Honestly, I have a blissful relationship with ‘vermicelli’ – always there to comfort me during crisis times. A blessing in my pantry and a life-saver during times when I run out of dosa or idli batter. Doesn’t need much to work on, just add vegetables for some nutrition and you have a one pot meal […]
Cooking a dal dish atleast 4-5 times a week for lunch is a normal routine but on days when tur dal (usually with greens/tomato) is not cooked, its a dry saute dish like today’s recipe which calls for bengal gram and coconut. The thing to take care in this recipe is to not let the […]
Read More… from Kobbari Senagapappu Kura – Coconut Chana dal Stir-fry
The very thought of home ground spice mix aka podi warms my appetite not to mention the aroma that emanates my kitchen during it preparation. Podis or spiced powders/blends are an essential part of South Indian cuisine with each home having their own versions of preparing it. We in Andhra share a fondness for our […]
yo I was craving something deep-fried last evening but stopped myself from preparing anything at that moment. So, I soaked some alasandalu (lobia/black-eyed peas/bobbarlu) this morning to make some fritters with our evening tea. Absolutely crunchy on the outside and soft and chewy in the middle, these fritters have a wonderful mouth-feel and are an […]
Read More… from Palakura Bobbarlu Vadalu – Spinach Black-eyed Peas Fritters
Wheat rava upma aka Tomato Upma, an Indian breakfast dish made with cracked wheat aka dalia and tomatoes This past week has been flu time at our home. My to-do list never seems to end. Summer is officially here, its HOT and HUMID (Vizag being a coastal city) and its only early March. So its […]
Kootu is a popular South Indian lentil based vegetable stew that is thick in texture. Kootus usually comprise of lentils (channa dal/moong dal) and vegetables like bottle gourd, potatoes, plantains, brinjals, cabbage, carrots and beans that are cooked in a blend of fresh coconut and green chillis. There are many variations to the kootu in […]
This morning, there was no way I could pass up the capsicums sitting in the refrigerator screaming for attention. I set out to prepare a pachadi in combination with green chillis to mellow down the sweetness of capsicums. Capsicum and green chilli pieces are sauteed in oil, ground to a coarse paste and slow cooked […]
Golden brown treats flecked with spots of black chocolate chips and toasted almond pieces, intensely rich, slightly nutty and crumbly – in other words, they taste heavenly. Must mention that they make a great match with a cup of masala chai. […]
A dal with greens that is a breeze to prepare despite the long list of ingredients is Chukkakura pappu. The tangy flavor of Chukkakora offsets the earthiness of the dal with green chillis providing the spice to balance out the flavors. A classic, down to earth Andhra recipe that is nutritious, full of iron and […]
Its been raining here in Vizag for the past few days, unseasonal weather and a strange way to welcome summer! I love the rains but when they are intermittent without any trace of sunlight for days together, it takes the crisp flavor of home-made plantain chips to lift my spirits on such gloomy days. A […]
I had some fresh tender, plump, dondakayalu (tendli, tindora, kovakkai, ivy gourd) that I had picked up from the rythu bazaar (Farmers Market) this morning. I prepared quite a few varieties with this nutritious vegetable (I’m an ivy gourd fan!) especially stir fries and today, I decided to make a stuffed dry saute with them […]
This recipe comes from the table of one of my North Indian friend’s mother who dishes out delicious North Indian food. One the many reasons I love winters is green peas. Sweet plump green matar (peas) and fresh methi leaves make for a delectable combination. With undertones of tart from the tomatoes, a faint whisper […]
chukka kura, ambat chuka, khatta palak I can’t really think of many pachadis that give me a ecstatic feeling except for a gongura pachadi. But chukkakura pachadi also evokes the same emotion just by the thought of its preparation. Both pachadis are pretty much similar in flavor – tangy and spicy. Chukka kura (khatta palak/ambat […]
A one pot meal that is nourishing and comforting using broken wheat, yellow moong and spinach is Godhuma rava palakura pongal. Ideal for brunch or lunch with a refreshing glass of fresh juice or buttermilk and you have a quick healthy meal ready for your family. On days when I am caught up with things […]
Read More… from Godhuma Rava Palakura Pongal – Broken Wheat Spinach Medley
When Food Blog Desam had to close due to unforeseen circumstances, it saddened me. I have personally benefited from it immensely and had got used to this support system like so many others. When Indira suggested at Dining Hall that anyone interested could start a similar service, I took the responsibility to work out an […]
What would make a warm, hearty, filling, perfectly satisfying comforting meal when one is not feeling too well, you know, the kind that really slows us down? Spinach soup! There is something about the aroma of this nutmeg-scented simmering soup that is addictive and gives me a feeling of warmth. This iron-packed, emerald green, liquid […]
There are numerous ways to prepare Majjiga Pulusu, our Andhra version of Kadhi, a buttermilk based stew. This pale yellow colored stew calls for vegetables cooked in a delectable combination of fresh coconut-green chillis paste and well beaten sour curd. Vegetables like okra, bottle gourd and drumsticks are usually used to prepare this sweet-sour flavored sauce […]
Read More… from Majjiga Pulusu – Vegetables cooked in buttermilk
Wishing all my readers, visitors and friends a very happy Pongal! This new year saw a passion of mine take shape in the form of a new blog that will chronicle some of my creative interests. I am happy to announce the launch of Suvastra, a photo journal of Indian weaves and embroidery, eco-friendly and […]
Ulli chutney, a pleasing blend of sauted onions, tamarind and red chillis, has a perfect balance of sweet, hot and tangy flavors and makes a good and quick chutney with idli and dosa. A simple, healthy chutney that can be made in a jiffy and tastes best when made fresh. […]
Chole Bhatura, popular Punjabi street food fare is one of my favorite brunch items. Our Sunday brunch was Methi Chole and deep-fried indulgence, Batura. A comforting brunch you’d want to eat on a cold winter morning to nuture your body and soul. Its the first time I prepared this winning combination of kabuli channa and […]
When one talks of Andhra food, the first thing they would say, ‘Spicy’. Honestly, its not as spicy as its made out to be. But then if they were to eat Gongura Mamsam, I will have to agree that its ’spicy’ indeed! An authentic Andhra non-vegetarian meal is incomplete without Gongura Mamsam, an absolutely delectable, […]
Read More… from Gongura Mutton – Mutton cooked in red sorrel leaves