Indian

Dhaba Style Egg Omelette Tomato Curry

September 29, 2018 By Asha Shivakumar

These mildly spiced eggs cooked in butter were rolled, cut, and simmered in a tangy garlicky tomato curry. They are fluffy and soak in the juices quite efficiently. This dhaba style egg curry is a perfect quick “lazy” meal for cold evenings. The curry goes absolutely great with rotis, chapathis, and parathas.

We’ve had an adventurous few weeks. Yes, we did travel quite a bit, but it is the adventure we had with my camera I’m referring to.

A few days before leaving on a trip to London and Oslo, my camera stopped working. The card reader was messed up. I was sick at that time. When I finally had some energy, I decided to take it to my local camera repair guy (which had a one-star rating) only because I did not want to drive an hour up to the city to get it fixed. We were somewhat relieved because the local guy told me he can try and give it before we leave on our trip, which was in five days….

South Indian Spicy Tomato Chicken Curry/Koduvai Chicken Varuval

August 4, 2018 By Asha Shivakumar

This family-style Indian chicken curry is loaded with heat and spices, and it’s authentic as it gets. The chili oil, the fresh spices, and the technique makes this is a very uniquely flavorful chicken curry. This South Indian Style Spicy Tomato Chicken, aka Koduvai Chicken Varuval, is a must make.

If there’s one thing my hubby often craves, it’s puri (boori) chicken. He is from Tiruppur, and his mom’s family lived in a small place called Koduvai. Till date, when he visits Coimbatore (where his parents live now), he makes sure to visit his mom’s old town. I see a sense of pleasure as he describes the village. Old roads, thatched roofs, verandas, kolam (a design drawn out of rice) in front of every home. He visited his grandmum’s home where he went on vacations, got pampered by his aunts, fed endlessly by his grandmum and rode the cow to his heart’s content. He’s the favorite grandson and nephew to all, I can see why….

Sweet and spicy Curried Mango chicken salad

July 10, 2018 By Asha Shivakumar

This is fun and tasty spin on chicken salad. This spicy curried mango chicken salad has diced grilled chicken, cashews and a creamy curry sauce. It’s addictive and makes for a nice wrap or like lettuce wraps. Perfect for Picnics or light lunch.

Summer comes and mangoes are everywhere. Although we don’t get that many varieties sweet ones,as we get in India, we are lucky to get some sweet ones here.

When mango arrives, everyone’s enjoying them to the core. Smoothies, Popsicles, kulfi, ice-cream, salads, sauces, you name it, people make it. I am not the biggest fan of mango as is, I know I know, weird, but true. In salad form, I could eat the whole bowl….

Spicy Yogurt Chicken with Cucumber Mint Chutney

June 28, 2018 By Asha Shivakumar

This Simple Grilled Spicy Yogurt Chicken Recipe has a few ingredients in the marinade that makes it juicy, flavorful and absolutely delicious. It’s the best grilled chicken I’ve made. You’ll make this recipe again and again!

And just like that summer is here. Summers in Cali can be really harsh, but the evenings are like a dream.

People who are not from here love to talk about Mark Twain’s quote that goes “the coldest winter I ever spent was summer in San Francisco.” As September and October roll around, while they get trapped in their homes due to polar vortexes and hurricanes we’re sitting in cotton shorts and T-shirts, hiking and going to the city in a thin sweater. And that right there, that pretty much sums up why Indian summers* in SF are better than all other summers….

Beetroot Vegetable Biryani

June 6, 2018 By Asha Shivakumar

This easy and delicious beetroot vegetable biryani is my go-to on days when I feel like having a healthy biryani. A one-pot meal of rice, vegetables, and aromatic spices, it’s rich in flavor and elaborate enough to take center stage at parties or just for the family. Each bite is suffused with spice, veggies, or caramelized onions—deep and layered in flavor.

Sometimes a person needs a story more than food to stay alive. – Barry Lopez.

