Kathirikkai Avarakkai Murungakkai Sambar – Mixed Vegetable Sambar
Kathirikkai, avarakkai and murungakkai (brinjal, broad beans, drumstick) is one of the popular combination for making sambar. I made this sambar using freshly ground sambar powder which makes it more tastier. It is a perfect combination with rice as well as idi/dosa. For those who doesn’t know about sambar: Sambar is a staple food in the Southern parts of India. Vegetables are cooked with lentils and spices and served with boiled rice or idli/dosa. Preparation time: 20 minutes Cooking time: 30 minutes Spice level: 3.5 out of 5 Ingredients: Broad beans (avarakkai) – 1 cup Brinjal (kathirikkai) – 4 2″ long drumstick (murungakkai) pieces – 7 or 8 Toor dal – 2/3 cup (133 gram) Tamarind juice – 1 cup (from a small lime sized tamarind ball) Turmeric powder – 1/4 tsp Roast and grind: Oil – 3/4 tsp...
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Semiya Upma / Vermicelli Upma
Upma is a common South Indian breakfast dish. I like all kinds of upma. I like to cook upma by adding lots of veggies. Here is the recipe for this simplest tiffin. Time of Preparation : 15 minutes No of Servings : 1 to 2 Spice level : 3 out of 5 Ingredients: Vermicelli – 1 cup (small thin) Oil – 2 tsp Mustard seeds – 1/2 tsp Split urad dal – 1 tsp Channa dal – 1 tsp Curry leaves – a few Asafoetida – a pinch Green chillies – 3 (slit lengthwise Ginger – 1 tsp (grated) Onions – 1/2 cup (finely chopped) Salt – to taste Carrot (small size) – 1 (finely chopped) (optional) Beans – 10 (finely chopped) (optional) Peas – 1/4 cup (I ve used frozen peas) (optional) Water – 1 3/4 cup (1...
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Pudalangai Thuvaiyal – Snake Gourd Chutney
Thuvaiyal/Thogayal is a South Indian condiment. Thuvaiyal is nothing but chutney with a slight variation and is thick in form. It is generally made with vegetables/lentils. This is the first time I am making thuvaiyal with snake gourd and to my surprise it came out awesome. It is simple and makes a wonderful combination with plain rice or with sambar/rasam rice and idli/dosa. Check out our thuvaiyal recipes here. Few facts about Snake Gourd: Commonly known as Snake Gourd, this vegetable is native to India and is a vegetable of considerable importance. It is known as Pudalangai in tamil, potlakaaya in Telugu, dhunduli in Assamese, paduvalakaayi in Kannada and padavalanga in Malayalam. Snake gourd is an annual plant grown in tropical countries. The vegetable is long and are curved giving them a serpent look. I have seen stones tied to the end...
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Gobi Paratha / Cauliflower Stuffed Flatbread
My husband was bored to have cauliflower in the form of poriyal or korma. So I thought of making this stuffed paratha which is actually very simple to make. He liked it a lot and it is a easy lunch box menu for the kids too. Time of Preparation : 45 minutes No of pieces – 9 parathas Spice level : 3 out of 5 Ingredients: For Stuffing: Cauliflower – 2 cups Oil – 2 tsp Cumin seeds – 1/2 tsp Green Chillies – 3 (finely chopped) Grated ginger – 1 tsp Grated garlic – 1 tsp Red chilli powder – 1/2 tsp (according to spice level) Cumin Powder – 1/2 tsp Amchoor powder – 1/2 tsp Turmeric powder – 1/4 tsp Salt – to taste Green Peas – 1/3 cup (I have used frozen peas) Coriander leaves –...
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Soy Chunks Uruandai Kuzhambu / Soy Chunks Balls in Spicy Curry
My husband is a huge fan of Mutton Kola Urundai Kuzhambu but I wont cook meat. I replaced mutton by soy chunks and I tried this Soy Chunks Urundai Kuzhambu. My husband liked it very much and it was a super hit. It seems like it is a big procedure to make this urundai kuzhambu but it is actually not difficult to make. Here is the procedure for the soy chunks urundai kuzhambu… Time of Preparation : 60 minutes Spice level : 4 out of 5 No of Servings : 4 Ingredients: For Soy Chunks Balls: Soy Chunks – 1/2 cup Cinnamon stick – 1″ Cloves – 2 Cardamom – 1 Fennel Seeds – 1 tsp Cumin seeds – 1 tsp Coriander seeds – 2 tsp Red chillies – 3 Green chillies – 2 Ginger – 1″ (chopped) Garlic...
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Paneer Butter Masala
Paneer Butter Masala is one of the most popular vegetarian curries in Indian cuisine. Paneer (Indian cottage cheese cubes) is dunked in a rich and creamy tomato gravy and served along with roti (Indian breads) or Flavored rice. It is one of the commonly found item in a restaurant menu. I am presenting a restaurant style Paneer Butter Masala with step by step instructions. This has always been a crowd pleaser. Tomato paste is the key in this recipe. I have tried using freshly made tomato puree but for some reason the sour taste in the canned tomato paste gives this dish a unique flavor. So please try to use tomato paste to achieve the right taste. Enjoy this dish and let me know your comments. Cooking time: 45 minutes No. of servings: 4 to 5 Spice level: 2.5...
