Thursday, October 29, 2020

Khakdi (Taushe’)- Jolu- Avale (Amla) Koshimbir (Cucumber- Corn Kernels- Gooseberry salad).


“Khakdi (Taushe’)- Jolu- Avale (Amla/ Avalo/ Nellikayi) Koshimbir (Cucumber- Corn Kernels- Gooseberry salad)” … A simple delicious crunchy salad that can be served as a side dish for lunch/ dinner time along with other dishes … tastes awesome and is very healthy too … Yummilicious …. 

** Well, salads are the healthiest of all food and one must make it a point to add them on frequently into their meals if not daily at least thrice a week. In my home we can have a dinner of salad only and hubby loves it very much. As trains the lifeline of Mumbai are still not opened to all and also the fear of over crowd in the trains has made hubby me and me travel every week to offices in our car for our business work. It takes us a good 6 hours of to and fro journey and we love it as it gives us a reason to get out of home and drive on the quiet lanes though recently Mumbai is slowly turning to exactly what it was before ie overcrowded and the mad rush on lanes, but till a few months back the roads were empty, the air was off pollution, so clean and clear everywhere that we really liked these trips where in we would also buy veggies from villages, well all that has come to an end and so has the last lot of corn cobs which we always bought on our way back from a vendor who sold them in bulk. 

** This time I added the kernels on to salad as we love it very much and I often get from market which off course would be all peeled, packed and ready to use. I have also added on grated amla/ gooseberry which is in season now and we try to include it often in as many ways as possible as it is loaded with Vitamin C and other nutrients and is absolutely a miracle bomb in itself. Khakdi as you all know is cucumber which is always had in salad and though we love it and always enjoyed having it in the recent months on the wake of Covid we avoided it as it could not be cooked and in our area we were advised to eat all things cooked or boiled as we fell under the red zone and could not take chances on health front. These however I bought directly from the villages, washed it and kept it aside for a good 24 hours and then used it in preparing the salad. Try this simple but delicious salad, you can have it as a meal too, specially at dinnertime when you want to go light on food. Stay Safe, Stay Blessed. 

** Here is the simple recipe to “Khakdi (Taushe’)- Jolu- Avale (Amla) Koshimbir (Cucumber- Corn Kernels- Gooseberry salad)” …. My Style … 

** Wash and drain one cup of corn kernels/ jolu. One method is to put it in a thick bottomed kadai and cook on lower covered in its own steam for 5 minutes. Check and if necessary you can sprinkle some water. The other method is to put it in microwave proof glassware along with 1 tblsp of water mixed and mw it on high for 2-3 minutes mixing once in between when 2 minutes are done and continue till done. I follow MW method as I find it very convenient for light cooking methods. Whichever method you use, once done, remove and keep it aside and allow it to completely cool down. 

** Peel the outer skin of one medium size cucumber (khakdi/ taushe’) and cut it into small pieces and put it in a wide bowl. Wash and wipe clean 2-3 amla (avalo/ gooseberry) and grate it on a large hole sized grater and add this to the cucumber pieces along with the cooked and cooled jolu/ corn kernels. Add in finely chopped green chillies (tarni mirsanga/ hari mirchi) and salt (namak/ meeta) to taste and toss all well together. You can add in tablespoon of freshly grated coconut (soyi/ nariyal) if desired, it tastes awesome, but I have not added it this time. Keep this ready aside. 

** For Tempering/ Seasoning : Heat 1 tsp of coconut (nariyal/ narlele) oil/tel or any other edible oil of your preference in a small pan, when hot lower the heat to medium and add in half a teaspoon of mustard (rai/ sasam) seeds when it begins to splutter add in a large pinch of hing (asafoetida) powder and 5-6 fresh curry leaves (kadipatta/ karbevu). Fry it for a few seconds and the pour it over the prepared salad I the bowl and mix well. Keep it covered aside just for 5-10 minutes for the flavors to seep in well. 

** “Khakdi (Taushe’)- Jolu- Avale (Amla) Koshimbir (Cucumber- Corn Kernels- Gooseberry salad)” is done and ready to be served as a side dish along with other dishes. This is one of the best salad to be served during festive season as a little bit tangy/ tart flavor in salad goes a long way in tickling the taste buds. I usually prepare it as an accompaniment in thali during any festive season specially when amla is in season and when there is naivedyam offering to God. Tastes really wonderful with all three veggies being very good for health. Do try it out and enjoy with family and friends. 

** There are many more “Salad/ Koshimbir/ Raita” recipes added in the blog to which I am sharing a few common links below do browse through and try them out … 

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