This Cilantro Mint Chutney is generally served with samosas and pakoras at Indian restaurants. It is a really flavorful sauce with a hint of tanginess. This versatile sauce can also be used on sandwiches, Indian potato dishes, basmati rice, egg dishes and much more.
I love making this sauce. It reminds me of the Krishna festival at Venice beach called Festival of Chariots that happens each summer.
There are three decorated four-story chariots that lead the parade. The parade starts off at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium and then travels down Main Street to Venice Beach arriving at noon. One day in 2010 when I was living in Venice, I heard all this commotion on my street (Rose Ave.); so I went to see what was up and it was the parade, so cool!
There is plenty of free Indian food, interesting and informative exhibits on various topics including vegetarianism, Indian music and my favorite part is all of the elaborately painted elephant’s crusin around. I am not sure how much they liked it though.
Cilantro Mint Chutney
Recipe: Approx. 1 1/2 cups
- 3 Cups Cilantro
- 1 Cup Fresh Mint
- 1 Serrano Peppers (optional)
- 1 Tablespoons Fresh Ginger Root – microplaned
- 1/4 Cup Expeller Pressed Grapeseed Oil
- 2 Tablespoons Lemon Juice – fresh squeezed
- 1/4 Cup Filtered Water (if you like it thinner add a little more water)
- 1/2 Teaspoon Cumin Seeds
- 1/2 Teaspoon Sea Salt or to Taste
Instructions:
Pick the mint and cilantro leaves off the stems, measure and put into a food processor or blender.
Cut the stems off the serranos and remove the seeds (optional). Peel the ginger with a peeler or a spoon then grate it with a micro planer and measure. Then add both the serranos and ginger into the food processor or blender.
Measure and add grapeseed oil, lemon juice, water, cumin seeds and salt; then blend until pureed.
Health benefits:
Cilantro is an extreme anti-oxidant immune-booster that helps detoxify the body by loosening them from the tissue, binding to and pulling out toxins and heavy metals. It helps promote a healthy liver function and is an overall digestive aid. It is a powerful anti-inflammatory that may help symptoms of arthritis and joint pain. Cilantro can lower bad cholesterol level and increase the good cholesterol level. It also helps with insulin secretion and lowers blood sugar. It is rich in essential oils, vitamins and is one of the richest herbal sources for vitamin K and dietary fiber. It is also an excellent source of omega-3, omega-6 fatty acids and calcium.
Mint activates the salivary glands just by the aroma alone, which helps promote digestion. It relaxing the muscular lining of the digestive tract and improves the flow of bile through the stomach and soothes the stomach, indigestion, inflammation, abdominal pain, nausea and discomfort associated with IBS. People who suffer from allergies and asthma can benefit from regular use because it is a relaxant and relieves congestion. Mint contains potent antioxidants that decrease levels of free radicals that can cause damage to cells. It is an excellent source of potassium, calcium, iron, manganese and magnesium.
