chutney

Gorkha Chutney (Nepalese Style Chutney)

April 15, 2023 By Asha Shivakumar

This Gorkha Chutney is spicy and delicious. THis is an inspired dish, that is a perfect side with rotis. This Nepalese style dish is called the Gorkha chutney. Vegan and SO GOOD!

I went through a stage couple of decades ago when I researched about various cuisines of India few countries too and wrote about them in my note book(which I still believe I’ll publish one day). I was so intrigued by local food of different countries. I tried speaking to friends from those regions, learnt how to make some authentic food(I tried). I could have a conversation about local cuisine to people and that felt good. Don’t know what happened to that book or that enthusiasm. I can go on and on about the various types of dishes I’ve learnt, but I’ll bore you’ll next time. Today it’s about the beautiful country, Nepal where Momos are a popular delicacy. And this dish I very recently came across. I’ts called the gorkha chutney.

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Plantain Tostada with Apple Chutney

November 8, 2022 By Asha Shivakumar

Quick and Tasty Plantain Tostada with Apple Chutney. Tostadas can be used as tortillas too. It’s gluten free, perfect for people with allergies. It’s fresh and delicious. Top it with beans, chicken, tofu, salsas, SO Good!

It’s just another day… and you’re just doing what you need to do.

You’re getting things done, and the day moves forward in this continuous sequence of checklists, actions, and respites.

But at various moments of your routine, you pause and take a good look at your surroundings.

The scenes of your everyday life. The blur of this all-too-familiar film.

And you can’t help but to wonder…

If there is more to it all.

For some reason — this country, this city, this neighborhood, this particular street — is the place you are living a majority of your life in.

And it is this thought that allows a daydream to seep in….

Eggplant chutney/Sutta Kathrikka Chutney

October 22, 2021 By Asha Shivakumar

Eggplant Chutney is a popular recipe of Coimbatore. BURSTING with flavor, you’re going to love this versatile and wonderfully delicious chutney.

If you are a regular you know I am a huge fan of authentic regional recipes and this one is from my family in Coimbatore. The food of Coimbatore has a rustic appeal to it. I am married into a wonderful family of great cooks. My mum in law has that magic touch and so does her sister, Vasantha chitthi. As a young bride I was so inquisitive about the food they prepared and wanted to learn everything, well at least as much as I could in the short week I stayed there. They were equally happy to share their secrets with me, and Vasantha chitthi was a darling to guide me. One of the first things I learnt was onion chutney, that was so tasty and so simple. Then they taught me how to make chutneys with vegetables that I shared with my mom and cousins back home. The base being the same. This kongunaadu Sutta kathrikka chutney or eggplant chutney is a recipe that’s passed on from my aunt-in-laws. My recipe repertoire has been enhanced, thanks to them.

As always I love sharing what I’ve learnt and love, so here’s the recipe of the chutney for you.

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Masala Puri Bangalore Style

October 20, 2021 By Asha Shivakumar

This Masala Puri is a Bangalore Style Chaat, a street food loved by all. This style of Masala Puri is watery, abundance of flavors, heat from the green chilies and so addictive.

One rainy evening, under a tiny umbrella, my cousin and I cozying up to each other walk carefully making sure not to step on a puddle of dirty water to a place we visit often. A walk through that lane often led to neighbors standing by the gate greeting us, you’d also stumble upon many stories and secrets. Bangalore screams of diverse residents, clusters of original inhabitants and a multi cultural feel and it has a colorful aura to it.

Both Viji and I could Hansel and Gretel through the suburb on a food trail. The smells that street food gives out is intoxicating in ways I can’t explain. We both make our way to the main street where there is a plethora of choices, each one screaming and calling at us. We both had big appetites for anything tasty and street food. We hop on to the first stall that serves up Masala Puri….

chili garlic mushrooms

September 23, 2021 By Asha Shivakumar

Chili Garlic mushrooms is a bold flavored dish that is so so so good. Serve it over noodles or fried rice, or as an appetizer, you are going to love it!

Pan seared Chili Garlic Mushrooms are a staple side in many Indian restaurants for the non meat eaters. This is a an Indo Chinese inspired dish, chili garlic noodles, I make often, a huge favorite in homes all over the world. I have figured out the chili garlic sauce works absolutely perfect in this dish. This Garlic Mushroom recipe will make any mushroom hater enjoy it.

You will love this easy and delicious 10-minute side dish that pairs with anything! Low carb and Keto approved! Use this sauce to make chili garlic noodles too:)….

