Pudina coconut Chutney

Have been thinking of dropping a word here supporting my Gay friends. So President Obama has decided to stop federal opposition to Gay marriages. A small step but sure enough to make a lot of people happy. I am one of them. Well in the first place why should  a court of law or an elected government decide who we should be in love with, who should be partners for life or even marry? If two adults are happy being together why should any individual or a court of law or a government have any problem? If it is simple enough to say I love oranges and you love pears, It should be simple enough to say I am Gay and you are not.

Disgracefully in India it is criminal offense to be gay. A country which has celebrated diverse eroticism from times immemorial, accommodated such ideas in mainstream temples and has had historical instances of homosexual behavior, and a country which has learned to live with a great deal of diversity decides to embrace the Anglo-puritanical stance on something that was always a part  of our ancient fabric only to prove how mindless we have become. It is indeed sad that it is a way of life  in India to live with cruelty of various sorts, baby-wife battering, female infanticide, sexual assault, eve-teasing, homophobia.

Like all the other cruelties mentioned, Homophobia violates the basic of all principles, 'Live and let live'. If only we knew to appreciate it better being gay would not have been criminal in India.

Coming back to food, many of my comfort foods are quite simple, Tovve , Tili Saaru etc. Comfort breakfast are things like Idli, Kadubu, mostly steamed foods.Somehow steamed foods make my mornings fresh and easier. I have never been a person eating say Chitranna for breakfast,  that is my sister! Pudina coconut chutney goes so very well with any of the steamed breakfast offering. For Idli my favorite accompaniment is Sambar. But sometimes I ache to eat my Idlis with some good flavourful Pudina chutney.  All these days I was not all that happy with the chutney my blender churned out. It was way to coarse for my liking but last month I got Magic Bullet and it works like a charm grinding coconut chutney. Ever since it has been chutney and more chutney.
I still miss the stone grinder so ubiquitous in south Indian kitchens. It makes the perfect chutney. The fibers in the coconut would have broken down, the spices fresh and fragrant and the chutney right consistency and texture. If only we could get the result with much less hard work.

We will need

Coconut grated 1/2 cup
Roasted Channa dal/ Putani/Hurikaddale 2  tbsp
Green chillies 3-4 (adjust according to taste)
Curry leaves a handful
Pudina  1 big  bunch
Tamarind  1" piece
Garlic  1 clove (small)
Salt to taste

Method:

• Tear the Pudina leaves from the stalk, discard the stalk.Wash it in plenty of water and drain well. Reserve.
• Heat a heavy pan on medium heat. Puncture the green chillies using the tip of the knife and toss them onto the hot pan. (If not punctured, the chillies might explode!)
• Toast till there are blisters on the skin. Remove from heat and set it aside to cool
• Throw the curry leaves on to the hot pan and turn off the heat. Keep it moving so as to not burn them. Once the edges are brown, remove from the pan and set it aside
• Combine all the ingredients in a  blender and pulse till well combined and smooth.Add a little water if necessary. Serve it with hot Idli/Kadubu/Poori etc.