While Ramadan could begin tonight, I am beginning to think about one of my favorite times of the month- the breaking of the first fast. What will we have to savor the moment when the sun sets and it’s time to enjoy something sweet, a date perhaps, and then something quick yet savory before it’s time for the maghreb (sunset) prayer?
Cilantro & Mint Dipping Sauce with Saffron Road‘s new savory phyllo hors d’oeuvres
I love crunchy appetizers, but I’m not fond of deep fried foods, particularly after a long day of fasting. I love baked things and I particularly love anything wrapped in flaky phyllo dough, so Saffron Road’s new savory appetizers– Crispy Samosas with Saag Paneerand Crispy Samosas with Vegetables will be on our Iftar table with my homemade Cilantro & Mint Dipping Sauce. Its creamy yogurt-base is stretchable- if you want more, just add more yogurt; if you want it thicker, use less yogurt to begin with.
The ingredients are simple: creamy whole-milk yogurt, ground cumin, sea salt, freshly ground pepper, one small bunch of fresh cilantro…
and fresh garden mint, if you have it.
Place the yogurt in a food processor and add the freshly ground cumin first.
Next add the freshly ground black pepper.
and sea salt…
and then the fresh herbs- all of the cilantro, just the leaves of the mint.
Give it a whirl for about 30 seconds.
If you want it thicker, add a little more yogurt; thinner- add some lemon juice or milk.
This sauce goes perfectly with the new appetizers, which are so nice and buttery when you take them out of the package.
And beautifully browned when baked for exactly 22 minutes in my oven. They’re not heavy or stiff; they’re light and soft, which is the way I now love this type of appetizer most.
They are delicious dipped into the yogurt sauce.
And pretty enough to serve them to your Iftar guests.
Cilantro & Mint Dipping Sauce
Serves 4
Ingredients
1 cup whole-milk yogurt
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1 small bunch fresh cilantro, stems and all
Leaves of one large stem of fresh mint (or 1/4 bunch)
1 package each of Saffron Road’s Crispy Samosas
Directions
To a food processor, add the yogurt. Add the cumin, black pepper, salt then the fresh herbs. Blend for about 30 seconds.
Pour and serve next to Crispy Samosas with Saag Paneer and Crispy Samosas with Vegetables for dipping. For guests, serve each person a small cup of their own dipping sauce and several samosas on a plate for Iftar.
What is your favorite type of dipping sauce to serve with savory appetizers?
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