Corn Meal Muffins
Muffins are my first trials during baking. Baking is a science that involves the right measure of ingredients and the optimum temperature required to cook them. When it comes to baking stuff, I have always been looking on for substitutes of the egg. As we do not eat eggs, my baking is always eggless. Be...
Eggless Vanilla Cake
Vanilla cake is a classic favorite for many. It is always easy to find recipe cake recipes with eggs against the eggless ones. For an experimenting baker like me, this recipe from Martha Stewart’s collection is a foolproof one. You can always increase or decrease the proportions given here and bake a yummy vanilla cake....
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....
Short Bread Cookies
Category: Festive Recipes, Snack, Sweets, Traditional
Cuisine: American
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...
Bread Pizza
Evening snacks have become an essential one when kids are at home. Fried snacks are fine once in a while, but not often. I made these bread pizzas when I had half pack of bread that was nearing its expiry date. It was easy to make when you chop ingredients and have things available at...
Masala Khara Buns || Low calorie version
Category: Baking, Healthy Cooking, Snack
Cuisine: Indian, North Indian
Evening snacks were a great part of our childhood as well now with kids at home. I remember our Appa used to get those jam buns, cream buns, open sandwiches, and Khara buns from the Iyengar bakery when coming back home. of all these, my little brother loved the cream buns while Amma, Appa, and...
Wheat Nankhattai || Diwali Recipes
Category: Baking, Festive Recipes, Healthy Cooking, Sweets, Traditional
Cuisine: Indian, North Indian
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...
Strawberry Chocolate Rosettes
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...
WHOLE WHEAT FOCACCIA BREAD
Category: Baking, Dinner, Healthy Cooking, Snack, Traditional
Cuisine: Italian
Focaccia is an Italian Flat bread that is close to the texture of pizza. Focaccia is served along side with pastas, soups or as a sandwich. Focaccia is originally made with all purpose flour which is combined with yeast to result in a porous center and crispy outer layer. There are a lot of regional...
EGGLESS RAGI BANANA CAKE
Ragi / Finger Millet is a popularly known millet to many of us. Ragi has immense amount of goodness with it . Being rich in fibre, it helps in controlling diabetes, weightloss and help reduce cholesterol levels. Ragi is immensely rich in calcium and is a great coolant for this hot summer. From Idli, Dosas,...
Brinjal Sambhar| Kathirikkai Sambhar
Category: Festive Recipes, Lunch, Traditional
Cuisine: Tamilnadu
Cooking Method: Boiling, Grinding, Pressure Cooking, Sauteing
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...
Aloo Gobi Matar
Aloo Gobi Matar (आलू गोबी मट्टर ), is an easy fix side dish, made with potatoes, cauliflower and green peas and is suitable for rotis/phulkas or rice. My family loves any version of boiled potatoes rather than the deeply roasted versions. So, I prefer to make this low cal version. With cauliflower available throughout the year...
Vegetable Cutlets
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...
Vazhaithandu Poriyal | Banana Stem Poriyal
Category: Healthy Cooking, Lunch, Traditional
Cuisine: Tamilnadu
வாழைத்தண்டு (Banana stem) is a fiber-rich vegetable that comes from the very noble banana plant. The versatility of banana is very well known, for every part of it is useful to mankind in some ways. Banana stem is available throughout the year in India, while in the US, I find it very rare. While I...
Green moong Dal Curry
Green Moong dal Curry( मूंग सब्ज़ी )is a hands-on sidedish when I run out of the vegetables. It so happens I mostly make this for rotis/phulkas on a Friday night or on Saturday mornings before I could rush to the grocery stores. Though I was not a huge fan of this back at mom’s place when...
CHANNA SUNDAL || GARBANZO BEAN SUNDAL
Category: Fasting Recipes, Festive Recipes, Healthy Cooking, Snack, Traditional
Cuisine: Tamilnadu
Cooking Method: Boiling, Pressure Cooking, Roasting, Sauteing, Soaking
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
Category: Fasting Recipes, Festive Recipes, Healthy Cooking, Traditional
Cuisine: Tamilnadu
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...
