where recipes are made …
Sambar (சாம்பார்),- flavour of every south Indian home. This south Indian delicacy is a must-do on auspicious days. The flavour that it renders makes a divinity feel on every south Indian home. There are many ways to make a delicious Sambar and every region in Tamil Nadu follows a unique style. However, the Tirunelveli Sambar …
Vegetable cutlets are a favorite snack from kids to adults. I made this a few months back for my LO’s school potluck. I made it less spicy for the children and they liked it. Its an easy snack and can be made ahead and refrigerated. Once we have guests at home, it can be deep-fried …
Rava Kesari – a simple, noble, and easy to prepare South Indian delicacy. A quick fix dessert that comes in hand when we have unexpected guests around. Also called sooji ka halwa or sheera in the northern parts of India, this subtle sweet just differs in its consistency, though their ingredients are the same. While KesariAdd …
Channa | Garbanzo bean| Chickpea |வெள்ளை கொண்டக்கடலை is a protein-rich dry bean that is highly recommended. Though the Punjabi chole masala is my favorite, I mean to make this sundal every year during Vinayagar Chaturthi and Navratri. We prefer to have this white-colored chickpea over the brown. It is a myth that most of us …
Channa Dal Sundal ( கடலை பருப்பு சுண்டல்) is one of the easily made sundal variety for upcoming Navratri season. Remember those days when amma does this sundal for Saraswathi pooja every year. Also, my maternal grandfather loves this sundal. He calls this “Poomparuppu sundal”. He insists that this sundal had to be cooked perfectly soft like …
Kalkandu Pongal (கல்கண்டு பொங்கல்)is a simple one-pot delicacy that can be prepared for neivedhyam during the Navratri days. My H likes it very much, though I don’t prepare it that very often, maybe 2 or 3 times in a year. I don’t get the small-sized diamond kalkandu/sugar candy here, but only the rock sugar variety. …
Paal Payasam(பால் பாயசம்) is a rich and very yummy dessert that can be served for any occasion. Being the auspicious day of Saraswati Pooja, let us make this yummy payasam and get the blessings of Goddess Shakthi. It can be made in a heavy-bottomed vessel or in a pressure cooker to reduce the cooking time. …
A sweet beginning for this Diwali. I am sure that everyone around the globe is gearing up for Diwali celebrations. With Diwali around the corner, the busy ladies will be hitting the kitchen to bring out the flavors for their family and friends. It might not be easy for all the moms to make elaborate …
Ribbon pakoda/ ola pakoda/ ribbon murukku – All mean the same. I am pretty sure that it has got more such names in different areas of Tamil Nadu. This is an easy snack for this Diwali, provided you have the murukku press with the ribbon pakoda stencil. I know that making murukku is a big …
Pottukadalai Murukku is one of the tasty members in the murukku dynasty.:-) The basic ingredient is the rice flour and is combined with powdered roasted gram dal. The color of this murukku is definitely a treat to the eyes. With the addition of roasted gram dal powder, the murukku renders a cream color. They are …
We make appam for Vinayagar Chaturthi. I also find some people making it for Karthigai deepam. This year Karthigai deep is celebrated on November 26th, 2015. We usually make pori, payasam, and vadai, along with the man vilakku. Though we do not make appam for this festival, it might be useful for those whose families have the …
Vazhaipoo Vadai (A.k.a) Banana flower vadai is a traditional Chettinad recipe. the mild flavor of fennel seeds along with slight bitterness from the banana flower makes this lip-smacking vadai. The banana flower is full of nutrients. The medicinal value of the banana flower is such that it can regulate insulin levels in the blood. It is …
Kuthi Vangaya Kurra is a brinjal curry popular in the region of Andhra. This gravy is rich in flavor and taste with its smooth paste blending together the south Indian spices and cooked alongside Indian eggplants a.k.a violet brinjals. The same recipe can be followed with green Mirchi replacing brinjal. Though I have tried the …
Tikka Masala is a most wanted food for many westerners. Go to any restaurant in the US, you are sure to find Chicken Tikka Masala.. Wait!! Wait!! I am not here to share the chicken Tikka masala recipe here. I am a strict vegetarian and have no ideas about how the chicken looks like… Gweekk, except …
Variety rice / One pot meal is always very easy to prepare on busy weekdays for lunch. Ranging from our South- Indian lemon rice, coconut rice to the North- Indian pulao varieties, these one-pot meals can be prepared in a jiffy. One such very simple one-pot meal is the Jeera rice. This jeera rice is …
It is sometimes boring to have routine kulambu/curry along with plain rice every day. On such days of boredom and need quick fix meal days, I opt for a variety of rice. South-Indian taste buds are so much imbibed towards lemon rice. Be it in travel or lunch box for school/college/office, Lemon Rice stands first. …
The inclusion of beans is a part of the Indian diet, irrespective of the region we belong to. Indian cuisine can enhance the flavor of any bean with the subtle addition of spices to it. One such very commonly used bean from the bean galore is the Soyabean / Karamani Kadalai / Lobia. Soya bean …
The birthplace of Koftas is in central Asia and Africa, especially in Egypt. Basically, koftas are made with vegetables, meats or beans and formed into a dumpling. In the northern part of India, particularly in regions of Kashmir, koftas are often made with meats. These are further cooked in spicy, rich gravy and served along …
