Peach Thokku

Our neighbor has a great yard and he has planted a Peach tree. During the season time the tree was filled with peaches. Some of the branches of his tree fall in our yard side. Our neighbor was very generous and asked us to use the peaches that fall in our yard. In such a small branch we would have collected over 30 peaches. Since I am the the only person who eats fruits, my MIL suggested peach thokku. It is a very tasty thokku. Sweet,sour and spicy it goes very well with dosa,chapathi or idlis.Here is the recipe. Adjust the spice level according to your taste.

Ingredients

- 4 big Peaches
- 1/2 cup oil
- 1/2 tsp mustard seeds
- 1/2 tsp fenugreek seeds
- 1/4 tsp hing
- 2 tbsp red Chille powder
- 2 tbsp salt

Method

1. Cut the peaches in bite size pieces.
2. Heat oil in a frying pan. Once the oil is hot add mustard seeds, fenugreek and hing.
3. After it splutters add the peaches.
4. Simmer in medium heat until the peaches become soft and mushy. Using a ladle or a masher, mash the peaches.
5. Add the chillie powder and salt and let it simmer for 10 -15 minutes
6. Taste the thokku and adjust the seasoning.

Serve it with dosa or idli.

Orange Pachidi

Ingredients:
- 1-2 orange peal (just the peals will do)
- 5 orange segments
- small lime size tamarind softened (extract the juice to get 1 cups water)
- 2 green chillies
- 1 tblspn rice flour
- 1/2 tspn turmeric powder
- 1 tblspn oil

Seasoning:
- 1 tspn mustard seeds
- 1/2 tspn methi seeds or powder
- 1 tspn jeera
- 1/2 tspn Hing
- salt to taste
- sprig of curry leaves

Method:
1. Boil orange peal and segments with some salt and turmeric powder.
2. Once the peal is soft (takes about 5 minutes) add the tamarind extract. Boil for a couple of minutes.
3. In a seperate bowl mix rice flour with some water. Add this to the boiling oranges.
4. Finally add jagary.

Cilantro Pesto

Ingredients

1 cup coriander
1 tbsp red chili flakes
1/4 cup walnuts
2 inch ginger root
1 tbsp lime juice
1 tsp lime zest
2 tbsp cheese (Parmesan)
2 tbsp Olive oil
Salt to taste

Method
Grind all the above ingredients in a food processor. Keep adding olive oil as required. Serve with cooked whole wheat pasta.