CURRY

Pineapple-Black-Chickpea Spinach Yogurt Curry aka Pineapple-Kadala Pulicherry/Morkozhumbu

September 5, 2017 By Asha Shivakumar

Fruit based curries/chutney are very popular in the Southern part of India. In particular, this pineapple black chickpea spinach yogurt curry/morkozhumbu is a very authentic dish of Kerala. It’s so good with some rice.

It’s no secret that I am in love with the cuisine of Kerala. It does rank high on my loves for various cuisines.

Kerala is a beautiful coastal place surrounded natural beauty. It’s a lush green emerald land, with the tall coconut trees, the flowing backwaters, the food, the tea estates, spices… everything deserves praise. It’s called “God’s own country” for a reason. What otherwise might seem like a smug statement is not at all inaccurate for the humble place and people; in fact, it is sincere and as precise as can be….

Beetroot-Peas Kurma – Vegetarian Weeknight Curry

August 31, 2017 By Asha Shivakumar

This healthy, vegan vegetarian curry will make you want to have vegetarian meals more often. Beetroot peas kurma is a weeknight curry at home, it is easy to make and packed with flavor.

Growing up, I always saw Mom making this dish during weekdays. It was served with chapathis/tortillas all the time. The very interesting thing was, they tasted the same every time she made them. Now, it makes me wonder how she did it. No recipe, just add this and add that. Our lunches were full course meals, most of the time. Weekday dinners were usually a simple roti with a vegetarian side.

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Kheema Matar- Spicy Chicken Mince Pizza, no knead quick pizza

August 2, 2017 By Asha Shivakumar

Kheema matar or chicken mince is a popular Indian dish. Top it on pizza and it becomes a delicious treat. Spicy chicken mince pizza for the win!

THE INSIDES

“If you get the insides rights, the outsides fall into place.”

The older I get, the more comfortable I feel with myself. Whether it’s my introverted side, which I discovered recently, or just accepting the now, the present, not only of ourselves but of others, I’m learning and improving everyday.

It’s a very simple proposition—loving yourself. Loving oneself comes from self-acceptance, and the ability to unconditionally value all the parts of yourself. Easier said than done, one might say, but in reality, it’s a subconscious effort of taking steps….

Paneer-Bhaingan Bhurji /Eggplant Cheese spread Bruschetta

June 14, 2017 By Asha Shivakumar

An easy appetizer to sip with some wine. Eggplant with Paneer scramble aka Paneer-bhaingan bhurji is so good topped on a lightly buttered and toasted french bread. The perfect summer pick me up. Thanks to Revol cookware for sponsoring this post.

Right now, I am over the moon thrilled and thankful to all of you for reading my previous post about my book announcement. It has been one of the most read posts in the last many months and that shows how supportive you are. Thank you!! I will fill in more details very soon. For now, sharing one of the dishes I enjoy making for company or just for the family with some rotis.

Indians have a love affair with paneer. Before we were introduced to mozzerella, parm or all the variety of cheese that’s available now, we knew only paneer in India. It’s often compared to ricotta or halloumi. We use it in curries, grill it and even deep fry it. I often find myself scooping just one more nibble of chewy, milky-tasting paneer from the dish long after I’m officially full. It’s that delicious….

Spicy Amaranth Chicken Curry/ Thotakura Chicken

March 27, 2017 By Asha Shivakumar

Amaranth Chicken Curry is popular throughout the state of Andra Pradesh. Their cuisine is known for their spicy food and hearty distinctive taste. Amaranth leaves come in shades of red, purple and simple green. They are easily available in Asian grocers and widely popular in Indian cooking. They are robust in flavor eaten raw, but when cooked they turn mellow and add an extra layer of flavor to any dish.

Midweek rush.

Have you packed your bags? Print everything you want for school now, nothing in the morning. I’ll wake you up at 6. am., if you want to finish your homework.

After making sure things are a bit organized, I send the little one off to bed, kissing him on his cheek and squeezing his chin. I come down to finish the chores, prep for tomorrow’s lunch, and stare at the dishes for a while before tackling them. Once I find myself standing in a clean kitchen, I am pleased with myself. I put on a kettle, pour some boiling water in my mug and sit down with my green tea on the sofa, taking a deep breath. My phone is in my hand.…

Healthy Creamy Kale-Lentil Daal

January 3, 2017 By Asha Shivakumar

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! Wishing you all a very wonderful 2017!!

I woke up on NYE, reflecting on how it was a wonderful 2016.

When I say wonderful, it was, with some complexity. It had its ups and downs. And when I say wonderful, I meant that I chose to focus on the wonderful things. I tried to focus on the positive things. I learnt how to heal myself and look at what I had in front of me. I learnt that there’s no right way of life, no right way of living, or a perfect life. Perfection is a perception. It’s what we make of it.…

Paneer Tikka Masala – 30 minute Creamy Restaurant Style Paneer Tikka masala

December 13, 2016 By Asha Shivakumar

Paneer Tikka Masala is one of India’s most popular paneer recipe. This recipe with Indian paneer or cottage cheese cubes in a creamy tomato sauce is one I love and order every time. Easy to make at home, and it tastes EXACTLY like restaurant style paneer tikka masala.

