Chutney is a mixture obtained by grinding various ingredients and spices and is usually something that is very hot, spicy and tangy. These are meant to be consumed in moderation – just a slight dip that lends a kick to the main meal. Chutneys can elevate the main dish to great levels and it can […]
Indian
Crepes with coconut filling (Mutta Pathiri)
Kerala is quite a tiny state in southern India yet it is amazing that there is so much diversity in foods even within this minuscule state. I got to know this when I got married. Even though my husband’s family also hails from Kerala, some of the dishes that I grew up with were things he […]
Tilapia Fish curry (in a spicy onion and tomato sauce)
Fish and shrimp cooked in various forms is what I ate on a regular basis growing up in Mumbai. But when we visited Kochi, a coastal town in Kerala on our annual vacations, seafood is what we ate for practically every meal! And nothing like the ‘Kari meenu'(Pearl Spot fish) curry cooked out of fresh […]
Winter melon / Ash gourd coconut curry (Kumbalanga curry)
Some days we crave for something very simple yet something that is very comforting – I am sure you will agree! For me one of those comfort foods is this curry – something that transports me back in time where I am just enjoying a simple afternoon lunch with plain rice, kumbalanga curry, some plain […]
South Indian Lentil and vegetable curry || Kerala Sambhaar || South Indian Tangy Vegetable Stew
Sambhaar is a spicy and tangy curry (soup) made of lentils and vegetables. This is a curry that is typical ‘South Indian’ cuisine and each of the four southern states of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala have their slightly different versions of sambhaar. Sambhaar is eaten with rice but most commonly […]
Tomato and Lentil soup (Rasam)
Rasam is a lentil and tomato soup that is a typical South Indian dish that is eaten with rice, usually as the final accompaniment to rice in a sadya, which is a traditional south indian feast. It is hot and tangy – other than tomatoes and lentils it has garlic, cumin, black pepper and lots […]
Spicy Long String Beans (Payyaru Ulathiathu)
Long String beans (also known as Chinese Long Beans or Yard Long Beans, Asparagus Beans, Garter Beans, and Snake Beans) are a long, thin green beans that can measure from 1 to 3 feet in length. These beans are a subtropical/tropical plant that is widely grown in Southeastern Asia, Thailand, and Southern China, and are a […]
Lentils with spinach and coconut (Paalak Daal)
Mixing spinach (and other vegetables) into lentils (dal) is a good way of feeding vegetables to kids. This daal with spinach is a very mild and non spicy dish that kids will love. Coconut is ground into a paste and then mixed into the lentils and this gives a delicious and almost decadent twist […]
Rice and Lentil Savory Crispies (Murrukku)
Crunchy Murrukkus are loved any time of the year – be it diwali or not. However, I somehow make them only during Diwali and the rest of the year I get ready made ones from the store. Its not very hard or complicated to make murrukkus. Its just the deep frying part that I am […]
Fried Dough Diamonds (Shankar pali)
Diwali is the Indian New Year and its a time for great festivities – basically just like festivals all around the world – its a time where you get to be together with your family and friends, and its a time of the year where a variety of sweets are to be made and gifts […]
Green plantains with channa (Kadala and kaaya thoran)
Thoran is a generic name (in Malayalam) for all vegetable dry dishes which have freshly grated coconut. Kadala(black channa) and kaaya(green plantain) are both very ‘heavy’ ingredients and so this sabzi is really very filling (just like avail). However its a nice balance of carbs and proteins and so its like a meal in itself. […]
Okra and Mushroom masala
Okra,also called as Lady’s finger or Bhindi (in India) is becoming a popular health food now due to its high fiber, vitamin C, and folate content. Okra is also known for being high in antioxidants. Okra is also a good source of calcium and potassium. Further, okra is known for harnessing a superior fiber, which helps with digestion and is really beneficial for those who […]