Making side dishes for phulka / rotis/ rice is a challenge for me. I was cleaning up the pantry and found lots of potatoes hiding up there waiting for my attention. Though the routine aloo mutter is what I make when there are lots of potatoes and peas at home. However this time I also …
The Tamil month of Aavani brings in festive flavors to the household, Starting from Krishna Jayanthi, it is continuous to Vinayagar Chaturthi, Diwali, and Karthigai Deepam. Of all this, Diwali is one funfilled festive that is close to my heart. When I begin to pen down the Snacks for Diwali, Thenkuzhal is the default recipe …
Puliogare is one variety rice that pops up in mind when ever I think of it. Being a south- Indian with various options for one pot meal, Puliogare stands first when we are planning travel or a potluck. Though it is a known recipe for every one, there are numerous ways of preparing it. In Tamil …
I always love to experiment with different cuisine. When we call anything as North- Indian cuisine, it covers up many states. Though we may feel that paneer, aloo, butter makes up this North – Indian cuisine, there are also very subtle flavored dishes that imparts comfort flavors. One such is the Gujarati cuisine. Gujarati cuisine …
Navratri is all about prayers, fun, dance, and leave it not – Food too. Irrespective of our geographical placement, we Indians try to pass our traditions to our family by all these. Food plays an integral part of any festival. Though we have evolved to try new recipes and techniques in our meal each day, …
Navratri is all about the season of sundals. In most of the households, the evening snacks during Navratri days are sundal. Ranging from green gram, channa, Kala channa we use a variety of beans for this. Meanwhile, lentils like channa dal and moong dal are also made. Channa dal sundal is usually made on Saraswathi …
The blogosphere is full of festive recipes. I love savories over sweets. South- Indian savory list is endless. Some are very spicy and some are very subtle, yet tasty. One such less spicy savory that are kid-friendly and elderly-friendly is – Omapodi. Omapodi is made with gram flour and rice flour with the star ingredient …
Yaay!!! Hurray !!! Yes, I did it!!!! This sweet dish is my long term wish to prepare, click, and post. Though I prefer savories, there are some very particular sweets that I love for it. Jangri, Gulab Jamuns, Rasagulla, and Rasmalai. I know they are all very sugary and completely soaked up in syrup, yet …
I was MIA mode for some time now, due to other priorities in life. I am back into actions with loads of pictures of the recipes that I had cooked and clicked so far during this break. To start off after that festive food, I made this Sathumavu Urundai a.k.Health mix balls for a week’s …
Karthigai Deepam is an important festival celebrated at houses and temples all over in Tamilnadu. It falls in the Karthigai Masam of the Tamil calendar. It is to be believed that a constellation of six stars group together to form a pendant shape. Thirukkarthigai is celebrated with lamps placed all over the houses for three …
Today is the official first day of Winter. But don’t ask me, its been snowing crazily over every weekend and we have been making snowman the third time until now. Come winter and here is the holiday season. Holidays call in for baking, and here is a basic foolproof recipe of shortbread cookie. This basic cookie …
Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas 2016!! We had a good vacation too. This post is a long pending one. I had clicked them when I prepared Carrot Raitha. I usually have a packet of frozen mix veggies in my freezer. There are times when I run out of vegetables and just rely on …
Wishing all my readers a very Happy and prosperous New year 2017. The last year had been a wonderful journey for me with respect to my blog. Though my blog had been started a few years back, I became very active in the year 2016. I had written about 40 + recipes last year. Thanks to …
Semiya / Vermicelli is one kitchen ingredient that I love a lot. Yes, in my household, I am the only one who loves semiya upma. Basically, my H is not fond of Semiya at all. I usually buy the smallest pack that is available in the grocery store just for myself. The least I do …
Roti/ chapati is a regular one at my household. My LO prefers these for his lunch box. To make it more interesting and sneak peek all possible veggies to his lunch box, I make different kinds of rotis / chapathis with mashed, grated, minced, or finely chopped vegetables. One such is the Masala Avocado Chapathi. …
Steamed foods are always a hit in our household. It is less in fat, softer, yet tasty and can be gulped without any guilt 😃. Kozhukattai is one of our favorite steamed foods. We have them as a snack and also sometimes as dinner. The other day, we were back after a tiresome grocery shopping …
Hello all!! Been a while that I was away from blogging. Life has been good to us and blessed us with a little baby girl and she is already ONE!!! Blogging took a backseat and the priority went to running house errands and baby chores. This is the break that I desperately needed, and I …
With a school going kid and a toddler at home who are keeping me on to the toes, blogging had taken a back seat for a year. One of my 2020 new year resolutions was to keep my blog up and going. On this wonderful day of Thiruvadhirai or Arudhra Dharisanam, here comes the first …
After school snack is always important when there are school going kids at home. Most of the days there is some fruit along with crackers on weekday evening since our dinner time falls over quickly. The scenario is not the same on weekends, especially on a Friday, where the schedule changes over. So Friday snack …
This healthy Aval Ladoo is my kids’ recent favorite. This ladoo can be made in a jiffy with simply three ingredients that are available in the pantry. Also, it is very healthy with the addition of dates- a rich source of iron and also a natural sweetener. While having a random phone conversation with mom, she …
