I love drumsticks. I buy this every week when my tree is not fruiting. The moment I bring home drumsticks, Hari promptly makes a sambar. I’ve had so much drumstick sambar that I am really sick of it. Therefore, Hari and I explored some other drumstick curries that will be a treat to the palate….
Category: Main Dishes
Konkani Baingan Bharta (Mashed Eggplant)
Baingan Bharta is an iconic Punjabi dish. It uses the large eggplant. There are now several regional variations of this very popular dish. I rarely make this as it involves roasting the eggplant on an open fire (to get a smoky flavour). Traditionally, it was roasted on a wood or charcoal fire (both not environment…
Manga Kadhi (Raw Mango In A Yogurt Base)
My all time favourite kadhi (yogurt based dishes) is the raw mango kadhi. I never tire of this dish no matter how many times I have it. Perhaps it is the sourness of the mango balanced delicately by the yogurt. Whatever the reason may be, the palate sings with joy. Serve this with another bland,…
Apple Gourd “Fry”
Apple gourd is called tinda in Hindi. It is abundantly available in summer in most parts of the country. It is a rather tasteless vegetable. The taste is imparted by the masalas used in its cooking. This vegetable is largely native to India and neighbouring countries. I was not a great fan of apple gourd…
Parika Pitla (Bittergourd & Lentil Curry)
As a child, I disliked bittergourd intensely. As, I suspect, most children do. No matter how much parents explain the health benefits of the vegetable, it never moves kids. In my case, I overcame my childhood aversion for this vegetable. If fact, I really feel deprived if a week passes without bittergourd on my dining…
Chakka Kuru Kuzhambu (Jackfruit Seed Curry)
Jackfruit is a popular fruit/vegetable in many parts of the country. The unripe jackfruit is used to make many different kinds of dishes. The ripe version is eaten as a fruit – really delicious. The ripe fruit is also used to make sweet pastes and jams. The seeds are also consumed. My biggest disappointment is…
Podi Podicha Pulinkari (Ground Spices In A Tamarind Base)
Podi Podicha Pulinkari was one of the best kept secrets of Palakkad. At least until the internet became a force. What sets it apart from other ‘kootans’ (wet main dishes to be mixed with rice) is that it has no lentils or coconut. This is indeed a rarity in Kerala cuisine. It is a simple…
Keerai Mulakootal (Spinach & Lentils, Palak Dal)
Mulakootal is an iconic Palakkad (district of Kerala, India) dish. I know of no Palakkadian who does not relish a mulakootal. There are several types of mulakootals. The one presented here is made with spinach. But you can use any greens. This is a bland dish that pairs excellently with steamed rice or Indian breads….
Unda Mor Kootan (Lentil Dumplings In A Yogurt Base)
A couple of years ago, I ran a series of kadhi (yogurt based dishes) from different parts of the country. I was amazed at the number of kadhis in India. All of them are broadly similar in the method of preparation – use a vegetable or dumpling in a curd base – but differed widely…
wholefoodplantbased 