Lemon Dates Chutney: A Date with a Lemon

Lemons 5-6 The lemons are cricket ball size in USA ; if smaller as in India, may take less time to cook in microwave
Dates = same amount as Lemon grind
Salt to taste
4. Red chili powder – 2 tablespoons or to taste

Seasoning: Oil half cup Red chilies 2-3,mustard seeds 1 teaspoon, urad dal 1 teaspoon, hing ½ teaspoon, curry leaves 5-8, Roasted Methi powder = ¼ teaspoon

In a microwave dish put the whole lemons and cook on both sides 4 minutes each. The lemons are cricket ball size in USA ; if smaller as in India, may take less time.
Some juice will come out the lemons turn soft. Save the juice.
Let them cool before cutting and removing the seeds. Then cut them to smaller pieces suitable to put in the food processor /grater. Grate them to smaller pieces.
Next take pitted dates and cut hem in to three pieces to make it easier to grind. Briefly soften them for about 30 seconds in microwave oven then put them in the grater and blend to smaller pieces.
If the lemons zest is one cup, blended dates should be about ¾- 1 cup.
Next in a pan put half cup of oil. When it is hot, add 2-3 red chiles, mustard seeds and urad dal. Add hing, methi powder and (turmeric) haldi powder. Add curry leaves. Then add the ground lemon peels and the dates and any juice that came out during microwave cooking and mix well.

When/What to serve with:
White rice/ghee, biryani, tastes fantastic with curd rice!!

Course: Dips