Paal Payasam
Category: Drinks, Fasting Recipes, Festive Recipes, Traditional
Cuisine: Tamilnadu
Cooking Method: Boiling, Pressure Cooking, Sauteing
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....
Mixed Vegetable Salna
Salna (சால்னா)!!!! Yes, you heard it right. It sounds like a non-vegetarian curry, nope I tried to do a vegetarian version of it. Salna is a very famous curry, relished along with parotta, and is popular in the roadside hotels of TamilNadu. Parotta and Salna are made for each other. Though I have not tested...
Vazhaikkai Poriyal
Vazhaikkai poriyal is our family favorite. Every household has a different style of this versatile vegetable. My family too has different ways of dealing with this vegetable. Vazhaikkai can be used to make kootu, stir fry, deep fry, roast, etc. My H loves this poriyal and I usually make this for him. This version is...
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...
Bread Pizza
Evening snacks have become an essential one when kids are at home. Fried snacks are fine once in a while, but not often. I made these bread pizzas when I had half pack of bread that was nearing its expiry date. It was easy to make when you chop ingredients and have things available at...
Coconut Ladoo
Category: Fasting Recipes, Festive Recipes, Snack
Cuisine: North Indian
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...
Watermelon Sorbet
We had almost summer-like weather a week before. Something cool and refreshing is what we needed to beat the heat. Ice creams, Juices, and sorbets were on our list. I was running out of some ingredients needed for ice cream and juices were a regular affair in the house, I decided to do this watermelon...
BERRY YOGURT BARKS
Category: Fasting Recipes, Healthy Cooking, Snack, Sweets
Cuisine: American
Desserts are most loved part of the meal for many. From pastries, to kheer and ice creams, many people fall for it. However, most of them are made with refined sugars and it is hard to enjoy them without guilt. How about some fresh and easy dessert that can be made under 5 mins, that...
French Palmier Cookies
Category: Baking, Snack, Sweets, Traditional
Cuisine: American
Holidays are all about cookies and cakes. We love cookies over cakes due to their crunchy texture. The Palmier Cookies are delicate and elegant French cookies that can be easily made with puff pastry sheets. This palmier cookie is a perfect one for the holiday season for gifting and exchanges than our usual shortbread cookies....
Carrot Poriyal
Category: Fasting Recipes, Healthy Cooking, Lunch, Traditional
Cuisine: Tamilnadu
Carrots have always been in the wishlist for everyone at home. With many variations of this carrot curry around, I have my own version that my LO at home love to eat. With a tint of ginger added, it has a unique flavor and taste. Carrots are rich in beta carotenes and are one of...
Brinjal Sambhar| Kathirikkai Sambhar
Category: Festive Recipes, Lunch, Traditional
Cuisine: Tamilnadu
Cooking Method: Boiling, Grinding, Pressure Cooking, Sauteing
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...
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...
Vazhaithandu Poriyal | Banana Stem Poriyal
Category: Healthy Cooking, Lunch, Traditional
Cuisine: Tamilnadu
வாழைத்தண்டு (Banana stem) is a fiber-rich vegetable that comes from the very noble banana plant. The versatility of banana is very well known, for every part of it is useful to mankind in some ways. Banana stem is available throughout the year in India, while in the US, I find it very rare. While I...
Ulli Theeyal
Ulli Theeyal(உள்ளி தீயல்) is a coconut-based Kerala dish, that I make when I buy fresh coconut. I have tried this with dry coconut powder and found the difference when it is made with fresh coconut. “Theeyal” means burnt. The taste of this curry truly depends on the level of coconut is fried. Theeyal can be...
Pumpkin Chutney
Category: Breakfast, Dinner, Healthy Cooking, Lunch
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...
