Healthy relish

Manju Dewan

As accessories are to attire, accompaniments are to a meal. Formerly, it was the traditional pickle, the humble tomato sauce or the mint chutney. Now, we have tried healthy variations to give that extra zing to your meal. Beet root and basil are both loaded with useful nutrients. Here’s how to include them in your meal.

Pesto Sauce
Ingredients:

• 1 cup basil leaves
• 1 small pod garlic
• ½ cup walnuts
• 1 bunch parsley
• ½ cup olive oil
• Salt to taste
• Black pepper powder

Method:

• Mix basil leaves, garlic, walnuts and parsley. Blend them well.
• Add olive oil, salt and black pepper and blend again to form a smooth paste
• Serve with snacks, pasta etc.

Beetroot Dip
Ingredients:

• 100 gm peanuts
• 100 gm beetroot (boiled and pureed)
• ½ tsp white pepper powder
• 2 tbsp vinegar
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• Salt to taste

Method:

• Soak the peanuts in water overnight.
• Strain them and blend them to make a fine paste.
• Add beetroot puree and mix well.
• Heat olive oil in a pan. Add peanut and beetroot paste.
• Add salt, white pepper powder, vinegar and salt.
• Mix well and cook on low flame for about five minutes.
• Let it cool. Serve it as a dip with snacks.

(Dewan is a Ludhiana-based culinary expert)
As told to Poonam Bindra