I love yogurt based dishes, whichever region of the country they come from. However, I avoided the North Indian ones for a couple of decades as the koftas are deep fried. It is only after I turned WFPB vegan that I began experimenting with transforming deep fried food to air fried ones. With singular success,…
Category: Main Dishes
Punjabi Bhendi Masala
One of my summer pleasures (there are several) is bhendi (okra, vendakai). Like the brinjal, this is indeed a versatile vegetable. It is abundantly available in the Indian subcontinent. But I am not sure that this super-tasty vegetable is available in many other parts of the world. Some years ago, I was having dinner with…
Mulakooshyam
Mulakooshyam is a main dish from Kerala. It is mild and fairly bland. It is also wonderfully tasty. Grated coconut is one of the ingredients in this traditional dish, but many households avoid adding coconut. Whichever way it is prepared, it is a really tasty dish. The vegetables normally used in the preparation of mulakooshyam…
Greens & Legume Curry
I served palak (spinach) with kala chana (black chickpeas) when I had guests the last time. The dish was much appreciated and there have been several requests for the recipe. The point of this recipe is to pair anything with anything. What do I mean by that? Use any green. And use any legume. It…
Drumstick Potato Curry
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….
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…
wholefoodplantbased 