Here is a salad with a south Indian Tamil twist just by adding mustard seeds and asafetida oil. These two spices can transform any salad into a traditional Tamil salad called kosumalli. I had a variation of kosumalli when we went for dinner at our friends Padmini and Naresh’s home one evening that was made with cannelloni beans, peppers, tomatoes, and fresh corn. This salad was fresh, filling, and packed with flavor. Continue reading Kossumali. Tamil Mixed Veggie Salad with Cannelloni Beans
Tag Archives: Indian food
Raw Mango Chutney & Sweet Apple on Baguette
If you are looking for an artsy avant garde appetizer that tastes outstanding then this recipe is for you. Sour from the raw mango, sweet from the apples, and delicious from the addition of green chillies and onions. This is the type of unique appetizer that comes from Indians who lived in Morocco and now live here in the Bay Area- a true global background my friend Radhika and her Mom have. Continue reading Raw Mango Chutney & Sweet Apple on Baguette
Cauliflower Potato Curry in Tomato Gravy
The aroma of cauliflower and potatoes cooking with onions and spices in a saucy tomato gravy always makes me smile 😊. I fondly remember my Mom making this cauliflower potato curry when I was growing up. When Mom served the curry in little stainless steel bowls along with her warm homemade chapatis, we would take pieces of chapati and dunk them in the tomato gravy and then eat spoonfuls of tender cauliflower potato curry. The tomato sauce is what gives the curry a nice tangy sourness that is yummy. Mom used to call this cauliflower curry “raswala cauliflower sabzi” translation “cauliflower curry in gravy.” Oh how fondly I remember my younger days and my Mom’s cooking. Funnily I get the same warm and feel good reaction when I make this curry for my family as well. This recipe is simple yet packs a ton of flavor. Give it a try! Continue reading Cauliflower Potato Curry in Tomato Gravy
Blistered Shishito Peppers with Mustard Seeds and Turmeric
Shishito peppers are a Japanese variety of peppers that are bright green mild chili peppers that have a green chili pepper flavor without the heat. It is said that one in every 10 shishito peppers is spicy, and it’s hard to know if that one spicy pepper will end up in your batch, making the entire experience of eating shishito peppers a lot of fun. The excitement, the anticipation, the unknown, and the wondering of “Am I going to bite into that one spicy shishito pepper?” makes it a fun experience eating shishito peppers 😳😡😀. Shishito peppers are so pupular these days that restaurants around town serve blistered peppers as appetizers. Continue reading Blistered Shishito Peppers with Mustard Seeds and Turmeric
Caramelized Onion & Baby Spinach Raita
Caramelized Onion & Baby Spinach Raita
makes 6-7 servings
Ingredients:
- 1 large onion cut into small pieces – about 2 cups
- 4 cups plain yogurt
- 4 cups finely cut baby spinach
- 1 tsp cumin seeds
- 1 tsp asafoetida powder
- 2 red chilies (optional)
- 1 tbsp cilantro for garnish
- Salt
- Oil
Carrot Rice
With just the right amount of spices, sweet carrots and fluffy rice, this carrot rice recipe is my friend Devi’s signature dish. Paired with yogurt raita and vegetables such as green beans, potato curry or cauliflower curry, this carrot rice makes a delicious lunch option. Continue reading Carrot Rice
A Flavorful Vegetarian Lunch at Devi & Del’s
My Dad visits us here in California about once every year, and every time he visits we are invited for lunch or dinner at a few of our friend’s homes. One of our dear friends are Devi and Del, and over the years going to Devi and Del’s home for lunch when Dad visits has become almost a tradition. The last time we headed over to Devi’s we were treated to a delicious vegetarian Indian lunch. Our friend Rose and her son Alex joined us too, and we all had a lively afternoon discussing cultures (India, U.S. and Philippines) and U.S. politics. Oh my what an animated debate we had – all in good humor 😄. Continue reading A Flavorful Vegetarian Lunch at Devi & Del’s
Spinach and Ridge Gourd Soup
Kootu is a popular vegetable stew made in many parts of southern India. The basic recipe for kootu is vegetables cooked with lentils, spices and shredded coconut to form a thick stew which is typically eaten over white rice. In this recipe however I’ve chosen to make kootu into more of a soup by substituting the traditional shredded coconut and lentils that go in kootu with coconut milk to give kootu a more soupy consistency, perfect for a Sunday soup day. Continue reading Spinach and Ridge Gourd Soup
Sarson Ki Saag. Mustard Greens Curry
I am so excited to share this greens curry recipe with you all, it is positively packed and I mean packed with good for you leafy greens and tastes amazing! Sarson ki saag is a springtime mustard greens curry that is cooked seasonally in spring in northern India in states such as UP when mustard greens are readily available at the farmer’s markets. Because mustard greens are rarely available rest of the year mustard greens curry is a favorite dish in the spring in this region. Even here in California I find that mustard greens are mostly available in the spring at the farmer’s markets, and if I am lucky I can sometimes find them in the freezer section at our local grocery stores. Continue reading Sarson Ki Saag. Mustard Greens Curry
Swiss Chard and Paneer Curry
Swiss Chard and Paneer Curry
Ingredients:
- 3 bunches of Swiss chard – about 6-8 cups finely chopped
- 4 garlic cloves finely crushed
- 1 tbsp ginger paste or shredded fresh ginger
- 1 block paneer or tofu cut into small chunks
- 1 green chili – seeds removed and cut length wise
- 1 tsp cumin seeds
- 2 tsp coriander powder
- 1/2 tsp turmeric powder
- 1/2 tsp chili powder or paprika
- Cilantro for garnish
- Juice of 1 lemon
- Oil