Mixed Vegetable Salna
Salna (சால்னா)!!!! Yes, you heard it right. It sounds like a non-vegetarian curry, nope I tried to do a vegetarian version of it. Salna is a very famous curry, relished along with parotta, and is popular in the roadside hotels of TamilNadu. Parotta and Salna are made for each other. Though I have not tested...
Cabbage Peas Poriyal
Firstly, apologies for the delayed posts. Been a while that I posted here. However, I did click some pictures and will be posting here regularly. Cabbage- Peas Poriyal (கோஸ் பட்டாணி பொரியல் )is a simple poriyal and rich in taste. We can see this poriyal commonly in marriages and functions. Cabbage curries bring out a good volume for...
Vazhaikkai Poriyal
Vazhaikkai poriyal is our family favorite. Every household has a different style of this versatile vegetable. My family too has different ways of dealing with this vegetable. Vazhaikkai can be used to make kootu, stir fry, deep fry, roast, etc. My H loves this poriyal and I usually make this for him. This version is...
Urulai Podi Roast
Potatoes are universal favorites. Every cuisine and every family have their own favorite recipes made of this loyal vegetable that is incredibly tasty. From mashed potatoes to bakes and fries, potatoes never let our hands down. They are so versatile that they can prove themselves towards whatever method it is being treated to. Of the...
Vegetable Kofta Curry
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...
Thenkuzhal Murukku
Category: Fasting Recipes, Festive Recipes, Snack, Traditional
Cuisine: Tamilnadu
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...
Omapodi || Diwali Recipes
Category: Fasting Recipes, Festive Recipes, Snack, Traditional
Cuisine: Tamilnadu
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...
Mini Jangri
Category: Fasting Recipes, Festive Recipes, Sweets, Traditional
Cuisine: Tamilnadu
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...
Sathumaavu Urundai
Category: Festive Recipes, Healthy Cooking, Sweets, Traditional
Cuisine: Tamilnadu
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...
MASALA AVOCADO CHAPATHI
Category: Breakfast, Dinner, Fasting Recipes, Festive Recipes, Healthy Cooking, Lunch
Cuisine: North Indian
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....
Patnam Pakoda
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...
Aval Ladoo
Category: Fasting Recipes, Festive Recipes, Healthy Cooking, Sweets, Traditional
Cuisine: Tamilnadu
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...
Rasgulla
Category: Fasting Recipes, Festive Recipes, Sweets, Traditional
Cuisine: North Indian
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...
Bottle Gourd Kofta Curry || Suraikkai Kofta Curry
Category: Dinner, Festive Recipes, Healthy Cooking
Cuisine: North Indian
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...
Short Bread Cookies
Category: Festive Recipes, Snack, Sweets, Traditional
Cuisine: American
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...
MASALA AVOCADO CHAPATHI
Category: Breakfast, Dinner, Fasting Recipes, Festive Recipes, Healthy Cooking, Lunch
Cuisine: North Indian
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....
Bottle Gourd Kofta Curry || Suraikkai Kofta Curry
Category: Dinner, Festive Recipes, Healthy Cooking
Cuisine: North Indian
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...
Sesame Chikki / Til ki Chikki
Category: Festive Recipes, Healthy Cooking, Snack
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,...
BERRY YOGURT BARKS
Category: Fasting Recipes, Healthy Cooking, Snack, Sweets
Cuisine: American
Desserts are most loved part of the meal for many. From pastries, to kheer and ice creams, many people fall for it. However, most of them are made with refined sugars and it is hard to enjoy them without guilt. How about some fresh and easy dessert that can be made under 5 mins, that...
MANGO MASALA RICE || MANGA MASALA SADHAM
Category: Festive Recipes, Lunch, Summer Recipes
Cuisine: Tamilnadu
Cooking Method: Grinding, Mixing, Pressure Cooking, Roasting
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...
Vellarikkai Kichadi || Cucumber Kichadi
Category: Festive Recipes, Healthy Cooking, Lunch, Summer Recipes, Traditional
Cuisine: Kerala
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...
