Tomato Chutney

Tomato Chutney (தக்காளி சட்னி) is a weekly routine for a day in my house to take a break from the regular coconut chutney. My mom makes wonderful tomato chutney and I still remember the days we eat an additional dosa or idli, just for the sake of this chutney. This is my brother’s favorite and he likes …

Pumpkin Chutney

Pumpkin Chutney ( பரங்கிக்காய் சட்னி)After all that Navratri celebration, with yummy foods and fun, let us treat our busily engaged stomach to a simple, colorful and tasty chutney. With the pumpkin season in its peak and we see pumpkin flavor everywhere from the pumpkin latte to the pumpkin spiced hand washes, let us try this …

Upma Kozhukattai

Firstly, a week-long gap in my posts is due to the turmoil of the Chennai floods. Though this post was scheduled to be posted in the mid of last week, I didn’t have an interest in doing that after watching videos and talking to people about the disaster to my wonderful city. How ever, Chennai …

Kovakkai Chutney

Kovakkai Chutney

Ivy gourd/Kovakkai/ Tindora is a least looked up Indian vegetable. Though it has amazing nutritional properties, it is one of the least liked vegetables. Its amazing properties of balancing the blood sugar levels makes it a diabetic-friendly vegetable. While we always look for different varieties of chutney to replace the regular coconut, onion, and tomato …

Quinoa Dosa

Quinoa Dosa

Idli and dosas are the staple food for every south- Indian. These are so noble that they can be served from little children to the age-old. While rice + lentil are the key ingredients of them, it is also to be taken into account the carbos from rice. Over a year, I have been experimenting …

Rava Idly

Rava Idly

Rava Idly – Yup! You heard it right. Are you getting bored of having routine idly and dosas? Are you looking on for some quick-fix dinner recipes? This one is for you. The marriage of semolina (a.k.a Rava / Sooji) with sour curd without fermentation is a delight to the tastebuds. People who hate sooji …

Garlic Chutney

Idli and Dosa are always a favorite for south Indians like me. However, having an appropriate side dish for it makes you gobble more or less. While coconut chutney is a classic combo always, sometimes, the taste buds ask for a spicy accompaniment. One such spicy and heart-healthy accompaniment is the Garlic Chutney.  I bought …

MoongDal Dosa

Proteins are the building blocks of life. Agreed!!! While there are so many advertisements on protein powders and shakes, why not we try including proteins our way – The Indian way!! This moong dal dosa is inspired by the pesarattu. I follow the same procedure as I do for it. They can be prepared for a …

Cabbage Chutney

I have been growing up watching my mom doing chutneys with different kinds of vegetables and even their skins. Those were the days when we would eat coconut chutney, once in a week, while our cuisine is very much popular with the coconut chutney. Trust me she is an awesome cook and loves to explore. …

Ragi Dosa

I am back again with another millet recipe. This is no fancy recipe. Those who know to cook with millets and have been doing the same would definitely be aware of this. As far as I know, ragi is one of the very common millets that people have been using, due to its availability as …

Almond-Walnut Chutney

Dry nuts are extensive storehouses of vitamins and minerals necessary for body functioning. There are some dry nuts like walnut and almonds that help in maintaining the good cholesterol in the blood. From beautiful skin and nails to a healthy heart, dry nuts offer numerous goodness. While eating them raw is good, sometimes the H …

Homemade Granola

Gone are the days, where we used to have elaborate breakfast of Idli, chutney, or upma and dosas. We prefer to keep our breakfast lighter, at the same time healthy and rich with proteins. While my H is a fan of those sugar-coated cornflakes, I am really worried about the processed sugar content in it. …

Ridge Gourd Kosthu

Idlis and Dosas are staples for many of us. Finding a right accompaniment for them is a challenge. Coconut chutney or sambar is a classic combo for hot Idlis. However, there are various other options for those. One such kosthu/ sambar varieties that I often prepare with Idlis is the Ridge Gourd Kosthu from the market. This …

Black Urad dal Dosa

I am back again with another healthy dosa option. Whole black Urad dal is used in Indian cuisine in many ways. One of the popular dishes that are famous throughout the world is Dal Makhani, where the black urad dal is the chief ingredient. In Tamil Nadu, we use this dal for dosas too. It …

