Yogurt rice has to be the most ubiquitous rice dish in South Indian Tamil homes. Every Tamilian ends their meal be it lunch or dinner with yogurt rice. Basically it’s white rice mixed with plain yogurt – that’s it. Yogurt rice is such an integral part of a Tamilian daily menu that even as toddlers yogurt rice is one of the first solid foods that are given to children. Yogurt rice makes a perfect summertime meal. It’s typically served at room temperature or the preferred way is cold. I grew up with yogurt rice and I have passed on the love of yogurt rice onto Hitesh and my kids. When I make yogurt rice for dinner I always get a unanimous “Yes, yogurt rice!” reaction. Continue reading Yogurt Rice
Tag Archives: legumes & grains
Broccoli Rice Casserole
It always amazes me time and time again how food can evoke such fond memories and emotions in all of us. Memories of our childhood, of special moments, of relationships, and of something special in one’s life. I’ve been making this broccoli rice casserole for over 28 years, and is one of those dishes that always reminds me of my kid brother. Same recipe with no changes to the ingredients for over two decades, not even by sustituting my usual quinoa for rice. Continue reading Broccoli Rice Casserole
Kossumali. Tamil Mixed Veggie Salad with Cannelloni Beans
Here is a salad with a south Indian Tamil twist just by adding mustard seeds and asafetida oil. These two spices along with a few lentils 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
Radish and Chickpea Salad
Radish and Chickpea Salad
Ingredients:
- 1 bunch pink radish – about 6 radish cut into small pieces
- 1 can garbanzo beans drained and rinsed. About 1 1/2 – 2 cups
- 1 small shallot or onion finely chopped
- 1 garlic clove finely minced
- 2 stalks celery cut into small chunks
- 6-10 mint leaves finely chopped
- Crisp romaine lettuce cut into chunks (optional)
- Maple Syrup Vinaigrette
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
Bernardo’s Mexican Mashed Pinto Beans with Fresh Cilantro and Lime
My gardener Bernardo shared this pinto bean recipe and it has to be one of the most delicious and easiest dishes to make. Continue reading Bernardo’s Mexican Mashed Pinto Beans with Fresh Cilantro and Lime
Mexican Fried Rice
Mexican fried rice – gosh there are a myriad ways of making this favorite Mexican dish. One afternoon I was sharing a menu with my friend Iya for a quiet Friday night dinner with a plan to make Mexican rice and Mexican mashed pinto beans . Iya, who loves to cook was curious about my rice recipe and asked me how I make my Mexican rice. Honestly, I just came up with this recipe years ago and have been making it like this forever – I use taco seasoning in my Mexican fried rice. When Iya heard that I use taco seasoning she was surprised, she had never heard of that before. I shared my recipe and since we were sharing recipes Iya shared her version of Mexican fried rice as well and I decided to give her recipe a try that same evening. The rice turned out awesome 😋. Very different in flavor from mine but delicious nonetheless. Here are a couple of recipes for Mexican fried rice – one with spices and one without. Give each of them a try and you may find you like them both. Continue reading Mexican Fried Rice
Mexican Rice and Beans. A Menu Worth Replicating
Hey folks, are you looking for a quick and easy dinner option with a Mexican twist? Give this menu a try with Mexican fried rice and pinto beans. Add some avocado, salsa, and queso fresca cheese if you like and you have a delicious quick and easy vegetarian meal in just 30 minutes. And you haven’t even heard the most unique feature of this menu – there are no spices in any of the dishes! Just flavorful veggies, salt and jalapenos for a little heat. Continue reading Mexican Rice and Beans. A Menu Worth Replicating
White Bean Soup with Mixed Vegetables & Caramelized Onions
This is a filling soup chock full of mixed vegetables and white beans also known as lima beans. The extra kick of flavor comes from caramelized onions. Frying the onions and then adding them after the soup is cooked gives the onions a chance to keep their caramelized flavor more pronounced. Continue reading White Bean Soup with Mixed Vegetables & Caramelized Onions
Collard Greens Quinoa Pilaf
☘☘Happy St. Patrick’s Day!☘☘
In the spirit of sharing something green for St. Patrick’s Day I thought I would share this quinoa pilaf recipe with good for you leafy greens. Collard greens are wonderful greens to cook with in a quinoa pilaf. I used over eight cups of chopped collard greens in this recipe, mainly because I had just received bunches of collard greens from my friend Rita, and a quinoa pilaf seemed the perfect way to use these greens. Continue reading Collard Greens Quinoa Pilaf
