From a very early age, I have had dishes using lima beans flaming hot. My mind is therefore conditioned to eat this legume really chili hot. When Hari first joined my family, he made a dish using lima beans – and it was not hot at all. My taste buds were left with a sense…
Tag: #Thamizhnadu
Pineapple Rasam (Soup)
I have not had a pineapple rasam for over a decade, even though I really love it. That’s because my vegan doctor told me not to mix fruits with the main meal. Recently, another vegan doctor told me that it is perfectly alright to mix fruits with the main meal. I was confused. When I…
Chettinad Kara Kuzhambu (Tamarind Based Curry)
I have tried several times to describe the magic of kara kuzhambu (tamarind based curry) – but have never been successful. That’s because the taste of kuzhambu is really unique. It lifts the spirit up. It transports you to a different plane altogether. We made this simple kara kuzhambu (there are several of these) yesterday….
Sivappu Keerai Thandu Puli Kuzhambu (Red Amaranth Stem Curry)
Many people classify amaranth, especially the red amaranth, a super food. Amaranth is a fantastic vegetable – all its parts are edible, including roots, stems, leaves, flowers and seeds. The seeds are a good substitute for cereals. I had planted some red amaranth seeds in my garden about 45 days ago. I now have a…
Chidambaram Kathrikkai Gothsu
Chidambaram is a small temple town in the South Indian state of Thamizhnadu. Most activity in the town revolves around the temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is a very old temple (more than 2,000 years) and huge. Many parts of the temple are in ruins. It is said that Shiva assumed his dancing form…
Tirunelveli Sodhi (Stew)
Two of my favourite breakfast dishes are idiappam (stringhoppers) and aapam (crepe). That’s because I love the stew that they are served with. This vegetable stew, in common parlance in India, is ishtew. It is also called sodhi. It’s an astounding dish with vegetables and spices all in a base of coconut milk. I have…
Tirunelveli (Or Nellai) Sambar
Concluding my recipes from Tirunelveli, I will post a sambar recipe that tastes different from both the ‘podi pota’ and ‘arachuvitta’ sambars. For the edification of my readers who are not familiar with these terms, let me explain. Sambar is a wet dish that is mixed with rice. Or it can be had as an…
Tirunelveli Adai
Tirunelveli is a small town in the South Indian state of Thamizhnadu. While the town is small, it’s cuisine is not. It is a distinctive cuisine that is well known across the state and in many other parts of the country. I have been keen to try this cuisine since many people that I know…
Beans Usili (Stir Fried French Beans And Lentils)
Usili basically refers to a method of preparing vegetables. It’s Bengal gram and pigeon peas crumbled into a vegetable of choice. I have previously posted cabbage usili in this blog. The usili recipes are from the South Indian state of Thamizhnadu. These dishes are mildly spiced and pair well with steamed rice and a wet…
Kothu Parotta (Minced Indian Flatbread)
This is a typically Thamizhnadu dish that is really tasty and healthy. Unlike the paranthas of North India which are hearty, South Indian parottas are crunchy and flaky. I love both types, but the South Indian ones do use a fair amount of all purpose flour (maida). I am therefore not able to touch these…
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