Sailu's Kitchen

One of my favorite Punjabi dishes is Amritsari Chole – a high protein classic recipe with heady flavors. I love the texture and combination of spices that go into its making. The addition of one of my favorite flavors, anardana, adds a tangy punch to the nuttiness of chickpeas.

Am blogging a favorite recipe today. It includes my favorite greens and vegetable – methi and carrot. Love the refreshing colors and flavor combination of carrot and fenugreek in a pachadi avatar. Clean, simple and delicious.

Bachala kura Pappu is a high protein, vegan, heart warming dish loaded with nutritious greens – Malabar spinach or Indian Spinach. These protein-rich, vibrant green, glossy leaves are thick with a spongy texture and when cut they ooze a slimy juice similar to okra. We usually cook them with masoor or tur dal or with yam (kanda bachali) and as mustard powder based stew (ava pettina pulusu).

It’s a green(s)-intensive menu this week. Yesterday, it was spinach soup and today I prepared an aromatic and flavorful stew featuring amaranth leaves, yogurt, coconut and green chilies. A classic healthy Andhra recipe that is sure to warm the body and soul.

Its raining Christmas cookies! Baked loads of eggless butter cookies with a delicious surprise packed in them.The cookies might not be very visually appealing with Plain Jane kinda of looks. One bite into the cookie and you will realize that its the most palate pleasing sweet treat.

This had been lying in my drafts and wouldn’t have seen the light of day if a reader had not requested for Chilli Cheese Toast recipe. Not much of a recipe really. A quick breakfast/brunch or lunch box recipe that can be prepared in 10 minutes.

Today’s weather had me craving for a heart warming soup and spicy noodles. Prepared Sweet corn vegetable soup and Schezwan noodles for lunch. Explosion of flavors to say the least. Reduced the spice factor for Nehal’s portion of Schezwan noodles. Its way too spicy for my 8 year old, in fact for us adults as well.

Rasam or Charu is an essential part of a traditional Andhra bhojanam (meal). Comforting, earthy, warm with health supporting properties, pepper flavored charu is seasoned with ghee and asafoetida, garnished with fresh coriander. Works as a perfect antidote for a runny nose.

Simple, light and packed with flavor carrot stir fry. The earthy spices combine beautifully with the sweetness of carrots while the addition of fresh coriander brings freshness. Carrot in their ‘grated’ avatar work best for this vegan stir fry.

This morning I prepared Iyengar Bakery style ‘Vegetable Open Sandwich’ for breakfast. Makes for a colorful lunch box treat for kids. While packing Nehal’s snack box, I went the grilled sandwich way. You can serve it as an open or grilled sandwich.