Carrot Kosumbari

Koshimbir/Kosumbari/Kosamalli are salads made from raw veggies and lentils and are healthy snacks as themselves.These are basically Kannada speciality and Konkani too.Traditionally they contain raw or sprouted lentils and are made from carrots/cucumber and with an optional tadka or seasoning.There are several variations or versions for this though.As for me, I grew up with a version that is similar to a raitha , though comparatively this raw version is easier.Still I have diverted from the traditional version and added finely chopped/grated red onions to it and have avoided the seasoning and also the raw lentils.

Ingredients:

Carrots: 2-3 peeled & grated finely

Onions: 1 small peeled and finely chopped/grated

Coconut: 2-3 tbsp

Green Chilly: 1-2 as per taste.

Lemon juice: 1-2 tbsp or more

Cilantro/Coriander Leaves: for garnish and optionally mixing.

Preparation:

Peel and grate the carrots finely.Similarly grate the onion.Chop the green chilly and few tbsp of cilantro.The ingredients on first look (except cilantro)...

In a bowl mix together carrot,onions,coconut grated and few tbsp of cilantro and chopped green chilly.Add in salt and squeeze in lemon juice and mix well.Garnish with more cilantro.

Lemon juice will soften the onions and sort of take away the raw taste of them.Serve as a salad with rice or as per choice.The salt will bring out the water in carrot and onion and the salad will be moist and fresh no matter at what time you have prepared it.The mixing of cilantro depends on taste.I sometimes,avoid mixing cilantro and use it just as a garnish.Traditional or additional inclusions are washed and soaked/lightly cooked moong dal,moong ,sprouts,cucumber,pom seeds,ginger,grated raw mango or whatever you wish like peanuts,cashews etc. You can even replace the carrot and use beet to get a beet kosumbari.

The basic recipe of kosumbaris is same and sometimes they stand out due to the ingredients used.Other spectacular kosumbaris I have found:

Raaga's Carrot peanut kosambari

Divya's Sprouted moong kosumbari

Red Chillies Cucumber Moong Dal Kosambari

and a very different one made with fried yam pieces from here: Yam Kosumbari

Another version similar to a raitha with yoghurt and mustard seasoning is Carrot Raita.

The simplest salad made quickly from the root veg carrot is on way to NCR:Root Vegetable at Lisa's. Hope she enjoys this salad.