Ash gourd Curry

 Simple Ash gourd  Curry/ Kumbalanga Curry

We all are busy almost all the days. Not having enough time to take care of the family . We even don't have enough time to cook. Healthy food is almost away from our daily routine. I am here with yet another simple and easy recipe. This is a perfect combo with rice . It will take hardly 5 min to prepare this . A pressure cooker recipe with ash gourd (winter melon). Mix all the ingredients and cook that's it. Okay , then let's get started.... 

Bell pepper Thoran

Bell pepper Thoran / Capsicum Thoran / Bell pepper Coconut Fry

                                 

                                                                            

 Thoran (veggie coconut fry) is an inevitable dish for me and my family 😉, but daily the same veggies are boring 😑. Carrots, beans, cabbage, beets etc are the common vegetables used to prepare thoran 😜. For a change I have skipped all those veggies and used bell peppers (capsicum) to make thoran. Bell peppers are excellent source of antioxidants and vitamins 😊 . They vary in colors like red, green, yellow.  Bell pepper thoran tastes a bit different from the usual thoran taste.  Bell peppers are commonly used for sandwiches, pizzas, noodles but we don’t use it for our authentic Kerala dishes 😋. Bell pepper tastes equally good. You have to take care while cooking it, don’t overcook it. Overcooking causes the bell pepper to lose its crunchiness and soggy bell pepper doesn’t taste good 😕. You can add other vegetables also like carrots, sprouts …. Give it a try; I am sure you will love it. Okay then let’s get started...

Vegetable Hakka Noodles

Vegetable Hakka Noodles

                                                                       

 Vegetable Hakka Noodles  🍜is a very popular Indo – Chinese dish. It is  mouth-watering 😋 & flavorful dish and loved by kids 😃. It is a very popular street food 👌. The recipe is rather very simple 😃. The richness of fresh vegetables 🍄🍅 and the strong taste of soy sauce are really inviting 😋. These noodles can be your life saver during a lazy weekend 😉. This is perfect for any occasion 👌. This is a must try recipe for all Chinese food lovers 😄. The recipe is too simple , you just have to cook the noodles according to the instructions. Then you have to toss it along with vegetables and sauces. To make the noodles more juicy add sauces mixed with water. I’m sure you all will definitely love this recipe 😍. It is an easy and smart way 😉 to feed your littleones some veggies 🍅🍄. My littleone really enjoys this yummy 🍜 dish 😃. Try these and share your feedback. Okay then let’s get started.

Carrot Thoran

 Carrot Thoran / Carrot Coconut Fry

                                                                  

Carrot thoran? You guys may be wondering, why to post such an easy recipe 😕. Right …. Here I have made it a little easier. Even bachelors can try a hand at this 👍. Thoran is also a predominant dish in sadya / feast.  Thoran can be made with a variety of vegetables like carrot , beans, cabbage, spinach etc … I have posted broccoli thoran ealier. Unlike my broccoli thoran, carrot thoran is way too easy 😉.  Coconut is a must for thoran; here instead of using fresh grated coconut I have used desiccated coconut powder 😃. Have you ever tried thoran with desiccated coconut? When you are out of fresh coconut you can try this for sure 😉.  Please do try this recipe and tell me how it is … Okay then let’s get started.

Veggie Burger

Veggie Burger

                                                                                     

                                                         

Inspired from Burger King’s vegetable burger, I too tried that 😊. We just love and crave to eat it whenever we stay away from home 😍. The recipe is pretty  simple and easy. A healthy and scrumptious snack 😋. 

Methi Paneer

 Methi Paneer / Fenugreek leaves Cottage Cheese Gravy

                                                                               

I’m here with another North Indian dish. Yes its Methi paneer.  A must try combo of fenugreek leaves and Indian cottage cheese is indeed a treat to your taste buds 😋.  I like all paneer recipes and if it is cooked with fresh methi leaves its simply out of this world 😃….. Yeah here I have used fresh methi leaves straight from my patio garden 😄.

Aviyal

 Aviyal / Mixed Vegetables in Coconut - Yogurt Sauce
                                                                         

Aviyal is a thick mixture of vegetables, coconut and coconut oil 😋. It is considered as an essential side dish in Kerala sadya/ feast. It is a mainly a South Indian dish, originated from Kerala. It is pretty easy to prepare this 😃. As I said it is a delightful mix of all vegetables 😃. You can use almost all veggies to prepare this. The mainly used vegetables are carrot, beans, drumsticks, raw plantain, yam, white pumpkin, cucumber, broad beans and snake gourd. You cut these veggies and mix it with coconut paste and yogurt. Only the cutting part consumes time 😤, you can finish the recipe in a few minutes 👍. Apart from sadhya I usually prepare during this during the weekend when you have all veggies left in the refrigerator but it’s not that enough to prepare one single dish in bulk.  This is also very healthy as you have all possible vegetables 💪. A sadya/ feast can’t be served without this healthy- tasty side dish 👌. You can serve this a side dish for rice and chapatti / roti 😉. Okay then let’s get started.

