Idli Chaat Recipe & an Indian Cooking Kit Giveaway from Veena’s Market

Posted on November 14, 2011 by Sala @ Veggie Belly

I don’t fry foods very often. But when I do, I make sure its damn good – like this Indian street food inspired idli chaat. This Idli chaat recipe turns fried idlis into a crispy on the outside, fluffy on the inside, sweet and tangy snack.

An idli is a fluffy, steamed rice cake from India. It is a common breakfast item in South India. Chaat is the umbrella name for Indian street food.

This idli chaat recipe is best made with left over idlis. Don’t use fresh idlis, they will get too oily. If you must use freshly made idlis, leave them out for a few hours so that they are thoroughly cool and dry before using.

It is important to use medium-high heat when frying idlis. If your oil is not hot enough, the idlis will absorb too much oil and get soggy. So use medium-high heat and fry the idlis till they are lightly golden.

I’m giving you the bare bones version of this recipe – fried idlis tossed with tamarind (imli) chutney and sprinkled with sev (fried chickpea flour noodles). You can vary this recipe however you like by adding your favorite chaat garnishes. See the recipe below for suggestions.

For a variation on this recipe try using cooked polenta. The kind that comes pre-cooked in a tube shaped package is best. Just cut it into discs, and shallow fry.

Idli Chaat Recipe

serves about 2

Ingredients
5 regular sized idlis*
vegetable oil for frying
Salt
2 tablespoons tamarind date chutney or tamarind sauce for chaat, available at Indian stores
2 tablespoons sev, available at Indian stores

*Left over idlis are best. Dont use freshly made idlis, they will get soggy. If you must use fresh idlis, cool them thoroughly before using. Idlis are available frozen in Indian stores.

Method
Quarter the idlis.

Pour enough oil in a heavy bottom or non stick skillet to coat the bottom. Shallow fry the idlis on medium high heat till one side is lightly golden. Gently flip the idli pieces and cook till the other sides is golden.

Make sure the oil is hot enough. When you put the idlis in the oil, they must immediately sizzle. If they dont, your oil is not hot enough and the idlis will become too oily. The trick to frying idlis so that they are crisp and golden on the outside, but fluffy on the inside is to use hot oil and fry them quickly.

Drain idlis on several layers of paper towels. Dab the fried idlis gently to take out the oil.

Sprinkle salt over the hot idlis.

Place them in a bowl, add the tamarind chutney and toss gently.

Arrange the idli chat on a serving dish and sprinkle sev on top. If you wish, also use a few of the below garnishes.

Optional garnishes
A sprinkle of chaat masala
Chopped cilantro
Chopped mint
Pomegranate seeds
Chopped tomatoes
Chopped red onion
Chopped cucumber
Roasted peanuts

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A chance to win THREE complete Indian Recipe Kits from Veena’s Market!

Kits include all the spices, rice, and recipe instructions. Veena’s Market starts with the best quality spices, organic where available, and hand crafts each blend. The rice is certified Basmati rice from the foothills of the Himalayas.

The kits include the whole and blended spices, rice and a tested recipe. Since you get all the difficult-to-find ingredients, all you have to buy from your neighborhood grocery store or farmer’s market are the vegetables and other easy-to-find ingredients.

One randomly picked lucky winner will receive three Indian recipe kits from Veena’s Market - Eggcellent Curry, Delicious Daal and Chickpea Curry.

How to enter the giveaway

‘Like’ Veggie Belly on Facebook
Follow me on Twitter
Subscribe to my RSS feed

Do one or more of the above. Then come back here, post a comment and let me know that you have.

If you are already following me through facebook, twitter or RSS feed, just leave a comment telling me so and you are entered in the giveaway!

Giveaway ends Monday, November 21st 2011, 9pm PST. One random winner will be picked. US residents only.

Comments

comments

84 thoughts on “Idli Chaat Recipe & an Indian Cooking Kit Giveaway from Veena’s Market”

Anna on November 14, 2011 at 3:03 pm said:

I subscribe to your RSS feed!

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LG on November 14, 2011 at 3:09 pm said:

I already “like” you on facebook

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Anu on November 14, 2011 at 3:22 pm said:

Sala…
Did you make the idlis from scratch? I love idly and ulli chamanthy this one works too… Have you fallen in love with the west coast yet?