Paal Kolukattai is a very tasty traditional sweet that has numerous ways of preparation. This is very famous in the Chettinad area of Tamil Nadu and authentically prepared with jaggery and coconut milk. Some people also make it with regular whole milk and sugar or jaggery. This kolukattai is underrated because of its appearance like …
If you are a sweet tooth person, this sweet delicacy will definitely be on the top of your list. Rasgulla and gulab jamuns are distant cousins that have some things in common, yet are very unique in their own style. Rasgullas are very famous in the Eastern part of India, especially in Kolkatta. Rasgulla tastes …
The Tamil month of Aadi sets the beginning of various festivals in Tamil Nadu. It is customary in our house to celebrate every Aadi velli ( Aadi Friday) very religiously. The smell of agarbathi with flowers and boiling sambar along with a background of devotional songs is what I have grown up watching. My mom …
Rotis and Phulkas are a part of our weekly dinner routines. From Dals to Kurmas, I pair the phulkas to make a delicious dinner. Before this COVID thing happened, dinner is the only time where we all gather together at the table with everyone following a different routine. A delicious dinner plate with the discussions …
Payasam and kheers are a part of many Indian festivals. Even if it is a special occasion like a Friday pooja, payasams are offered as prasadam/ offering to the deity. When there is a packet of biscuits that you are bored with eating, transform it to this Biscuit payasam in a jiffy, and enjoy a …
Ven Pongal is everyone’s favorite at home. But it also counts for the calories that come with it. Back in childhood, I remember Amma making Pongal for our Saturday breakfast and we have it with Sambar and Vadai that Appa used to get from the Udupi hotel after his morning walks. That piping hot Pongal …
Payasam is an integral part of any occasion and celebration. Every sumptuous meal always has a sweet ending with payasam. Semiya/ Vermicelli payasam is a very easy one to prepare at home. This payasam uses the same ingredients, yet, the process of preparing varies and this payasam tastes very different. Caramel is made from sugar …
Thattai is a traditional recipe that is made in Tamil households for Krishna Jayanthi and Deepavali. Thattai can be stored and consumed for two weeks. The right mix of rice flour and roasted gram flour or besan flour and seasoned with pepper or red chili powder for the spiciness. Thattai is also called as Nipattu …
Vella Seedai is one of the mandatory deep-fried South- Indian Snack during Krishna Jayanthi. It is one underrated snack because of the labor it goes into making this and also the risk it involves preparing it. Yes, it requires an immense amount of skill and practice to making this most delicious Vella seedai. The proportion …
Jackfruit is one of the very tasty tropical fruit. In India, Jackfruits can be seen in many people’s backyard. Jackfruit is a bit tricky and time-consuming to clean. However, the taste of the fruit is worth the time spent cleaning them up. This Jackfruit payasam is very famous in Kerala and is called as Chakka …
Kozhukattai is the main neivedhyam for Vinayagar Chaturthi. It is the favorite of Lord Ganesha. Kozhukattai is a simple steamed food with an outer covering of rice flour and an inner filling which may be sweet or savory. In southern parts of India, this is mandatory for Vinayagar Chaturthi. The sweet filling for Kozhukattai can …
The Onam festival is celebrated for ten days in Kerala with pomp and show. On the final day – the Thiruvonam, a sumptuous and elaborate Onam Sadhya is cooked and served on a traditional banana leaf. The Sadhya consists of Upperi, Thoran, Kalan, Olan, Eriserry, Pachadi, Kichadi, Avial, Sambar, and many more. In this Onam …
Olan is one of the components in Onam Sadhya. It is served on the banana leaf along with other sides. Olan is a very mild preparation made with ash gourd, coconut milk, and green chili, tempered with coconut oil and curry leaves. Commonly, cooked black-eyed peas / Vanpayar are added alongside ash gourd to make …
Every festival is accompanied by a sweet dessert. In the same way, every Onam sadhya meal has at least two payasam in it. Usually, one of the payasam is made from rice, dal, or a combination of it with the addition of jaggery. If you are looking for a payasam with a combo of rice …
Beetroot Sweet Pachadi is a must-have dish at the wedding menus. If you are a 90’s kid, you will know of this sweet pachadi that is served in lunch or reception menu at the weddings. Early last month, we did vegetable picking and had lots of beets that were leftover and needed to be preserved. …
Gajar Pulav or Carrot Pulav is a very simple, healthy, and flavorful one-pot rice recipe that can pair up very well with any rich or spicy curries. The kids in our household are a great fan of carrots. Carrots are very healthy and rich in nutrients. They are a great source of Vitamin A and …
Every meal with a Roti or phulka needs a perfect side dish to go along. If this side dish is going to be healthy with less greasy stuff, it is an added benefit. Baingan Bartha is one of those healthy side dishes that are tasty with less fat in it. Traditionally, Baingan Bhartha is made …
Shrikand is a yogurt-based dessert that is popular in North- India. Shrikand is usually loaded with mild spices and served chilled during festivals and celebrations. It is one of the important dishes made during Janmashtami. The usual spices that are added to a shrikand are elaichi, kesar strands, rose water, rose petals, pureed mango. Each …
