I have mentioned on several occasions that I love eggplant. It is such a versatile vegetable that literally hundreds of dishes are possible. Eggplant has a taste of its own. But it readily absorbs the taste of all the masalas that are added to the dish. This is fascinating since it becomes easy to create…
Category: Main Dishes
Water Spinach Stir Fry
I think water spinach is called vallal in Thamizh, though I may be wrong. I have grown up eating this very tasty green that is plentifully available all over South East Asia. Normally called kang kong (or variations of this name) in the entire region. In years of yore, this green was only available in…
Mysore Rasam
Frankly, a good rasam is a work of art. It is aromatic, flavourful, light and a perfect balance of all the ingredients. While a good rasam is like a gentle stroke on the cheek, the ones I make is like a punch. In your face, no subtlety. People say that pastries need a light hand….
Sindhi Tur Ki Dal (Pigeon Peas Sindhi Style)
As I have said several times before, I am always on the lookout for interesting dal recipes. I have tried many, but some of them are really not up to the mark. I do know of Sindhi cuisine, but have only tried a few of their dishes. My Sindhi friends keep urging me to try…
Chow Chow And Elavan Kootu (Chayote Squash And Ash Gourd Stew)
Kootu (the nearest equivalent in English is stew) is typical of Thamizhnadu and Kerala. They are very mildly spiced preparations that are usually served with steamed rice. Since they are mild, I prefer them with rather spicy wet preparations that can be mixed with rice (kootans). The beauty of kootu is that one can use…
Kheema (Minced Tofu)
Kheema, in the Indian context, refers to minced meat. I stumbled upon this recipe in a rather strange way. Tempeh has become some sort of a rage in India. I have heard of it, but did not really know much about it. Many friends, however, were raving about it. When I was in an organic…
Shukto (Bengali Mixed Vegetable Curry)
I never thought that I would learn to like and enjoy Bengali cuisine – and yet, I did. When I was first introduced to Bengali food by a friend, I ate it out of politeness. My friend is a generous soul and kept on inviting me and our common circle of friends for meals –…
Mampazha Pulisseri (Ripe Mango Curry)
This very exotic dish is straight from Palakkad and uses ripe mango. There is a version that uses raw mango too. The recipe is in this blog under the title Mango Kadhi. The ripe mango version is really tasty provided you like sweetness in your curry.There has been a lot of debate (especially in India)…
Awadhi Dal
As I have had occasion to mention before, I am always on the lookout for interesting dal recipes. This one is from the Awadh (also spelt Avadh) region of India (roughly corresponding to the North-Eastern part of India’s most populous state, Uttar Pradesh). This is where the capital of Uttar Pradesh, Lucknow is situated. Another…
Aloo Kundru (Ivy Gourd And Potatoes)
Ivy gourd is a vegetable that is easily available throughout the year. It is not a sexy vegetable in the sense that we can prepare exotic dishes with it. But several tasty dishes can be prepared with this humble vegetable. One of the reasons for its easy availability is that there is no need to…
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