Cucumber Slice Masala

# of servings:  2
Preparation Time:  5 mins	Cook Time:  None

A quick, delicious and healthy snack!  It is so easy to make that even children can make this themselves.  Can be easily personalized as per individual spice level preferences too.

Ingredients:

• Tender cucumbers - 4-6
• Spring onion - 1 stalk
• Chopped coriander leaves - 2 tsp
• Green chili paste - 0.5 tsp
• Lemon juice - 2 tsp
• Salt
• Sweet chutney - 2 tsp
• Fried savories - 2 tsp (optional)

Method:

• Chop the spring onion and coriander leaves
• Slice half a centimetre of the cucumber from both the ends
• Scrub the open surfaces together for a minute on both the sides
• When the white frothy (almost creamy) substance stops forming, throw away the end pieces and wash the froth away
• Peel the cucumbers (optional), slice another thin layer from the open surfaces and throw away
• Make thin slices of the cucumber and arrange them in a plate
• Mix the chili paste, lemon and salt together
• Put drops of this spicy mixture on each slice of the cucumber.  Adjust spice level as desired
• Put drops of the sweet chutney similarly
• Sprinkle chopped spring onions, coriander leaves and the crunchy savories (if using)
• Serve immediately

Tips and Tricks:

• Chopping the ends of cucumbers and removing the frothy substance takes away the bitterness in the cucumbers.  It is essential to wash them and remove the surface on which the froth has formed also to prevent the dish from tasting bitter.  Cucumbers should ALWAYS be cleaned this way before using
• Slicing them obliquely gives bigger and nicer looking slices
• Assembling just before serving is essential.  Else the cucumbers will start to leach water when they come in contact with salt

Pictures: 

Final Outcome: