Kootu, Medium

VAZHAITHANDU MOR KOOTU/BANANA STEM MOR KOOTU

I like banana stem or vazhaithandu because of it’s numerous health benefits.Personally it was a boon to me when i suffered from kidney stones for the past 2 years and my doc recommended to drink banana stem juice daily.I never knew what would that do with the disease curing,but did what i was told.It’s fibre content is very good for our body and treats many diseases with ease.Taste wise also it is chewy and with the blended coconut and spices this kootu tastes simply awesome.It is a yoghurt based gravy or kottu and tastes best with variety rice items.Banana tree…

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Diwali Snacks, Indian Festival Recipes, Snacks

KARA BOONDI

It is always a tradition to serve something to guests sometimes sweet and sometimes savoury.I do make snacks once in a while and believe making them at home is far healthy and cheap than store bought ones.I made a small batch of boondi last week just to munch for the weekend. Kara boondi is the savoury version of boondi that can be used to make raitas,to mix in mixtures or eaten as it is.It is made out of chick pea or gram flour and the sweeter version is made my making them into ladoos. You need a ladle with holes…

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Easy, Gokulashtami Recipes, Indian Festival Recipes, Snacks

THATTAI

Literally translated Thattai means to pat or flatten in Tamil and is made by making flat rounds of rice flour dough and fried deep.It is a snack variety and made during Gokulashtami, but for me i’ll make it any time of the year to munch on as a snack.It is one South Indian snack item that doesn’t require any moulds and really yummy to taste. It was during last week that i made this when my parents were here.My dad is fond of fried items and thought it would be nice to make this.When you knead the dough and keep…

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Medium, Starters

BONDA SOUP

I first tasted Bonda soup at a place called Halli mane the famous hotel here.I didn’t know though how it would taste since i have never heard of a thing called bonda soupIt is a most popular snack variety here in Karnataka..Well it is not soup actually but Bondas soaked in yellow lentil gravy similar to rasam but with no tamarind.I have this peculiar habit of trying things at home after tasting them outside somewhere, so i tried it at home.It was a huge hit.I Should thank my hubby here for he is also a great foodie like me takes…

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Kuzhambu Varieties, Mango Recipes, Medium

DRY MANGO KUZHAMBU

It is heavily raining here for the past 2 days.Sometimes you want to eat spicy food on rainy days and with sun dried mangoes sent by my mom i was tempted to make this classic gravy item of yesteryears.It is also called mankottai kuzhambu,since along with cut pieces of dried mango its seed with flesh is also dried and used in the gravy.Normally no restraunt would serve this as it is an authentic recipe dusted from grandma’s cookbook.Mom makes this often specially on a rainy day with rice and parrupu thogayal with dollops of homemade ghee.Tastes divine.This gravy calls for…

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Curry with Coconut, Dairy Free, Easy, Ovo Vegetarian, Rice Accompaniments, Vegan, Vegetarian

ASH GOURD CURRY

This is a simple dry curry normally prepared in all house holds as an accompaniment to rice and sambhar and rasam.Some dry curries taste best with tamarind based gravies some with curd baesed gravies.I will soon post a seperate list of which tastes best with which.Unlike other recipes with ash gourd this one does not need curd.Seeing the health benefits of ash gourd i make any one variety of any ash gourd dish at least once a week.It has carbohydrate,protein and fibre and is very moist i.e.it has high water content.Due to it’s diuretic properties patients have said to have…

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Easy, Snacks

MYSORE BONDA

A scrumptious and filling snack mysore bonda on a rainy day tastes simply heaven.It so happened that we had a small get together at our apartment and each one came up with a different food item .I made mysore bonda and everyone liked it to the core.Somehow i managed to grind the batter to perfection and that is the secret here.My mom is always particular about the batter and i have seen her preparing the batter with extra care every time she makes it.Mysore bonda is similar to methu vada or ulundu vada except for the fact that it has…

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Breakfast Recipes, Easy, Tiffin, Traditional Recipes

PULI AVAL

I am back again with yet another Poha/Beaten rice recipe.Poha in tamarind is always an easy dinner option as it is light on the tummy yet filling for the heart.Yes ,food for me should not only fill the stomach but also heart should be happy when you serve it to others. Of course when unexpected guests arrive this light dish out of rice flakes can be prepared in no time.The traditional puli aval recipe calls for poha in tamarind only, but i have added veggies to it to make it healthier and tastier.The vegetables is purely upto you, you can…

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Easy, Lunchbox Ideas, Rice Variety

PEANUT RICE/LUNCH BOX IDEA

Rice is always a favourite at home and besides making accompaniments such as sambhar ,rasam or any other gravy at home,for lunch packing i often wonder what could i possibly pack today each day with rice.I was searching for one such rice based recipe,that i stumbled upon peanut rice.I have peanuts well stocked at home for making snacks or simply roasting and adding salt and chilli powder to it etc.or for simply adding them to other rice items for a garnish but never heard of making rice with itself.Peanuts are a good source of nutrients,minerals and amino acids. They also…

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Breakfast Recipes, Dairy Free, Easy, Ovo Vegetarian, Tiffin, Upma, Vegan, Vegetarian

SEMIYA UPMA

Among the various upma varieties of south indian cuisine,Semiya Upma is an easy,tasty and really fast breakfast recipe. Semiya Upma comes in handy for those really hurried up mornings and can be made in a jiffy,if you have vegetables chopped ready.It doesn’t require any accompaniment really but i have served it with tomato pickle.The addition of veggies is surely your choice,you can add beans,peas,carrot.Nice method of including vegetables for those kids who fuss eating them.This is one of those tiffin varieties that is not served in hotels,not that i know of,do let me know if you have had it at…

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Kuzhambu Varieties, Medium, Rice Accompaniments, Traditional Recipes

ASH GOURD MOR KUZHAMBU

Iam a real fan of this mor kuzhambu and make it often at home.Especially when iam making paruppu usili,i make this and it is simply an awesome combination..This mor kuzhambu is a yoghourt based gravy which needs very less time to prepare.This tastes good with variety rices such as coconut rice,tamarind rice or lemon rice.It takes very less time to prepare and the grinding part is the main work here.Make sure to take sour curd as the recipe calls for that sourness in the gravy.You can alternatively use chow-chow,lady’s finger or even banana stem in place of ash gourd..Mor kuzhambu…

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