Tomato Rice – Thakkali Sadham
Time is passing like crazy and I apologize for my absence off late. Tomato Rice has to be one of those simplest of  variety rice dishes yet can be very fulfilling to your taste buds. It’s one of my favorite lunch box meals in my school days. This is the first year we had a little garden patch in our backyard and we got plenty of tomatoes this season. Tomato rice being like my most favorite of variety rice dishes, I made it from our own garden tomatoes. It’s actually very easy to cook too. This is my mom’s special recipe and I can’t believe I am letting the family secret out. Just kidding :-). I love sharing those secrets with you. Ingredients: Tomatoes : 2 (make it into puree) Onion : 1/2 ( Medium) Green chili : 4...
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Vadakari – Lentil Curry
When I was in India Vadakari used to be in our breakfast menu atleast twice in a month. It is one of my favorite sides with idli . But I never got a chance to get the recipe and live demo from my mom. After I got married I came to know it is my hubby’s favorite too. I tried it a few times but it wasn’t even anywhere close to my moms recipe. My mother-in-law is in town and now she made this last month for us and I was like this is it! It was just my moms recipe and the same restaurant style taste that I used to crave for. And now I got the recipe and tried it last week by myself and it came out really good. It is again one of the famous...
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Bottle Gourd Koottu – Bottle Gourd Curry
This yet another recipe from my mother inlaw’s kitchen. I have never tried bottle gourd before and didn’t know it was so easy to cook. It’s very healthy and makes for a tasty side dish for chapathies and rice. Besides its healthy properties, there is a little known fun fact about this vegetable. Its dried and cored skin is used to make traditional musical instruments like Tambura and Veena. 🙂 I am sending this recipe to Pooja of My Creative ideas who is hosting  “Vegetable of the Week ” – Bottle gourd Event And I am submitting this recipe to Srivalli of Cooking 4 all seasons Who is hosting Curry Mela Event. Thanks for reminding me srivalli. Ingredients: Bottle Gourd : 1 no Channa dal : 1/4 cup Onion : 1/2 Tomato : 1 Water : 3/4 cup...
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Vegetable Biryani
This is a simple version of Vegetable Biryani which is served along with raitha. For a quick lunch or to serve your guests in a short notice, this is one of the best dishes. Hope you enjoy the dish. Here you go… Preparation time: 45 minutes No. of servings: 5 Spice level: 4 out of 5 Ingredients: Basmati rice – 1 and 1/2 cups Thinly sliced onions – 1.5 cups cups Tomato – 1 Vegetables – 2 cups (carrot, beans, peas, potato) Green chilly – 2 (optional) Ginger garlic paste – 1 tbsp Red chilly powder – 1/2 tsp Coriander powder – 2 tsp Cumin powder – 3/4 tsp Biryani masala – 2 tbsp Cinnamon – 1″ Black and green cardamom – 1 each Cloves – 4 Small bay leaves – 2 Black cumin (kala jeera) – 1/2 tsp...
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Pattani Sundal-Green Peas Sundal
In South India, if there is one thing Navrathri days will bring to mind is the delicious varieties of sundals made and shared with visitors 9 days of Golu will see different variations and recipes of sundal (gram) served hot.. They are rich in protein and makes a great evening snack on any day. This variety of sundal is one of my favorites my mom used to make this when I was in school and served it when I got back from school. And the other specialty of this sundal is it’s so popular in beach, if you have been to Marina beach or the Elliott’s beach in chennai, you’d find this selling fast with some fresh onions and raw mango slivers. Ah.. I still remember those golden days with my friends we used to go to beach to...
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Gobi Manchurian dry – Cauliflower Manchurian dry
Gobi Manchurian or Cauliflower Manchurian is a popular Indo-Chinese appetizer. Cauliflower florets are dipped in corn flour and maida (all purpose flour) batter and fried. It is then sauted in a spicy, sweet and tangy sauce. You can serve it as an appetizer or can be served with fried rice or roti. Ingredients I (Preparation of Sauce): Chopped onion – 1 cup Green chilly – 2 Green onions – 1/4 cup Half green bell pepper, chopped Finely chopped garlic or garlic paste – 2 tsp Finely chopped ginger – 1 tsp Red chilly powder – 1 tsp Soy sauce – 2 tbsp Green chilly sauce – 1 tbsp Red chili sauce – 1 tbsp Sweet and sour sauce – 1 tbsp Vinegar – 1 tbsp Tomato sauce – 3 tbsp Oil – 1 tbsp Salt to taste Cilantro or...