Sambar

Sambar/ Lentil Gravy

                                                                    

A sadya/ feast is incomplete without Sambar… this is THE MAIN DISH. Sambar is nothing but gravy made of lentils, tamarind, vegetables and spices.  Here I have prepared typical a Kerala Sambar (Sothern state of India). The specialty of Kerala Sambar is that you make use of two or more vegetables. The mainly used veggies are potato, ash guard, egg plant, drumstick, carrot etc… you make sambar with or without coconut. When we use coconut it is called “Varthuarcha Sambar”/ Sambar with roasted coconut. Sambar made with freshly ground sambar powder is a real treat to your taste buds. Last week I have shared fresh sambar powder, I’m using the same powder here to make sambar. Tamarind is a must to make sambar, and also the seasoning that you add in the end. Sambar can be serves not only as a side dish for rice but also for idli (rice cake) or dosa (rice pancake).  Do give it a try I’m sure you all will like it...Okay then let’s get started…

Pachadi

Pachadi  / Beetroot Pachadi

                                                               

                                                       

Here comes a very tasty  sadya / feast dish … its pachadi. Pachadi is another dish which is made with yogurt. Other than yogurt you add coconut, cumin seeds and any fruit 🍍  or vegetable . The fruits mainly used in pachadi are pineapple, grapes and banana; if fruits are used then pachadi is called madhura pachadi. Commonly used veggies to make pachadi are cucumber, carrot, raw mango and beetroot. Here I have used beetroot to make pachadi. It is more or less similar to salad / raita except you add seasoning and coconut 😊. This gorgeous looking beetroot pachadi is an indispensable dish for sadya / feast 😊. It is super easy 😉 and super yummy 😋. Okay then let’s get started…

Mashed Potato

                                                       Mashed Potato
                                                           

Here is the recipe for an easy, fluffy, creamy and buttery mashed potato 😋😋. I am not that fond of this recipe.  I like our traditional potato stew, fry and chips. This is my hubby’s favorite recipe, he often suggests this recipe on weekends but as I don’t like I would suggest something else.  Only a very few ingredients are needed to make this super soft potatoes. Mashed potatoes are so velvety and soft that it melts in your mouth. Initially while making this recipe I had a doubt what kind of potatoes are to be choseen for this, after doing a bit of online research I came to a conclusion that Russet potatoes are the best  👌👌. You can also use gold and white potatoes.  The recipe is too simple - boil, peel, mash and add other ingredients, you have a warm creamy bowl of mashed potatoes ready!!! It is slightly different from our Indian style of cooking as we use coconut milk for most of our recipes but here we add milk. Give it a try, who doesn’t like a change 😉. The best combos are baked fish, grilled or baked chicken, stir fried veggies 😊😊. Okay then let’s get started……

Vegetable Fried Rice

                                                        Vegetable Fried Rice

                                                                    

Its been a while we had some rice varities to the list 😉  I made vegetable biriyani a couple of times but I forget to click pictures always 😞. Couple of weeks back I made vegetable fried rice and without fail I clicked pictures also. So here it is.... I like all fried rice varieties ... egg, chicken, pineapple. After coming  to the US hubby took me to a dinner date to a Thai Restaurant ,that was the first time I tried pineapple fried rice. I loved it 😍. Haven’t tried pineapple fried rice yet, will try and post soon. Vegetable fried rice is a very simple and easy recipe to try. You just have to assemble all ingredients and have to add one by one. Give it a try and share your feedback 👍. Okay then let’s get started.