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Sala @ Veggie Belly Reply:
November 14th, 2011 at 3:37 pm
I didnt make the idlis from scratch this time because my wet grinded is still not unpacked. These were frozen mallu idlis from the Indian store I love nellikka chammanthy!

Yes, I think I fell in love with the west coast right on my first week!

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Spandana on November 14, 2011 at 3:23 pm said:

Nice way of using up left over idlies!!! Lovely pics!!

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Hema on November 14, 2011 at 3:28 pm said:

I already liked you on Facebook and follow on twitter too..

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Manasi on November 14, 2011 at 3:29 pm said:

I adore chaat anything!!!! Iam moving htis week and have to finish idli batter, this is easy.. hv already packed the mixie, so have nothing other than the batter and think it a shame to waste something good! So this post is just in time.
have been liking u on FB and Twitter for ages now!!!

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LK on November 14, 2011 at 3:40 pm said:

I already subscribe to your rss feed Would love to give these to a friend of mine, who is typically too intimidated to make Indian food, despite her love for it!

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Laura Frank on November 14, 2011 at 3:53 pm said:

I “like” you on Facebook, follow you on Twitter, and subscribe to you RSS feed! *teacher’s pet*

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Aimee M on November 14, 2011 at 4:03 pm said:

I subscribe to your RSS feed!

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Shema George on November 14, 2011 at 4:10 pm said:

Hi Sala,

First time here…love your blog..its awesome !..lovely pics and recipes
Shema George LifeScoops

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Pragati on November 14, 2011 at 4:11 pm said:

Luv the idea of using idlis to make a snack. Specially when u have unexpected guests over and u have to scrample something!!!

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Mary on November 14, 2011 at 4:26 pm said:

I “Liked” Veggie Belly on Facebook.

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heather on November 14, 2011 at 4:50 pm said:

Already like Veggie Belly on FB!

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heather on November 14, 2011 at 4:50 pm said:

Following on Twitter as well!

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Lynn @ Sit. Stay. Cook. on November 14, 2011 at 5:24 pm said:

I “Liked” Veggie Belly on Facebook!

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Niv Mani on November 14, 2011 at 6:23 pm said:

Drooling away at the idli chaat, love the pic of the ‘sev’ being sprinkled! ..count me out of the giveaway draw!

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Steph on November 14, 2011 at 6:24 pm said:

not entering the giveaway, ’cause I’m in Canada, but I just wanted to say that I’m so excited to see this! I’ve been obsessed with Idlis lately and having one more way to prepare them is one more reason I can give hubby to convince him that I need to buy an idli steamer.

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jamie hayworth-chin on November 14, 2011 at 6:25 pm said:

YAAY! So excited for this giveaway! I have been following you on RSS for quite sometime and now I officially LIKE you on facebook:)

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Notyet100 on November 14, 2011 at 6:40 pm said:

Yummy platter:)

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Elizabeth on November 14, 2011 at 7:06 pm said:

I subscribe to your RSS feed and I’ve liked you on Facebook. Keep posting the great recipes!!!

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Sonia on November 14, 2011 at 8:16 pm said:

The idlis are looking yum…. ! I aready follow you on fb, thanks !

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Rachel on November 14, 2011 at 8:44 pm said:

I already follow your RSS feed! I’d love to win =)

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Hema on November 14, 2011 at 10:49 pm said:

Sala I follow you on facebook twitter. I like your page on facebook. I have subscribed through RSS feed.

I am a fan of your smile (say cheers…).

Nice recipe and a great giveaway. Do visit my blog when you have some leisure time.

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Adele on November 14, 2011 at 11:01 pm said:

I subscribed to the blog a couple of weeks ago, and just liked you on FB. Love your recipes!

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sandhya@vegetarianirvana on November 14, 2011 at 11:44 pm said:

What a brilliant idea, now why didn’t think of it ?

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Sala @ Veggie Belly Reply:
November 15th, 2011 at 12:07 am
but you make the best idlis in the world, and now you can make the best idli chat in the world

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Shobana on November 14, 2011 at 11:57 pm said:

Yum I like u in FB and follow u on Twitter!

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Rama Devi on November 15, 2011 at 1:23 am said:

I follow you in Facebook..enjoy your recipes..continue the g(f)ood work!

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Jessica W on November 15, 2011 at 2:28 am said:

Yum! I can’t wait to try this.

p.s. I subscribed to your RSS feed, since I already like you on FB and don’t tweet.