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Mushroom Jalapeno Curry
Now-a-days I have started making chappathy regularly for dinner. So I have to try a variety of curries so that we don’t get bored of chappathies, :). Mushroom Jalapeño curry is a simple and delicious dish which can be made quickly. People who are fond of Jalapeños will definitely like this. Here you go… Ingredients: Mushroom – 200 g Chopped onion – 1 1/2 cup Tomato – 2 (medium size) Jalapeño – 2 (Preserved jalapeño can be used) Ginger garlic paste – 2 tsp Cumin seeds – 1 tsp Sour cream – 3 tbsp Oil – 2 tbsp Salt to taste Method of Preparation: Cut the vegetables according to your need Heat oil in a pan and add cumin seeds Once they splutter, add ginger garlic paste and toss till the raw smell goes off Now add the onions...
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Paruppu Keerai – Dal Spinach
Dal spinach is a simple but healthy South Indian dish which can be taken along with rice/chappathy. It is good for health and children will like them. Ingredients: Spinach – 3 cups Toor dal – 1/2 cup Red chillies – 4 Urad dal – 1 tsp Channa dal – 1 tsp Mustard seeds – 1/2 tsp Cumin seeds – 1 tsp Oil – 2 tsp Salt to taste Method of preparation: Pressure cook dal Boil water and add spinach to it, remove from heat and keep it aside for 2 to 3 mins. You can see the spinach cooked Drain water from the spinach Heat oil in a kadai and add mustard seeds Once they splutter, add cumin seeds, urad dal and channa dal Fry them till they become golden brown Now add the red chillies Add the spinach...
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Stuffed Chilli Bhajji – Stuffed Chilli Fritters
Every food will have a special place in our life and will have some special memories attached to them. One such food for me is chilli bajji and it will always remind me of my college days. It will remind me of those rainy days when we would get chilli bajji’s at chidambaram carnival (thiruvizha). It reminds of those college days when we’d skip class and go to eat Chilli bajjis. They used to serve the bajji’s with a chutney and I am still looking for that perfect recipe for it. If you know it, please share it here and I will be really grateful! Ingredients: Green Chillies : 5 For batter : Gram Flour : 1 cup Rice flour : 1/2 cup Baking powder : 1/4 tsp Cumin powder : 1/4 tsp Salt : required to taste Red...
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Dum Aloo
Its one of the popular north Indian recipes. Its usually cooked under pressure so the potatoes get soaked in the gravy and so the name Dum (pressure in Hindi) in dum aloo. This is the first time I am making this recipe and it came out very good. I used to make chapathi alternate days so today when I was thinking of making it I was out of side dish ideas. I find it pretty hard to make different variety of side dishes for chapathi. I love potatoes in any form and I had lot of small potatoes sitting in my pantry, which has to be the easy to cook vegetable and finally made up my mind to make dum aloo. This recipe goes to Sia of Monsoonspice for her Ode to Potato Event. Ingredients: Small red potatoes :...
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kaara Adai (Rice & Grain Pancakes)
Adai is another one of those south indian delicacies and probably a well kept secret too. It tastes great and not that hard to make it too. The batter has to be coarse to get the right crispy texture. Kaara Adai is my husband’s favorite dosa kind of dishes. I use to make adai at least once in a month. It pairs best with coconut chutney and avial , the rich flavor from curry leaves and red chillies is just mouth watering! Or if you are like me just eat every bite with a little bit of sugar and I can promise you heaven. Ingredients: Par-Boiledrice : 1/2 cup Raw rice : 1/2 cup Channa dal (Bengal Gram) : 1/2 cup Whole red chilies : 6 to 7 ( according to your spice level) urad dal : 1 tbsp...
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Rava Kichadi (Semolina pudding)
This is one of the easiest dinner or breakfast recipe. I would usually used to make this when I am out of any recipes or want to make something very quick. This is a very handy recipes to have with us. It is similiar to upma. I still remember the first time I made kichadi in my hostel room it came out like a gummy paste but my roommates were just nice to me and ate it all. I am entering this recipe to the Meeta’s Monthly Mingle – One-Dish Dinners this month. This is my first entry in any such event and hope to get some exposure with this. Thanks to Pooja letting me know about this event. Ingredients: Rava (Semolina) : 1 cup Onion : 1 (Medium) Oil : 1tbsp water : 2 cup Ghee : 1/2...
