Maravalli Kizhangu - Tapioca Tuber Stir Fry

மரவள்ளிக்கிழங்கு or Aalvalli Kizhangu Poriyal

This is my yet another childhood time pass food item. even though my mother never makes this, my neighbour auntie makes this during the season and never misses to share with us. just boil it in water with or without salt. that's enough cooking. we eat it just like that. but there was another neighbour from Kerala, they used to

Bajji - Boundless Evening Snack!!

Boundless Bajji - with Onion, Plantain and Potato

It's been more than a year since i made bajji. don't know why it took me so long to make bajji. propably i get that "craving" to eat bajji only during the winter... hot bajji and filter coffee.. such an awesome combo. A simple fried gram

Chinese Elbows

Chinese Elbows - Macaroni in Chinese Style

Unexpected holiday.. make it special !!

Today, is a study holiday for my daughter. so, its just myself and my daughter in our house for lunch. i decided to cook my daughter's favourite - pasta or noodles. i wanted to make something easy to cook but good to eat. my daughter asked for Chinese noodles. but i had only elbow macaroni in home. that's how we ended up having Chinese Elbow for lunch. 

Black (Whole) Urad Dhal Laddu

கறுப்பு உளுந்து லட்டு  - Black (Whole) Urad Dhal Laddu

Only recently i noticed that urad dhal is one of the key ingredient in many of south Indian recipes. It is only for the past few decades we have been using white skinned (white) urad dhal. Before that it was the black whole urad dhal which was mostly in use. There were many special recipes here in Tamil Nadu with whole black urad dhal exclusively for its health benefits. Example உளுத்தம் களி, உளுத்தம் கஞ்சி, உளுத்தம் வடை, உளுத்தம் புட்டு, உளுத்தம் தோசை, உளுத்தம் லட்டு etc. Urad dhal is good to be consumed by women especially young girls during menstruation.

Karuvepilai Chutney (Curry Leaf Chutney)

Karuvepilai Chutney (Curry Leaf Chutney)

I have tried many versions of karivepilai chutney. But this recipe is awesome flavourful and goes very well with idli and dosai. perfectly sauteed curry leaves.. right amount of dry red chillies and tamarind gives this chutney a balanced flavour and taste which is perfect for idli/dosai or bajji/bonda. It is quiet easy to make in the busy mornings too. 

Channa masala - "Fast food" Style

Channa Masala - "Fast Food" Style

Everytime, Channa masala tastes little different where ever we eat. doesn't it? But, i always enjoy eating it. 

"Semmai Marabu Koodal" in Chennai.

சென்னையில் "செம்மை" மரபுக்கூடல் 

For details: www.semmaivanam.org

Boondi Laddu - Let's Bring It back this Deepawali

Guess Lot of Us Lost the Love for this Luscious Laddu..

For more sweets and snacks ideas click here - Deepawali

Laddu.. used to be a main sweet in the weddings, festivals, special occasions etc. But now a days.. kids prefer some fancy sweets to these traditional boondi laddu. Being born and raised in this land, I think it I to sow some seeds of love for these traditional sweets in our kids hearts. I am making boondi laddu this Deepawali. 

Beetroot Halwa - For Beautiful Moments

Beetroot Halwa

When I see brilliant colours in flowers, fruits and vegetables.. I have always wondered how nature brings these bright pigments in one place. In flowers, its colours and fragrances.. in fruits and veggies its colours and tastes. I always relate colour to happiness. when I see any fully bloomed Cassia fistula tree this summer.. I feel it is the most happiest tree on earth. It just flowers like crazy. That is so very contagious.. I feel happy the very instant I see it. I can understand why flowers and fruits are brilliantly coloured. But why beets and carrots are colourful.. they are roots!! 

Flavourful Brinjal Gravy - Complements any Biryani

Spicy Brinjal Gravy - Flavoured with roasted sesame seeds and groundnut paste

It is a beautiful combination - biryani and the brinjal gravy. this particular brinjal gravy.. where brinjals are sauted with lots of sesame oil.. sourness from tamarind extract.. infused with roasted peanut and sesame seeds paste flavour.. cooked perfectly till that above mentioned "lots of" sesame oil floats on top of the gravy.. final touch with the dash of jaggery.

