diwali

Figs and Nuts Gujjia/Sweet Samosa – Sugar free

October 16, 2022 By Asha Shivakumar

Gujjia, aka sweet samosa is such a delicious treat that’s crispy on the outside stuffed with sweet yummy filling. This is a sugar free fig and nuts gujia that is so addictive.

Sweet Samosa is what we call this at home. For as long as I was India, the only version I knew had dried coconut, sooji and nuts. The other with khoya dipped in sugar syrup. Once I ventured into a whole new world, learnt new recipes, I realized there’s so many more delicious fillings that work great for Gujia. Gujjia is a must make dish for Diwali at home. Mom made hundreds a week before Diwali and stored in large steel containers. They were addictive and you could never be satisfied with one.

Although I love the traditional kind my mom makes, I enjoy making a lighter version. There’s nothing healthy or light about deep fried crispy goodness, but hey, If you prefer, air fry it. I’ve done that and it works great too.

Today I share one of my new favorite ways to make gujiya. Filled with cashews and sugar free figs, I think you will love this fig gujiya. The stuffing is made out of cashews and almonds, ground together with figs. It makes for a delicious stuffing that is healthy and no sugar added since the figs add the texture and sweetness….

Dumroot/Ash Gourd Halwa/lWinter Melon Halwa

October 15, 2022 By Asha Shivakumar

Dumroot or Dumroot Halwa is a classic, rich, delicious halwa which is unique to the state of Karnataka, particularly Udupi cuisine.

Summer comes, mom and I enter the days of chats, chaat and Bhagatram sweets. Particularly gulab jamun and dumroot, a recipe that’s a pride and joy of Karnataka, Udupi cuisine. Walking down Commercial street decades ago was way different to what it is now. No glitz and glamor, it didn’t have parking, so it was meant only for people to stroll, shop and eat. To the left was the clothing stores that never caught our attention. We mainly came to eat a gulab jamun each and the famous Dumroot. We are a family obsessively in love with DUMROOT. My dad, cousins and now my hubby and boys….

Pori Urundai/Murmura Nuts Ladoo/Puffed Rice Nuts Ladoo

October 13, 2022 By Asha Shivakumar

Pori Urundai or Murmura Nuts Ladoo is an authentic South Indian snack made during festivals. I call it the energy balls of yester years that grandma made. It’s healthy-ish, full of feel-good ingredients, and irresistibly delicious!

Diwali is around the corner. There’s a new meaning to festivals now versus festivals hundreds of years ago. Festivals in the golden days was a celebration of bringing the whole village together, a ritual of life. They pretty much partied fifteen days a year: simple events that involved simple food. Fast forward to the 2000’s and festivals mean holidays, rest days, and for lack of a better word, “an extension of a weekend”

Life can get repetitious if we don’t appreciate the joy around festivals. After all, making life thrilling is up to you. To be honest, staying away from India, it’s harder to feel festive, as festivity encompasses India as a whole….

Thandai Gulab jamun Mousse

October 29, 2021 By Asha Shivakumar

Thandai Gulab Jamun Mousse is a fusion dessert which has two delicious treats in one. Thandai a spiced drink made like a mousse stuffed with spongy soft gulab jamun.

Be the light. Find the light.

It’s that time of the year, the festival of lights, festival of together, festival of celebration of the lightness within us and around us. Diwali….

Kollu Obbat Rasam/Saaru

October 27, 2021 By Asha Shivakumar

Kollu Obbat Rasam or Udupi Saaru is a traditional dish from Karnataka. The rasam is thicker, spicy with a touch of sweetness. If you love obbat rasam, you might enjoy this one.

Udupi food, the food of Karnataka boasts of many types of saaru or rasam. Saaru is thicker than traditional Chennai style rasam. It’s made with ground up masala and has a notes of sweetness to it.

We were regular visitors to Dharmastala, a temple in Karnataka. Whenever I think of that temple, I remember the food. What is very special about that temple is the free food for all that the temple provided. The most important to note was, it didn’t matter if you were poor or rich, everyone had to go to this one big hall, sit down on the floor, together and eat the meal in a banana leaf. That’s impressive, isn’t it?! To serves thousands of people free food(anna daana), and see no difference in any one, that’s how the world should be.

The food and that concept astounded and impressed me then and it does now….

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….

Banana Chips or Banana and Parsnip Fries

May 30, 2021 By Asha Shivakumar

The best Banana Chips EVER! Make your favorite fries at home with raw banana and parsnips. These are easy to make ahead of time and store for your evening chai or coffee, have it as a side for rice or top on fish, put it on everything basically.