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Sanjeeta kk on November 15, 2011 at 7:26 am said:

Love a new avatar of humble Idlies..kids are gonna love this one!

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Tina on November 15, 2011 at 8:30 am said:

I’m now following you on Twitter. Thanks for the opportunity to win!

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Cool on November 15, 2011 at 10:12 am said:

Oooo! This looks heavenly! And I really like the polenta idea!

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Sharon Mathieu on November 15, 2011 at 12:47 pm said:

This makes me so hungry! I follow you on facebook

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Reena on November 15, 2011 at 12:48 pm said:

I’ve been following you on facebook and subscribe to your RSS feed. Love the recipes!

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Cassidy Stockton on November 15, 2011 at 12:51 pm said:

I would love to win- sounds delicious! I subscribe via your RSS, like you on FB and follow you on Twitter.

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Lexy on November 15, 2011 at 1:03 pm said:

I’ve liked you on facebook and have been following you on twitter for a while! Always good stuff!

P.S. I’ve now subscribed to your RSS feed. Never knew this medium existed!

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Anna @ The Guiltless Life on November 15, 2011 at 1:05 pm said:

I already Like you on Facebook and follow you on Twitter!

I hope I win those kits…I really want to try getting into Indian cooking and I think they will help

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Vaishali Sharda on November 15, 2011 at 1:21 pm said:

I follow you on twitter!

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Rachel on November 15, 2011 at 3:32 pm said:

I like you on facebook.

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Rachel on November 15, 2011 at 3:33 pm said:

I subscribe to RSS.

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Rachel on November 15, 2011 at 3:33 pm said:

I follow you on twitter.

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Nisha on November 15, 2011 at 3:56 pm said:

Already following you everywhere, hehe.
BTW you look great in the Indian attire on your FB profile pic!

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Jaclyn on November 15, 2011 at 4:31 pm said:

I liked you on facebook! I always enjoy reading your posts, everything always looks so tasty!

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Kathleen Richardson on November 15, 2011 at 7:19 pm said:

I’m already subscribed to your FB page. Hope I win!

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Sala @ Veggie Belly Reply:
November 22nd, 2011 at 4:30 pm
You won! Please email me your address veggiebelly@gmail.com

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Rita C on November 15, 2011 at 8:23 pm said:

I liked veggie belly on FB

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sreelu on November 15, 2011 at 9:11 pm said:

Sala, Idli chaat now thats a recipe I WOULD want to try. I follow you on twitter and I am your 4014th fan haha !!

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Ashley on November 15, 2011 at 9:11 pm said:

I subscribe! Thanks so much for the giveaway

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Ashley on November 15, 2011 at 9:11 pm said:

I like you on FB

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Ashley on November 15, 2011 at 9:12 pm said:

I follow you on twitter

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Kara on November 15, 2011 at 9:16 pm said:

Already subscribed! Already subscribed! Just ‘Like’d!
(Is it really only open to US residents or do you mean “only ships to US” – because I have a US shipping address and I really want to enter)

(also, I’m in the market for a wet grinder – is the Ultra Pride the one you’d recommend? xmas is just around the corner…)

Thanks!

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suparna on November 16, 2011 at 1:48 pm said:

Hey Sala,
Love your recipes. Liked you on facebook. I would love to win this one !!
And btw Am trying your pumpkin soup recipe today.

Thanks
Suparna

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Sala @ Veggie Belly Reply:
November 16th, 2011 at 2:00 pm
great! let me know how you like it

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Terri on November 16, 2011 at 4:45 pm said:

I like you on Facebook!

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Ashton on November 16, 2011 at 6:13 pm said:

Gorgeous pictures. The Veena’s Market kits look great too! I subscribe to your your RSS.

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Ashton on November 16, 2011 at 6:13 pm said:

Gorgeous pictures. The Veena’s Market kits look great too! I subscribe to your RSS.

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Ashlee on November 17, 2011 at 4:33 pm said:

I like you on FB and subscribe to your feed.
… and I’d love to win those kits. Yum!

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Xiaolu/6Bittersweets on November 18, 2011 at 9:57 am said:

I feel the exact same as you about fried foods, Sala! And the photos and your words are making this chaat so real to me that I could swear I caught a wiff of it in the air. Love the shot with the Chinese newspaper, by the way . Hope you are or did have fun in SF!

