Tzatziki Dip

This is a greek sauce served with grilled meats or as a dip. It is very simple to make and can be made ahead of time. All the ingredients can be easily found in an Indian kitchen. So what are you waiting for? Try it for your next party and let me know.

Ingredients:
1 dark green cucumber
2 cups of curd
1 clove of garlic
1 tbsp of finely chopped fresh coriander
½ tsp ground black pepper (or to taste)
Pinch of red chili powder or paprika
1 tbsp of lemon juice
Salt to taste
Fresh pudina leaves for garnishing

Method:
1.  Peel the cucumber and grate it. Let it sit for about five minutes.
2.  Squeeze the grated cucumber to remove as much liquid as possible. Don’t throw the liquid, it a cook’s treat.
3.  In the meantime, drain the curd using a muslin cloth to drain some liquid. You can skip this step and use thick curd directly.
4.  Mix the curd and cucumber. Grate a clove of garlic in it using a fine grater.
5.  Add salt, lemon juice, fresh coriander, black pepper powder and chili powder and mix well.
6.  Store in the fridge for at least 2 hours before serving. More the better.
7.  Serve garnished with few pudina leaves.

Baba ghanoush (लेबनीज भरीत)

1 large eggplant (one used for Bharta)
2 cloves of garlic (as per taste) chopped
3-4 tbsp of olive oil ( + for garnishing)
4 tbsp of lightly roasted sesame seeds
Juice of 1/2 lemon
salt to taste
1/2 tomato chopped finely and pinch of chilli powder.

Method:
1. Grill the eggplant as we do it for Bharta
2. Immediately cover it with a big bowl. This helps it cool down and the skin comes off easily
3. Remove the skin and cut into large chunks. You can remove some chunks of seeds.
4. Add sesame into the mixer and blend till it is almost a paste.
5. Add olive oil and mix it well with spoon. Blend again till you get a paste.
6. Add eggplant, garlic, lemon juce and salt.
7. Blend till it becomes a smooth mixture.
8. For serving, take it in a bowl, make and indent and add oilve oil. Sprinkle chilli powder and decorate with tomatoes.

Tips
Great as dip with chips and veggies
Put it on a monaco biscuit and serve it as a starter

Hummus

Ingredients:
1/2 cup chick peas (chole) soaked in water for 6-8 hours
2 fat cloves of garlic, chopped
4 tbsp olive oil
juice of 1/2 lemon
3-4 tbsp roasted sesame seeds (til)
salt to taste
pinch for chilli powder and 2 tbsp of Extra Virgin Olive Oil for serving

Method:
1. Rinse the soaking liquid of the chole and add water till it is just covered.
2. Pressure cook for 6 whistles and then put on low for 5 mins
3. Once the chole are cooled, remove their skins. Reserve the cooking water
4. Add sesame seeds in medium mixer jar
5. blend till fine powder consistency. Add 4 tbsp olive oil and blend again till you gate a runny paste
6. Now add chole, garlic, lemon juice and salt
7. Pulse it till well mixed. Now add 1-2 tbsp of cooking water and mix till it is a smooth paste. Add more water if required
8. Serve it with Extra Virgin Olive Oil and a pinch of chilli powder. Use pita bread or toasted bread strip for dipping.