When I decided to start my blog many years ago, my goal was to share food, the love of food, and the love of the stories behind the food. One of the very first blogs I followed and enjoyed reading was INDIAN SIMMER. Prerna’s penchant for Indian food is strong, and her stories were beautifully articulated. Her chicken curry post has to be my favorite, I’ve read it a few times and every time I read it, a string tugs at my heart. And it was no surprise when she won the SAVEUR blog award….

Beetroot Veggie Kofta Korma – Pita Wraps

May 31, 2018 By Asha Shivakumar

Healthy and a delicious spin on the traditional kofta korma. This beetroot kofta korma is a south Indian style korma with tons of veggies and goes perfectly stuffed in Pita, or with rice or roti.

Spring is the perfect season to practice the art of noticing all the beauty and wisdom the world has to offer us. The winds are shifting, the flowers are blooming, and the markets are bursting with fresh and invigorating vegetables that help keep a lightness about our days. The delicate bounties in our CSA box inspired a spring dish, a little twist from the traditional. Cooking with nature’s color is one of the most pleasant and so fulfilling. There’s a connection between the ingredients, the process, and the finished meal that completely transcends the traditional kitchen….

Cabbage Puttu/Stirfry – Vegetable Dry Sabzi South Indian style

May 20, 2018 By Asha Shivakumar

This easy weeknight South Indian style cabbage puttu-stirfry is spicy and gingery, and it’s perfect with some roti or chapathi.

There are people who like to say how exactly they feel about certain foods. They don’t like the taste, it’s too sour or too sweet, or “Why would I ever eat that? It seems too healthy.”

I live with these types of people.. I was one, oh well, I’m still one.

They are firm non-believers of the cabbage family….

Kovakkai/Tindora/Ivy Gourd Curry Easy Curry with Chickpea Flour and Peanuts

February 22, 2018 By Asha Shivakumar

This is a simple delicious curry for vegetarian and meat lovers. This kovakkai/tindora Ivy gourd curry with chickpea flour and peanuts is absolutely a treat for the vegetarian lovers. Have it with rotis, and it’s perfect.

We all hail from different ethnic backgrounds and cultures, and have limitations on what we do eat and not.

There are many myths in different cultures, and we Indians are quite famous for it. When you grow up in a distinctive culture, it’s bound to influence your lifestyle, your belief system — and perhaps most enjoyably, your diet. Eat okra, you’ll do well in math. Eat too much ivy gourd, your brain will not be as smart (no joke, I’ve seen people say this), don’t have banana after 6 p.m, or my favorite one, don’t have yogurt rice after you eat meat. I’ve heard it all….

Best Indian Style Chicken Nachos – how to construct the perfect Nachos

January 30, 2018 By Asha Shivakumar

The BEST Indian style chicken nachos ever!!!! The thin crisp corn chips with the spicy chicken mince, its so so good. And it’s all in one single pan. MINIMAL CLEAN UP! YES!!!! Hit in all parties!!

I sit here, a fully shot and styled post staring at me and I am blank. I’ve made these Indian style nachos for years now, but how am I not finding the words to describe a dish that disappears in minutes of getting to the table.

It’s one of my best back-pocket meals, the chicken mince. One I can make on short notice, assuming that I can get my hands on the freshest mince from my butcher. It’s one of the things I get asked plenty of times:”can you share your Indian style nachos”. It’s one of those recipes that missed getting into my book MASALA AND MEATBALLS, it sure gave a tough fight with hush puppies:)….

Curry Chicken Salad Avocado Boats with Cilantro cream

January 22, 2018 By Asha Shivakumar

This madras curry chicken salad avocado boats are so healthy and equally delicious, perfect with the cilantro cream. Just the right balance for the non-carb days or any day.

Curry is not a thing in Indian cuisine. Every recipe calls for a mix of spices, each family has their blend. So there’s nothing like curry, every recipe has it’s own name. There are many reasons for the word curry, you can read it HERE. Now, just for the convenience, we call it chicken curry or Andhra curry or Egg curry.…