KERALA ADA PRADHAMAN
Category: Drinks, Festive Recipes, Lunch, Sweets, Traditional
Cuisine: Kerala
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...
GULKHAND KOZHUKATTAI || Rose petals Jam Modak
Category: Fasting Recipes, Festive Recipes, Sweets, Traditional
Cuisine: Tamilnadu
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...
KESAR RAVA LADOO
Category: Festive Recipes, Sweets, Traditional
Cuisine: Tamilnadu
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...
Brinjal Sambhar| Kathirikkai Sambhar
Category: Festive Recipes, Lunch, Traditional
Cuisine: Tamilnadu
Cooking Method: Boiling, Grinding, Pressure Cooking, Sauteing
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...
Coconut Rice
Category: Healthy Cooking, Lunch, Traditional
Cuisine: Tamilnadu
Cooking Method: Pressure Cooking, Roasting, Sauteing
Coconut Rice (தேங்காய் சாதம்) is a very simple and common variety rice made in all SouthIndian households. With many variations from family to family, I follow this version given here. Though I am not an ardent fan of this coconut rice, I make it when I have plenty of fresh coconut at home. I remember those...
CHANNA SUNDAL || GARBANZO BEAN SUNDAL
Category: Fasting Recipes, Festive Recipes, Healthy Cooking, Snack, Traditional
Cuisine: Tamilnadu
Cooking Method: Boiling, Pressure Cooking, Roasting, Sauteing, Soaking
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...
Kalkandu Pongal
Category: Fasting Recipes, Festive Recipes, Sweets, Traditional
Cuisine: Tamilnadu
Cooking Method: Frying, Pressure Cooking, Sauteing
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
Category: Drinks, Fasting Recipes, Festive Recipes, Traditional
Cuisine: Tamilnadu
Cooking Method: Boiling, Pressure Cooking, Sauteing
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....
Jeera Rice
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...
Surakai kootu / Bottle Gourd Kootu
Category: Healthy Cooking, Lunch, Traditional
Cuisine: Tamilnadu
Cooking Method: Pressure Cooking, Sauteing
Surakai kootu ( Lauki Kootu) is a simple kootu and best combo for Vathal kulambu. The sweetness of surakai/bottle gourd balances the spiciness of any south -Indian curry. Surakai /bottle gourd/lauki is rich in water content and often is used in Indian cooking. A wide range of dishes ranging from soups, main course to dessert...
Quinoa Bisibelabath
Category: Healthy Cooking, Lunch, Traditional
Cuisine: Karnataka
Cooking Method: Grinding, Pressure Cooking, Roasting, Sauteing
Bisibelabath is yummy South- Indian delicacy from the Indian state of Karnataka. I have had this for few times while in India. Though it may look like sambar Sadam of Tamilnadu, it definitely tastes different from the proportion of different kinds of spices added to it. Authentically, bisibelabath is prepared with rice and toor dal...
Nellikkai Sadham || Amla Rice
Category: Festive Recipes, Healthy Cooking, Lunch, Traditional
Cuisine: Tamilnadu
Cooking Method: Frying, Pressure Cooking, Roasting, Sauteing
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....
Punjabi Lobia Curry
Category: Dinner, Festive Recipes, Healthy Cooking, Lunch, Traditional
Cuisine: North Indian
Cooking Method: Grinding, Pressure Cooking, Sauteing, Soaking
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...
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...
Ulli Theeyal
Ulli Theeyal(உள்ளி தீயல்) is a coconut-based Kerala dish, that I make when I buy fresh coconut. I have tried this with dry coconut powder and found the difference when it is made with fresh coconut. “Theeyal” means burnt. The taste of this curry truly depends on the level of coconut is fried. Theeyal can be...
