Sambar

Ingredients: Tamarind Water (2 cups; check notes) Potato (2 medium sized; diced) Onion (1-2 medium sized; diced) Drumsticks (2; sliced to 2 inch thinkness; check notes) Tomato (2-3 medium sized; diced) Carrot (1; diced) Beans (6; cut into 1 inch pieces) Ivy Gourd (aka. Tendli; 6-7 cut into halves; optional) Eggplant (1-2 small; diced; optional)…

Pineapple Pachadi

Ingredients: Pineapple (2 cups; finely chopped) Coconut (1 cup; shreded) Green Chilies (3-4; depending on spiciness) Cumin Seeds (1 tablespoon) Mustard Seeds (1/2 teaspoon) Curry Leaves (couple of leaves) Yogurt (1 1/2 cup) Turmeric Powder (1/2 teaspoon) Chili Powder (1 teaspoon) Salt (to taste) Sugar (optional; to taste) Water (1/2 cup) Coconut Oil (2 tablespoons)…

Pavakka Thoran (Stir Fried Bitter Gourd)

Ingredients: Bitter Gourd (2-3) Chili Powder (1 tablespoon) Turmeric Powder (1/4 teaspoon) White Vinegar (2-3 tablespoons) Salt (1-2 tablespoons) Oil (3-5 tablespoons) Directions: Cut the bitter gourd lengthwise into halves and remove the seeds from the inside. Slice the halves into roughly two-inch long cubes and finally slice the cubes into thin sticks. Add the…

Methi Malai Matar (Creamy Fenugreek Green Peas)

Ingredients: Fenugreek Leaves (2 bunches; roughly chopped) Onion (1; cubed) Green Chilies (2; slit into halves) Ginger-Garlic Paste (1 teaspoon) Cashew nuts (1/4 cup; soaked) Heavy cream (1/2 cup) Green Peas (1 cup; if using frozen soak it in warm water for 10 minutes) Cumin seeds (1 teaspoon) Water (1 cup) Gara Masala (1/4 teaspoon)…

Chana Palak Masala

Ingredients: Chickpeas (16 oz, I used canned) Spinach (2 cups) Garlic (6-7, sliced) Black cardamom (1-2) Green cardamom (1-2) Cloves (3-4) Peppercorns (3-4) Bay leaf (2-3) Onion (2 medium finely chopped or you could use onion paste) Tomato paste (2 tablespoons) Green chilies (1-2; sliced into halves) Coriander powder (1 tablespoon) Chili powder (1 tablespoon)…

Puttu & Kadala Curry

This is one of the most popular breakfast food in Kerala, the soft puttu made from rice flour and the spicy kadala curry is one of the most tasty & healthy breakfast food you could have. You can serve kadala curry with roti or rice but nothing beats the combination with puttu. Ingredients for Puttu:…

Gobi Paratha

Ingredients: Wheat Flour (2 cups) Cauliflower (1 large; grated) Garam Masala (1 teaspoon) Turmeric Powder (1/2 teaspoon) Red chili powder (1/2 tablespoon) Aamchur Masala (1 teaspoon) Lemon Juice (1/2 lemon) Coriander (chopped) Water (as required) Salt (to taste) Oil/Butter (as per preference) Directions: Mix wheat flour, salt and water and knead it to get a…

Seekh Kababs with Tahini sauce

Ingredients: For Seekh Kababs: Ground Beef (4 lbs; You can substitute with any ground meat, best option is ground Lamb) Garlic (3-4; grated) Ginger (1/2 inch; grated) Cilantro (a bunch; finely chopped) Mint Leaves (a handful, finely chopped) Coriander Powder (2 tablespoons) Cumin Powder (1 tablespoon) Turmeric Powder (1 teaspoon) Chili Powder (1 tablespoon) Salt…

Anda Bhurji (Indian Scrambled Eggs)

Ingredients: Eggs (4-6) Onions (2 medium sized; finely chopped) Tomato (1; chopped) Green Chilies (1-2 chopped; as per taste) Turmeric Powder (1 teaspoon) Red Chili Powder (1 tablespoon) Coriander Powder (1 tablespoon) Cumin Seeds (1/2 teaspoon) Cilantro (chopped; for garnish) Salt (to taste) Dinner Rolls/Breads (to serve) Directions: In a bowl, crack the eggs and…

Stir-Fried Bitter Gourd

As a kid, my grandmom and mom had a tough time with me because I was a very picky eater. They always had to make some sort of meat or seafood for me to have my dinner and vegetables were a huge no-no for me. They would really struggle to make me feed a meal…