Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Trying to adopt some of the local recipes.....

Though Indian snacks are plently available nearby, I thought let me have some first hand experience on some of the My version modified recipes



For a healthy snack, thick slices of cucumber topped with delicious homemade hummus are the perfect combination.
You can also try toppings for your cucumber "crackers" like mayonnaise with 1 or 2 halved or quartered cherry tomatoes, or peanut butter.


Cucumber "Crackers" with Hummus

Hands-On Time: 20 minutes
Ready In: 20 minutes
Yield: about 1 cup of hummus
Ingredients

1 cup canned chickpeas
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1 1/2 tablespoons tahini
1 small garlic clove
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons olive oil
2 teaspoons minced fresh parsley
1/2 teaspoon paprika
Cucumber, sliced
Cherry tomatoes, quartered

Directions

1. Drain the chickpeas and rinse them under cold water. Put them in a blender or a food processor, then add the lemon juice, tahini, garlic, salt, and olive oil. Purée the mixture until smooth and creamy, adding a little water if it's too stiff. Transfer the hummus to a small bowl and stir in the parsley and paprika.

2. Top each cucumber slice with a dollop of hummus, then top with a cherry-tomato quarter.

Nutritional Information
Per Serving (1/4 cup hummus and 1/4 cucumber): 150 Calories, 5g Protein, 20g Carbs, 4g Fiber, 5g Sugar, 6g Fat, 1g Saturated Fat, 333mg Sodium, 0mg Cholesterol.
Chickpeas are a good source of magnesium — which helps transport energy in the body — and are an even better source of fiber.


Cucumber and Yogurt Dip
Whether called tzatziki (Greece), cacik (Turkey), or raita (India), it makes a delicious dip for warm wedges of pita bread.
Hands-On Time: 25 minutes
Ready In: 30 minutes
Yield: about 1 1/2 cups (6 servings)
Ingredients

1/2 pound cucumber (roughly 1 medium)
1 cup plain yogurt
1 small garlic clove, minced
1/3 cup finely chopped fresh mint leaves
Salt to taste

Directions

1. Peel and seed the cucumbers. Using the large holes on a box grater, grate the cucumber into a small bowl.

2. A handful at a time (kids like doing this), gently squeeze the water out of the grated cucumber. (More than half a cucumber's weight is water.)

3. Return the cucumber to the bowl and stir in the yogurt, garlic, mint, and salt.

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