Yogurt Rice with Pomegranate

Not enough can be said about the goodness of yogurt and its healthy bacteria. Soothing to the stomach, it is a comfort food in South India. Here mixed pomegranates, another health food it is delicious and is a feast to the eyes!

 For 2 servings:

1 cup cooked Rice
2 cups yogurt
1 tsp oil
1/4 tsp Mustard seeds
1/2 tsp Urad dal
1 piece red chilli, deseeded
1 slit green chilli
a sprig of Curry leaves
1/2" piece ginger, grated or diced
salt
pinch of sugar (optional)
Pomegranate berries
Cilantro for garnish.

Take the cooked rice in a wide bowl.
Add the yogurt and salt and mix thoroughly
Heat the oil.
Add the mustard seeds, urad dal and red chilli.
Soon as the urad dal turns reddish brown, add the curry leaves, green chilli and ginger and take off heat.
Add this to the yogurt and rice mix.
add the pomegranate berries to the rice mix and mix well.
Garnish with cilantro leaves and enjoy!

Cucumber Yogurt Raitha

This is a Summer special. Nothing can equal the cooling effect of cucumbers in yogurt, when the weather is hot.

1 Cucumber
2 cups of yogurt
1/2 tsp Cumin powder
1/2 tsp chilli powder
salt
a big pinch sugar
Cilantro

Peel and grate the cucumber.
Beat the yogurt with the salt, sugar, cumin and chilli.
Add the grated cucumber. Mix well. Garnish with cilantro

Grated Carrot Salad / Carrot Koshimbir

This is a very tasty and healthy carrot salad ...low low fat, full of vitamin A and C from the lemon juice. If had with the Lemon Rice, it is a feast for the eyes as you fill your plate with the yellow lemon rice and orange carrot salad!

4-5 Carrots, grated
1 medium spice green chilli, slit
1 tsp oil (any, olive or corn)
1/2 tsp Mustard seeds
1tsp Urad dal ( white colored lentils, available in Indian stores)
1 piece of red chilli, deseeded
Juice of 1/2 a green lime
Salt
Sugar 1/2tsp
Cilantro leaves for garnish
Raisins for garnish

Heat oil.
Add the mustard seeds, Urad dal, and red chilli
Soon as the dal turns reddish and mustard seeds splutter, add the green chilli and grated carrots. Mix and turn in pan till the seasoning is mixed with carrots well.
Take off fire. add the salt, sugar, lime juice and mix.
Garnish with cilantro and raisins.
Enjoy!