Coconut Rice
Category: Healthy Cooking, Lunch, Traditional
Cuisine: Tamilnadu
Cooking Method: Pressure Cooking, Roasting, Sauteing
Coconut Rice (தேங்காய் சாதம்) is a very simple and common variety rice made in all SouthIndian households. With many variations from family to family, I follow this version given here. Though I am not an ardent fan of this coconut rice, I make it when I have plenty of fresh coconut at home. I remember those...
CHANNA SUNDAL || GARBANZO BEAN SUNDAL
Category: Fasting Recipes, Festive Recipes, Healthy Cooking, Snack, Traditional
Cuisine: Tamilnadu
Cooking Method: Boiling, Pressure Cooking, Roasting, Sauteing, Soaking
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...
Pumpkin Chutney
Category: Breakfast, Dinner, Healthy Cooking, Lunch
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...
Beet root – Dry fruit Ladoo
You may wonder why I have this post now. Is there any festival or occasion that is lined up? Yes, it is!!! Of late I realized that I am almost with my 25th post in my personal space. Really!!! I am giving a gentle pat to myself and say Go gurl!! For a person like...
Urulai Podi Roast
Potatoes are universal favorites. Every cuisine and every family have their own favorite recipes made of this loyal vegetable that is incredibly tasty. From mashed potatoes to bakes and fries, potatoes never let our hands down. They are so versatile that they can prove themselves towards whatever method it is being treated to. Of the...
Kuthi Vangaya Kurra
Category: Dinner, Festive Recipes, Lunch, Traditional
Cuisine: Andhra
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...
MoongDal Dosa
Category: Breakfast, Dinner, Healthy Cooking
Cuisine: Tamilnadu
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...
Barnyard Millet/Kuthiraivali Adai
Category: Breakfast, Dinner, Healthy Cooking, Traditional
Cuisine: Tamilnadu
Millets are the new trends. It is good to know!! However, the sad part is, this is not a NEW thing to our culture. These millets were a part of the healthy and long life of our elders. In ancient days, our grandmoms were so innovative with these millets, that they tried their hands on...
Carrot Poriyal
Category: Fasting Recipes, Healthy Cooking, Lunch, Traditional
Cuisine: Tamilnadu
Carrots have always been in the wishlist for everyone at home. With many variations of this carrot curry around, I have my own version that my LO at home love to eat. With a tint of ginger added, it has a unique flavor and taste. Carrots are rich in beta carotenes and are one of...
Brinjal Sambhar| Kathirikkai Sambhar
Category: Festive Recipes, Lunch, Traditional
Cuisine: Tamilnadu
Cooking Method: Boiling, Grinding, Pressure Cooking, Sauteing
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...
Aloo Gobi Matar
Aloo Gobi Matar (आलू गोबी मट्टर ), is an easy fix side dish, made with potatoes, cauliflower and green peas and is suitable for rotis/phulkas or rice. My family loves any version of boiled potatoes rather than the deeply roasted versions. So, I prefer to make this low cal version. With cauliflower available throughout the year...
Rava Kesari
Category: Fasting Recipes, Festive Recipes, Snack, Traditional
Cuisine: Tamilnadu
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...
Vazhaithandu Poriyal | Banana Stem Poriyal
Category: Healthy Cooking, Lunch, Traditional
Cuisine: Tamilnadu
வாழைத்தண்டு (Banana stem) is a fiber-rich vegetable that comes from the very noble banana plant. The versatility of banana is very well known, for every part of it is useful to mankind in some ways. Banana stem is available throughout the year in India, while in the US, I find it very rare. While I...
Green moong Dal Curry
Green Moong dal Curry( मूंग सब्ज़ी )is a hands-on sidedish when I run out of the vegetables. It so happens I mostly make this for rotis/phulkas on a Friday night or on Saturday mornings before I could rush to the grocery stores. Though I was not a huge fan of this back at mom’s place when...