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Sala @ Veggie Belly Reply:
November 18th, 2011 at 11:05 am
hehe, you noticed the chinese newspaper! it should have been tamil or hindi news paper technically, but all I had was chinese newspaper from the asian store

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Liz on November 19, 2011 at 9:41 am said:

I subscribed to your RSS feed.

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rutba bhatia on November 19, 2011 at 11:41 pm said:

I “like” you on Facebook, follow you on Twitter, and subscribe to you RSS feed!

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Latha on November 21, 2011 at 12:17 pm said:

I follow you on FB and RSS. Idli chaat looks very tempting.

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Kala on November 21, 2011 at 12:22 pm said:

I “like” you on facebook and I will definitely be trying this chat one day when the idli itself is less than perfect. Want to win this gift to give to my little brother who’s visiting soon!

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Subha Ramji on November 21, 2011 at 12:32 pm said:

Wow…you redifined Vegetarian…looooooooooove your recipes & the presentation tops it all…..as they say “You first eat with your eyes, then nose and finally the mouth”….I am a super fan…Liked your page on Facebook and have subscribed to your news feed…thanks for the great recipes…keep up your amazing work…Cheers!

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Sarita on November 21, 2011 at 12:37 pm said:

I am already an avid fan of your recipes on Facebook, look forward to many more creative and delicious recipes…

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Manasa on November 21, 2011 at 12:38 pm said:

I like the diff style of idly recipe…it’s easy to dump some healthy stuff to kids this way..

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Kasi on November 21, 2011 at 1:00 pm said:

Idli chaat — sounds yummy!!! Here’s my entry to the giveaway lot (I like you on facebook)

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Usha Shivakumar on November 21, 2011 at 1:11 pm said:

I am all in. Hope to win.

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Jenn on November 21, 2011 at 1:32 pm said:

Found you via Veena’s Market (Veena is as lovely in person as you’d imagine!) & liked you on fb. Looking forward to getting to “know” you.

jenn.
Pint-sized Pioneering.

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Kulsum@JourneyKitchen on November 21, 2011 at 1:38 pm said:

Of all chaats I have never had idli chaat. Need. to. change. that.

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Soumya on November 21, 2011 at 4:58 pm said:

Hey Sala,
In mumbai u get something similar…Idli Manchurian ..didnt knw u can do thi
s with Idlis…definetely worth a try….thx..i already ‘like’
u on fb.
Soumya

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Mamtha Kashyap on November 21, 2011 at 9:02 pm said:

I like you on facebook…

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Julija Ba on November 22, 2011 at 3:39 am said:

RSS feed of veggiebelly – check!
FB page – check!

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Annafel Lewis on November 22, 2011 at 10:17 am said:

Liked your facebook page. Love your website and have made couple of your recipes! Keep up the great work!

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Danielle LeBlanc on November 22, 2011 at 12:40 pm said:

I already follow you on Twitter, but I liked you on Facebook as well I ADORE Indian food and I love to cook…. but Indian is one cuisine I have not experimented much with in the kitchen. Would looooove this prize

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iSLaND on November 24, 2011 at 7:10 am said:

well, giveaway Indian food and open to US residents only!
Make something for Indians too~

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shil on November 30, 2011 at 2:36 pm said:

Am I too late for the giveaway ? I do follow you on twitter.

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Sala @ Veggie Belly Reply:
November 30th, 2011 at 3:47 pm
sorry, the giveaway is over

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kokila karthikeyan on December 11, 2011 at 3:44 pm said:

I liked ur facebook page. i am also subscribed ur blog.U come and visit my blog and always welcome ur suggestions and comments.subscribe me in google reader

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Kathleen Richardson on December 12, 2011 at 12:12 pm said:

Sala ~ My winnings arrived today! An early Christmas present, ho-ho-ho. I love that each includes a shopping list, serving suggestions and a kit ingredients. I was concerned when I read the first and saw that I would need cilantro. Thought I would have to buy a bunch and end up throwing out some, but then read the other two packages and saw that each calls for cilantro. Yay, I like cilantro!

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Sala @ Veggie Belly Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 2:53 am
yay! enjoy!

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The Mistress of Spices on June 18, 2012 at 9:22 am said:

I love this! Reminds me of kaima idlis from Saravana Bhavan

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Pavithra on September 14, 2012 at 9:18 am said:

Tried this out with leftover idlis yest. We happened to have leftover tamarind and green chutney as well. It was fantastic! Thank you!

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