In Kerala cuisine, shrimp/prawns are very popular. Especially in the areas closer to the sea like Kochi. My mom having grown up in Kochi, would add shrimp to most vegetable side dishes along with shredded coconut. Tiny shrimp were mostly reserved for such vegetable dishes where a handful of them were enough to impart lots […]
Soups
Okra Yoghurt Soup (Vendakka Pachadi)
In Kerala cuisine, Pachadi is a side dish which is made using yoghurt. I have posted recipe for ash gourd pachadi or kumabalanga pachadi and beetroot pachadi before. Pachadi can be made using different vegetables and sometimes even fruits like pineapple are used. Although I make okra coconut milk curry often, I had never tried […]
Vegetable Minestrone soup (Vegan,Paleo, AIP)
I am sure you will agree that there is no food more comforting than a warm bowl of soup. In my house they are welcome on any nights but especially on cold, wintery nights. Although spring is here, last weekend ended up being chilly. As I was wondering what to cook for dinner on sunday night, I noticed […]
Roasted Butternut Squash Soup (with Cranberries)
Winter is here after all. Sigh. The last few weeks I have been visiting all our local farms to try and stock up on all the fresh apples of this season. Along with apples, there have been a good bounty of pumpkins and squash as well. This past weekend when I scouted the farms again to […]
Yam and Coconut Soup (Elephant foot yam curry)
Elephant foot yam? Now what is that? My kids were stumped. What a weird name! But if you see this yam, which is like a super large yam or potato, it does indeed resemble an elephant’s foot! In Indian cuisine this yam is used in almost every region although it is called by different names […]
A Japanese meal on a weeknight!: Miso soup, salad with Miso Ginger dressing and Vegetable California rolls
This Monday night at around 5 PM , my husband and I both look at each other and ask the unspoken question -“What are we doing for dinner?” I think for a few seconds and go ‘let’s make something really good’. The ‘really good’ from me was because I am trying to do vegan for a […]
Lentil and Cranberry soup (Cranberry Rasam)
Rasam is a restorative and rejuvenating lentil soup with lots of black pepper, garlic and fresh cilantro. It is generally eaten with some good old white rice. I have posted the recipe of Tomato rasam here before. Why cranberries in a rasam, you may ask? Well, necessity is the mother of invention and of improvisation:) […]
Adzuki Beans and Pumpkin coconut curry (Matanga Erisheri)
I did a guest post for Elaine from foodbod this week. And of course since this was for Elaine it had to be vegetarian, gluten free and healthy! So I thought of making this red chori (adzuki beans) and pumpkin curry. Check out my recipe by visiting Elaine’s blog where you will find hundreds of other […]
Beets in a yoghurt sauce (Beet root pachadi)
Pachadi is the name (in Kerala) for any side dish curry that is made using yoghurt and a vegetable like green mango, ash gourd, carrots or beet root. It is really an accompaniment to the main course, which is usually rice and some other vegetable curry. Growing up, ‘kumbalanga(ash gourd)’ and green mango pachadi was […]
Black eyed peas and sweet potato soup
Actually I thought about the title for a full 10 minutes.! Since this soup also has greens – in fact three different kinds of greens – beet greens, kale and spinach, I wanted to put that in too but hey it was turning out ridiculously long! I didn’t want people to be deterred by the […]
Lemongrass and Chicken soup
I hope the title and the picture makes it very very clear …yes, you guessed it right – this one is all about the lemongrass!! Most men get fresh flowers for their wives. Mine gets me fresh lemongrass. And of course he also gets a hug and a kiss in return! My love affair with […]
Hot and Spicy Chicken noodle soup
Hot and Spicy Chicken noodle soup Not many people I am sure associate ‘hot and spicy’ with chicken noodle soup. Chicken noodle soup is really one comfort food that is perfect on a cold, frigid night. Last week when I decided to make this for dinner, I thought ‘Why not kick this up a notch’? […]