South Indian

Sweet Pongal / Sakkarai Pongal / Ven Pongal

January 14, 2019 By Asha Shivakumar

Sakkarai Pongal or Sweet Pongal is a speciality of Southern part of India. Made during the festival of Sankranthi and Pongalm its also a very popular breakfast. It is made with rice, daal and jaggery. It’s topped with ghee and nuts. A sweet treat like none other.

Pongal / Sankranti to all who celebrate!! When they say India is a land of festivals, it is true. We probably have a festival every month of the year. The crazy part is that they are not small festivals; each one is big. Pongal is a harvest festival dedicated to Sun God. It’s a celebration of the first crop. It’s celebrated over four days, each day with its own significance. You can read more about the mythology and significance behind Pongal here.…

Bengali Pumpkin Aloo Posto – Stir fry Pumpkin and potatoes with poppy seeds

January 2, 2019 By Asha Shivakumar

This Aloo Posto is a classic example of how just a few ingredients can yield a creamy spiced potato dish. A staple in Bengali households and one of my all time favorite recipes.

I love January and it’s everyday-ness. I’m glad for a regular pulse again. The holidays are great but it’s the stillness that I crave at the end of it all. We spent the holidays binge watching “How I met your mother” and a small skii trip to Aspen. We ate home made comfort food and listened to Paul Anka, on my teen’s new record player to fill the house with something… normal….

Kanchipuram Idlis with Millets / Millets Kotte Kadbu

December 8, 2018 By Asha Shivakumar

Soft & Spongy loaded with spices is a healthy breakfast. This recipe of millets idli is a mix of kanchipuram idli and Kotte Kadbu, the spices come from Kanchipuram idli and the shape comes from Kotte Kadbu from Karnataka region. It makes for a great anytime meal.

Driving through Bangalore highways, passing through mountains that are brown and rocky is an experience in itself. While traffic inside the city can go at snail speed, the drivers take every opportunity to speed through the impressive four lane highway. The highway that connects Bangalore to Mysore is called Nice Road, and was made only a few years ago. It’s a boon.

After a couple of hours of drive, we stop by this popular highway restaurant.

We enter the crowded restaurant. The air is filled with the smell of spicy sambhar and ghee. Some are dressed in elegant sarees ready to go to a wedding, some are casual like us, like how we feel. Everyone seems to be excited for their destination….

Instant Paniyaaram with Millets & Vegetables -Tomato Chutney

October 6, 2018 By Asha Shivakumar

Gluten-free and vegan, a healthy and tasty snack, this instant paniyaaram only takes about half an hour. Loaded with vegetables, made with millets, and with protein from the peanuts, it makes for an easy and healthy after-school snack or is great for school lunchboxes.

I’d mock my mom when I saw her cook with millets, oats, and whole grains. She’d slyly put a handful of millets in our pongal, or add some oat flour in the roti batter. We never realized healthier ingredients went into our food, but it did. But, every moment dad and I saw her sneak it in, we’d roll our eyes. Yeah… well, here I am living in the very world I lovingly mocked.

Who am I? I can’t believe the day has come that I’ve become my mother. I’m making millets paratha, quinoa pongal, chocolate oatmeal… And, I’m loving it. The family loves it too. Well, maybe not the whole family. The little baby bear will come around, just like I did. Or at least I hope he will 🙄 . He’s got a tongue just like his mumma used to….

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….

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….

Vegan Healthy Vegetable Dal with Kale and Yam

January 15, 2018 By Asha Shivakumar

This vegan healthy vegetable dal is filled with ton of good veggies, kale and yam and carrots. Perfect hearty meal.

We are mid Jan and I have been on a vegetable high this month on the blog and otherwise. We make many different types of dal and I’ve been fond of mixing a few different legumes for a hearty and delicious meal. Dal seems to be one of the biggest source of protein for vegetarian eaters. South Indians love their dal and this has become one is become by absolute favorite, healthy vegetable dal….

Quinoa Ven/Khaara Pongal with Gotsu

January 12, 2018 By Asha Shivakumar

The first festival of the year for Tamilians, Pongal. This quinoa pongal with gotsu is a slightly healthier alternative to the classic pongal that is usually made on this festival with rice.

Happy Pongal / Sankranti to all who celebrate!! When they say India is a land of festivals, it is true. We probably have a festival every month of the year. The crazy part is that they are not small festivals; each one is big. Pongal is a harvest festival dedicated to Sun God. It’s a celebration of the first crop. It’s celebrated over four days, each day with its own significance. You can read more about the mythology and significance behind Pongal here.…