Spicy Peanut Chutney

It tastes great with Idlis and Dosas :)

What you will need :

1 cup plain peanuts (with or without skin, as preferred)
5 dry red chillies
Salt to taste
Walnut-sized ball of tamarind (to make tamarind juice if you want a wet chutney)

How to make it :

• Heat a griddle till it is very hot, on a medium flame. Roast the peanuts and dry red chillies (stirring frequently) on this griddle till they give off a gentle cooked aroma.
• Allow to cool completely and then grind the peanuts and chillies to a coarse powder .
• Add salt to taste.
• If you want a wet chutney, soak the tamarind in a bowl just covered with hot water. Let it sit for 5-10 minutes or till soft. Then squeeze the tamarind (while still in the water) with your fingers, to release the pulp from it. Squeeze till you get most of the pulp off and into the water. Now strain the liquid to remove pith and any seeds. Tamarind juice is now ready to use.
• Add enough tamarind juice or paste to your previously prepared Chutney to get a thick consistency.

Serve with anything :)

Carrot Chutney:

This is a boon to moms who are not able to get their kids to eat Carrots :) This is great with adai and works with regular dosa and idli. Here's the recipe:

What you will need :

Grated Carrots: 1-11/2 cups. I usually grate 2 medium carrots.
Roasted Groundnuts - 1/4 cup. Or 3 tablespoons
Red Chilli: 4-5 nos. I add about 7. S likes it spicy.
Garlic Pod: 1.
Tamarind: a small bit
Oil: 1/4 tsp
Coriander powder: 1 tablespoon
Salt : to taste

How to make it:

• Dry roast the garlic and chillies. Dump into the mixer.
• Add the roasted groundnuts.
• Now pour 1/4 tsp of oil and sautee the carrots for a few minutes.
• Add the corriander powder to the carrots and take it off the heat.
• Add the tamarind, salt and carrots into the mixer and blend well.

Carrot chutney is ready!

Note: You can add a quarter cup of roasted coconut if desired.

Pori / Puffed Rice Snack

 Tomorrow is Ugadi and I'll be home for better part of the day.. I was wondering what to make when I suddenly remembered something I made a couple of months back that I really digged.. Its simple and can be done under five minutes provided you have all the required ingredients.

What you will need:

Puffed rice - 200gms
Peanuts - 50 gms
Dry red chillies -10 nos
Sugar - 1 tbsp
Salt - To taste
Curry leaves - 10 to 15 nos
Haldi - 1/4 tsp
Oil to fry

How to make it :

• Heat about 4 tbsps of oil in a huge kadai and fry the peanuts well.
• When you think they are done, drain them and keep them aside.
• In the same oil, dump the curryleaves, red chillies and fry for about slightly under a minute. Ensure you don't burn the chillies.
• Add the puffed rice to this. Also trow in the fried peanuts, sugar, salt and haldi.
• Mix well and turn off the flame once the puffed rice is all nice and crisp.

Voila ! We're done ! Store in air tight containers.