Pulav or Pulao is a Sunday favorite for many of us. Vegetable Biriyani can be made in many ways from less spicy to very spicy ones. There are so many ways of preparing it too from slow cooking, pressure cooking, cooking in electric cookers, etc. Whatever the method of cooking is, they serve as an …
Kesari is an all-time favorite easy to make the sweet recipe. This is very popular in Tamil weddings and at home when there is an unexpected guest or even a quick sweet to satisfy the sweet cravings. My little A loves this Kesari and I remember him asking for yellow-colored Kesari during one of the …
Paneer Lababdar is a very rich and creamy Paneer side dish. The word “Lababdar” means a strong desire for something and surrendering to it. As the name means, the taste of this Paneer gravy makes your taste buds to surrender it. Paneer is used in two ways in this recipe. One is to add cubes …
Diwali is around the corner and many of us are gearing up with Diwali preparations. The joy of Diwali is complete with preparing sweets and sharing them with family/friends. From childhood, we have the tradition of making sweets at home and Amma tries a new variety every year. The process of cleaning up rice, dal, …
Nankhattai is a very famous Indian short cookie that is loaded with Indian flavors. The name Nankhattai origins from the words, “Naan” meaning shortbread and Khattai meaning “Biscuit”. Nankhattai is very famous in North India and Pakistan. Nankhattai is made with refined flour / Maida, Sooji, and Besan flour. I am not a great fan …
Adhirasam is my favorite sweet. Truly, I prefer to choose savory over Sweets, but with very few sweets that I love to eat. Of the ones that can be counted easily, Adhirasam tops the entire list. The preparation of Adhirasam involves very few ingredients that are easily available in a South-Indian’s pantry. However, every step …
Diwali is all about celebration, fun, family with good food. Every occasion is made great with the food that we include as a part of our celebration. While Murukku, ribbon pakoda, and other dry snacks are made in advance for the festival, most of the households have the practice of making a snack on Diwali …
Ashoka Halwa is a South- Indian delicacy that is very famous in the Delta regions ( Thanjavur) of TamilNadu. Though this is a very famous halwa, it is very rare to find it in any sweet shop. It is made fresh at home with things that are staples. It is a household affair at any …
Pori Urundai is a very famous sweet made during Karthigai Deepam festival Festival. Karthigai Deepam is celebrated during the Tamil Month of Karthigai. During the entire month of Karthigai, we light lamps at the entrance of the house every evening. There are a lot of childhood memories tangled with this Karthigai Deepam. Some of the …
Quinoa is one of the twelve super grain that has an immense amount of goodness. It has twice the amount of protein when compared to rice and rich in Vitamin E that helps in anti-aging. In addition, it also has nine essential amino acids that are good for overall health. I have been using this …
Badushah is a very famous Indian sweet that is made from Maida, ghee, baking soda, and coated in sugar syrup. It is also called by the name Balushahi in the Northern parts of India. They are very mildly sweetened and flaky, making them the most loved sweet for many people like me. I am not …
Sankranthi is celebrated in different parts of India during the month of January. It is celebrated as Thai Pongal, Makarasankaranthi, Lohri, Baisakhi in different parts of India. When there is a festival being celebrated, food plays an important role to add up the spirit. Every festival is associated with a particular food recipe. In Maharashtra, …
Kadhambam means ” Variety” in Tamil. As the name goes, this Kadhamba Sadham is made with Rice and toor dal along with an assortment of country vegetables and freshly ground masala paste. Kadhamba Sadham is made during festivals like Navratri and Pongal on the Kanum Pongal day. After an elaborate purchase of vegetables for Pongal, …
Sweet Pongal or Sakkara Pongal (சக்கரை பொங்கல்)is a famous sweet in south India, especially Tamil Nadu. This is cooked with newly harvested rice from the field at the juncture of the Pongal/harvest festival, which is predominantly celebrated in all parts of the state with great pomp and show. Marking the commencement of the year to …
Paneer is a very favorite ingredient from kids to adults. Biryani is another weekend affair for many including vegetarians and non-vegetarians. Adding the favorite Paneer to Biryani is a great combo. The south-Indian Biryani is usually a bit spicy and has a burst of flavor from the spices. They are also made predominantly with Jeera …
Millets are becoming an essential part of everyone’s diet these days. While millets are available as a whole grain or flour, they are also available as rava or flattened rice /poha. I usually grab a pack of millet Poha during my grocery hauls. Poha upma is an usual affair with them. However, I wanted to …
Palak Paneer is a classic recipe that is loved by many. A truly Punjabi curry, this palak paneer has many ways of doing it. Palak greens are easily available in India through the year. While it is a luxury vegetable and not found very often in my part of the world, I try to replace …
Phirni is a Punjabi dessert that is made with rice and cooked in milk. The main difference between a Kheer and Phirni is that kheer is cooked with whole rice grain, while Phirni is cooked with grounded rice paste. The consistency of phirni is on a creamier side and it is definitely a crowd pleaser …
Valentines Day is a special occasion, not only for couples, but for any one we love most. If you are looking to make any last minute Valentine dessert for your loved ones, then this recipe is for you. It is easy to put together and can be made under 30 mins. The process is very …