Ulli Theeyal
Ulli Theeyal(உள்ளி தீயல்) is a coconut-based Kerala dish, that I make when I buy fresh coconut. I have tried this with dry coconut powder and found the difference when it is made with fresh coconut. “Theeyal” means burnt. The taste of this curry truly depends on the level of coconut is fried. Theeyal can be...
Coconut Rice
Category: Healthy Cooking, Lunch, Traditional
Cuisine: Tamilnadu
Cooking Method: Pressure Cooking, Roasting, Sauteing
Coconut Rice (தேங்காய் சாதம்) is a very simple and common variety rice made in all SouthIndian households. With many variations from family to family, I follow this version given here. Though I am not an ardent fan of this coconut rice, I make it when I have plenty of fresh coconut at home. I remember those...
CHANNA SUNDAL || GARBANZO BEAN SUNDAL
Category: Fasting Recipes, Festive Recipes, Healthy Cooking, Snack, Traditional
Cuisine: Tamilnadu
Cooking Method: Boiling, Pressure Cooking, Roasting, Sauteing, Soaking
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
Category: Fasting Recipes, Festive Recipes, Healthy Cooking, Traditional
Cuisine: Tamilnadu
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...
Aloo Gobi Matar
Aloo Gobi Matar (आलू गोबी मट्टर ), is an easy fix side dish, made with potatoes, cauliflower and green peas and is suitable for rotis/phulkas or rice. My family loves any version of boiled potatoes rather than the deeply roasted versions. So, I prefer to make this low cal version. With cauliflower available throughout the year...
CHANNA SUNDAL || GARBANZO BEAN SUNDAL
Category: Fasting Recipes, Festive Recipes, Healthy Cooking, Snack, Traditional
Cuisine: Tamilnadu
Cooking Method: Boiling, Pressure Cooking, Roasting, Sauteing, Soaking
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
Category: Fasting Recipes, Festive Recipes, Healthy Cooking, Traditional
Cuisine: Tamilnadu
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...
Vazhaipoo Vadai | Banana Blossoms Vadai
Category: Festive Recipes, Snack, Traditional
Cuisine: Tamilnadu
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...
MoongDal Dosa
Category: Breakfast, Dinner, Healthy Cooking
Cuisine: Tamilnadu
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...
Barnyard Millet/Kuthiraivali Adai
Category: Breakfast, Dinner, Healthy Cooking, Traditional
Cuisine: Tamilnadu
Millets are the new trends. It is good to know!! However, the sad part is, this is not a NEW thing to our culture. These millets were a part of the healthy and long life of our elders. In ancient days, our grandmoms were so innovative with these millets, that they tried their hands on...
Bittergourd Chips
Category: Dinner, Healthy Cooking, Lunch, Snack
Cuisine: Tamilnadu
Vegetables are the heart and soul for every human being, especially the vegetarians. Every vegetable has its own goodness. I agree with this fact and try to incorporate most of the vegetables to our diet. However, there are some vegetables that are in my least likely one’s list. Bittergourd is at the top level in...
Ragi Dosa
Category: Breakfast, Dinner, Healthy Cooking, Traditional
Cuisine: Tamilnadu
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...
Punjabi Lobia Curry
Category: Dinner, Festive Recipes, Healthy Cooking, Lunch, Traditional
Cuisine: North Indian
Cooking Method: Grinding, Pressure Cooking, Sauteing, Soaking
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...
Black Urad dal Dosa
Category: Breakfast, Dinner, Healthy Cooking, Traditional
Cuisine: Tamilnadu
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...
Green moong Dal Curry
Green Moong dal Curry( मूंग सब्ज़ी )is a hands-on sidedish when I run out of the vegetables. It so happens I mostly make this for rotis/phulkas on a Friday night or on Saturday mornings before I could rush to the grocery stores. Though I was not a huge fan of this back at mom’s place when...
Cabbage Peas Poriyal
Firstly, apologies for the delayed posts. Been a while that I posted here. However, I did click some pictures and will be posting here regularly. Cabbage- Peas Poriyal (கோஸ் பட்டாணி பொரியல் )is a simple poriyal and rich in taste. We can see this poriyal commonly in marriages and functions. Cabbage curries bring out a good volume for...