Late fall brings excitement over the return of soups, spicy meals, desserts, pies, and the opportunity to fill the kitchen with the heat and heady smells of herbs and spice. Winter follows with spectacular holiday celebrations, with friends talking around grand feasts.

This is one dish which is present always at winter parties and meat eaters adore it equally….

Chickpea-Cherry Tomatoes-Basil Pasta Salad in a Peanut-Curry Dressing

August 30, 2016 By Asha Shivakumar

Hello there my friends!! Long time, no see.

Boy, is it hard to get to a routine after a fun 2 months of no cooking, no photography, and just lazing around.

Hope your summer went well. Any interesting things you did during summer, would love to hear.

It’s quite appropriate to say that we traveled the whole globe in the last 2 months. It was one heck of a fun summer, travels, family, lots of food and more food.

I have a post coming up soon on my travels, with pictures of monuments, food, and all the colors. Well, before I could jump into that post, life happened. School and routine began, and what to pack for school lunch is now always on my mind. This is one of my go to lunches for the boys and makes for a colorful and healthy meal. Pack the sauce separately and add any veggies you like. It’s a base and tastes absolutely good even when it’s only slightly warm.

Healthy and a perfectly balanced dish, with an amazing sauce. Hope you get to try it out!

Have a wonderful week! All the best for all the kids who start school this week.

Hugs,

Ash

5.0 from 2 reviews

Chickpea-Cherry Tomatoes-Basil Pasta Salad with Peanut Curry Dressing

Prep time

15 mins

Cook time

15 mins

Total time

30 mins

Author: Ash

Serves: 4

Ingredients

2 cups dry pasta(any pasta with some
8 oz of canned chickpea or cooked chickpea 1 cup
1 cup cherry tomatoes halved
basil - 15-20 leaves

For the dressing

Toasted Peanuts - 2 tbsp
Almonds 2 tbsp
sesame seeds -1 tbsp
Lime juice from ½ lime
⅓ tsp red chili flakes
sriracha- 1tsp
1 tsp honey
4 garlic
1 tsp Apple cider vinegar
¼ tsp curry powder
Olive oil -1 tsp
cumin seeds- ½ tsp
roasted fennel seeds -1/3 tsp(optional)
1 stalk green onion/scallion
Water to thin the dressing

Instructions

Cook the pasta till al dante and run it through cold water to take away any starch. Set aside.
While the pasta is cooking, you can make the dressing.
Grind everything required for the dressing to a smooth paste. Add a tablespoon or so of the hot water to thin it down. It should be of pourable consistency.
Take a pan, add a tsp of oil and ⅓ tsp fennel and add the cooked chickpeas. If you are using the canned, drain it very well and then use.
Toss them well and add the cherry tomatoes and toss for 30 seconds to a minute. Take it off the heat.
Add the pasta and veggies in a bowl and top it with basil.
Add the dressing 15 minutes before serving.

Enjoy

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Shrimp Curry with Potatoes and Peas – 30 Minute Curry

March 28, 2016 By Asha Shivakumar

Low and slow, is the mantra for a good Curry.

Curry comes in a variety of colors. Cooking is an art, curries are the colors.

Indian Curries are pretty time consuming, especially with the ones that involve meat. The pan or pot that a curry is made in also adds to its complexity. Everything must be slow cooked and sauteed without burning, and the meat almost always is cooked for long periods of time left unattended. For example, a good fish curry would always take a while to make. If it sat overnight before serving, the dish became exquisite the next day. A lamb/goat meat dish prep would start a few hours before lunch time and it was almost on Sundays. Cookers or slow cookers were never used. It cooked long hours leading to a ‘fall of the bone’ tender, flavorful and juicy meat. All these different curries really required a lot of time and love, but were so worth the wait.

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Green Masala Fish Curry

March 11, 2016 By Asha Shivakumar

Uncles, Mom and Dad have left for work. It’s just my Amma (grandmom) and I. It’s the peace after the storm.

With no one to order me around, tease me, or make me bring things, I very quietly walk to the balcony and hold the railings with my two tiny little hands and start my favorite pastime. Watching people. A variety of people with a myriad of emotions: preoccupied looks, busy smiles, the nervous laughter, all for different reasons. They all were in a rush to get somewhere. I was plain amazed by that. I looked at their clothes, their make up and everything. I remember one day asking my grandmom, pointing to a lovely looking girl: “She looks so pretty ma, will I ever be as beautiful as her?” To that she responded, “You, my dear, are much prettier than her and without all that makeup!” That made me feel good then. My ego booster, my Grandmom.

We sit chatting for a bit…..Until we hear the sounds of the guy we were waiting for….

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