Peanut and Avocado Salad

This is a refreshing and nutritious salad with all the fixings to make a wholesome and filling snack or starter. 

Peanuts are full of protein, but are under utilized in our cooking. They are often used to season desserts or dishes, but are hardly used in the same manner as chickpeas or kidney beans are. 

While scrounging around for what to make for an evening snack, I started with the idea of making peanut sundal, and before I realized it, I was on a completely different course. Thankfully, the end result was liked by the family, so it was a fruitful diversion!

Ingredients (serves 6):

1. 1.5 cups peanuts, un-roasted, unsalted
2. 2 avocados, seeded and diced
3. 1 cucumber, diced
4. 1.5 tomatoes, diced
5. 1/2 red onion, chopped
6. 2 carrots, grated
7. Juice of 2 limes
8. Grated zest of 1 lime
9. Juice of 1/2 lemon
10. 3 teaspoons chaat masala (substitute with cumin powder, if hard to find)
11. 2 teaspoons paav bhaji masala (or any curry powder/spice mix of your choice)
12. 1/2 teaspoon salt
13. 1/2 teaspoon chilli powder (optional; add more for a spicier version)
14. 1/3 cup coriander leaves / cilantro, chopped
15. 1/2 teaspoon sugar

Preparation:

1. Soak the peanuts for 2-4 hours (If you forget to soak the peanuts, soak them in boiling hot water for 1 hour). Drain the water, and pressure cook the peanuts for 3-4 whistles with just enough water covering the peanuts. When the pressure settles down, drain the peanuts and add to the salad bowl.
2. When the peanuts are cooking, marinate the chopped onion in lime juice and lemon juice. The acid in the juice cuts out the raw pungency of onion. Marinate for about 20-30 minutes. This is a highly effective solution... it greatly reduces onion breath too!
3. Mix together diced cucumber, tomatoes and carrots. When the peanuts are cooked, add the peanuts and toss everything with chaat masala, paav bhaji masala, salt, chilli powder, and lime zest. 
4. When the onion is done marinating, add it (along with the juices) and mix with the salad. 
5. Add sugar and cilantro and give a gentle mix. 
6. Just before serving, gently toss in diced avocados. 

Serve with a sprinkling of roasted peanuts.