Pav Bhaji

Pav Bhaji
                                                                           

                                                                                             

Pav Bhaji is a popular North Indian fast food. It is one of the most popular Mumbai street foods. It is served in almost all restaurants around the globe.  It is a delicious whole some meal. The rich and tasty vegetable curry (bhaji) is served with butter toasted bread (pav). You can use any vegetable of your choice to make the bhaji like potatoes, peas, cauliflower, bell peppers, radish, eggplant, carrot and green beans.  These vegetables are cooked and mashed and cooked along with ginger, garlic, oinion , tomatoes and spices. Usually we add pav baji masala but I din’t add pav bhaji masala instead I used household spice powders.  It a easy way to make your kids eat veggies as the taste of butter dominates both the pav and baaji 😉. It can be served as a snack or as a meal. It is also a great party snack.  You can make the bhaji in advance. There are many variations in pav baji like fried pav baji with pav tossed in bhaji, cheese bhaji , with cheese on top of the  bhaji the list goes on … here I have made the usual pav bhaji.  Try out this easy and quick recipe and surprise your friends and family 😍😍. Okay then let’s get started.

Pumpkin Soup

                                                          Pumpkin Soup
                                                           

 Come October and you have pumpkins all around. Fall is the perfect time to add pumpkin to your dishes. It goes hand in hand with the fall holidays of Halloween and Thanksgiving. Carving pumpkins into jack -o’- lanterns is a famous Halloween tradition. These orange colored pumpkins are rich source of vital antioxidants and vitamins. Pumpkin seeds are a great source of proteins, minerals, vitamins and omega -3 fatty acid.  You can make a variety of dishes with pumpkin like bread, muffin, pie and soups.  Here I have tried pumpkin soup with small sugar pumpkins. This soup comes together quickly and has warm notes of pepper and garlic. This is a simple and easy recipe. No cream and no broth. My little one went pumpkin patch from school and brought this sugar pumpkin. She told she wants pumpkin soup so thus here it is. Ok then let’s get started.

Aloo Methi

      

                                                           

Aloo methi is a North Indian dish which is quite popular. The rich combination of potatoes and fenugreek / methi leaves is always a winner.  The potatoes are roasted well along with the spices and the addition of methi leaves always tempt us to eat more. Methi leaves are rich in antioxidants , fiber , phytonutrients and contain a wide variety of other beneficial nutrients. Potatoes as you all know are a best source of carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals. Aloo methi  is a healthy combo which is enjoyed by all . We can make a variety of dishes using fenugreek leaves:  methi paratha , methi dal , methi pakoras etc. Aloo methi has a unique flavor and hence it stands out from other methi recipes.  Ok then let ‘s get started .

Lemon Rasam

                                                               

Hello everyone I am back with my next post.  Thanks for all the positive feedback and hope you will be continuing the same.

This time it’s completely different.  Its a side dish for rice and its vegetarian. You can also serve this as a soup. Its Rasam !!! with a twist . Yes you guessed it right here we use lemon instead of tamarind (puli/imli) and no need for Rasam powder.  We can’t imagine a South Indian thali without Rasam. We have all kinds of Rasams like Tomato Rasam, Parippu Rasam (dal), Garlic Rasam etc. Lemon Rasam is entirely different.   Our little one loves this like anything. OMG she loves all tangy things. So I nicked named her as Puluppi … she won’t show any tantrums when I tell her  its Lemon Rasam for lunch.  She just gulps it…  Go grab the ingredients let’s get started. 

Aloo Gobi

                                                         
                                                       Potato - Cauliflower Fry
                                                             

Aloo Gobi / Potato Cauliflower fry is a North-Indian delicacy. It is made out of potatoes, cauliflower and other spices.  The added spices make it rich and flavorful.  Aloo Gobi is my favorite among all North Indian dishes. It’s a perfect combo for any bread, naan or chapathi (Indian flat bread).This is my second North Indian side dish. After Aloo methi I didn’t post any north Indian recipe. This is a very easy and simple recipe but care should be taken while cooking this. Cauliflower may not get cooked properly water can be added but adding more water might make the dish soggy and mushy. So please take care not to overcook or undercook cauliflower. Ok then let’s get started.

Broccoli Thoran

                                       Broccoli Fry
                                                               

Broccoli!!  Oh my god!!!! I am in real love with this vegetable. Back in India have seen this veggie many a times but never tasted. Once we went to a country diner  I ordered steamed broccoli as one of my sides. I didn’t like it as the steamed ones tasted raw but I was adamant to include those in our diet. Then I came across Indian broccoli recipe. A special Naadan touch to our own broccoli.  Every fortnight I try to include these in our diet. Initially I wondered if broccoli thoran would be good, this recipe is for all those who are having such silly doubts…   the recipe is very simple; a normal thoran ( fry) recipe. Broccoli as said is loaded with nutrients a rich source of calcium and phosphorus. Try to include this wonder vegetable in your diet. Here is a simple and tasty recipe. Ok then let’s get started.