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Milagu Kuzhambu / Black Pepper Curry
Black Pepper has so much of medicinal values. I had sever cold and cough last week. I felt bored of having pepper rasam daily. I got this Milagu Kuzhambu recipe from one of my friends and I tried this. It came out so good and I felt so much relieved from my cough after having this :). Here is the recipe for this simple Milagu Kuzhambu.. Time of Preparation : 30 minutes Spice level : 4 out of 5 Ingredients: Pearl Onions – 1/2 cup Garlic – 1 whole Sesame oil – to taste Salt – to taste Turmeric powder – 1/4 tsp Tamarind – lemon size To Grind: Black Pepper – 1 tsp Cumin seeds – 1 tsp Red Chillies – 4 Coriander seeds – 1 1/2 tsp Toor dhal – 1 tsp Urad dhal – 1 tsp...
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Panner Bhurji Gravy ( Shredded Cottage Cheese in Rich Tomato Gravy )
When I went to Pune some 4 years back, I tasted this amazing Paneer Bhurji in a restaurant. From then, I tried to make Paneer Bhurji with the same taste. Recently when I tried, I got almost the same taste. I made it for my niece and she too loved it. Canned tomato paste made this gravy even more richer. It is really simple to make and we can follow the same procedure for regular Paneer Butter Masala too :). Time of Preparation : 30 minutes No of Servings: 6 Spice level : 1 Ingredients: Paneer (grated) – 200 grams Onions – 1 cup (chopped) Ginger garlic paste – 1 1/2 tbsp (I have used homemade) Tomato Paste – 50 grams (I ve used 1 small can tomato paste to bring the taste like restaurant style) Green Bell Pepper...
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Bhindi Masala Fry / Okra Masala Fry
Bhindi fry generally needs lots of oil to get good taste. But this Okra masala fry needs very little oil for frying and it definitely gives a very different and wonderful taste. My cousin saw this recipe in a TV show and she told me about this recipe. I tried this Okra fry and it was a super hit :). Time of preparation : 40 minutes Spice level : 3 out of 5 No of servings : 2 to 3 Ingredients: Okra – 1 lb Oil – 2 tbsp Salt – to taste Mustard seeds – 1/2 tsp Asafoetida – a pinch Curry leaves – a few Onions – 1/4 cup (finely chopped) To Grind: Red chillies – 8 Coriander seeds – 1 tsp Cumin seeds – 1/2 tsp Coconut – 3 tbsp Split Dalia – 1 tbsp Method...
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Beetroot Rice
Beetroot rice is one of the easiest to make and it makes a great comfort food. If you are looking for a lunch box dish, this is the perfect recipe. Kids will love this dish. Even my 19 month old son loves this rice. If you have beetroot sitting in your pantry then it’s really simple to make this dish with very few ingredients. From wiki: Beetroot is a rich source of potent antioxidants and nutrients, including magnesium, sodium, potassium and vitamin C, and betaine, which is important for cardiovascular health Preparation Time: 30 minutes No Of servings : 3-4 Spice level : 2 out of 5 Ingredients: Beetroot : 1 cup (peeled and shredded) Oil : 2 tbsp Cooked Rice : 3 cup Onion : 1/4 cup (chopped) Mustard seeds : 1 tsp Urda dal : 1 tsp Fennel seeds :...
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Potato Bread Toast
I usually make Potato Sandwich for breakfast. I wanted to try something different this time and I tried this Potato Bread Toast. It tasted really good and here is the recipe for this simple and tasty bread toast.. Time of Preparation : 20 minutes Spice level : 3 out of 5 Ingredients: Bread Slices – 10 to 12 Butter – to toast Green Chutney – 1/3 cup Potato Spread For Potato Spread: Potato (medium size) – 2 (boiled and mashed) Onion (small size) – 1 (finely chopped) Green Chillies – 2 (finely chopped) Sambar powder – 1/2 tsp Cumin Powder – 1/2 tsp Salt – to taste Oil – 1 tbsp Method of Preparation: Heat oil in a pan and add the chopped onions. Add some salt and fry till they become translucent. Add the green chillies and fry...
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Chickpea Masala Sundal
Different variety of Sundals are made during Navratri days. Each day there is a different variety of sundals are made for Neivedyam and it’s distributed to the friends and family who are invited to see the Golu. I adapted this recipe from a friend. She made this sundal for her Golu last year. I’ve made this recipe a couple of times and it makes for a great evening snack with some hot tea. If you have Golu in your home and you are out of ideas for how to make different types of sundal, try this recipe. It definitely tastes delicious and it will be a sooper dooper hit. Try this recipe and let me know how it turned out for you. Preparation Time : 30 minutes No oF servings : 4-5 Spice Level : 2 out of 5 Ingredients: Chick pea/Chole :...
