Food for thought

Its funny how much I love food. I could dump a guy in a heart beat if someone guaranteed a lifetime supply of brownies or pav bhaji or anything fatty and yummy! Maybe that’s a good reason to explain my addiction to cookery shows like Mirch Masala , Khana Khazana, and Take Home Chef (for the super cute aussie chef)!

Oh!!! Did I ever mention that one of my biggest dreams in life is to have my own cookery show? I often suggested opening a family restaurant to my huge paternal family. Appa always plucked this thought out of my head saying ‘Only people who fail do that. Do you want your friends to think of you as a failure? Then fine. Drop out of school and go cook!‘

Sigh! Thankfully things like the internet happened and I gained an unlimited access to food blogs and such. I often choose to vent my frustrations on cutting onions, or kneading the dough. Perhaps at the end of my life I can say ‘food has been there for me through thick and thin!’

To put an end to my rambling, here’s one of my favorite salad recipes from the show Mirch Masala, by the then not-so-famous Gul Panag. Its simple, filling and take a maximum of 10 minutes to prepare. Enjoy!

Ingredients:
1 capsicum
1 tomato
Lettuce (optional)
1 cup spring onions
1 tsp lemon juice
1 tsp Cumin powder
1 packet low calorie sugar
1 tsp black pepper (I like my food spicy)
1 can chick peas
2 cups of tamarind juice

Method:
In a large bowl, combine capsicum, lettuce, spring onions, some lemon and mix.
Then add a pinch of roasted cumin powder, 1 packet low calorie sugar, a pinch of black pepper, and the tomatoes.
Finally add boiled chick peas, 2 cups of tamarind juice, and keep it aside for a few minutes.
Garnish with onions (optional) and cilantro.
Serve refrigerated!