I cannot remember eating dip
during my growing up years. There were chutneys and pickles but never dip.
The
closest thing that resembled dip was Raita that mom made regularly. Sometimes
she added roasted brinjals, and sometimes boiled Spinach, other times it was
cucumber and sometimes fried bhoondi. Mom was very creative and she would
experiment with different combinations on food and try to change my ‘dislike’
of some vegetables into ‘likes’ by inventing new dishes.
For example, I did not like Kadhu and its
whole seeded family, and mom knew it, so she would hide (that’s what she believed
that she could make me eat the vegetables that I disliked if they were
disguised) Kadhu with lots of Chana dhal or mix it with other vegetables and
make kofta. Many times, she would ask me after I have eaten her disguised meals
if I knew there was Kadhu in it. Ah well….
But coming back to dips, I was
first introduced to dip during my trip to Spain, where I was invited for a
ladies party. The dip was served with neatly sliced carrots, cucumber and radish, cut in long strips.
The flavor of sour and spicy dip with fresh vegetables did the trick and I soon
became interested in learning more about these dips.
On Googling and on visiting
various blogs, I realized that dip is just the chutney with hung curd.
Haha…
So
actually it is curd with water squeezed out and ground with different ingredients,
mom would love this…..wish she were alive…
Anyways, I have inherited few of
Mom’s traits and creativity is one of them.
So here is my creation of this Shahi
spicy dip that I made during this Diwali festival and distributed to my friends
and cousins who don’t appreciate sweets.
Shahi Spicy Dip
Ingredients
200grams curds
6pcs of almonds
6pcs of pistachio
6pcs of walnuts
12pods of garlic
6greenchilies
6red chilies
50grms basil leaves
1tbsp of grated cheese
1tbsp of grated cheese
1tsp 5spice powder
1tsp lime juice
4tbsp olive oil
1tbsp sesame oil
Method
Step 1
Tie the curd in a cloth and hang it for an hour till all the water drains off
Step2
In a mixie grind the dry fruits and keep it
aside
Step3
Grind together garlic, chilies, basil leaves
Step4
Add the hung curd, cheese and ground dry fruits
Step5
Add a teaspoon of 5spice powder
Step 6
Add salt and lime juice
Step7
Add sesame seeds oil and olive oil
Step8
Before serving, mix it well, transfer in a
serving bowl, add 1tbsp of olive oil and serve with corn chips.
