The Finishing Touch...

They may only be called side dishes but they are important! Salads and raitas (yoghurt dishes) are the perfect finishing touch to some foods and without them these dishes just don't taste right. Like Mughlai Biryani with Green Onion Raita or Kheema Paratha and Mint-Cucumber Raita (pictured at right). Not only are they the perfect partners to other dishes, salads and raitas are great on their own, for the warm summer months. Cool off with some of these yummy and surprisingly easy to prepare raitas and salads:

• Chatpata Channa Raita (chickpeas in hot-sour yoghurt)
• Beans & Peas Salad
• Kachumbar
• Aaloo Salad (potato salad)

_{© Photographer: Paul Cowan; Agency: Dreamstime.com}

Recipe Exchange - Picnic Recipes
To add some Mexican flavors to your next picnic or potluck, Chelsie Kenyon, our Guide to Mexican Food suggests these seasoned Black Beans with garlic, onion, chile and cumin. And the ultimate summer treat is cool and refreshing Shrimp Ceviche “cooked” with lemon and lime juice with a little spicy kick from Serrano chiles. Enjoy it as a side dish or as a dip for veggies or corn chips.

Kyle Phillips, our Guide to Italian Food has a wonderful picnic recipe for Rice Salad which is one of those classic summer dishes that varies greatly from cook to cook. It is made with cheese, olives, tomatoes, mushrooms, onions, peas, tuna or ham and that’s only the beginning! Another Italian picnic recipe to try is these Bowties With Chicken and Beans in a Spicy Sauce with tomatoes, onions and peppers - a nice example of modern Italian cuisine.