Mint Chutney

I have been away a while from blogging. It was a much-needed break for me, with so many things running around. I am back again and will be prompt with new and easy recipes as usual. Idli and dosas are the staples of every South- Indian. Choosing side dishes for these elevate these staples. I …

Kale Sprouts Sandwich

A sandwich is a quick and hearty one for a breakfast or as a snack. However, loads of butter and other stuff that goes into it is definitely needed to be watched. The mom in me makes to look into the calories of it and make it a healthy one for the family. While I …

Wheat Rava Dosa

Wheat Rava Dosa

Wheat Rava is one least accepted ingredient in my family. Both the H and LO are not fans of it. There is always a big NO for this healthy ingredient and I rarely stock them up in my pantry. I somehow managed to finish up most of the packet that I bought a long time …

Oats Uthappam

Oats has become a common food these days. It’s usual to have porridge either with milk and sugar or with buttermilk and salt. I have been taking trials with oats in adapting this fiber-rich grain with an Indian touch. A bit of desi spices along with the goodness of vegetables makes this Oats Uthappam – a …

Idly Sambar

Idly Sambar

A very popular Tamilnadu food is Idly. You go to any part of the world or even outside of Tamilnadu, you will definitely start to long for this. While Idly is a staple and all-time favorite for every age group, its taste is definitely elevated with its best friend Sambar. You start two Idlis first, …

Kuzhi Paniyaram

This that time of the year again!! Yup BACK TO SCHOOL!! After that month of vacation, kids are looking forward to the next school year. While they are busy looking for a school, teachers, and friends, the moms are hitting their heads for healthy, quick lunch ideas. If your kid is a first-timer like mine, …

Little Millet (Samai) Idly

Incorporating millets have become a practice in my household these days. I try different recipes with them and one such hit recipe is this Samai Idli / Little Millet Idli. I get requests from readers and friends on the availability of millets in the USA. Please try to get them from online( amazon), Trader Joe’s has …

Podi Uthappam

Uthappam is a weekly visitor in my household. I grind Idli/dosa batter every weekend. After making fluffy soft Idlis, I use the rest of the batter for making dosa and Uthappam. I also pack this for my little one’s lunch box. For tiffin boxes, uthappam is the best choice over the dosa. It remains soft …

Coriander Chutney

Whether it is Idli or dosa as breakfast, we always need chutney or sambar as accompaniment. Though there is always a stock of Idli podi at home, I prefer making chutneys for the morning meal. Coconut is a vital visitor at our household, but I love exploring different chutneys making use of vegetables too. We …

Paal Conjee

Some days, the stomach seeks for comfort food that is light yet tasty. If you are looking for one such or need a change from your routine breakfast favorites, then this Paal congee /Milk porridge is for you. This congee is made of rice + urad dal and mildly flavored with fenugreek and jeera. A generous …

Sweet and Lemon Sevai

Sweet and Lemon Sevai

Sevai is a very tasty South – Indian tiffin recipe. When you have a packet of ready-made sevai, your option to make a tasty meal is endless. From Sweet to Savory, Sevai is so versatile that it can be tasty food. Though a ready-made sevai is easy to prepare, we need to know the exact …

Strawberry Jam

Strawberry Jam

The quarantine time has lots to do with online grocery orders. We have been doing online orders for our weekly vegetables and fruits. The process of cleaning and storing them is a tricky one as some of the fresh produce needs to be used early. Berries usually have a short shelf life and hence needs …

Capsicum Chutney

Being a South- Indian, we love our Idlis and Dosas accompanied by various chutney and sambars. We love our coconut, Onion and tomato chutneys, but do not want to get bored with eating the same. Hence I try my hands on various vegetables and even their skin for chutneys. Not only they taste great, but …

Coconut – Sesame Chutney

If you are a South- Indian, Idlis must be your staple food. The taste of any well made Idli raises when it is paired with a delicious Chutney or Sambar. If the tasty chutney turns out to be healthy too, its a bonus. Coconut chutney is an easy one and can be made with a …

