Cucumber Chaaru with Fried Salmon

One of the most favored foods of S is fish. I am allergic to Shrimp so, it is out of question to try it but, fish I used to have it in India that too the non smelly ones very occassionally. After coming to US, never tasted it except once or twice due the smell. I would appreciate your tips or tricks on how to remove the fish smell or to buy one that does'nt smell :D. This is a simple fried version of salmon fillets. We normally use  frozen ones available in Costco.

I normally buy cucumbers from the Indian grocery for making salads or using them in raitas, but from few months I have been buying English cucumbers from Costco. Unlike the ones at Indian groceries they are seedless so, grating and cutting them is so so easy. Most of all they stay for almost 3 weeks. They are big and come as a set of 3. Why am I telling all this to you :)? because, I made Chaaru with these cucumbers and it was so tasty.

Fish Fry

Serves -1
Cooking and Preparation Time - 15-20 mins

Ingredients :

Salmon Fillet - 1 (Atlantic Salmon Frozen Type) thawed
Lemon Juice - 2 tbsp
Salt to taste
Chilli powder - 1/4 -1/2tbsp
Coriander powder - 1/4 tbsp
Cumin powder - 1/4 tbsp
Pepper powder - 1/4 tbsp
Oil - 2-3 or more tbsp
Few Curry leaves

Method :

1. Rub the lemon juice on the fillet and keep aside.
2. In a small bowl, mix together all the spices along with 1/2 tbsp oil keeping the rest for frying. You will have a spice paste.
3. Now rub this paste nicely on the fillet and refrigerate it for 30 mins.
4. In a non stcik pan, heat the remaining oil add curry leaves and then the marinated fillet.
5. Fry it on low-medium heat turning sides slowly and cook covered until fish gets cooked.
6. Serve hot along with rice and dal.

Cucumber Chaaru

Serves 3-4
Cooking and Preparation Time- 30 mins

Ingredients :

Cucumber -1 cup or more Any type (but I used english ones) skin peeled and diced
Toor Dal - 1/2 cup pressure cooked with 2-3 whistles along with turmeric pwder(1/4 tbsp), a drop of oil and salt (very small qty)
Tamarind juice - 1 cup dilute not very tangy
Onion - 1 small sliced
Green chillies - 2 slit vertically
Few curry leaves
Mustard + Cumin seeds - 1/2 tbsp pr more
Chilli powder - 1/2 tbsp increase or decrease according to your spice levels
Oil - 2 tbsp
Salt to taste
Coriander - 1/4 cup finely chopped

Method :

1. Mash the cooked dal and keep aside.
2. Heat oil in a deep pan add, cumin, mustard, sliced onions, green chillies, curry leaves and fry until the onions are fried.
3. Then add, cucumbers and salt.
4. Cook covered for 5 mins on medium heat till you notice that they are cooked or 3/4 cooked.
5. Then add chilli powder, coriander chopped and saute well.
6. Now add tamarind water and mix well.
7. Then add, mashed dal and add water if necessary to dilute it if its thick.
8. Now let it come to a boil and reduce heat to low and cook for 5 more mins.
9. Cucumber Chaaru is ready to be served along with rice and your favorite curry.