Carrot and Tomato Chutney

We watched Taare Zameen Par last night. It is as much a movie for adults as much as it is a kids movie. Having watched endless promos for the movie while in India, DD could not wait to watch the movie and last night on her way back from swim practise she brought home the DVD . Dyslexia is a topic that is rarely ever talked about in India, so very heartening to see Bollywood trying to spread awareness of what it really means. It is not easy being a kid in the hyper competitive environment that is India, where every action is carried out to get admission in a prestigious professional college. I am not about to lay the entire blame on the parents who seem to push kids further and further but at society which defines success in these terms where any career other than in Math and Sciences is viewed as less than best. A very good movie with very good acting but DD was shocked, well for that matter me too, at all the teachers who came across as plain mean besides Aamir Khan's character ofcourse!


As for our riceless (by this I mean steamed rice ) dinners last week, but for one weeknight I managed to provide the family what they wanted. Idlis make their appearance often and I for one can't satisfy the family's request without it. Though technically it would not be considered riceless since the batter is made with rice it does not really fall into the rice category. Making new and tasty chutneys to go with the idlis present their own unique challenge. But with some carrots, tomatoes and onions that challenge is easy to surmont. Carrots provide the right texture almost similar to what adding coconut would do. And for those who are trying to avoid coconut subsitute carrot in one of those chutneys once and you would see what I mean.

Idlis with chutney and some moong dal sundal

Ingredients
1. 2 Carrots peeled and cut into cubes
2. 2 tomatoes cut into small pieces
3. 1/4 onion cubed
4. 1 tsp of split urad dal
5. 1/4 tsp cumin
6. 6-7 pepper corns
7. 1 1/2 red chilies deseeded
8. Salt to taste

Method
1. Dry roast 4-7 and set aside
2. add a little bit of oil saute onions, followed by carrots and tomatoes
3. Cool and blend to a paste.

Excellent with idlis or dosais