Of rainy days and chilly nights...

I love it when it rains! Not when I'm outside dressed in my best pants and white striped shirt, of course!, but when I'm nice and cozy at home in my jammies. The monsoons bring with it a craving of certain kinds of foods, something crispy and deep-fried, something warm and soothing, and something tangy and spicy!Monsoons in India are celebrated. There are many festivals that take place with the onset of the rains. And with the rains, there always comes comfort food! Some of my best memories of the Indian monsoon take place while I gorge on bountiful samosas and crispy pakodas accompanied with piping hot coffee. This is the main time of the year when you get to see all those little vendors on the street selling spicy, yummy knick-knacks fresh before your eyes! I especially look forward to these evenings when I call curl up on the couch, put on a good movie and enjoy my rainy-day delicacies!

Tangy Paneer Pakodas (Cottage Cheese Fritters)

Ingredients: 500 grams of Paneer 1/2 cup Mint-Coriander Chutney 1 cup gram flour salt, to taste 1 tsp Chaat masala Water, as needed Oil for deep frying Method: Add the gram flour, salt and chaat masala into a large bowl, and add water to make a fine batter. Cut paneer into cubes. Put some mint-coriander chutney on one side of a piece of panner, and top with another piece to form a sandwich. Continue to make paneer sandwiches with the remaining pieces. Dip each paneer sandwich into the batter and deep-fry till they turn brown and crispy. Sprinkle with Chaat Masala and serve hot with tamarind chutney or ketchup. Spicy Notes: Chaat Masala is tangy spice that is usually sprinkled on top of savoury dishes as well as fruits to give it a burst of flavour. It can be easily found in speciality Indian stores. You may omit it from this recipe if unavailable.