 2 tbsps grated coconut (fresh is always better)
• 2 to 3 nos curry leaves
• hing ( a pinch of asafoetida)

Method de Preparation:

1. Soak the peanuts in a vessel immersed in water for about a couple of hours. Pressure cook with a pinch of turmeric with water just immersing the nuts.
2. When cooked ( should feel soft when pressed and no longer hard), drain excess water and keep aside.
3. In the meantime get all the ingredients for tempering ready - chop the chilies and curry leaves finely.
4. Take oil in a pan, when hot add the mustard. Allow to splutter and add the urad dal and the hing. Soon after add the curry leaves and the green or red chilies. Mix in the peanuts and coconut and add salt as needed.
5. Peanut Sundal is ready to be served!

Pineapple Raita (Pineapple Dip)

Call Papa Johns and place an order for a 2 toppping cheese pizza with pineapple and jalapeno and they will know you are Indian, 'cos more often than not, we order this combination the most.

I L.O.V.E Pineapple, very very much. And I love that it is available in very easy to use forms now - canned and ready to go in their own juice. I throw some in on just about everything and sometimes just eat it as is. I have fond memories of mom bringing home a full one from the market and spending good effort in chopping it to more manageable pieces ready to be gobbled by waiting mouths. I am yet to try that myself here :)

This recipe is almost not one, and this dish can be prepared instantaneously. A great side to a meal - goes with rotis and rice and I love it with my staple yogurt rice.

Difficulty level : Easy

Time: 5 min 

Ingredients

• 1 can Dole pineapple tidbits in their own juice ( don't get the chunks, they don't absorb the flavor as much) 
• oil ( to season)
• salt ( a little bit)
• a pinch of hing (asafoetida)
• 2 tsp red chilly powder
• 2 tsp mustard seeds

Method de Preparation

1. Take oil in a small vessel, just enough for tadka or for seasoning, when hot add the mustard seeds and allow to splutter. Add a pinch of hing. Turn off heat.  After 4 min, add the red chilly powder to this.
2. Empty the pineapple tidbits with their juice into a container.  Pour the seasoned mix (oil, red chilly powder etc) on this and add salt ( a little bit).
3. Let sit for about 1/2 hr if possible for the flavor to sink in and enjoy!

This will go with chips and can be used as a substitute for salsa too :)

Source:  From a friend of Prema chithi