Dal Makhani is a very healthy and creamy Punjabi curry. The main ingredients for this are black Urad Dal, Rajma, butter and cream. As the name goes, this dal is tempered with butter and finished off with some fresh cream. This Dal makhani is rich in protein content from both the pulses and pairs up …
Modaks / Kozhukattai / Sweet dumplings are famous Indian sweet dishes that are made during Ganesh chaturthi celebrations. Different varieties of modak are prepared in various cultures. Modaks are made either by steaming or by frying. Commonly the outer covering of the kozhukattai/ Modak are made with rice flour and are steam cooked. Sometimes, the …
Pulissery is a very famous Kerala dish that is usually served on a sadhya meal. Pulissery is made with different kinds of vegetables/ fruits like Ashgourd, Pineapple and Mango. It is prepared with a freshly grounded coconut paste along with sour curd. Though it is a yogurt based dish and may look like the Morkuzhambu …
Mangalore Cuisine is a distinctive south-Indian cuisine. The addition of coconut and curry leaves in most of their dishes make them stand out of others. Mangalore cuisine can be seen in Udupi, Tulu people. Some of the famous dishes of Mangalore region are Korri roti, Ghassi, Udupi Sambar and Neer dosa. Of these Ghassi is …
Karnataka Cuisine is different in manyways. Though Rice, Ragi and steamed vegetables are the main ingredients of Karnataka Cuisine, they keep varying as we travel through different parts of Karnataka. Karnataka Cuisine has different cuisines within itself from Udupi cuisine, Davanagere cuisine, Uttar Karnataka Cuisine, Mangalore cuisine to name a few. Gasagase Payasa is a …
KALAN/ KATTI KALAN/ KURUKKU KALAN is a very famous Kerala recipe, that is part of every Sadhya meal served on a banana leaf. Every Sadhya meal has an array of dishes ranging from Parippu curry, Kerala Sambar, Olan, Eriserry, Avial, Thoran, Puli Inji and Kalan. Of this, Kalan is made with a combination of vegetables …
Coriander / cilantro is a part of every household. They are one herbs that have a strong flavor when used in any dish. While they are commonly used to garnish any dish or make green chutney / thogayals, this simple to put together Cilantro/ Coriander rice is very tasty and filled with strong flavors. It …
Guthi Vangaya Pulusu is a very famous pulusu made in Andhra. Pulusu is a very common tamarind based curry made in Andhra regions. Generally vegetables are slow cooked in tamarind broth with basic masalas and finally tempered. Brinjal is a very favorite vegetable commonly used in Andhra cuisine and brinjal in pulusu tastes great. Some …
Custard Powder is a mixture of milk proteins and cornflour along with a little amount of sugar in it. The custard flour is available in stores in different flavors like banana, strawberry, oranges, and Mango. Each of the flavors has a unique taste in them. Custard powder is used as a base to make fruit …
Proso millet is one of the millet variety commonly found in Europe, Indian and United States. In the United States, this millet is also used as bird feed. It is approved as human food too. Being non- glutenous and it is an appropriate food for people who are allergic to wheat. Proso millet has a …
Nei Appam is a very traditional Kerala recipe that is made with rice, jaggery, cardamom, coconut and cooked in ghee. It is called Kerala Unniappam and is a part of festivals from Onam, Chithra Vishu etc. “Unni” in Malayalam means small and “Appam” means made with rice. Though there are many dishes in various cuisines, …
Kanchipuram Idli / Kovil Idli / temple Idli is a very famous Idli variety that had its origin in a small town -Kanchipuram, TamilNadu. This is served as an offering in the famous Sri Varadharaja temple and meticulously made in bamboo cases lined with Mandharai leaves. Though it seem to be a regular Idli, this …
One Pot variety rice are like savior on a busy day. Each state in India has their own speciality one pot recipes. Though Pulav / Biryani are the favorite of many, their variants like this Masala Bhath/ Baath is equally loved. Masalae Baath is a Maharasthra regional speciality. It is usually served alone with some …
Say Tirunelveli, there are a lot of regional speciality from this district in South TamilNadu. For every one who knows the name of this city, the immediate one is the famous Iruttu kadai Halwa. Thesecond top on this list is Sodhi Kulambu that is unique to this region and cannot be found in any other …
Cilantro / Coriander Leaves is a versatile herb that is very commonly available around the world. It can be easily grown at home garden too and makes any dish flavorful. Also it is used widely in many cuisines around the world. Once such cuisine is the Mexican cuisine that I personally love due to its …
Sooji/ Rava / Semolina is a very easily available ingredient in Indian households. The tradition of making some sweet on the last Friday of every Tamil month is followed in our households. For a Friday Pooja, I made this easy Sooji kheer with simple and easily available ingredients in the pantry. In under 20 mins, …
Milagu Pongal is a very famous prasadham that is offered in Nanganallur Anjaneyar temple. Nanganallur is in the suburbs of Chennai and is very famous for its temples. Though there are many temples in Nanganallur, the Anjaneyar Kovil is very well known and people from different parts of Chennai visit the temple. The majestic Idol …
Vadai / Vada is a well – known snack in South- India. These deep fried indulgence are made with lentils like Urad Dal, Channa Dal and Toor Dal. Maddhur Vada is a vada that can be made under 15 mins and does not need any soaking. Maddur is a small town in the state of …
