Goat liver fry is a side dish that is very easy to make and tastes lipsmackingly good. Goat liver is a great source of iron and folate. Very good for pregnant women and kids. Women in general can consume it regularly. Its a family favorite at home and this is my favorite way to cook…
Author: Kayal Karthikeyan
Hi! Welcome to my blog!
I'm Kayal. I'm from Coimbatore and a mom of two. I'm passionate about cooking. I love to explore a variety of recipes. My inspiration for cooking comes from the women of my family. Cooking for my family and friends gives me so much joy and makes me content. Hope you will enjoy the recipes from my blog :) !!
Karupatti/Palm Jaggery Pidi Kozhukattai
Kozhukattai is a sweet dumpling made as an offering for Lord Vinayagar during the festival Vinayagar Chathurthi / Ganesh Chathurthi. There are many variations in making kozhukattai. We can make a stuffing, a outer dough and then steam or even just combine few ingredients and then steam it. Pidi Kozhukattai is simple to put together…
Fried Chicken Wings
Fried Chicken wings is a popular starter that tastes crispy and delicious and marks a perfect beginning to a meal. This recipe is simple to put together with basic ingredients in the pantry. I would prefer sweetcorn soup + chicken wings combo. You can even swap the chicken wings with breast or thigh pieces. Still…
Mixed Millet Adai
Adai is a thick protein rich dish that is made with dal and rice. I have substituted the rice with millets. The batter does not need fermentation. By adding millets, this becomes a even more nutritious meal and also feels lighter on the tummy. I always add murungai keerai (drumstick leaves/morninga leaves) to adai batter…
Ragi Idli (Using Whole Ragi millet)
Ragi / Keppai is a wholegrain that is rich in iron, fiber and calcium. It is also a great source of good carbohydrate. It can be included in our diet in many forms. Most common forms would be idli, dosai, porridge and mudde. I made idli this time and it turned out great. The best…
Seeval / Ribbon Pakoda
Seeval / Ribbon pakoda is a traditional snack that is made especially during festivals and makes a great tea-time snack as well. Its crunchy, mildly spicy and super delicious. It is my mother’s signature dish and an all time favorite snack at home. Though I miss her version, I’m glad that I learnt to make…
Karupatti Achu Murukku / Palm Jaggery Rose Cookies (Eggless)
Achu Murukku is one of my favorite snack. My mother-in-law makes delicious achu murukku using karupatti / palm jaggery during festivals, especially during Deepavali / Diwali and whenever we visit Thoothukudi. She makes using sugar too, but my father-in-law used to insist her to make with karupatti as it tastes better than sugar. My daughter…
Chicken Pesto Pizza
Pizza is a family favorite dish. Friday pizza nights are always super relaxing for me! Homemade pizza is easy to make and tastes great if the right ingredients are put together. We love the regular marinara / red sauce pizza, but Pesto Pizza had a unique flavor. It was new to us when we moved…
Ellurundai / Black Sesame Seeds Balls
Ellurundai / Black sesame seed balls is a traditional sweet that is very healthy and delicious. It requires only 3 ingredients. Karuppu ellu/Black Sesame Seeds, Karupatti/Palm Jaggery and Peanuts. I am a big fan of ellurundai right from childhood. When I visit my native place, “Chinnayapuram” during childhood days, this urundai is made in the…
Murungaikai Puli Kuzhambu / Drumstick Curry
Murungaikai / Drumstick is my favorite vegetable. Many Indian households grow it in their backyards. It is an all time favorite vegetable that can be used to make sambar, puli kuzhambu, aviyal or any kootu. In India we used to get murungaikai easily. But, after moving to the US, I found that getting fresh drumsticks…
Thaen Mittai / Sugar Balls
Thaen Mittai is a super delicious sweet that we used to get in “Petty kadai / petty shops / small shops” in Tamil Nadu. It has a nice soft inside layer and a crispy outside layer that has sugar syrup in every bite. I have eaten a lot of thaen mittai during my childhood days….
Nandu Gravy/Crab Gravy
Nandu Gravy / Crab Gravy is a spicy and delicious dish that is made with very minimal ingredients, yet turns out to be very flavorful. Everyone in my family loves crab. I grew up eating super delicious crab gravy that my grandmother and mother used to make. After marriage, I was lucky to taste one…
Kari Dosai
Kari Dosai is a variety dosai topped with egg and shredded mutton / chicken that has been cooked in flavorful spices. This dish is famous in “Konar Kadai, Madurai”. Whenever we visit Madurai, we make it a point to visit this hotel and enjoy this yummy dosai and other tiffin. The place is famous for…
Plain Salna
Plain Salna / Vegetarian Salna is a curry made with flavorful spices and coconut paste. This curry is famous in Tamil Nadu. Mostly we love to have salna for parotta. But the curry suits dosai, idli, idiyappam and aapam too. This is a quick salna that can be made quickly. I love the simpicity and…
Fish Fingers
Fish fingers is a delicious and crispy appetizer made with fish strips and flavorful ingredients. These tender strips are super addictive. You can’t stop with 1! We love to have it with tartar sauce or mayo. It is a childhood favorite dish for me. I remember how we used to relish this dish at Hotel…
Kathirikkai Chutney / Brinjal Chutney
Kathirikkai / Brinjal / Eggplant is a favorite vegetable at home. I make sambar, puli kuzhambu, poriyal and chutney using it. This chutney is a one-pot dish that is made with readily available ingredients in the kitchen. It is super easy to make and tastes delicious along with idli / dosai. I’m a big fan…
Vavval Meen Varuval / Pomfret Fish Fry
Vavval meen varuval / Pomfret fish fry is a spicy, shallow fried dish made with Vavval meen / Pomfret fish that has been marinated with a combination of aromatic spice powders and flavorful ingredients. Pomfret is commonly called as Butterfish or Pompano and is widely found in South Asia. It is rich in protein and…
Strawberry Ice Cream
Strawberries need no introduction. It is famous for its bright red color, beautiful aroma and juicy texture. Strawberries are my kids’s all time favorite fruit. They love to have it as such and also in desserts. Me and husband like it in shakes or ice-cream. In the US, during summer, we have lot of farms…
Samba Pacharisi Idiyappam / Red Rice String Hoppers
Samba pacharisi idiyappam / Red rice string hoppers is a healthy steamed dish made using Samba pacharisi / Red raw rice. This particular rice consists of so many health benefits. It is a traditional rice variety found in Tamil Nadu. It is unpolished. It is healthier than the white rice. It aids in good digestion,…
Mutton Chops Gravy
Mutton chops gravy / Goat meat chops gravy is a spicy South-Indian dish made with tender mutton chops and freshly ground spices + garlic. The freshly ground spice paste is the important part of the dish. It brings out the best flavors. I use “coconut oil” for cooking this particular dish as it adds to…
K A Y A L 's Cookbook Homemade goodness! 