Sundals are a hallmark of South Indian Navratri celebrations — light, wholesome snacks made from steamed or boiled legumes such as chickpeas, black-eyed peas, green gram, horse gram, or peanuts, lightly tossed with coconut, curry leaves, mustard seeds, and a hint of lemon or grated raw mango. Because they rely mainly on lentils and pulses,…
Category: Desserts
Bengali Dry Fruits Payesh: A Plant-Based Festive Delight
Bengali dry fruits payesh, a festive rice pudding cherished across West Bengal, is an indulgent yet comforting dessert traditionally prepared to celebrate birthdays, religious occasions, weddings, and harvest festivals like Poila Baisakh or Durga Puja, where it is offered as bhog (sacred food) before being served to guests; its preparation begins by simmering short-grain fragrant…
Traditional Kerala Payasam Recipe: Pineapple Delight
Onam, one of Kerala’s grandest festivals, falls on September 5 in 2025 and is celebrated with a lavish feast where payasam, a traditional pudding, is indispensable—often with more than one variety served. I usually prepare ripe jackfruit payasam, though its availability is uncertain during the monsoon, since jackfruits need hot weather to ripen. At such…
How to Make Aravana Payasam: Rituals and Ingredients
Aravana payasam is a sacred sweet offering prepared at the famed Sabarimala temple in Kerala, dedicated to Lord Ayyappa. This thick, rich payasam is made with jaggery, rice, and generous amounts of ghee, symbolizing abundance and devotion, and is distributed as prasadam to devotees who complete the rigorous 41-day vratham (austerity and fasting) before undertaking…
Traditional Pineapple Payasam Recipe for Festive Occasions
Pineapple payasam made with cooked fruits is a glowing example of how tradition and whole-food plant-based values can beautifully align. In the WFPB world, opinions differ—some discourage mixing fruits with cooked foods, citing digestive concerns, while others support the use of cooked fruits, especially when they are seasonal, ripe, and rich in antioxidants. Cooking ripe…
Nutrient-Dense Jackfruit Seed Pudding Benefits
Jackfruit Seed Pudding is a wholesome, nutrient-dense dessert that transforms a commonly discarded ingredient into a delicious and satisfying treat. Jackfruit seeds are rich in protein, resistant starch, iron, and antioxidants, supporting digestion, immunity, and sustained energy. This pudding is naturally creamy, subtly sweet, and easy to prepare—just boil the seeds, blend with dates or…
Nutrient-Rich Nenthran Pazham: A Vegan Delight
Nenthran Pazha Pradhaman is a traditional Kerala dessert reimagined the WFPB way—made with ripe nenthran bananas that are steamed, mashed, and gently simmered with date paste and creamy homemade coconut milk, without any jaggery, oil, or refined ingredients. Garnished with dry-roasted cashews and raisins, it has a naturally rich brown color and deep, caramel-like sweetness…
Traditional Gajar Ka Halwa Recipe with a WFPB Twist
Every region and household in India has its own favorite pudding, each carrying memories of warmth and tradition. When I was growing up, a kind elder in my family would often make rich, aromatic kesari, filling the house with the comforting scent of cardamom and simmering semolina. Though she is long gone, the taste of…
Nostalgic Deepavali Jelly Recipe
Jelly always brings nostalgic memories. This was one dish that was always made for Deepavali, the Festival of Lights. Normally, making of sweets and savouries began immediately after the end of Navrathri, about three weeks prior. About 3-4 of each were made in huge quantities. We are six siblings who were ever-hungry. My Dad too…
Amparan Tatak (A Rice Cake From Borneo)
WFPB (Whole Food Plant-Based) Amparan Tatak is a healthier, modern take on the traditional Bornean dessert. It retains the essence of the original treat while using whole, unprocessed ingredients to align with plant-based dietary principles. Instead of refined sugar, the recipe incorporates natural sweeteners like date paste or coconut nectar. Rice flour and fresh coconut…
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