Little millet is called Samai in Tamil and Kutki in Hindi. Millets are basically seeds of various types of grass. They are gluten-free and packed with nutrition. I tend to use a lot of millets in my food. Not just to provide variety to my grains, but because I really like millets. While on the…
Tag: #SouthIndian
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…
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…
Murungaipoo Vadai (Moringa Blossom Fritters)
Vada is a savoury fried snack from India. Different types of vadas can be described variously as fritters, cutlets, doughnuts, or dumplings. Alternative names for this food include wada, vade, vadai, wadeh and bara. The various types of vadas are made from different ingredients, ranging from legumes (such as medu vada of South India) to…
Eggplant Chutney
I never tire of reciting this anecdote. A few years ago, I had a young colleague over for lunch. Amongst other dishes, Hari had made an eggplant curry. When my friend saw this, he declared that he HATED eggplant. And refused to touch it. I felt really bad that I could not serve my friend…
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…
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…
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