I’ve been lazy lately. Well, not in the kitchen. It’s just that I did not feel like blogging after a weekend of cooking and baking. I dunno how those working mothers manage to write at the end of a long tiring day. I cannot quite picture myself there :S
Tuna salad is my staple lunch when I’m home alone. It is a one-bowl recipe that can be whipped up in minutes. You can have it on its own or along with fresh baguette or sandwiched between slices of your favorite bread for a light picnic meal.
SIMPLE TUNA SALAD
Ingredients:
1 can [185g] Tuna Solid in Oil or Brine
1 large red onion, diced
1 large tomato, seeds removed and diced
1-2 green chillies, finely chopped
1-2 tbs fresh coriander leaves, finely chopped
2 tbs sweet corn kernel or chopped baby corn
2 tbs fresh pineapple, diced
Green olives, optional
Method:
- Drain tuna well and place in a large clean bowl.
- Add all other ingredients. You can add/delete/substitute ingredients according to taste & availability.
- Combine with tuna until evenly distributed.
- Toss lightly with 1-2 tsp of light mayonnaise and 1/8 tsp pepper/paprika or any salad dressing of your choice.
- You dnt need to add salt/oil as the tuna will provide all this.
- Makes a good filling for sandwich breads. Serves 2.
I’ve been wanting to make yogurt at home for days. The price tag on store bought individually packaged cups is very off-putting. These days I find the Panier de Yoplait shooting upto Rs98.89 😦 That kinda encourages me to make my own. The advantages, other than saving a few rupees, are many:
1. You can pick any flavour you fancy other than what you see on the shelves. You can experiment with fruits, spices and extracts to personalise your creation. Dnt be over-enthusiatic though!
2. You can always change your mind and stop the yogurt-making proces at the point that suits you. If you cnt stand the long hours of waiting for your yogurt to set, you can always give it a strong stir and turn it into thick refreshing lassi.
3. Homemade yoghurt tastes great and is free from the harmful unhealthy preservatives and sweetening agents used in the industrially processed ones. Health benefits relate to improved digestion and make it a choice ingredient in ayurvedic medicine.
4. If you dnt use all of it, you can always refrigerate the amount left or use it in cakes and desserts. You can use it to replace milk, buttermilk or sour cream and expect a fluffy texture.
5. If you are of the environment-conscious type, you’ll be happy to hear that homemade yogurt cuts down pollution by eliminating the use of those many plastic containers.
And lastly you’ll have the satisfaction of making it from scratch. The main ingredient here is a tbs of patience, a cup of patience and a whole lot of patience. My yogurt got converted into lassi, largely owing to the family’s impatience but I wnt complain. There can be no better drink that a cool mildly flavoured lassi to end a meal.
A brief about this refreshing Indian milk-based drink before coming to the actual recipe. Lassi is famous throughout India especially the northen state of Punjab as you often get to see in Indian movies. It is served in tall copper or pewter glasses with a dollop of desi ghee or clotted cream. A salted version also exists.
LASSI – INDIAN MILKSHAKE
Ingredients:
6 cups milk
1 cup plain unsweetened yogurt
2 tbs sugar
2-3 tsp almond paste
Few strands of saffron
Pistachios, for garnish
Method:
- Place milk in a heavy bottomed saucepan under low heat and stir regularly until it starts frothing. You can do this in a double boiler to prevent milk from burning.
- Remove from heat and cool for a minute. Pour into a large container with a well fitting lid.
- Dump yogurt into hot milk and stir lightly. This starter yogurt contains the bacteria that will cause the rest of the milk to curdle.
- For lassi, you can use the mixture after 2-3 hours of setting time. It will be thick and runny with the lower portion slightly wobbly. Stir vigorously to combine solids with milk and chill.
- Before serving, stir in sugar, saffron and almond paste. Sprinkle with pistachios or nuts of your choice. You can flavour with fresh fruit purée like mango or strawberry.
- To make yogurt, close container and leave indisturbed in a warm place for at least 6 hours or overnight. Once it appears to have set, move to refrigerator and store till ready for use.
- Keep some aside as starter for another batch. You can safely store it in a clean container for about a week.
The starter yogurt reminds me of my high school chemistry classes. Sulphuric acid manufactured by from sulphuric acid 🙂
6 comments
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February 22, 2010 at 7:09 am
Anju
Hi Prerrna, welcome to the blogging world. Am a big fan of tuna salad too. What could be easier than tuna salad 🙂 Thanks for stopping by my blog.
February 22, 2010 at 4:25 pm
Carine
I really enjoy homemade yoghurt. They are thick and creamy and tasty! My dad always made when I was in MRU.
I tried making yoghurt twice but it did not set (despite leaving it overnight) and was lumpy … So I gave up trying making homemade ones! Maybe I should get a candy temperature because maybe the milk was too hot (?) …
Thumbs up for the Tuna Salad. Love making these!!
February 23, 2010 at 4:01 am
prerrnamirchi
I’m making it again this week and hiding it smwhere so that it sets properly. It does not help to have lil cousins who want to open the container every now and then to have a quick look :S The candy thermometer sounds like a good idea to get the exact temperatures. I dnt have one either but plan to get it soon. Cheers!
February 22, 2010 at 6:02 pm
Angele
Tuna salad is awesome! I can have it (almost) everyday! Hahaha. I never thought of adding diced pineapples in my tuna salad. Thanks for the idea!
November 29, 2012 at 9:01 pm
kathleen
Hi there, love the idea of making homemade yogurt. I was wondering if you’ve ever tried to make cheese, other than paneer. Hope you will bring us another chemistry tutorial…lol.
November 30, 2012 at 2:20 am
prerrnamirchi
Hi Kathleen, I never thought of making my own cheese before. That’s definitely gonna be one of my future posts. Thnx!