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Mochakottai/Lima Beans kuzhambhu
I still remember those days when my mom makes Mochakottai kuzhambhu the house is filled with such a nice aroma. I still remember the taste and flavor when she makes it. She makes the best Kara kuzhambhu I’ve ever tasted in my life. I’ve tried to make it tastes like her but somehow I miss that perfect flavor. This time when I made it with her secret recipe it came out absolutely perfect and tastes soo delicious and flavorful. Try this recipe and let me know how it turned out for you. From Wiki: Lima beans, like many other legumes, are a good source of dietary fiber, and a virtually fat-free source of high quality protein. Preparation Time: 45 minutes Spice Level : 3 out of 5 No of servings : 4-5 Ingredients: Sesame Oil : 2 tbsp Mochakottai(Dry): 11/2 cups(cooked) Small...
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Beans Poricha Kootu – Green Beans and Lentil Curry
Poricha Kootu is one of the popular dishes in South India especially in Tamilnadu. It’s more popular in the Tanjore region of Tamilnadu. It’s a slightly different version of regular Kootu. Kootu is one of my favorite dishes and it’s always easy and comforting to make and eat with Vathal kuzhambhu and rice. Poricha Kootu can be made with any vegetables. I’ve never tried poricha kootu with green beans and this is the first time I tried it. It tasted really delicious and was a great side dish with Kara kuzhambhu. Preparation Time : 45 minutes No of Servings : 3-4 Spice Level : 3 out of 5 Ingredients: Beans : 2 cup (cut into pieces) Moong dal : 1/2 cup or you can also use Chana dal Oil : 2 tbsp Mustard Seeds : 1 tsp Urad dal...
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Bread Basket Chaat
If you want to try some easy snack, you can try this out. Thanks to my friend Jayanthi for this easy and tasty recipe. All we need is just bread and we can easily prepare this Bread basket chaat for any number of people in half an hour. Time of Preparation : 30 minutes Ingredients: Bread – 20 Potato (large) – 1 Chickpeas – 3 tbsp (optional) Onions – 1/2 cup (finely chopped) Tomatoes – 1/2 cup (finely chopped) Red chilli powder – 1/2 tsp Chaat masala – 1/2 tsp Green chutney – 1/2 cup Sweet chutney – 1/2 cup Sev – 3 tbsp (optional) Coriander – 3 tbsp (chopped) Method of Preparation: Soak the chickpeas in hot water for 3 hours and pressure cook it along with little salt. Boil the potato and mash it . Add little...
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Veg Chapati roll
We had a potluck recently and I wanted to make something different with chapati. So I tried veggie chapati rolls for the potluck and they came really good. These Veg Chapati Rolls is a easy lunch box menu too. We can use any veggies for stuffing and we can use any masala according to our taste. My husband who does not like carrots and cabbage liked these rolls :). Time of Preparation : 1 1/2 hours Spice Level – 3 No. of Rolls – 12 Ingredients: For Chapati Wheat Flour – 1 1/2 cup All Purpose Flour – 1/4 cup Salt – 1/2 tsp Oil – 1 tbsp Water – 1/2 cup + 3 tbsp (adjust accordingly) For Stuffing: Carrot – 2 cups (grated) Cabbage – 2 cups (grated) Onions – 1/2 cup (finely chopped) Green chillies – 6...
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Stuffed Bread
First I thought of making regular sandwich bread. Then I wanted to have something little spicy. I got the idea of making this stuffed bread with Indian touch. I gave this to all my friends for tasting and everyone loved it. You can try this recipe with Nithu’s White Bread Recipe too. Time of Preparation : 2 hours 10 minutes Spice Level : 2 Yield : 1 large loaf Ingredients: For Bread: Bread Flour – 3 cups Warm water (110 F) – 1 cup Active dry yeast – 1 1/2 tsp Salt – 1 tsp Sugar – 2 tbsp Oil – 1/4 cup For Stuffing: Potato – 1 Carrot – 1 Beans – 12 Paneer – 1/4 cup (grated) Spinach – 1/4 cup(chopped) Onion – 1/2 (finely chopped) Green chillies – 4 Garlic – 4 cloves (finely chopped) Red...
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Medhu Vadai
Medhu Vadai or Vada is a traditional South Indian food. They are crispy outside, soft and airy inside. Generally served with sambar and chutney as a side or dunked in a yogurt sauce or sambar or rasam and served as dahi vada (curd vada), sambar vada and rasam vada respectively . Vada is generally served with Ven Pongal and idli which completes a typical South Indian breakfast. The main ingredient of this dish is whole urad dal, black gram without skin which is very nutritious. Vadas are preferably eaten freshly fried. It is one of the common food you can find in street carts as well as in restaurants. It makes me nostalgic when I think about those days when we used to buy vada and bajji from street vendors. I still continue to enjoy it whenever I visit India. Nothing can beat that taste....
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