Amazing Grated Papaya Salad

Good friend M recently told me that she was leaving early that day as she wanted to accompany her younger sis to meet a guy whom her parents wanted her to meet (for marriage prospects). She told me that this was the 11th guy she was meeting and she has already rejected ten (!) guys before this. Thanks to the skewed sex ration in our country !! That set me thinking...what is it that these young girls are looking for, that they are not finding ?  What is it exactly, that girls are seeking while sizing up a guy for marriage prospects…what is it ?   I was too interested n finding out ...so I decided to speak to all the PYT's I could get in touch with and asked them the most important question...what do you look for in a guy. Here is what I found:

1. Dependability…it means literally in all senses. The guy has to be able to manage expenses in a situation where the girl decides to stay at home to look after kids, or whatever reasons. It also means he should be there for her whenever she is in distress, both emotional and physical…of course this will not include the distress when she cannot choose which shade of blue skirt  will go best  with her new green halter neck.
2. Emotionally expressive…A woman hates it when the only emotions her guy displays are hunger, anger and frustration. Joy comes only in the event of Brazil winning a football match. There is another emotion very important to women, called love, and every girl wants to see her guy expressing love once in a while with a simple gesture like a kind word, a public praise, or an sms. Expressing love is not only PDA.
3. Caring…small helps around the house, understanding when the stress levels are high and acting accordingly, are small manifestations of caring. You cannot show care, unless you really do…if you fake it, you’ll be caught.
4. Presentability: Yes, the guy has to be someone she is not ashamed to introduce to her friends and colleagues. Which means you need to be polite, courteous, and if you have a sense of humor-nothing like it ! It also  means that if your weighing scale tips more towards the right, do something NOW !

Today’s dish is healthy, tasty, and can be readied in a jiffy.  AND  if the way to your girl’s heart is through her stomach, it might be of help. Girls, this may work other way round too…if the guy has really impressed you, now it might as well be your turnJ

Grated papaya salad:

Ingredients:

Green papaya: 1 small

Tomato: 1

Green chilly: 1

Rock salt: pinch

Tamarind chutney: 1 tsp (optional)

Pomegranate: 2 tbsp

Cumin seeds: ½ tsp, roasted, ground

Garlic: 1 pod, chopped

Herbs: basil, coriander leaves, or acc to choice

Peanuts: 6-8, roasted

 

How to:

1. Grate raw papaya.
2. Mix with rock salt, imli chutney, chopped green chillies, pomegranates, chopped tomatoes, roasted cumin seeds, chopped garlic and dried basil leaves.
3. Garnish with coriander leaves and roasted peanuts.

There you are! Guilt free indulgence is readyJ

Black Chana Chaat

Little S was not like this. Infact he was completely opposite of what he is now. Till the age of 6 he ate only healthy food. My mom-in-law was not very happy about this habit of palate for different types of food, so that he doesn’t have difficulty with food when he grows up and leaves home. She tried to feed him on bits of samosa, and was aghast that he just refused after the first bite ! My boss said children not liking potato chips have some serious problem, I should consult a doctor !

I did not need to. He soon started behaving normal, much to the relief of everyone, and today he is the king of junk food….and in the process of being so, has made me the queen of home made junk food. Sneaking in bits and pieces of good health in his favorite snacks…..

Black chana chaat:

The day  after the day I make pani puri’s  is usually fixed for a chaat – be it aaloo, or moong or chana. To use up the broken pani puri crumbs left in the packet, after enjoying pani puris the previous day.  

You will need:

Black chana: 1/2 cupful(soaked overnight and boiled)

Onion: 1 medium, chopped

Ginger: julienned, 1 small tsp.

Tomato: 1 chopped

Green chillies : 1 chopped( for adults, I would recommend 2)

Oil: 1 tsp (optional)

Jeera: 1 pinch (optional)

Rock salt/ table salt/ masala namak: according to taste

Chaat Masala: ½ tsp(optional)

Amchur powder/ lemon juice

Coriander leaves

pani puri crumbs

How to:

1. Heat oil in a wok.
2. Throw in the cumin seeds
3. And the boiled chana. Toss for 2 mins, on high heat and remove.
4. Garnish the chana with copped onion, tomatoes, green chillies, amchur pdr, Coriander leaves and finally the pani puri crumbs.
5. Squeeze the juice of ½ a lemon. Serve.

You can omit the 1^st 3 steps, and start directly from 4^th, if you want to avoid oil. Trust me it tastes great too !  It’s very healthy, low in calories, and yummy.