Bengali Chirer Polao

If you like the Kanda Poha or Lemon Aval, this is similar to them with a Bengali twist to it. This very famous Bengali Chirer Polao makes use of winter vegetables along with a generous addition of raisins/kishmish, peanuts, and cashews flavored with mild spices. The addition of sugar and raisins along with vegetables gives …

Spinach Dosa

Dosa is a daily fare in many Indian households. Apart from the regular Idli-Dosa made with rice alone, it is a bonus if we could incorporate some healthy greens too. One such healthy and evergreen hit dosa is this spinach dosa which the kids love. In addition to the rice, I have also added quinoa …

Kharabhath

Kharabhat is a very famous dish in Karnataka region. Khara means the spicy version that uses Green chili and also the addition of spicy masala powder. It is almost a near cousin of Upma or Uppitu that is famous in South- India. Though both Upma and KharaBhath use similar ingredients, there are also some additional …

Vengaya Chutney | Onion Chutney

When it comes to South- Indian breakfasts, the accompaniments that are served along with Idlis and Dosas are eye-catching to everyone. From the simple coconut chutney to many varieties of vegetable chutney, the chutney always enhances the flavor of the breakfast mains and makes everyone want more of them. While coconut chutney is everyone’s favorite, …

Set Dosa || BreakFast Series Recipe # 9

Set Dosa is a very famous South- Indian ( Karnataka) breakfast recipe, that is usually paired up with kurma or vada curry. It is very famous in the state of Karnataka, where it is usually served with coconut chutney and vegetable saagu. Set Dosai is generally served as a set of two and hence it …

Thengai Podi | Coconut Gun Powder

If you are a South- Indian, then Idli and Dosa are your major staple Breakfasts. The restaurants all around the globe serve Idli and Dosa with coconut chutney, tomato chutney, and Sambar. Some of the local restaurants might as well serve some spicy Idli podi a.k.a the gun powder. Every household has a different recipe …

Kerala Pathiri || Rice Flour Rotis

Pathiri is a speciality in the Kerala Cuisine. It is a flatbread made with roasted rice flour, and water. This Pathiri is very popular in the Malabar regions of Kerala. It is said that the Pathiri has its origin from the Arabs influence in Kerala. It is very famous among the Kerala Muslims who serve …

Aapam (Without Yeast/ Baking Soda)

After all that busy holiday feasts, followed by the busy shopping, the Indian taste buds always demand us for those homemade, traditional, comfort foods. While I know how busy this long weekend would go, I planned this guilt-free, soft pillow-like aapam ahead and left them in my oven to ferment overnight ( Grr.. Mine almost …

CELERY STALK CHUTNEY

Celery is a water- rich vegetable that is commonly eaten raw alone or as salads. Celery has zero calories and hence it is a part of many people’s diet and in  weight loss. Celery stalks are also added in soups and smoothies. While it is good for health, the flavor of celery is very strong. …

KARNATAKA STYLE GOJJU AVALAKKI

Aval/ Avalakki/Poha is a very common breakfast ingredient that is used in many different ways It is easy to make and yet tasty too. There are lot of poha versions and every region has their own recipe. This GOJJU AVALAKKI is a very famous breakfast recipe from the state of Karnataka. It is made with …

URAD DAL CHUTNEY

Chutney and Sambar are vital in a South-Indian breakfast. While Idli and Dosa are great breakfast options, the chutneys that pairs up with them, make them more interesting. I make chutney with onion, tomato and vegetables, I also love making them with dals. Refer to Chutneys in the website.One such is this tasty Urad Dal …

BOTTLE GOURD/ LAUKI DOSA

Suraikkai / Bottle gourd is a variety of the squash family and rich in water content. Lauki is very commonly used in Indian cooking to make sambar, stews, kootu, kofta, and stir fry. This vegetable is also aids in weight loss due to the water content in it. It has immense health benefits, relieving stress, …

Rail Chutney

Chutneys are the best accompaniment for any tiffin. If you are a South Indian, you will agree to this. A flavorful and tasty chutney can make a wonderful breakfast. A train journey brings a lot of memories. Also, if you have purchased any food packets during travel, you would have tasted this spicy rail chutney. …