Wood Apple Sweet Salad - Sweet-Sour Duet

விளாம்பழம் - Wood Apple Sweet Salad

Vilaam pazham (விளாம்பழம்) (Limonia acidissima) commonly known as wood apple was one of the mostly ignored or forgotten fruit in south India. during my childhood days, i too did not know anything about this fruit. we used to see in the markets during Krishna jayanthi and Vinayagar chathurthi, that is, during the month of August and September. As a child, i wondered how this was a fruit, as this did not have any of those fancy features of being a fruit. In my house they never used to buy this during the festival too as nobody was fond of this fruit. so, i never got to know anything about this fruit. and more over this fruit was not very appealing too.. looked corky.. rough.. dull colour.. it was more like a cricket ball... how to break it?!

Masala Egg Pasta

Masala Egg Pasta

Simple masala egg pasta - is the masala version of the regular egg scramble pasta. I add onion, tomato, ginger-garlic paste and garam masala to egg scramble pasta. this is more Indianised flavour.

i prefer more egg

Sambar Powder - Aromatically Mesmerising Spice Mix

சாம்பார் போடி  - Sambar Powder - Authentic, Aromatic and Awesome

For the last two generations in our family, sambar powder means, dry red chilli powder and coriander powder in equal ratio by weight.

Sambar Rice - Simply The Best of South

Sambar Saadham or Sambar Rice - Simply The Best of South

What is common in bisibelebhath, kadamba sadham, kichdi, vennpongal, sambar sadham and paruppu sadham? its the pulse and rice. other ingredients are what that brings the difference in these rice dishes. All are one pot dishes, with pulse and rice, with different vegetables and spices. 

Mango Thokku - Use the Season

Mango Thokku - மாங்காய் தொக்கு - Use the Season

Mango season has almost come to an end and this is my first recipe with mango for this season. 

I'm here with this awesome mango thokku recipe with 

Kasi (Kaasi) Halwa - Ash Gourd Halwa

காசி அல்வா  - 150th Post - Kaasi Halwa or Ash Gourd Halwa

Long long ago.. not so long when i was holding my mother's hand and walking in the weddings.. just little later than that.. in the weddings and other functions, especially in the breakfast... the first served item was this brilliantly coloured... glossy.. sweet loaded with ghee and cantaloupe seeds.

Rice Flour Puttu - Easy, Tasty and Healthy !

Rice Flour Puttu - Easy, Tasty and Healthy !

Puttu is another polite, easy to cook, no oil, steam cooked, good-to-eat and healthy dish. It is good for breakfast or dinner. It is one of the easily digestible food for sick people. 

Nature Watch - The other side.. is equally Beautiful !!.

Shhh... dont't say anything... just stare at the intricate work of EXISTENCE !

Karuvattu Kuzhambu (Dry Fish Gravy with other veggies) - Rejuvenate your taste buds.

கருவாட்டு குழம்பு  (Dry Fish Gravy with other veggies) - Native Special

"Karuvaadu" is the Tamil word for dry fish. Karuvattu kuzhambu is our native food here in Tamil Nadu. I would top the karuvattu kuzhambu in list of native foods of my region.

Creamy Mushroom Soup

Creamy Mushroom Soup

Creamy mushroom soup - never guessed it would be this easy to make it at home. Few ingredients.. quick recipe.. quite filling dish.

Just pick fresh clean mushrooms and make sure you have fresh cream and thyme at home. The thyme does the magic. That's all..

Poondu Kaara Chutney / Spicy Garlic Chutney

Spicy Garlic Chutney / Poondu Kaara Chutney

Poondu kaara chutney - as the name says.. the key ingredients are.. lots of garlic, dry red chillies, small tomato, sesame oil and salt to taste. That's all. This spicy and flavourful chutney is sautéd with enough oil, it therefore stays good for 2 days on shelf and for a week in fridge.

Beans-Carrot Poriyal / Green Beans and Carrot Stir Fry

Beans-carrot Poriyal / Green Beans and Carrot Stir Fry

Beans-carrot poriyal is a very common side dish for meals in any south Indian home. excellent side dish for sambar or rasam or curd rice. 

Paneer Pasanda

Paneer Pasanda

Paneer pasanda is another paneer gravy dish which is quiet easy to make as there is no chopping of onion and tomato.

Kadamba Saadham - Comfort Food on a Cold day

Kadamba Saadham - Country Food with Native Vegetables

Kadamba saadham(rice).. i was not familiar with this rice until few years back when i read the recipe in a cook book during Navarathri festival.

Vegetable Fried Rice

Vegetable Fried Rice

Fried rice - its such a simple rice dish, not too strong, yet flavourful. colourful for the eyes and satisfies the taste buds. if it is accompanied by some perfect side dish like any manchurian gravies.. it can satisfy your soul too !