Background:
Poori in my home is always paired with Potato masala. To me this combination represents all that is good in life. This simple hearty dish is comfort food for the cold nights.
Stuff you will need:
Potatoes - 3 small boiled, peeled and mashed
Onion - 1 large cut into long pieces
Tomato - 1 small chopped
Ginger - Small […]
Background:
Katrikai aka Brinjal aka Eggplant is K’s favorite vegetable specially when made crispy and shallow fried to a golden brown. I hate this vegetable but since K loves it, I try and make it each time I make Okra so each of us have our favorites.
Stuff you will need:
Brinjal/Eggplant/Kathrikai - 1 lb cut into 8 […]
Background:
Vendakkai aka Lady’s finger aka Okra is my favorite vegetable specially when made crispy and shallow fried to a golden brown. I love it as a side to the thayir sadam. Moving to the US, I sure missed my willowy favorite for all I could find were the short stubby cousin of the vendakkai I […]
Continue reading about Vendakkai Curry - Okra spiced with salt and paprika and shallow fried.
Background:
Speaking to my aunt yesterday I asked her what she was having for lunch and she said “Porichu Kootu”. Now, visions of heavenly smelling, steaming hot kootu appeared before me. I knew I would be making it before a day passed. This morning as I stood steaming the cabbage, I decided to make it poricha […]
Background:
Today is Varalakshmi Vratham and it is usually celebrated with a bit of pomp and show. This year however, owing to a death in the family, the celebrations were muted. Instead of the usual idli, kozhukattai that is made I opted for the simple pongal and made vatral kuzhambu to go with it. Since I […]
Background:
Looking for healthier alternatives from the regular coconut chutney that is a side to most of the ‘tiffin’ I make, I discovered ‘peanut’ chutney when one of our friends visited. From then on, it is a standard fixture in my house with dosas and as a spicy spread on bread.
Stuff you will need:
Peanuts aka Groundnuts […]
Continue reading about Spicy peanut chutney aka savoury peanut butter - healthy too!
Background:
Considering parupu usili is a favorite in our household and morkuzhambu is often spoken of in the same breath, it is only natural that I feel the need to record my way of making this no fuss side.
Stuff you will need:
Thick curds - 1 cup
Coconut gratings - 2 handfuls
Green chillies - 5
Ginger - 1/2 […]
Continue reading about Morkuzhambu - Buttermilk gravy spiced with coconut and cumin
Background:
K and I love the Paruppu Usili/Morkuzhambu combo. So much so it is our weekend ritual. It defines our idea of a good Saturday or Sunday. Feast on this exotic combination and wrap up the afternoon with a siesta. Because usili takes a good amount of work compared to the other dry curries we make, […]
Continue reading about Beans Paruppu Usili - Dry curry with lentils and string beans
Background:
A good way to use up small amounts of dhals leftover. It is wholesome, nutritious and pretty filling. Goes well with rotis and or parathas. Also good as a hearty soup.
Stuff you will need:
A handful each of the following mixed, washed and soaked overnight or through the day.
Masoor dhal
Channa dhal
Kabuli channa
Cow eyed peas
Black whole urad […]
Continue reading about Rang birangi dhal - Mix of lentils simmered in a tomato onion gravy
Background:
I had half a green plantain, left overs from frozen packs of Desi veggies like cut yam, senai kizhangu and quarter red pumpkin. With almost all veggies that go well in aviyal, I could not let the opportunity pass and I made this today morning with thakkali rasam.
The natural sweetness from the root vegetables, the […]
Continue reading about Melange of vegetables in creamy coconut sauce - Aviyal for others
