CUCUMBER DOSA

This year i took some interest in vegetable gardening. I planted zuchini,tomato,eggplant,cucumber etc.To my surprise the zuchini and cucumber plant yielded quite a bit.Zuchini gets over quickly since my son simply loves it.Cucumber just stays there.Well i can make a salad out of it but am simply bored just thinking about it. That got me thinking "What can one make with cucumber apart from boring salad?" and all of a sudden i remembered eating cucumber dosa when i was little. Not very often though but i remember it very well because the sheer taste of cucumber in an ordinary coconut dosa was very refreshing and it tasted really really good.

INGREDIENTS

Idli rice - 2 cups

Shredded coconut - 3/4 cup

Thin poha - a handful

Cucumber - 2 medium size, peeled and grated

Cumin seed - 1 tsp

Salt to taste

Water

METHOD

Soak rice for 4-5 hrs.Grind it to a smooth paste.Transfer it to a bowl.Now grind together coconut,poha and cumin seeds by adding some water.Mix this along with thr grounded rice.Add water.The batter should have the buttermilk consistency. Now add the grated cucumber.Check salt. Let it rest for atleast 1/2 an hr.

Heat a tawa or griddle.Rub it with some oil.Pour a ladleful of batter on it and lightly spread it.Its not very easy to spread this batter have to do it slowly or just rotate the griddle so that the batter will spread on its own.Cover and let it cook for a minute or until it turns brown on the bottom.Serve warm with some chutney or any spicy curry or just haave it on its own.

ENJOY!!!

CHICKEN BURGER

Burgers are the most popular fast food in America.You can see that with the increasing fast food restaurants all over the country and the world.To name a few popular ones are McDonald's, burger king, Subway etc.These are the ones we rely on when we are traveling.Beef is the most popular meat here for burgers but my favorite is chicken burger.For healthier reasons I wanted to give it a try making them at home.It was a success,my hubby really loved it and so did I.Its one of the easiest thing to make.Its so moist with so much of flavor.Here is the recipe.

INGREDIENTS

Bun /bread - atleast 1

mayonnaise - just enough to spread on the bun

Onions - cut into thin rings

tomato - cut into thin rings

lettuce

dill pickles(optional)

For making the Patties:-(Use the spices and seasonings more or less to your taste)

Ground chicken - 1 lbs

Onion - 1 medium size,diced small

Green pepper - half a piece, diced small

Garlic - 2 cloves, chopped

Egg white - of 1 egg

Red chilli pdr - 2 tsp

Garlic pdr - 1 tsp

Seasoned breadcrumbs - 1/4 cup(can use plain breadcrumbs)

Dried oregano - a few sprinkles

Italian seasoning - a few sprinkles

Cajun seasoning - a few sprinkles

Cilantro - a small bunch,chopped (can use fresh parsley as well)

salt and pepper to taste

METHOD

Heat some oil in a pan.Add the onions, garlic and green pepper .Saute them well on a medium low heat until they become soft and translucent.Add salt and pepper.Ones they are done mix in the chopped cilantro.Keep aside let it cool.

In a bowl ,add the ground chicken,onion and green pepper mixture and the spices.Drop in the egg white for binding it all together.Add salt and pepper.Now use your hands to slowly mix in all the ingredients .Make medium size patties and keep them aside.

Heat a pan and coat its bottom with oil.Ones the oil is hot place the patties and cook them for 3-4 mins.Flip it over and press it down gently using a spatula and cook that side too for 3-4 mins.Using a meat thermometer check the internal temperature of the patties.For ground chicken it should be 165 deg F.If it hasnt reached that temperature continue cooking the patties flipping it every 2 mins.Keep checking the temperature.Ones they are done keep them aside on a plate.

Now keep all the ingredients nearby to arrange the bun.First lightly toast the insides of the bun/bread and apply mayonnaise on it. On the bottom half of the bun arrange the ingredients in the order of lettuce ,onions,tomatoes,dill pickles and the chicken patty.Cover it with the top half of the bun/bread.Serve it alongside ketchup and french fries.