Our Asian Mash-Up feast began with humble appearing Pani Puri. Pani Puri are an example of South Indian chaat, street food snacks. The puri are the fried dough puffs, and pani means water. The waters are spiced chutneys, in this case, a tomato water and a tamarind based water (these are in the clear Solo containers). Pani puri are eaten by poking a hole into the top of the puri, and filling in with desired amounts of the fillings (counterclockwise from top), followed by pouring on the pani:
sev, red onion, spiced potatoes, cilantro
Each bite yields a delicate crunch and a burst of flavor.
All recipes are from Chef Nalin, unless otherwise noted.
Mango-Tomato Chaat
Finely cut mango halves into small cubes
Finely cut heirloom tomatoes into small cubes
Small amount of finely diced red onion
Chaat masala, chili powder, aamchoor, cumin, coriander, salt
Let drain, and then refrigerate
Pani Puri Chaat
Potatoes – 1-2 medium sized ones
Green chilli – 1 finely chopped (optional)
Red chilli powder – 1 tsp
Cumin/jeera powder – 1 tsp
Chaat masala – a pinch (use more)
Salt
Sev
Onion – 1 finely chopped
Coriander leaves – as needed (finely chopped)
Preparation
Pressure cook potatoes, peel the skin and mash it well. Add finely chopped green chillies, red chilli powder, cumin powder, chaat masala, salt needed and mix well.
Variant 1: Pani
Ice cold water – 3 cups
Green chutney – 3 tbsp
Sweet chutney (dates tamarind chutney) – 2 tbsp
Chilli powder – 1 tsp
Chaat masala powder- 1 1/2 tsp
Roasted Cumin/jeera powder -1 tsp (dry roast cumins seeds and powder it)
Variant 2: from Shinku (Nalin’s cousin):
Cut 1 green mango. Boil it in water with a green chili if you want spicy.
In the blender, put 20-30 leaves of mint, 1/2 a bunch of fresh cilantro, cumin, black salt, regular salt, and some of the green mango mixture. Grind well. Add remaining green mango mixture and grind everything. Add tamarind chutney. It is ready made and available at Indian stores. Add water, salt, lemon juice, amchoor as needed.
Tamarind Chutney (aka Imli Chutney)
2 tbsp tamarind concentrate
2 cups water
1/2 cup jaggery or sugar
1 tsp salt
1 tsp red chili powder
1/2 tsp cumin powder
1. Boil 2 cups water in pot. Add in the tamarind paste and mix well so that no lumps form.
2. Add the jaggery next and reduce heat to medium.
3. When mixture has reduced to about half a cup, add the ground cumin powder, salt and red chili powder. Keep stirring the chutney. When the chutney nicely coats the spatula, then you know it is ready. Remove from flame.
Essence of Tomatoes
(from Running With Tweezers)
5 pounds large cherry or small roma vine-ripened tomatoes, roughly chopped
1 stick celery , finely chopped
1 small cucumber, peeled and finely chopped
1 small shallot , finely chopped
half of a fennel bulb, finely chopped
1 small garlic clove , finely chopped
2 sprigs thyme , roughly chopped
handful basil leaves, roughly chopped
Procedures
In a food processor, pulse the tomato mix in batches until roughly chopped, add salt, cover and marinate overnight
Place three layers of cheesecloth (or a new kitchen cloth) over a large bowl and pour the mix into the cloth. Tie up with string and hang in a cold place for several hours over the bowl to collect the tomato essence. Taste and correct the seasoning, if necessary, then cool in the fridge. Add smoked cumin.
This is part of the Asian Mash-Up menu, presented by Chef Nalin.
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