Peanut Garlic Chutney

This chutney is the perfect companion for idlis (steamed rice cakes), dosas and uttapams (south Indian rice pancakes).

Ingredients:

• 1 cup roasted peanuts
• 6-7 cloves of garlic
• 1 cup fresh coconut
• 2 green chilies
• 5-6 curry leaves
• Salt to taste

For Seasoning:

• 1 tbsp cooking oil
• 2 dry red chilies roasted
• ½ tsp urad dal
• ½ tsp chana dal
• Pinch of asafetida
• ½ tsp mustard seeds

Method:

• Roast the peanuts on a low fire. Remove the outer brown dry coat.
• Mix all the ingredients together and grind in a food processor.
• In a small pan, heat the oil; when hot add the mustard seeds; when they stop spluttering, fry urad dal and chana dal until they are dark in color. Now add dry red chilies. Fry till the red chilies turn dark in color.
• Remove from the fire and add to the peanut coconut paste. Mix well.
• Serve with idli or vada or any other snack.

Do You know:
Peanuts are a rich source of protein. Peanuts are a good source of niacin and thus contribute to brain health, brain circulation and blood flow.

Recent research on peanuts and nuts in general has found antioxidants and other chemicals that may provide health benefits.

Although nuts are known to provide a variety of cardio-protective benefits, many avoid them for fear of weight gain. A prospective study published in the journal Obesity shows such fears are groundless. In fact, people who eat nuts at least twice a week are much less likely to gain weight than those who almost never eat nuts. The 28-month study involving 8,865 adult men and women in Spain, found that participants who ate nuts at least two times per week were 31% less likely to gain weight than were participants who never or almost never ate nuts.