Meal in One Jumbo Chicken Meatballs- Baked Chicken Cheese Meatballs

March 19, 2021 By Asha Shivakumar

A meal in one, Jumbo Chicken Meatballs! This recipe everything but the kitchen sink. Wild rice, veggies, spices, all comes together to make a juicy delicious meatball. Serve it with a green chutney or marinara, it’s a meal in one.

Why I love to make jumbo meatballs? It makes for a great balanced meal. Satisfies kids and adults. We love our food spicy and this has the heat and perfect Spicy Meatballs.

My Jumbo Meatballs is a very easy recipe. These Chicken Meatballs are deliciously flavored with garlic and herbs! They have a juicy texture with a rich, hearty and garlicky flavor and no bread! It’s a perfect easy family dinner that everyone will love! You pretty much dump everything in a bowl and mix it together. Takes very little time to do and the meatballs themselves….delicious!…

Artichoke Spinach Dip

December 29, 2020 By Asha Shivakumar

Cheesy, rich and hot Artichoke Spinach Dip is delicious and addictive. An informal appetizer served with toasted bread, crackers and crudite.

It’s classic. It’s comforting. And it is a party favorite.

I can’t believe I haven’t shared a dip recipe on the blog as yet, although I do have a few spreads, but a warm cheesy dip that I make often, just makes an appearance on the blog.

Entertaining to me has always been about fuss free, few dishes(not overwhelming your guests) and of course something for everyone. Although, there won’t be any entertaining this year or in the near future, there’s always just the two of you, your kids or just you.

This is what I call a quick appetizer cum meal to maximize your valuable family time. …

Easy Homemade Crackers and Sweetest (&Savory) Holiday Gift Basket idea

December 2, 2020 By Asha Shivakumar

Crispy, quick and easy homemade crackers under 20 minutes! It is as easy as that. This whole wheat healthy cracker recipe, made with pepper, 3 ingredients comes together in few minutes. Perfect on a cheese board or for gifts. Thanks to Sante for sponsoring this post. Crafted in small batches, Santé‘s lightly-candied pecans are distinctively crunchy for the perfect, plant-based snack.

I don’t think I’m alone in falling back on cliché to express what has, for the most part, felt inexpressible. The unprecedented. The thing to do, I guess, is parse what I really mean when I fall back on the clichés that have come to define this very strange time.

What’s not strange is the love of home made food that has grown hundred fold. People have started making sourdough, yogurt, spiced crackers and more.

These spiced easy crackers have been made quite a lot of times at home. They are healthy and you can make it your own by adding any flavorings. What I love during the holidays is to make a cheese board gift box or basket with crackers, Santé Candied Pecans, and cheese.…

Adigas Sambhar/Karnataka Style Hotel Sambhar

September 20, 2020 By Asha Shivakumar

Idli-sambhar is an emotion. This Adigas or Karnataka style hotel sambhar is spicy and slightly sweetish just like how the people of Karnataka love. Simple spices, daal, are all boiled together, to form the perfect fiery red, hot watery sambhar, which is perfect for fluffy idlis and vada. It sure will make your day a great one.

From joyful mornings, to painful waking moments to successful takeaway lessons / happy endings. To propitious experiences, and to new norms.

I land at 1.30 am, the security line is longer than I expected. I look around and see excited faces, emotions that are swelling to see their loved ones. Nervous and jittery hand movements and the phone rings. “Are you here, Ash?”, to which I excitedly scream “YESS”. I know two people are very eagerly waiting to see me, it’s almost been two years. In the blink of an eye — or it felt like that — I was done with security and at the carousel for the luggage. “URGHHH, why are my bags this delayed?” I ask myself, but I find myself surprisingly calm too. And there comes this brown baggage with a yellow tie that dad strung the last time I was in India, and oh, how I teased him when he tied that ugly looking thread. To that, he said: “At least it will stand out” ;). His face flashes in front of me. All the four bags come looking as eager for their owner as the owner itself….

Spicy Crispy Corn Chaat/Salad

September 7, 2020 By Asha Shivakumar

Corn Salad is one of our favorite summer light lunch! This easy Crispy Corn Chaat Salad features sweet fresh corn off the cob, crisp cucumbers, shaved sweet carrots, onions, crunchy peanuts with a delicious cucumber cilantro chutney that acts as a dressing.

Spicy Crispy Corn Chaat Salad is such a delicious summer salad staple; it’s easy to make and tastes incredibly good without many ingredients or fuss of deep frying the corn to get it crispy( thanks to the air fryer)!

Summer is the best time of year to serve up fresh salads and vegetables from the garden or local CSA. While I don’t have much of a green thumb, I have friends who do, and I get the corn, cucumbers and even carrots from their garden. Or your csa will be an amazing place to get the freshet of vegetables….