Hesarabele Southekayi Kosambari (Mung dal and Cucumber Salad)

This kosambari/salad is a part of any festival celebration in Karnataka! I love this kosambari because it’s super easy to make and also probably because I associate it with festivals, it tastes special. Normally apart from festival days, I never used to prepare this at home! But while I thinking about great evening snacks, it struck me that this is an amazing snack 🙂 You don’t have to prepare this for just festivals or special occasions, right?
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Sprouted Mung Beans Salad(Hesarakalu Usli/Sundal)

Mid-afternoon or evening snack is something that I end up not planning for at all! Somehow planning for breakfast, lunch or dinner takes up so much time or effort that there is hardly any time left to think of something for the evening. Unfortunately, what I realize is that I end up munching on whatever is available! So much for careful eating 🙁 So I have been deliberately putting some thought into what I can have in the evenings when I get home – something quick and fast that does not require a ton of work! If you are looking for some ideas – try having some fresh fruit or a quick south Indian kosambari (check out Sprouted Fenugreek seeds and raw mango kosambari  and Southekayi hasi sasive(cucumber in coconut-mustard sauce)) or a masala papad or try this awesome sprouts salad/usli/sundal 🙂

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Sprouted Fenugreek Seeds & Raw Mango Kosambari/Salad

Kosambari means salad in Kannada, a south-Indian language. There are several variations of kosambari – using finely chopped cucumber, grated carrot, or sprouted mung beans. The seasoning for all these salads are the same – some freshly grated coconut, lime, salt and chillies 🙂  The freshness of a kosambari is unexplainable. The flavors work amazingly well together – the light crunch of the veggies, the tanginess of lime, the sweetness of coconut and the spicy chillies. Absolutely amazing!

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Southekayi hasi sasive (Cucumber in a coconut-mustard sauce)

Lately, I have been posting a lot of Traditional Indian recipes that are quite healthy actually. The reason I am emphasizing on those right now is two fold. Firstly, a lot of these dishes are unknown primarily because of lack of publicity. These recipes are so simple and yet taste unique. So instead of opting for heavy, fancy restaurant style curries to change things up at your dinner table, try out these simple classy dishes that are absolutely delicious, healthy and quick to put together. However, I will continue to post with different grains and twists! And the experimentation will still continue 🙂 The second reason I am posting these recipes is that when I think of healthy comfort food, I am immediately reminded of this food. It is easy to relate to! So those are my two reasons 🙂 And now if you are looking for a classic route to healthier eating, then stay tuned!
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Bell Pepper and Cucumber Salad (Tangy cumin-lime dressing)

For a really long time I never liked salads 🙂 It was not that I hated salads, it was more like I wouldn’t try a salad unless it was practically the only thing available at some restaurant! (And that never happened 😉 ) The first time that I really thought about trying salad was when I was browsing through Pinterest. What grabbed my attention was not so much the recipe as the pictures! I am not sure if you would believe me if I said that I was drooling at salad pictures! Even now, after I have become an ardent fan of salads, the most appealing part of any salad is the wonderful colors and texture!
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