Black eyed beans salad with Date & Tamarind Dressing

This is a very healthy, protein & fibre packed salad. Could be enjoyed any time! Even though the name sounds like a mouth ful, the salad dressing is similar to the sweet chutney one makes for bhel puri. Why not do we use it as a dressing? i did and am happy that I did it. If you will like the tangy and sweet taste with a kick of chilli at the back, you sure will like it.

Get Ready: (serves 2)

• 1/2 cup Black Eyed Beans (BEB)
• 1 tsp oil
• 1/2 cup chopped green and red bell pepper (Chopped to the size of the beans)
• 1 inch grated ginger
• 1 tbsp chopped cilantro
• 3-4 dates
• 1 tsp jaggery/ brown sugar
• 1 small marble size tamarind
• 2 tbsp warm water.
• 1 tsp cumin powder
• 1  dried red chilli
• salt to taste

Go:

• In a pan add 1 tsp of oil and roast the black eyed beans for a few mins. By this you don't have to soak the beans for it to cook well.
• Once cooled, cover with enough water and pressure cook for 4 whistles. You can omit this step if you want to use canned BEB.
• Soak the tamarind and dates in water for 15 mins.
• Add the cumin powder, red chilli, jaggery, salt to the soaked tamarind dates and blend finely. This is our dressing.
• Toss the cooked BEB, bell peppers, ginger, cilantro and the dressing till the dressing coats all the beans & peppers.
• Refrigerate  or use immediately as a refreshing salad.