Laban, the most welcome, cooling yogurt-based summer drink, can be incorporated into your meals in many interesting ways, to aid digestion, cool your system, as well as sustain you well when the hot climate takes a toll on your appetite. The markets in Oman are these days flooded with a range of brands that offer laban – plain or flavoured – in many convenient containers. You can stock them in your refrigerator or carry them to the workplace, even keep them handy in cool-boxes in your car for a quick swig during your journey. Here are a few recipes for using laban as a main ingredient in your dishes for lunch:
Kadhi-pakora
Ingredients
For the gravy
3 cups of laban
½ cup gram flour (besan)
½tsp turmeric powder
2 green chillies – slit
1tsp julienned ginger
1 sprig of coriander leaves – for garnish
For the tempering
1 sprig curry leaves
1tsp mustard
1tsp cumin
1tsp coriander seeds
1 red chilli – broken to bits
1tsp julienned ginger
2tbsp oil
For the pakoras
1 onion – sliced fine
1tbsp chopped coriander
1 green chilli – minced
½ cup gram flour
½tsp salt
A pinch of asafoetida
Oil for deep frying
Method
First, make the pakoras. Mix the gram flour in ¾ cup water to make a smooth paste, add all the other ingredients, and mix well. Heat oil for deep frying in a wok and drop spoonfuls of the batter to make marble-sized fritters. Remove when golden brown and set aside.
Now, prepare the besan and laban mixture. In a bowl, combine the laban, gram flour, turmeric, and salt. Gradually add 1 cup of water and mix it all together. Cook this mixture in a pot on a medium flame. Add the ginger and green chillies and lower the flame when it begins to boil. Simmer for about 15-20 minutes. Add a little water if you find it too thick. The kadhi is ready.
For the tempering, heat oil in a non-stick pan and add mustand seeds, cumin
seeds, coriander seeds, curry leaves, ginger, dry red chilli, and asafoetida.
When the ingredients begin to splutter, pour the tempering over the laban
kadhi. Add the fried pakoras to this kadhi and stir lightly. Serve hot/warm in
bowls garnished with coriander leaves. This dish can be had by itself or with steamed rice/rotis.
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Laban Khiyar
(Lebanese yoghurt-cucumber dip)
Ingredients
2 cups thick laban
2 cucumbers – diced finely
2 garlic cloves
½tsp sea salt
2tsp chopped mint leaves
few mint leaves for garnish
zest of half lemon
1tbsp fresh lemon juice
Method
With a mortar and pestle, grind your salt and garlic cloves until a paste forms.
Take a large bowl, pour in the laban, add the cucumber, crushed garlic and
salt, chopped mint leaves and lemon juice. Mix well and garnsh with mint
Leaves. Serve chilled for lunch, as an accompaniment or main dish, to suit
your appetite.
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Boondi Raita
Ingredients
1 cup fresh laban
1 cup yoghurt
1cup boondi (ready from store)
¼tsp red chilli powder
¼tsp salt
1 sprig of coriander leaves
Method
Soak the boondi in a bowl of warm water for 10-15 minutes. (Reserve 2tbsp boondi, unsoaked, for garnish). Then, grab the soaked boondi with your palm, lightly squeeze out excess water and set aside in a plate. Discard the water. Now, combine the laban, yoghurt, and salt in a bowl to get a smooth, thick mixture. Add the soaked boondi and mix well. Sprinkle chilli powder on top, then garnish with the unsoaked boondi and coriander leaves. Chill in refrigerator for 15 minutes before serving
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Mango Lassi
Ingredients
2 ripe alphonso mangoes
4 cups fresh laban
5-6 ice cubes
For garnish
1tsp chopped pistachios
Few mint leaves
Method
Peel and chop up the mangoes. In a blender, combine the laban, mango chunks and ice cubes to get a refreshing smoothie. Pour into tall glasses and garnish with chopped pistachios and mint leaves. For an interesting option,reserve a few pieces of the mango and top up each glass with a few pieces. A big mug of mango lassi serves well as a substitute for lunch in summer.
Note: If mangoes are not available, replace with 1 cup of sweetened mango pulp.
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