Easy Blackened Chili Avocado Salad

Or you can call it guacamole. :)

What you need:

• 1/2 teaspoon cooking oil
• 1 dried chili
• 1 large avocado or two small avocados
• Juice of 1/4 lemon
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• Salt to taste (I use 1/4-1/2 teaspoon)

Directions:

1. Add oil to a pan and heat for 30 seconds on medium heat. 
2. Carefully add the chili(es) to the hot oil. [I like to do multiple chiles at a time; however, this recipe only requires one.] 
3. Flip chiles when blackened and turn the heat off. See the picture.
4. Wash the avocado and separate the avocado(s) from the peel.*
5. Put the avocado, minced garlic, lemon juice and chili in a bowl.
6. Use a fork to mash the avocado, crush the blackened chili and ensure that all ingredients are evenly dispersed.
7. Add salt to taste and mix some more.
8. Serve and enjoy!

*I wash the avocado, slice it carefully in half and scoop out the avocado from each half using a spoon. Exercise caution with the seed--it can be a choking hazard.

How to make Raita

Family raita recipe

Here is a simple recipe for raita, which is a creamy, flavorful and healthy sauce that can be used as a side or dipping sauce. There are many variations of this dish. Here is ours!

What you need:

• Half a pound of cucumbers (about 2 medium-sized cucumbers), shredded*
• 1 cup of plain yogurt
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1/4 teaspoon cumin powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt, divided into 1/4 teaspoons

*If you have a food processor, you may be able to use it to shred the cucumbers. Or, you can chop the cucumbers very finely by hand.

Directions:

1. Mix shredded cucumbers with 1/4 teaspoon salt and let it sit for 15 minutes. The purpose of this step is to reduce bitterness and separate water from the cucumbers.
2. After 15 minutes, remove the cucumber portion from the water and squeeze the cucumbers to remove even more water. After squeezing, your cucumbers may not look that attractive, but this is normal. They may look like those in the picture shown. 
   
3. Mix the cucumber, minced garlic, yogurt, cumin and remaining salt in a bowl.
4. Add more salt or other seasonings if needed.
5. Serve and enjoy! Or store for a few hours in the refrigerator to make the raita even more flavorful.

Nepali song: Timro Justo Muto [cover] by Hari

Check out this Nepali song. For the cover, the music and vocals are played my dad.