Cucumber Kosumbari (Fresh Salad with Cucumbers and Lentils)

Oh boy, What a storm that was! Our area is still recovering from a monster snow blizzard that brought 3 ft of snow and below-zero temperatures. Thunder snow is something that I've never heard so far, but witnessed this week. The lightning actually reflects on the white layer of snow and causes a purple/pink color all around for a second. That was really amazing to watch - like the special effects in a movie! Though experiencing a snow storm is fascinating to me, the after effect is horrible. Driving on the icy roads, with two lanes changed to one lane, with mountains of snow piled on the side for the next few days is not fun. This week's storm has given snow that will take several weeks to dissolve.

Alright, here is a fresh cucumber salad that I made recently. Though Kosumbari is a common recipe in southern part of India, surprisingly I've never had it until recently. A healthy snack loaded with proteins. I very much enjoyed it when I had it for the first time at my friend's place. Her mom is a very good cook and I always enjoy her dishes. I tried mimicing her recipe, and I was glad it came out pretty close to hers. Thank you aunty for this yummy and healthy recipe!

Ingredients

• Yellow Moong dal - 1/2 cup
• Cucumber - 1 medium sized or 2 small sized
• G.chillies - 2
• Curry leaves - a few
• Mustard Seeds - 1/2 tsp
• Urad Dal - 1/2 tsp
• Asafoetida - a few pinches
• Lemon Juice - 2 tsp
• Black Pepper powde r - 1/4 tsp

Procedure

• Cook the moong dal in a little water until soft, but still in shape. You can also just use raw dal soaked in water for a few mins until soft.
• Heat little oil in a pan, season with mustard seeds, urad dal, asafoetida and curry leaves. Add green chillies and fry for a min and add this mixure to the dal. Mix well. Set aside.
• Peel off the skin from the cucumber and chop the cucumber to tiny pieces. Spread it in a cloth or paper towel for 5 to 10 mins so the extra moisture is all absorbed.
• Add the chopped cucumber to the dal mixture, add lemon juice, salt and black pepper powder and mix well.
• Serve immediately.

You can also use alternatives like raw mango, shredded carrots instead of cucumbers or along with cucumbers.