Poondu thokku is a traditional South Indian garlic relish that brings together the deep, earthy flavour of roasted garlic with the warmth of red chillies and the gentle tang of tamarind. A little of this intensely flavoured thokku goes a long way, making it a much-loved accompaniment to simple everyday meals of rice, idli, dosa…
Category: Recipes
Oil-Free Pepper Rice: A Simple WFPB Delight
Pepper Rice is a simple, aromatic South Indian dish in which cooked rice is combined with freshly ground black pepper and traditional spices to create a comforting and flavorful meal. For a Whole-Food Plant-Based (WFPB) preparation, Pepper Rice can be made completely oil-free, without ghee, butter or dairy, using only whole plant ingredients. Instead of…
How to Make Tomato Upma: A Comforting South Indian Dish
South Indian tomato upma is a warm, comforting variation of classic Upma, where roasted Semolina (Rava / Sooji) is cooked with ripe Tomato, aromatic Onion, fresh Ginger, green chilies, and the unmistakable fragrance of Curry leaves tempered with mustard seeds and lentils. Popular across homes in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Kerala, this…
Easy Bhindi Aloo: A Comforting Indian Vegetable Curry
Okra and potato curry—known in many Indian homes as Bhindi Aloo—is a comforting vegetable dish with roots in North Indian home cooking, though versions of it are enjoyed across the Indian subcontinent with regional variations in spices, texture, and cooking style. “Bhindi” means okra, and “aloo” means potato, and together they create a dish that…
Refreshing Cucumber Coconut Rice Recipe for Summer
Cucumber Coconut Rice is a light, cooling, and deeply satisfying dish that combines cooked rice with fresh cucumber, grated coconut, mild seasonings, and often herbs such as curry leaves or coriander, creating a meal that feels both nourishing and refreshing. Nutritionally, it offers a balanced mix of complex carbohydrates from rice for sustained energy, hydration…
Neem Flowers: A Culinary and Medicinal Treasure of India
The delicate white blossoms of the Neem tree, known as neem flowers, hold a remarkable place at the intersection of nutrition, medicine, and culture in India. Though tiny and slightly bitter, these flowers are nutritionally potent, containing antioxidants, flavonoids, and trace minerals that support detoxification, improve digestion, and help regulate blood sugar levels, making them…
Easy Vegan White Radish Curry
White radish curry, made from tender white radish (mooli), is a light, comforting dish that fits beautifully into a whole-food, plant-based diet, especially when prepared without oil. Naturally low in calories yet rich in fiber, radish supports digestion, helps relieve bloating, and promotes gut health by stimulating digestive enzymes. It is an excellent source of…
How to Make Authentic South Indian Drumstick Kootu
Drumstick kootu is a comforting South Indian stew that highlights the distinctive aroma and nutrition of drumsticks (moringa pods), a vegetable widely valued in traditional Indian diets. In this wholesome preparation, chopped drumsticks are simmered until tender and combined with cooked lentils—usually split yellow moong dal or toor dal—and a freshly ground paste of coconut,…
Delicious WFPB Nendra Pazha Puli Pachadi Recipe
This WFPB Nendra Pazha Puli Pachadi preserves the sweet–tangy harmony of the Kerala classic while remaining completely oil-free and dairy-free. Ripe nendran bananas are gently simmered until soft and naturally caramelised, allowing their deep sweetness to shine without refined sugar, though a little date paste may be added if needed. The characteristic puli comes from…
How to Make Authentic Kumbakonam Kadapa
Kumbakonam Kadapa is a beloved, mildly spiced, coconut-based potato and moong dal curry that hails from the temple town of Kumbakonam in Tamil Nadu, where it has earned an iconic status as the quintessential accompaniment to soft idlis. Unlike the typical sambar-idli pairing seen across South India, Kadapa offers a fragrant, creamy alternative infused with…
