Sumptuous Sides

By Sheela Sheth, Food Expert

No feast is complete without mouthwatering sides. Nothing is better for me than whipping up a delicious curry with beautifully soft and sumptuous naan or roti. Crispy fritters paired with cooling yoghurt raita or a minty chutney make for a perfect combination of flavours. This month, I share with you some of my family favourites!

Pakora
(Crispy Fritters)
Ingredients
1 cup vegetables of your choice
½ cup gram flour (chickpea flour)
¼ cup rice flour
2 tbsp corn starch
1 tsp chilli powder
1 tsp celery seeds
Salt to taste

Directions
1. Squeeze water from the finely cut vegetables
2. Mix the vegetables with the above ingredients until you have a dough
3. Heat oil in a pan and reduce the flame to medium
4. Take a small portion of the dough in a spoon, drop it into the hot oil and stir after a minute
5. Let it brown on both sides and remove
6. Place it on a paper towel to drain excess oil

Mint Chutney
Ingredients
1 cup fresh mint
½ cup fresh coriander
¼ cup roasted peanuts
3 Thai chilli peppers (you can substitute with cayenne peppers)
Lemon and salt to taste

Directions
Add all the ingredients and blend to a smooth paste. Serve as a side to any snack or a main meal

Fruity Raita
Ingredients
1 cup fresh yoghurt
½ apple, grated
A few raisins
½ tsp French mustard
Fresh coriander to garnish
Salt to taste

Directions
1. Place the yoghurt in a bowl, add the raisins, mustard and seasoning; stir until smooth
2. Add the grated apple and stir
3. Cool in the fridge before serving

Veggie Pickles
Ingredients
2 cups of any vegetable of your choice, cut up
6 garlic cloves, cut up
½ cup apple cider vinegar
1 cup baby shallots, cut up
2 tbsp mustard paste
Salt to taste

Directions
In a large bowl, add all the ingredients and leave for a couple of days in a dark place. Bottle the pickle and store in the refrigerator

Sheela’s Cooking Confidentials
For quick pickling
2 cups vegetables, sliced
½ cup vinegar
¼ cup water
1 tbsp honey or sugar
2 tsp iodized salt
A few mustard seeds

You can contact Sheela Sheth at reply2sheela@yahoo.com