Quinoa is one of the popular grain that is widely used these days. Though it originated in the South Americas , it has gained popularity in the recent few years in Indian cooking. It has much more fibre content than rice and hence people are opting for different ways to include Quinoa in daily diet.Quinoa …
Mushrooms are a great source of vitamins. Mushroom Pepper Masala is a very common recipe/dish that is available in many Indian restaurants. It is prepared with Mushrooms on a gravy and topped off with freshly grounded pepper corns. Mushrooms are a large source of proteins if you are a vegetarian. I was not a big …
Panchamritham is a sweet offering served in Murugan temples. While many temples offer this neivedhyam, the divine PALANI/ PAZHANI MURUGAN temple in Tamilnadu is very known for this. Palani is a pilgrim town in the Dindugul district of Tamilnadu famously known for the Dhandayudhapani temple. The story of the shrine is that Lord Murugan wanted …
Vindaloo is a very famous Indian dish inspired from the Portuguese dish vinha d’alhos. It is made with freshly grounded spices along with vinegar. Due to the Portuguese colonies in Goa state of India, this Vindaloo is very famous here too. After moving to the USA, I have always found this vindaloo curry on every …
Azhagar Kovil is a very small village in the Madurai district of Tamil Nadu. The name of the village is from the very famous Azhagar/ Kallazhagar Kovil. The main deity of this temple is Sundarabahu Perumal in standing pose ( Nindra kolam). Azhagar Kovil is one of the 108 divya desam as per the Vaishavite …
Hayagreeva Maddi is a very famous dessert made with bengal gram/ channa dal and jaggery. It is often confused with the Kamala paruppu payasam or with the Pooranam/ sweet stuffing used to make puli and Modakams. But these are definitely different from both of them. The consistency of this hayagreeva Maddi is more of a …
Mathri or Mathari is a very famous snack in the North India made during Diwali and Holi festivals. The key ingredients to make Mathri is Maida and ghee which is seasoned with carom seeds, basic spice powders and ton loads of kasoori Methi if you are making a methi Mathri like me. I love the …
Every South-Indian meal has a kulambu, rasam and curd. These are paired up with portal , varuval or Kootu. Though it is not possible to make all these varieties on a single day, there is at least one of them in the lunch menu. We love Kootu as they it makes a complete meal by …
Aloo / Potatoes are universal favorites. Every cuisine has a different and delicious way to make potatoes. Of all the vegetables, Potato is used widely in all regions of Indian cuisine. Each of these dishes is made either with simple ingredients or many regional ingredients to make a delicious potato dish. Of all the potato …
Mangoes are everyone’s favorite. Be it a fruit or used as. a vegetable, Mangoes are loved by everyone. In Indian cooking, raw mango is widely used in many regions to make pickles, pachadi, sambar, curries, and rice too. I usually make mango sambar, which is our family favorite, and sometimes this rice too for the …
Sadhya Meal is a sumptuous one with at least a minimum of 20 tasty Kerala recipes. When it comes to the flavors, Kerala cuisine uses mild spices that are native to land. The use of coconut oil elevates the taste of any Kerala recipe. Thoran, Kalan, Olan, Puliserry, Eriserry, Pachadi, and Kichadi are a major …
Ada Pradhaman is a Kerala delicacy. It is made with flattened rice strips that are cooked with jaggery syrup and finished off with thick coconut milk. Ada Pradhaman is. apart of marriages or as a part of the Onam Sadhya meal. There are a lot of ways to make this Kerala Ada Pradhaman. Some people …
The richness of any regional cuisine is mainly focussed on what abundantly is available in the place or what is suitable for its climatic conditions. This vegetable curry is from “God’s Own Country”, with the star of their food- Mr. Coconut!!! Yes, You heard it right. Most of the dishes from Kerala is incomplete sans …
Seedai is a favorite snack for the kutty Krishnar. Seedai is many of our favorite snack too. However, to achieve a no-burst seedai, we need more practice and perfection. If you are a beginner who wants to try making Seedai first time this Krishna jayanthi, then this is for you. Maida Seedai is a crispy, …
Modak / Kozhukattai is a favorite prasadam made during the Vinayagar Chaturthi festival. Vinayagar Chaturthi is celebrated in many parts of India and modak/ kozhukattai is offered ,as it is the favorite one for Lord Ganesha. Kozhukattais are made in south India with an outer rice flour covering and an inner filling usually made with …
It’s that time of the year, where everyone’s home and life are lit up with joy and happiness. Diwali is a time where the family gathers up for the celebration. To add more joy to the celebrations, sweets and savories are prepared and shared. A quick and tasty sweet like this Kesar Rava Ladoo will …
Diwali means there is some deep frying that is mandated. Though sweets are super delicious, I just love the crunchy, crispy savories. From Murukku, thattai, and karasev, the savory list is my preference. How about some vegetable factor added to these crunchy savories for some goodness? Yes, I tried this SPINACH MURUKKU some days back …
Kozhukattai is a quick snack or a fulfilling dinner for us. While we make other sweet variety of kozhukttais for chaturthi, we always make savory kozhukattais for dinner or a quick evening snack. Of the many savory kozhukattai we make, I love this curry leaves/karuvepillai ammini kozhukattai very much. Growing up, curry leaves was not …
Kootanchoru is a very famous dish in the Tirunelveli region. Growing up as a kid, I remember this Kootanchoru made whenever we have family members gather for any family events, or during travel. Traditionally, Kootanchoru is made in a large open pot and cooked on the woodstove. Kootanchoru is often confused with Sambar Sadham which …