Upma Kozhukattai
Category: Breakfast, Dinner, Healthy Cooking, Snack, Traditional
Cuisine: Tamilnadu
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...
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...
Little Millet (Samai) Idly
Category: Breakfast, Dinner, Fasting Recipes, Healthy Cooking
Cuisine: Tamilnadu
Cooking Method: Steaming
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...
AVAL KOZHUKATTAI || STEAMED FLATTENED RICE DUMPLINGS
Category: Breakfast, Dinner, Fasting Recipes, Festive Recipes, Healthy Cooking, Snack, Traditional
Cuisine: Tamilnadu
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...
Sweet and Lemon Sevai
Category: Breakfast, Dinner, Traditional
Cuisine: Tamilnadu
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...
Kadalaparuppu Poorna Kozhukattai
Category: Festive Recipes, Healthy Cooking, Snack, Sweets, Traditional
Cooking Method: Boiling, Kneading, Pressure Cooking, Steaming
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...
Gajar Pulav || Carrot Pulav
Category: Festive Recipes, Healthy Cooking, Lunch
Cuisine: Indian, North Indian
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...
Nellai Ulundhu Kali
Category: Healthy Cooking, Sweets, Traditional
Ulundhu Kali is a very famous and traditional dish in the Tirunelveli region. There are different recipes of this Ulundhu Kali in other parts of TamilNadu too with variation in the proportion of ingredients added. However, the key ingredient in this is the Whole Black Urad dal. My Amma is a specialist in making this...
SPINACH RAITHA || KEERAI RAITHA
Category: Dinner, Fasting Recipes, Festive Recipes, Healthy Cooking, Lunch, Summer Recipes
Cuisine: North Indian
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...
Potato Sandwich
Category: Breakfast, Healthy Cooking, Snack
Cuisine: North Indian
Cooking Method: Pressure Cooking, Sauteing, Tempering
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...
Drumstick Leaves Thogayal
Category: Breakfast, Dinner, Healthy Cooking, Lunch, Traditional
Cuisine: Tamilnadu
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...
Karnataka Tarkari Palav (Instant Pot Method)
Category: Breakfast, Healthy Cooking, Lunch, Traditional
Cuisine: Karnataka
Cooking Method: Grinding, Pressure Cooking, Sauteing, Tempering
Pulav/Pulao is an easy one-pot meal that can quickly be done for a weekday meal. They also make a perfect fit for lunchboxes. There are many pulav varieties made in different parts of India. Tarkari Palav is a very famous Karnataka dish. It is made with any short grain rice like sona masoori, raw rice...
Lemon Idli
Category: Breakfast, Healthy Cooking, Snack, Traditional
Cuisine: Tamilnadu
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...
Hotel Style Kara Kuzhambu
Category: Healthy Cooking, Lunch, Traditional
Cuisine: Tamilnadu
For a South-Indian, lunch means it has rice, kulambu and a side of poriyal/stirfry and Kootu. While Sambhar and rasam are almost liked by many, KaraKulambu is one that tastes great with a tangy and spicy side . I love the Karakulambu served in hotels as they are flavorful and spicy. The hotel style Karakulambu...
Iyengar Bakery Style Masala Bread Toast
Category: Breakfast, Healthy Cooking, Snack
Cuisine: Tamilnadu
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...
Cabbage Thoran
Category: Festive Recipes, Healthy Cooking, Lunch, Traditional
Cuisine: Tamilnadu
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...
HARIYALI PANEER CURRY
Category: Dinner, Festive Recipes, Healthy Cooking, Lunch, Traditional
Cuisine: North Indian
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 Kosambari
Category: Fasting Recipes, Festive Recipes, Healthy Cooking, Lunch, Traditional
Cuisine: Karnataka
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...