Summer vacations back home was simple, sweet, lots of food(home made), naps and family time. As a working mom, my mother would always take off three months when I started my summer break, until I got married. She was dedicated and never once made me feel lonely(especially since I was the only child) or bored.

While we could buy the snacks from shops, mom always made sure to make fresh murrukku, sweets and chips to snack on. I thoroughly enjoyed my summer breaks. So many good memories, thanks to MOM.

Now, I try to make summer breaks as much as fun for my boys as it was for me. I take a break from work, social media and spend as much time together as possible. One thing I do find myself doing a lot is, grilling and cooking. The boys are always hungry(more hungrier) when they have nothing much to do.

So, I try to make snacks as much as I can at home, and this is one of my favorite treats, Banana Chips, a take on tapioca chips. I make large jars of this and we basically as a family finish it in a week or so. We top it on everything. It’s spicy and crunchy, and OH SO GOOD.

Happy Summer Break, Happy Snacking!!…

Urad Daal Halwa/Ulundu Urandai

March 11, 2021 By Asha Shivakumar

Urad Dal Halwa or Ulundu Urandai is a sweet treat that’s very healthy, protein rich and a traditional recipe passed on by grandmothers.

My paternal grandmother was anything but traditional and conventional. She wanted all her grandkids to call her “Amma”(mom). She was progressive in many ways. I was 18 when she left us. I wasn’t matured enough to really ask her about her beliefs, her likes. Interestingly though, I didn’t need to interview her to know she was a lady after her own will. She danced to her own tunes.

She was not one to tell me: you need to learn to cook. All her boys were great cooks and helped her around. She most definitely didn’t scare me or her children into living a life like everyone did. She let me believe in me, gave me the strength to think for myself and supported me in ways no one did. She went against all norms. She had a big personality….

Spicy Bhadang/Kaara Pori

November 12, 2020 By Asha Shivakumar

Traditional Maharashtrian spicy Bhadang or Kaara Pori is a quintessential snack with chai and for every occasion. It’s spicy, filled with goodness of peanuts, curry leaves, asafoetida and lot more. Few key steps and you get the perfect Bhadang or Kaara Pori.

It’s no secret that I love celebrations. Celebrations of all kinds.

August arrives, bringing along a long festive season for Indians. We have something every month until January. It’s DIWALI: where Goodness reins over evil.

I’ve always wondered why we celebrate festivals. Festivals are celebrated for many reasons by people. Of course, a huge reason for most is religious beliefs.

For me as an adult who’s seen life’s ups and downs on earth, Diwali means a lot more to me than food, clothes, parties and fun. It means: time to release the old and welcoming the new. Letting go of things, bad feelings, heartaches, judgemental attitude, disagreements, and welcoming peace, love and harmony. Festivals also provide a break from the routine, a festive atmosphere, camaraderie, a time when family gets together, reflections, relaxation. Sometimes, it breaks vicious cycles of negative emotions, stress, and helps bring the positive emotions back. Whatever the reason might be, how big or small the celebration might be, the fact that we take a step back from the routine to celebrate a special day is so important. It also reminds us of our heritage and culture. It’s almost like you press a reset button for whatever you want it to be. This is also the time to GIVE, give back to the society. Many are not fortunate as we are. I am an ardent believer in giving back. Let’s do our part, let’s make this world a better place to live in….

Paneer Lababdar – Rich and Creamy Restaurant Style Paneer Curry

November 6, 2020 By Asha Shivakumar

Paneer Lababdar, a traditional Punjabi style paneer curry is creamy without any cream. A restaurant style paneer curry, that is rich and perfect for any festivities and easy to make. It’s predominantly made with melon seeds and cashews or almonds. Butter, enhances the flavors. A mild paneer dish that silk creamy smooth, goes so well with naan or jeera rice.

There’s as many paneer dishes in India as there are toppings of a pizza. This is one of my favorite restaurant style paneer curry next paneer tikka masala.

Paneer is such a versatile protein for vegetarians, it takes on the flavor of anything you add it to. It’s creamy and a non meat eater’s meat. There are so many Indian paneer curries that I love: paneer mattar, paneer makhni, paneer pulao, paneer butter masala, paneer masala and the list goes on. If you want to learn how to make paneer from scratch, check this post out. This dish has no cream or milk or lots of butter, it’s creamy from the nuts and tastes excellent….