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Aloo Methi Sabji(Potato With Fenugreek Leaves Curry)
This is the first time I’ve tried methi leaves and it has already become one of my favorites.I’ve always thought that it had a bitter taste and haven’t tried it so far.Last week, while shopping at the local Indian store, some fresh methi leaves caught my eyes and I bought them. Now that I had methi leaves, I didn’t know what to do with it. So, I called up my sister, and got this recipe for a sabji… We ate this with chapathi’s and tasted excellent. Preparation Time: 45 minutes No of servings: 3-5 Spice Level: 2.5 out of 5 Ingredients: Potato : 2(Medium) Methi Leaves : 1 cup Oil : 1 tbsp Onions: 1(cut lengthwise) Tomato : 2 Curry Leaves : 5 to 6 Garam Masala Powder : 2 tsp Red chili powder : 1tsp Turmeric powder :...
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Green Moong Dal Curry
Need to make something quick and your head is blank with little to no ideas swarming around? Try this quick 15-min recipe that is rich in protein and makes for a healthy meal paired with chapathis.Traditionally dal for rotis are made with toor dal but moong dal also makes a great tasting side dish. Preparation Time: 40 minutes No of servings: 3-5 Spice Level: 3 out of 5 Ingredients: Whole Green Moong dal : 1 cup(You can use sprouted Moong dal too) Onions : 1 Tomato : 1 Green chilies : 4 Milk : 1 cup Turmeric Powder : 1/4 tsp Ginger and Garlic paste : 1 tbsp Curry leaves : 3 to 4 Oil : 1 tbsp Cumin seeds : 1/2 tsp Method Of preparation : Soak the whole moong dal for over night or if you are...
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Kathirikkai porial – Eggplant curry
Eggplant curry is another spicy South Indian dish which is taken along with sambar/rasam/veg rice. Ingredients: Eggplant – 8 Coriander seeds – 1 tbsp Urad dal – 2 tsp Channa dal – 1 tbsp Red chillies – 5 to 6 (adjust to taste) Mustard seeds – 1/2 tsp Oil – 5 to 6 tbsp Curry leaves – a few Salt to taste Method of preparation: Cut the eggplants lengthwise. Don’t cut into small pieces because it gets mashed when cooked Heat a tsp of oil in a kadai and add coriander seeds, urad dal (1 tsp), channa dal and red chillies Fry them until the lentils turn golden brown Remove from heat and keep it aside Heat 2 tbsp of oil in a kadai and add mustard seeds Once they pop up, add 1 tsp of urad dal followed...
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Dal curry
Moong dal curry/Green gram curry is a simple but tasty curry which is taken along with chappathies and steamed rice. Ingredients: Moong dal (Split green gram) – 1 cup Green chillies – 2 Tomato – 2 onion – 1 Garlic cloves – 2 Cumin seeds – 1 tsp Oil – 2 tsp Curry leaves – a few Lemon juice – 1 tsp Salt to taste Method of preparation: In a pressure cooker, heat oil and add cumin seeds Once they splutter add chopped onion and saute Now add the garlic, green chillies, curry leaves and saute Now add the chopped tomatoes and toss for a few seconds Add the moong dal to it and 4 cups of water and salt Pressure cook them until the dal is overcooked. Add lemon juice to the cooked dal and mix 🙂 Serve...
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Karuveppiilai kozhambhu – Curry leaves Gravy
Today I wanted to try something spicy and the curry leaves kozhambhu came to my mind. Curry leaves possess the qualities of a herbal tonic. They are good for eyes, digestive disorders, diabetes, premature greying of hair, etc. Some of us don’t like to take it green. When it is cooked with spices, it tastes better. Ingredients: Curryleaves – 1 1/2 cup Coriander seeds – 1 tsp Black pepper – 1 tsp Urad dal – 1 tsp Toor dal – 1 tsp Dried red chillies (2″) – 4 to 5 Salt to taste Tamarind paste – 1 1/2 tsp Gingelly oil – 3 tbsp Vegetable oil – 3 tbsp Method of preparation: Heat 1 tsp of oil in a kadai and add Coriander seeds, urad dal, black pepper, red chillies and fry them Add the curry leaves finally and...
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Rava dosa
The dosa is a South Indian crepe. This food, high in carbohydrates and proteins, is a breakfast recipe. Rava dosa doesn’t need fermentation and is usually considered a fast snack/tiffin. You can serve it along with any chutneys or sambar or dosa/idli podi (which is made of chillies and lentils, available in Indian store). It hardly takes half an hour to prepare the dosa batter. Though considered a breakfast dish, dosas are also eaten at other times of day. Ingredients: Rice flour – 1 cup Semolina (rawai) – 1 cup All purpose flour (maida) – 1/2 cup Butter milk – 1 cup Chopped onion – 1/2 cup (adjust to taste) Green chillies – 2 (finely chopped) Cumin seeds – 1 tbsp Curry leaves – a few (finey chopped) Method of preparation: Mix all the flours and add butter milk...
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