My mother used to make this dish in the 60’s. I always complained bitterly – it was not my favourite dish. But, of late, I have been craving this dish. I had no idea how to make it. All that I remembered was the taste. Look at the irony of life. When my mum, a…
Category: Breakfast
Idli Upuma
Idli is one of the commonest breakfasts in South India. I would not be wrong to say that it has grown into a national dish. These steamed dumplings of lentils and rice/millets are also fermented, making idlis a very healthy dish. Once the hard work of grinding is done, it becomes a cakewalk to make…
Millet Adai
Adai is a thick crepe, consumed mainly in South India. There are several versions of adai, mostly with minor variations. Traditionally, adai is prepared with lentils and rice. But adai can be prepared with any cereal and lentil combinations. I once prepared adai with quinoa and it tasted wonderful. Adai is also prepared for the…
Cucumber And Peas Dosa
Dosas are a very popular breakfast (or indeed anytime) dish. Originally from South India, they are now available in almost every nook and corner of the country. This spread has spawned several variations of this humble dish. I belong to a food group (not vegan, but vegetarian) that is immensely popular with over 23K members…
Ellu Sevai (Sesame Rice Noodles)
Sevai is the South Indian term for rice noodles. These noodles are often served at breakfast or dinner. They are tasty and light on the stomach. There are several flavourings of these noodles – lemon, coconut. sesame, tamarind, eggplant, tomato… Or just plain. And the absolutely delicious idiappam (stringhoppers) that is served with an sodhi…
Beetroot Kodo Millet String-hoppers
I love string hoppers. I have written about it before. Traditionally, string hoppers are made with white rice. When I started making it at home some years ago, I switched to brown rice – and it was still superb. Last week, I was in the mood for string hoppers – but was wondering how I…
Proso Millet Lemon Sevai (Lemon Flavoured Millet Noodles)
Sevai is a very common breakfast dish in the southern parts of India. There is, however, a lot of confusion about the terminology of this fresh noodles. Sevai in North India refers to sevaiyan, a wheat vermicelli. Semia in North India refers to a kind of thin spaghetti. In South India, semia means exactly the…
Tirunelveli Adai
Tirunelveli is a small town in the South Indian state of Thamizhnadu. While the town is small, it’s cuisine is not. It is a distinctive cuisine that is well known across the state and in many other parts of the country. I have been keen to try this cuisine since many people that I know…
Kal Dosai (Another Crepe)
Kal dosai is s soft, spongy dosa. It is thicker compared to the ‘normal’ dosa. Kal dosai is one of the staple breakfast dishes in the south Indian state of Thamizhnadu. I am fond of all kinds of dosai, but had never tried kal dosai. I was a little apprehensive since the traditional method of…
Ven Pongal (Rice Based Breakfast)
Pongal has several associations amongst the families of Thamizhnadu and Palakkad. Firstly, it is the celebration of the Pongal festival that falls on January 14/15 every year. It is a 4 day long festival that offers thanks to the Sun God for agricultural abundance. This festival corresponds to similar festivals all across the different states…
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