Halwa is a traditional sweet that can be made with flour, vegetables, and even fruits. How about trying halwa with rusk? For most of us, teatime is not complete without those one or two pieces of rusk. While I got the rusks for this purpose, I had almost half a packet of them, left untouched. …
One-Pot Meals are always easy to make for a weekday meal or for lunchbox. If they have some incredibly healthy vegetables in them, then it is a bonus making the meal a complete, wholesome one. Cauliflower is one such vegetable that has low calorie, but high in fiber. Cauliflower is also anti-oxidant rich that protects …
Raitha is an integral part of any biryanis, pulao, or mixed rice. Raitha can be made from vegetables, fruits, nuts, or a combination of them. While onion, tomato, and cucumber raithas are very commonly made, raitha with greens is a very healthy option if you like to include vegetables in many forms. This Spinach Raitha …
Maha Shivarathri is an important Hindu festival celebrated in India. During Shivarathri, people fast the entire night and also consume no-onion, no-garlic food until they break the fast. Sabudhana is one grain that is commonly consumed during fasting. Sabudhana Vada is a crispy snack made with soaked sabudhana, boiled potatoes, and peanuts. It is very …
Kozhukattais are specialties from Tamilnadu and this Pidi Kozhukattai is a very traditional one made during Chaturthi in our household. we need the basic ingredients available in the pantry to make this Pidi kozhukattai. Unlike the modaks, they do not require poornam or filling to make them. It is more like a dump-and-go recipe, however, …
Brinjal is a very commonly used vegetable in Indian cuisine. It is so versatile that it is used in North and South Indian dishes from Sambar, to chutney and stuffed ones. There are hundereds of stuffed Brinjal recipes in Indian cuisine and this Bharli Vangi is a Maharashtrian version of stuffed brinjal that uses peanuts …
Karamani Vadai (Lobia/காராமணி பயிறு) is an attempt to infuse bean into our diet. I made this vadai last year during the Navratri season. I was a bit hesitant during the process of making this vadai, fearing its outcome. Surprisingly it turned out very crunchy like our normal masala vadai. The kids liked it very much …
Payasam is an important party. South-Indian meal. Every festive meal in South India usually consists of poriyal, kootu, Avial, Pachadi with a three-course meal of Sambar, rasam, vathal kulambu and thayir . This is usually ended with a tasty payasam. Payasam is usually made with rice, millets, dals, sago, veermicelli, and fruits in a jaggery …
Every South-Indian meal comprises the main course as rice with any kulambu with a side of poriyal, kootu, varuval and thoran. Of all, I love the thorans. Thoran can be made with vegetables like cabbage, carrot, beans, broad beans, and most green vegetables. The Cabbage thoran that I made the other day is our family’s …
Paneer is a favorite ingredient for many from kids to adults. There are many recipes with paneer that are tasty. We tasted this specific Paneer curry in a restaurant. Normally, Hariyali Paneer tikkas are served in many restaurants. But this was more like curry and perfect for phulkas. It is very tasty and subtle in …
Sweet Corn is a favorite for kids as well as adults. While, corn and cheese goes hand in hand, it is not liked during summer days while it is very hot. Summer days call for something that is light, fresh and satisfy the hunger. For many, the word salad is boring as it is considered …
Saathur is a small town in the southern part of Tamilnadu. It comes under the Virudhunagar district of Tamilnadu. Saathur is very famous for its cottage industries that are many source of income for its residents. Apart from these cottage industries, Saathur is very famous for its Karasev. If you belong to Tamilnadu, you might …
If you think of Kerala recipes, there are a lot of recipes that come to mind. Coming to sadhya meals, every meal will definitely have this Pradhaman to finish off an elaborate lunch. Pradhaman is a sweet dish made with fruits, dals, or rice ada. I love the Ada pradhaman. Also, I equally love this …
Idli is a universally accepted comfort food. It has the right proportion of lentils (proteins and rice ( carbs) for a healthy breakfast. Urad Dal is the main component of the Idli. It is so important to make a perfect Idli. The main deal to get a soft Idli is to master the ratio of …
Evening Tea/Coffee time is very important for many families, as it is the time every one gets back from work and school. After the early lunch and the travel back from home, a hot cup of tea/coffee with a warm cake will do good until dinner time. We love mildly sweet cakes for tea time …
Watermelon is a favorite summer fruit. It is the best thirst quencher during the hot, sunny summer days. After enjoying the delicious fruits, dont throw away this flesh. Instead, make this delicious Watermelon rind halwa. It is so much delicious and kind of tastes like the Kasi Halwa- made with Ashgourd. Besan/Gram Flour acts as …
The King is back for his annual visit!!!!!!. There is no Summer time for us without Mangoes. I have hardly seen anyone that dislikes Mango. No wonder it is the King of Fruits. I sneak peek mangoes to any food that we love during summers to enjoy them all before gone. Eggless Mango Cake is …
While Kulambu , poriyal and kootu are everyday affairs, the essence of the weekend is achieved only with Biryani. For many, Biryani is more than an emotion and a weekend or holiday, or celebration is made special only with Biryani. Biryani has its origin in Persia and slowly entered India. It is differently made in …
