Breakfast Recipes, Easy, Traditional Recipes

VEN PONGAL

If you can say a classic signature breakfast dish you can’t leave out Ven pongal.In my house whenever we go out visiting our familly diety at Kumbakonam in Tamil Nadu we make sure to order ven pongal at a restuarant there.I like the traditional banana leaf in which it is served and it is also scientifically proven that when any food is served hot in a banana leaf, we also end up eating the folic acid present in the leaf along with the food.Dual benefits?Yeah. Whenever i make pongal at home,i make it mostly for breakfast.It is very filling and…

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Breakfast Recipes, Easy, Tiffin

RAVA KHICHIDI

Rava khichidi is a close cousin of rava upma.That’s what i always say.It tastes like upma but the looks and texture are different.Both are great breakfast ideas and my family loves them both.When i came to Bangalore i was intrugued by the fact that they add the name bath to many tiffin varieties in hotels. Avallaki bath shavige bath to name a few.This rava khichidi is called khara bath here and it tastes heavenly. I always like to have it at Adigas,the well known restaurant here.It is easy to make and with all the loaded vegetables it is not only…

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Dairy Free, Easy, Gluten Free, Ovo Vegetarian, Snacks, Vegan, Vegetarian

DRY KARA PORI

Pori or puffed rice is one thing i always have in stock in my home.Daugther loves Bhel puri and besides making that,i also make this Dry kara pori.It is so simple and healthy snack to munch on at time of the day.My hubby always like to have some snack after dinner.Moreover the IPL season is here so he wanted something as a midnight snack.It was raining here last week in Bangalore,thanks,they were sure welcome showers to beat the rising temperatures for the last 4 weeks.i made it last week.This is called murmure here too and a little different from the…

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Authentic Brahmin Recipe, Kuzhambu Varieties, Medium, Rice Accompaniments, Traditional Recipes

PARUPPU URUNDAI KUZHAMBU

Parrupu means dal and urundai means balls in tamil.Lentils have lots of protein content and very filling too.This is one dish which i enjoy making everytime,since it happens to be hubby’s favourite.My Dad also likes it very much,so when my parents were here sometime before i made it on a sunday and clicked.Thanks all for patiently waiting for the photos to be clicked.Though i have made this paruppu urundais and soaked them in a tamarind based gravy,you can soak them in mor kuzhambu and plain rasam as well.It takes a little time though to make these tur and channa dal…

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Authentic Brahmin Recipe, Kuzhambu Varieties, Medium, Rice Accompaniments, Traditional Recipes

BRINJAL PITLAI

Pitlai is again a tamarind based gravy,close to sambhar but has many spices added in to it.It is a regular item included in tamil brahmin marriages,festivals and also a regular feature in my home.It is somewhat thicker than sambhar and so flavourful with all the loaded spices carefully roasted and coarsely grounded.This powder which is roasted and grounded is used for many food items and i make it a little extra always and store it in the fridge and it can be used for many dishes such as Arachuvitta sambhar,Rasavangi,Podi kathrikkai curry etc.I will post these recipes sometime later.This pitlai…

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Authentic Brahmin Recipe, Easy, Kuzhambu Varieties, Rice Accompaniments, Traditional Recipes

OMAM KUZHAMBU

Sometimes it so happens that we are out of stock of vegetables or on a rainy day we like to have something hot and spicy.Same was the case on one fine day or rather a cloudy day,i thought of making this tamarind based gravy.It has the tanginess of the tamarind and warmth of red chilles. Oman/Ajwain is one thing which we all have in our pantry all times.It has all the medicinal properties of dealing with indigestion and stomach disorders.So do make this gravy for a change and see the reaction of your family.They’ll love it for sure.This is my…

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Authentic Brahmin Recipe, Breakfast Recipes, Easy, Tiffin, Traditional Recipes

MOR KUZHU

This Mor Kuzhu is an authentic recipe of yesteryears.Though many families still make it,it is quite new to many people so I thought of posting it.It can be had for breakfast or as an evening tiffin.My mother used to make it for me and it is still my favourite tiffin item.She used to tease me that even on my birthdays I would be pleased to have this compared to cakes or sweets.True amma’s a master in that..Mor Kuzhu is so soft and fluffy and melts into your mouth and it gives great satisfaction for sudden hunger pangs, believe me it…

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Breakfast Recipes, Dairy Free, Easy, Ovo Vegetarian, Potato Recipes, Side Dish for Roti, Vegan, Vegetarian

POORI MASALA

This Poori Masala is the one they serve in the restuarants along with hot pooris.This is purely a south indian style side dish for poori.Though sometimes i serve this with hot rotis as well.If you don’t make it watery and keep the potato masala a little dry you can serve this with rava idly as well.This dish is a hit combo when served during breakfast.I made this last week for our brunch.Let us see how this is made. Notes You can add peas or tomatoes to this dish while sauteeing onions.

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Medium, Rasam, Rice Accompaniments

VEPAMPOO RASAM/NEEM FLOWER RASAM

Rasam as we all know is served as the second course next to sambhar or any other thick gravy,is a slightly thin soup. Rasam is usually made from tamarind pulp and a mixture of spices.This veppampoo rasam is made of neem leaves.Though the leaves have a bitter taste you won’t feel it when roasted.We make it once a week in our house.Neem leaves are good for diabetes and certain stomch disorders.Nowadays neem leaves are available in the market,but those having neem leaves in their backyard have dual benefits.Both neem leaves and fresh air will fill their homes.Let’s see how it…

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Easy, Kuzhambu Varieties, Rice Accompaniments

BRINJAL MENTHYA KUZHAMBU

Kuzhambu is a tamarind based gravy and served with rice.Menthyam is fenugreek seeds in tamil and this dish i have prepared is with brinjal.You can also use lady’s finger,red pumpkin,sweet potato or any other veggie of your choice.This tastes best when mixed with hot rice topped with sesame oil.Tastes really yum with papad or vadams,chips etc along with some coconut based vegetable curry or kootu.The highlight of this dish is fenugreek seeds and the aroma it creates when added to sesame oil for frying is truly enchanting.You can also try this with dosa,idly,pongal or rice upma.Over to the recipe. Notes…

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Authentic Brahmin Recipe, Medium, Rice Accompaniments, Traditional Recipes

BRINJAL RASAVANGI

This recipe is known to all Tamil brahmin households and it comes under the category of kootu/stew.Why it got it’s name i don’t have the slightest clue, but I presume it’s because of the juicy texture the brinjal imparts to the gravy. It is a favourite dish of both my husband and my dad.This can be made using white pumpkin aka ash gourd.It can be used as a side dish or can mix it with rice.There are various brinjals available in the market, long ones round ones which are green or purple.You can use use any of these.I have used…

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