Hi there everyone,
Thanks so much for the wonderful suggestions for taking care of sweet cravings
while on the MWLP. Just reading them seemed to make a difference. To say
thanks for the instant help, here's a recipe for snacky stuff I put together
this weekend. This tries to emulate the 'Bhel Puri' you may have seen in
Indian restraunts. The authentic stuff does have some ingredients in it I
have no idea how to reproduce, but this came close enough.
Cilantro Chutney:
1 bunch Cilantro (leaf corriander, cannot substitue parsley)
1 small onion (about 1 inch diameter)
1 tomato (same size as onion)
1 jalapeno pepper (more if you like heat)
1 tbsp lemon juice (more to taste)
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp ground cumin (available in Indian grocery stores)
Blend the first four ingredients in a blender in this order: start with the
tomato, then add the onion and pepper, and lastly the cilantro, this way you
will not have to add any water to blend, the whole mixture will be watery
enough once you are done. If you do have to add water, add the minimum amt
possible.
Add lemon juice,salt, and ground cumin. You can adjust these to taste. The
result should be slightly tart.
This will keep indefinitely in the fridge in a sealed jar.
I usually double all the ingredients, and it's all gone within a week. I eat
this with everyting.
And now the snack:
1 small onion - chopped - about 1/2 a cup - omit if you don't like raw onions
but this really is the best with the onions in. They add
crunch, and major flavour. Reduce the quantity if you like.
1 med tomato - chopped - about 3/4 of a cup
1 jalapeno - chopped fine - about 1 tbsp, more if you like heat
3 tbsp Cilantro Chutney
2 tbsp Tomato Ketchup
1 tsp hot sauce - optional
2 cups puffed rice
Toss all of the above in a bowl, check for taste, add lemon juice, salt,
more chutney, more ketchup, whatever (:-)), to taste. Serve immediately.
The puffed rice will become soggy on keeping.
Variations:
You can add a cubed baked potato to the mixture. yummy!
Crumble up your favourite tortilla chips/baked wonton skins/any crispy stuff
and add with the puffed rice.
Add a chpped cucumber.
I've been having this for dinner the last couple of nights, and have gone to
bed very satisfied, no cravings whatsoever! :-)
Enjoy,
Bala.
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