Vengaya Venthaya Kuzhambu. ( Shallots fried and simmered in spicy gravy with methi and spices)

Venthaya Kuzhambu itself is a pretty awesome preparation redolent with the aroma and flavour of roasted methi seeds. In this version, we take it a step further and add ghee roasted shallots taking it to a different plane altogether. How can it not be a killer of a recipe? Combine it with a lazy sunday [...]

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Yennai Kathirikkai Araithu Vitta Kuzhambu (Baby Eggplants simmered in coconut tamarind gravy)

This post was lying in my drafts for such a long time…I am guessing four months….I thought it was really time I pulled it out to see the light of day. In my ever growing love for eggplants, this experiment was born in my kitchen, after eating something similar at a south indian restaurant nearby…The [...]

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GUEST POST – Tangy Tomato Porichcha Rasam.( Tomato broth with roasted spices simmered to perfection)

This post comes to  you straight from the middle of the world, all the way from Ghana, from a very good blogger friend and my guide in so many culinary aspects – Lata Raja.of Flavours & Tastes, ..Yes, lets hear it for her!!! I had always wanted the authentic tamil recipe for Poricha Rasam and [...]

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Murungakkai Kara Kuzhambu (Drumstick and spices simmered in Aromatic tamarind tomato gravy)

Drumsticks have always been a favourite vegetable of my daughter and me of course…Every time amma made Drumstick Sambar, the aroma would simply fill the entire home.  The Drumstick is more valued for its tender pods. Homes in south india cook the drumsticks and eat the pods and the fleshy portions with great gusto. Nutritionally, [...]

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Delicious Onion VethalKuzhambu.( Onions sauteed with spices and powders and simmered in tamarind gravy).

I had been wondering why on earth I had not posted this everyday recipe that my mom used to make. It has been an eternal favourite of mine since the day I have had it with Alu Fry. I remember when we were little, my sister D would want this everyday. Mom would keep it [...]

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Sutta Appalam Inji Kuzhambu. ( Fire roasted Appalam cooked in Ginger Tamarind Gravy).

Every morning when its time to decide the day`s menu, I promise you I really get stumped. It`s the same story everyday….I decide on Vazhakkai Podimas and then to my dismay realise that I am out of Dhania for the spice powder. Then I think why not Pavakkai Pitlae, but the pavakkai is in a [...]

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Yennai Kathirikkai Kara Kuzhambu.(Baby Brinjals filled with spices fried in oil soaked in spicy tamarind gravy)

Eggplants have always been my husband`s  favourite vegetable. He loves it in any form. I know a lot of people who are allergic to eggplants because of the seeds in it.In addition to featuring a host of vitamins and minerals, eggplant also contains important phytonutrients, many which have antioxidant activity. Phytonutrients contained in eggplant include [...]

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Quick N Easy Garlic Rasam – For those cold rainy days!!!

Garlic Rasam was not something that we would make at home a lot…In fact Maduraiamma would never ever have garlic. Over the years Amma used to make her version of this Rasam and my sister D would love it. I make two versions of this Rasam – One with Toor Dhal and the other without. [...]

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Vendakkai Sambar (Ladyfinger sauted in tamarind gravy cooked with spice powders)

This is a variety of  “Sambar” that does not have the ground coconut and spices in it so its pretty straightforward. There are two kinds of basic sambars that we make – the variety that has spices roasted and ground with coconut and the other variety that is spiced only with the sambar powder. This [...]

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Delicious Home Made Tomato Rasam.

Rasam – slurp!!! It`s my all time favourite comfort food. Even a not so intersting day is made spicy and special simply thinking of making rasam. Of all the rasams that I love, my favourite has always been the home made amma`s piping hot tomato rasam. In India of course, there is a lot of [...]

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