Adai (Rice & Lentil Pancake)

Adai is a South Indian breakfast dish that is rarely found in restaurants. At restaurants, it is more common to find dosa and its variations, aapam, rava (semolina, suji) dosa and other such dishes. I cannot understand why this is so, since adai is really a lip-smacking dish that is healthy, packed with nutrition. It…

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…

Farali Pattice

Farali Pattice is street food from Mumbai, India’s largest commercial city. It is often consumed when fasts are observed and only specific kinds of food are eaten. This is normally a breakfast dish, but I like it as a tea-time snack. In the Mumbai street food version, it is deep-fried. But it need not be…

Whole Wheat Bread

I had always disliked bread. Because it was the only breakfast we used to get five days a week during my childhood. Being vegetarians in Singapore, there was little opportunity to eat a school tuck shops. So my mother used to wake up at the crack of dawn and make lunch for her six children,…

Idli (Rice & Lentil Dumplings)

Like the dosa, idli has also become a kind of a national dish in India. Though originating from South India, if has aficionados all over the country. It is normally had for breakfast in South India (though occasionally for dinner too). In the rest of the country, it is an anytime snack or a meal…

Dosa (Rice & Lentil Crepe)

Dosa has become almost a national dish in India. It is widely available all over the country, even with street vendors. Though the basic ingredients are the same, the preparation varies widely to suit individual tastes. Some like their dosa soft, others crisp. The homemade ones are about 6″ in diameter whereas the ones served…

Murungai Keerai Adai (Moringa Leaf Savoury Pancake)

The moringa (moringa oleifera) tree in my back garden is at its fertile best now. I have an abundance of pods, leaves and flowers – all of them edible. Not just edible, they are super-tasty! I have distributed dozens of pods to friends and neighbours. And I still have loads for my personal use. Moringa…

Peanut Poha Patties

I have been experimenting with tea-time snacks. Because I am bored with the 7 or 8 that I have been rotating for the last four years. There is so much of street food in our country that are ideal for an evening snack. But as I am WFPB, it takes a lot of customisation. Here is…

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….

Maharashtra Chilli Garlic Chutney

I normally have a cooked breakfast like idli (split black gram and rice dumpling) or dosa (split black gram and rice crepe) at least twice a week. Both these dishes are bland. I therefore like a spicy chutney or sambar (lentil soup) as an accompaniment. Many people prefer the bland coconut chutney to go with…