Vinayagar chaturthi is all about Kozhukattais. All Pillayar loves this simple and easy steamed food. There are many kozhukattais/ modakams made in sweet and savory versions. While making modakam is a bit lengthy process, beginners those who stay way from home can bring a festive feel with this simple savory/kara pidi kozhukattai. It is so …
Badam Kheer is a favorite drink for many of us. It is very rich , tasty and soothing . It can be served warm or chilled. Either ways, it is delicious to drink. During childhood days, we used to drink chilled Badham Kheer on hot summer days. The traditional way of making badham kheer involves …
It is that time of the year, where we don’t might on the calories. Diwali is an important festival celebrated all over India with great joy. While I try making different sweets and savory every year, there are some standard recipes, that are very special and brings nostalgic memories. One such is the karaboondhi that …
Mushrooms are a rich in Vit B, which is not very much available in vegetarian diet. It has no carbs and rich in water content. Hence it can be eaten without guilt by people who are in their weight loss journey. Also, the cooking process is very quick . Mushrooms are so versatile that they …
Deepavali is all about celebration. when theres celebration, theres definitely good food. How about a quick sweet recipe that does not take much time and can be made with easily available ingredients at home? Heard it right! Rava and Coconut are easily available . Add in sugar and a bit of ghee to bring in …
Kara Sev is a variation of murukku which is usually spiced with pepper or red chilli powder along with flavors from different combination of spices. While I love pepper kara sev, specially the thick ones, I also equally love this garlic /Poondu kara sev for it outstanding flavors. The combination of garlic/poondu with omam just …
Paneer is a favorite ingredient for many from kids to adults. We can make any number of dishes with Paneer from paratha to curries, sandwiches and incorporate them into rice. It is so versatile, that it can be used in any cuisine. Being rich in protein, Paneer is a very filling one. While Paneer is …
Gobi/ Cauliflower is a versatile vegetable that can be used in various cuisines and in different forms from soups to curries to fry. Gobi Tikka is a very traditional dish made from fresh spices and cooked in a tandoor. I have used the air fryer to make this Gobi Tikka with only one tablespoon of …
A very simple, colorful and delicious Pomegranate Raitha. Pomegranate is rich in a variety of nutrients from Vit.C, Iron- an important one for women and children. While pomegrante can be eaten as such, you definitely have to try this Pomegranate Masala Raitha. It is easy to make, healthy, fresh and colorful. It is definitely a …
The Holiday season is all about baking. While we love getting cookies and cakes from stores, they are no where near to the ones made at home with the loved ones. Also, if you are vegetarian with no eggs in your diet, the joy of eating a pure vegetarian cake made with minimal ingredients at …
One pot meals are always quick to make on busy week days. It will be an added benefit if it is nutritious with lots of vegetables. While Pulav and south- Indian variety rice comes in handy, I love exploring various cuisines. One such is this Maharashtrian cuisine which has close flavors and ingredients that are …
Masal Vadai is made with dal and spices. It is very crispy and crunchy outside and soft inside. The Masal vadai is so flavorful with a burst of spices in every single bite. Though it is a very simple recipe, a lot of techniques need to be followed. It is important to get the texture …
Gummidikaya Pulusu or Dappalam as it is locally called is made with yellow pumpkin on a tangy tamarind broth. This is similar to the kulambu variety made without dal. The pulusu is generally not very thick as sambar or pappu. This dappalam is made generally made with country vegetables like drumsticks, sweet potato, yellow pumpkin. …
Whether its fasting or festivals, sweets play an important role in them. However there are few restrictions in making sweets when preparing ladoo. How about a ladoo that can be prepared in a jiffy with very few ingredients in under 15 mins? I made this delicious ladoo with coconut and phool makhana/ fox nuts that …
Poosanikkai / White pumpkin / Ashgourd is a vegetable rich in water content. It is usually tasteless and very commonly used in sambar, mor kulambu , kootu. Ash gourd kootu is also made, but many do not like it. If you are one of that kind, then this puli kootu is a must try. …
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. …
Beetroot is one vegetable that is rich in folate, and fibre. They have a variety of health benefits improved blood flow and maintaining the blood pressure. Oats is a whole grain that is rich in fibre. Fibre rich foods always keep you full for a long time and they are easily digestible. I paired Oats …
Masala Peanuts are very addictive snacks. It is a very flavorful snack and this can be made very healthy by airfrying the masala peanuts instead of deep frying. The ingredients are very easily available and you need only a few teaspoons of oil to make this delicious and healthy snack. Peanuts are high in protein …
Paneer is a favorite for everyone including kids and adults. There are many recipes that can be made with paneer ranging from main course to sides, drinks and starters. Paneer Kali mirch is a very flavorful dish with fresh flavours from Pepper. This is definitely different from the buttery paneer butter masala that is commonly …
Breakfast and Dinner Recipes are very hard to think of. After a busy day, everyone wants a hot, and quick dinner recipe.. If you are looking for something like that, then this famous Tamil nadu style Rava Pongal is for you. Rava Pongal is very soft, delicious and quick to make. It is also very …