I made these Chandrakantalu as a guest post for Sonal of SimplyVegetarian777. Let me start with a confession. Sonal asked me for a guest post eons ago. I promised that I would do one but never got around to it. However, as they say better late than never, and so here I am. Before I go ahead,…
Chandrakantalu – A Sweet from Andhra Pradesh
Spaghetti in a Roasted Tomato, Basil and Ricotta Cheese Sauce
The Hindu month of Shravan can be a bit overwhelming because it is crowded with Indian food. Midway through Shravan we always have a craving for different kid of food and this year was not different. So we decided to make Pasta for a change midway last week and what a wonderful change that was to the palate….
Chama Dumpa Vepudu (Kurkuri Arbi or Crispy Taro Root Fry)
I have posted one version of a Chama Dumpa Vepudu or Crispy Arbi some months ago. That is the version we make most often at home because it is healthy. This is a crispy version I make when we have guests, especially kids, or when I feel particularly indulgent. Alas, unlike the Crispy Kurkuri Bhindi, I…
Sev Tameta nu Shak (Crunchy Chickpea Noodles in a Tomato Gravy) – A Delicacy from Gujarat
Last week, I was in Indore at the factory of a leading commercial vehicles manufacturer for 3 days. Those who have visited or know of Indore will acknowledge that it is a city renowned for its hospitality. Indoris are some of the most warm people you will meet anywhere in India. They also love their food. Indore is a…
Kurkuri Bhindi (Spicy, Crispy Okra) – Low Oil Version
I first had Kurkuri Bhindi many, many years ago during a conference at the Taj Coromandel in Chennai. I instantly fell in love with this spicy, crispy okra dish. However, I never got around to trying it because I thought it used a lot of oil. A couple of weeks ago, while I was in…
Pesara Pappu Payasam (aka Pasi Paruppu Payasam or Moong Dal Kheer) – With Sugar
With the advent of the month of Shravan (sometime in July-August according to the Gregorian calendar) begins the festival season in India and my mind is full of ideas of how to celebrate the plethora of festivals and poojas that await us. In our home, the first major Pooja of the season is Varalakshmi Pooja. Celebrated on…
Traditional South Indian Rice Dishes – Heralding in Sravana Maasam
The coming Sunday signals the start of Sravana Maasam (the month of Sravan according to the Hindu Calendar) in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Maharashtra. This is perhaps the most auspicious of all months and signals the start of the Chaturmasyam (4-month auspicious period). Almost every day of Sravana Maasam is significant for some reason and the…
Boiled Peanuts – Mumbai Street Food – The Quick and Easy Way
Mumbai is a metropolis that is for the working man and by the working man. Till the early 80s, Mumbai was a place where all kinds of mills and manufacturing industries thrived. These factories were often manned by men who came alone to this great city, leaving families behind, to eke out a living. It is…
A Roundup of Baby Brinjal Recipes
As I looked through the recipes I have written about, I see that I have a lot that feature brinjal (aka aubergine or eggplant). My family loves brinjals of all shapes and sizes. Given that the biryani-pulao roundup I did a few days ago was well-received, I thought I would do one that features brinjals. This post…
A Yummy Paneer Paratha with a Twist (Hint: Has Papad)
I learnt this recipe from Asha, the girl who helps me with cooking at home. 🙂 Asha helps in 3 other households with cooking and often shares recipes for innovative dishes she learns. Inhabitants of one other home she works at seem to be as much of foodies as we are and this recipe comes from that…
Dahiwale Achari Baingan (Aubergines in a Spicy Yogurt Gravy)
This recipe has been an eye-opener as far as the taste of “achari” dishes goes. Achar means pickle in Hindi (by extension achari is anything “pickle-y”, if there is any such word.) And I’m now officially in love with Kalonji or Nigella seeds. This is the first time I have used this spice and look forward to exploring…
Jeera Aloo (Potato with Cumin)
While we are all foodies at home and love to try new recipes, there are days when we just want some comfort food. Nothing offers more comfort than potato. While we favour Potato Fry with rice and Alu Rasdar with rotis, the other day we made Jeera Aloo. Jeera Aloo is a dish that few Indians need introduction…
