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…
Tag: #Kerala
Fresh Ginger Inji Pachadi Recipe for Festivals
Inji pachadi, a traditional South Indian dish often prepared during festivals like Onam, is a refreshing whole-food, plant-based (WFPB) side made with freshly ground ginger, coconut, green chilies, and tempered mustard seeds, with a touch of tamarind for natural tanginess. Prepared without oil in a WFPB adaptation, it retains its light, wholesome character while enhancing…
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…
Easy Yogurt Dip Recipe with Ginger and Mustard Seeds
This recipe outlines a flavorful yogurt preparation. It involves whisking thick yogurt until smooth, then combining sautéed mustard seeds, ginger, and chillies, seasoned with salt. The mixture can be served with various types of rice or as a dip, making it versatile for meals or festive occasions. Enjoy!
Authentic Chena Mezhukkupuratti: A Kerala Tradition
Mezhukkupuratti is a traditional dry stir-fry from Kerala, South India, known for its simplicity and depth of flavor, typically made without a gravy and using minimal spices. The term “mezhukkupuratti” roughly translates to “coated with oil,” but Whole Food Plant-Based (WFPB) adaptations use water-sautéing instead. Among the many vegetables used, elephant yam (chena) is especially…
Delicious Vellarikka Pachadi Recipe from Kerala
Vellarikka Pachadi is a traditional Kerala dish made from yellow cucumber (vellarikka), coconut, green chilies, and yogurt, tempered with mustard seeds and curry leaves. It has a creamy texture with a mild spiciness and a hint of tang from the yogurt, beautifully balanced by the sweetness of fresh coconut. Visually, it’s a light yellow curry…
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…
Crisp Cucumber Kosumalli: A Festive Delight
Kosumalli, also known as kosambari in some regions, is a traditional South Indian salad made with fresh vegetables, lentils, coconut, and a light tempering of mustard seeds and curry leaves. With its roots in Tamil and Kerala cuisine, kosumalli is celebrated for its simplicity, freshness, and balance of textures. There are several regional variations—some made…
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