Diwali Snacks, Snacks

KARA THENKUZHAL

Thenkuzhal is a deep fried snack made during Diwali or Janmashtami with rice and urad dal flours.Kara means spicy in Tamil and this recipe is a variation to the regular Thenkuzhal which is made with added flours of tur dal and spiced up with red chilli powder.I happened to see this recipe in television and was hooked to it.As Ravi is fond of snacks,I made this last month and we all thoroughly enjoyed.You can grind these flours in a flour mill,but since I made a very small quantity,I ground it in the mixer.This was the first time I made this…

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Adai Varieties, Breakfast Recipes, Millet Recipes

THINAI ADAI

Adai is a lentil crepe made for breakfast or dinner in South India usually along with rice.But here I have used a healthy version and included Fox Millet which is otherwise called Thinai in Tamil,Kangni in Hindi and Navane in Kannada.Whatever it’s name may be it is a very healthy substitute for rice.Fox Millet has innumerable health benefits.You can add a lot of variations in this by adding veggies like shallots,onions,drumstick leaves and cabbage to make it more nutritious. Thinai when consumed regularly lowers sugar levels,has iron content and lots of Vitamin B.So whenever possible make idlis,dosas and adai with…

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Kuzhambu Varieties

THAKKALI VATHA KUZHAMBU

I like Vatha Kuzhambu and often make it at home as all at home are fond of it too.I normally make it with various vagetables like lady’s finger,brinjal,baby onions etc.They all taste good an are a good accompaniment to rice.Recently I chanced to lunch at my friend’s place who had made this Thakkali Vatha Kuzhambu or Tomato Vatha Kuzhambu along with a big menu.I have never tasted such a tasty kuzhambu and was curious to get the recipe from her.I got it later and prepared it last weekend and it was the tastiest delicacy I ever made.The recipe calls for…

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Rasam, Traditional Recipes

DRUMSTICK RASAM

Rasam is a thin lentil based gravy with spices and tomato with or without tamarind extract.In my house rasam is an integral part of the daily menu and is my comfort food as well.It is really wholesome and flavourful to have hot rasam on steamed rice with any curry and homemade ghee poured on top of the rice.I usually make Tomato Rasam or Jeera Rasam and on weekends Lemon Rasam Or Mysore Rasam.As it is a thin gravy or soup,it is light on the stomach yet filling. Though I am fond of rasams ,I have not tried unique variety of…

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Diwali Snacks, Snacks

DAL CHIVDA

All kinds of snacks are a welcome at home and quickly disappears too from the kitchen.On my recent trip to New Delhi my husband brought a pack of this from the famous Bikanerwala shop.They have a beautiful array of snacks and sweets,my favourite there being Idli Dhokla.So when he brought that and I tasted it I knew I would be preparing these when I return back.True,I did and here I am with the recipe.It is an easy combination of green gram and channa dal with sev,cashews and almonds topped with masalas.You can add poha too,but I have not added since…

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Snacks

KUNUKKU

Kunukku is a spicy South Indian Style lentil fritter. It can be categorized into a starter or snacks list. You can also serve this as a party appetizer.Made from tur and channa dal with rice and spices it is first soaked then ground and deep fried.Many people make this with Adai batter and I also do the same most of the times.The batter needs to be thick as you have drop in small balls on to the hot oil.You can add quater of a cup of semolina or rava to give some crunchiness as well as to thicken the batter.My…

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Karnataka Recipes, Rasam

UDIPI RASAM

Udipi is a small town in Karnataka,which has a unique and tasty cuisine famous all over the world.The people of the region use a saatvik way of preparing food and onions and garlic are devoid of usage.I tasted this rasam once in the Udipi Sri Krishna temple and was mesmerized by its awesome flavour.In Karnataka rasam is called saaru and is one of the important part of the menu.They make with freshly homemade pudi which is nothing but powder with which this rasam is made.Besides the various rasam varieties,I relish on this rasam very much.I am sure once you prepare…

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Diwali Sweets, Sweets, Vinayakar Chaturthi/Ganesh Chaturthi Recipes

KARJIKAI/DIWALI SWEETS

 I never had a sweet tooth, but have always awed at my mom who used to make sweets and savories with much ease.In my growing years in New Delhi,when kitchen was almost unknown to me,every now and then a new delicacy would pop up and surprise us.This is one such traditional recipe which my mother made and that too in no time.I have also seen my grandma who used to sit painstakingly near the stove to make these deep fried dumplings. As I had this post long pending in my draft,i thought of posting this today.Children nowadays have a liking of desserts like doughnuts,cakes and pastries,but have you ever thought that in our Indian Cuisine there are innumerable desserts that you might have not even heard of.This Karjikai is a sweet made with maida dough which is rolled as a chapati and filled with sweet filling of coconut,roasted gram and sugar.As you can see it is in the shape of semi circle.Besides making this sweet for Diwali,people also make this for Ganesh Chaturthi.But you can make this at any time of the year to treat your loved ones,right?Over to this sweet recipe of Karjikai.

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Dal Varieties, Dinner recipes, Side Dish for Roti

DAL MAKHNI/MAA KI DAL/REVIEW FOR EASTERN SPICES 1

I was some time before contacted by Eastern Condiments And Spices to write reviews about their products.I received a parcel containing these masala products and couldn’t wait to try them out.So here comes my first review on Dal Makhni.It is an easy to go side dish for rotis,phulkas and rice.It is easy to make and whilesome and filling besides being nutricious.I made this recipe with eastern masala and the result was super tasty.Daughter who is a fussy eater,loved it to the core and asked for more during dinner.The masala was also super tasty,perfectly blend and aromatic.Easily I could make this…

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Authentic Brahmin Recipe, Easy, Rasam, Rice Accompaniments, Traditional Recipes

GODDU RASAM

Goddu rasam,yes it is a very good rasam.Not jokingbelieve me it is a very tempting and flavourful rasam.My MIL often makes it and it is a rasam where toor dal is tempered and not cooked and added to the thin gravy.Amongst the many varieties of rasam made this one hails from tanjore district of Tamil Nadu.A very simple dish which can be made when you want no elaborate proceedures and yet want a comfort and filling meal.Can we see the recipe now? Notes

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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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