Thengai Dosai / Coconut Dosa

Coconut is one freshly available food that is loaded with all richness. Coconut is generally considered a healthy form of fat. Being South-Indian, any Poriyal or thoran is not complete without Coconut in it. While I had plenty of grated fresh Coconut, I decided to make this super soft and flavorful coconut dosa instead of …

Turmeric Chutney

Pongal is the time of the year when we can find fresh turmeric roots in the market. While most of the Indian curries have turmeric in the ingredient list, there are only a few dishes that you can make with fresh turmeric roots. Turmeric pickles and Turmeric milk are the most common ones that can …

Potato Sandwich

The lunch box for kids is a huge task for moms. The lunch packed must be filling, healthy, and also a favorite one for kids. Our usual lunchbox menu includes a sandwich and this potato sandwich is an all-time favorite. Potato is a favorite vegetable for most kids. This potato sandwich is very mildly spiced …

PIZZA MUFFINS (Low Calorie Version)

Muffins are everyone’s favorite. Mostly sweet muffins are made for breakfast and enjoyed with a cup of hot coffee. I tried this savory muffin which is pizza flavored. Why not pizza for breakfast. Also, I made them with whole wheat flour and used less cheese to make them less calorie and yet, soft and tasty. …

MLA Pesarattu (Andhra Pesarattu)

Pesarattu is a very healthy and wholesome breakfast option. It is a very famous breakfast/ tiffin from Andhra Cuisine. It is called Andhra Pesarattu, Pesara – means green moong bean and Attu means Dosa or crepe. It is also called Pesara Dosa or Cheeldo.  Pesarattu is rich in proteins and is very filling. It is …

Drumstick Leaves Thogayal

We need to include healthy foods into our daily diet. Healthy foods need not be always salads and soups. We can make our regular meals incorporating these healthy ingredients to it. One of the plants that have most of its part that is edible is Drumstick/Moringa tree. The leaves, flowers, vegetables can be safely consumed …

Srilankan Manipittu || Mani Puttu

Mani Pittu/ Mani Puttu is a Srilankan recipe that is a combination of Idiyappam, puttu and kozhukattai. This is an heirloom recipe that had undergone many changes. Though it originated in Srilanka, it was widely made in many parts of South India. Recently many had forgotten this super tasty recipe. The process of making this …

Lemon Idli

Idli is a tiffin for many. But to me, Idli is an emotion. Every day mornings are made bright with these healthy, beauties accompanied by chutney or sambar. It is a staple food at my house and kids love them even in their school lunches. They stay fresh as packed and taste yummy too. As …

Iyengar Bakery Style Masala Bread Toast

If you are a 90’s kid, you must have definitely tasted this at least one time in your childhood. After-school snacks are also important after a full day at school. During our school days, there was a bakery that we pass through every evening after school. Cream buns, puffs, and many other flavorful goodies would …

BUN DOSAI || AVAL DOSAI

Dosai is an emotion if you are a proper south-indian.  There are many varieties of dosa that is available like the paper roast, ghee roast, masala dosa, millets dosai and many more. OF all these, some dosa varieties are famous in certain places like this BUN DOSAI . This dosai is very very soft like …

Spicy Pori Upma

Pori/ Puffed Rice is usually used in making snacks. During ayudha Poojai, Pori is served along with jaggery and roasted gram. After this, most of the households leave them as such. I tried making a spicy version of this Pori upma with the leftover puffed rice/ pori. The secret ingredient in this recipe is the …

Classic Hot Chocolate Drink

Winter days are usually very short with day light. It tends to great dark very soon. We always love to sip on hot beverages and soup during winter. One such hot beverage that is favorite for all of us is the classic hot chocolate. Hot Chocolate can be made in different ways. But I love …

Oats Puttu

Puttu is one of the very famous breakfast recipes. It is very famous among malayalis and made with a variety of grains. Puttu can be made with rice, red rice, ragi , and wheat flour. I tried making puttu with oats flour. It is very easy to prepare and stays soft for a longer time. …