Tomato Basil Salad with Chaat Masala

Monica Bhide’s wonderful new everyday cookbook, Modern Spice: Inspired Indian Flavors for the Contemporary Kitchen, is a marvelous mix of traditional flavors and techniques for today’s busy home cooks. Sprinkling store-bought* chaat masala (“a magical mix of spices such as dried ginger, mango powder, red chiles, black salt, and more”) on many of her favorite foods (noodles. fried rice, fruits, seafood, everything really), Ms. Bhide shares this recipe:

Serves 6

3 lbs. assorted heirloom tomatoes (try all shapes, colors and sizes)
3 Tbls. fresh lemon juice
Store-bought chaat masala
Large handful basil leaves, shredded

Slice tomatoes and arrange on a serving platter. Pour lemon juice over them and sprinkle with chaat masala, to taste. Allow the flavors to marry by leaving the salad to sit for 20 minutes. Garnish with basil leaves.

* MDH and Shan are Ms. Bhide’s preferred brands.