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…
Category: Vegetarian recipes
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…
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…
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…
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,…
Palakottai Poriyal
Palakottai poriyal / Jackfruit seeds poriyal is a South-Indian style side-dish. My husband is very fond of jackfruit and used to relish it in India. In the US we can find jackfruit in many stores. Kids are loving it too. So whenever we buy jackfruit, I save the seeds from the fruit and use it…
Vazhaipoo Kola Urundai / Banana Blossom Balls
Vazhaipoo kola urundai is a vegetarian deep fried appetizer / side-dish that is made by using Vazhaipoo / Banana Blossom as the main ingredient. We add few other flavorful ingredients along with vazhaipoo, that makes this dish a burst of flavors. This dish is very addictive. You can’t stop with one! Everything is ground and…
Cauliflower / Gobi Paratha
Cauliflower paratha / Gobi paratha is a stuffed paratha made with a mildly spiced grated cauliflower filling. Very few ingredients are used to make this amazing dish. It suits best for simple lunch / dinner. Easy to prepare and delicious to taste. I learnt this dish during my Hyderabad days from my best friend and…
Vazhaipoo Kuzhambu
Vazhaipoo / Banana Blossom is a wonder vegetable with tons of health benefits and when cooked the right way, tastes delicious. Vazhaipoo is found hanging in the end of banana clusters. It is commonly used in India. The florets from the Vazhaipoo can be used in cooking various dishes. It improves breast milk supply for…
Sprouts Masala Sundal
Pachai Payaru / Green gram dal / Moong bean is a legume grown vastly in India. It is very healthy for all age groups. When sprouted, the health benefits are even more. Green gram dal is a pack of minerals, vitamins and iron. Sprouted green gram is low in calories and also has more antioxidants…
Beetroot Poriyal
Beetroot poriyal is a South-Indian style vegetable side-dish. Beetroot is a colorful vegetable that is rich in folate. It is also a source of fiber, manganese and potassium. It also helps reduce cholesterol levels and relieves constipation. It is a powerhouse of antioxidants which is very healthy for the skin. Beetroot is one of my…
Chana Masala
Chana / Chickpea / Garbanzo Bean is a type of legume grown mainly in India, also grown in other parts of the world. We can make endless recipes using chana. I love making chana masala as it is a family favorite. Chana masala is a spicy Indian gravy made with boiled chana / chickpea, onion-tomato…
Adai
Adai is a protein rich South-Indian breakfast made with a lot of lentils and rice. It is a type of dosai but slightly thicker than the regular dosai. I use a combination of lentils for adai. The raw rice makes it crispy. I make it even more nutritious by adding murungai keerai / moringa leaves….
Vendaikkai Puli Kuzhambu / Okra Curry
Vendaikkai (Lady’s finger / Okra / Bhindi) is one of my favorite vegetables. I use it frequently in my cooking. My kids love any dish prepared with vendaikkai. Vendaikkai puli kuzhambu is an all time favorite curry at home. I personally relish this dish with rava upma. My mother makes the best vendaikkai kuzhambu. She…
Lemon Rice
I love the fragrance and flavor of lemons. I find lemon enhancing the flavor of many dishes like juice, salads, starters and pulao / biryani. I use lemons in my cooking very frequently especially in marinades. Lemon pickle and lemon rice is my all time favorite. Most South-Indian households prepare lemon rice for lunch box…
Hara bhara kebab
Hara bhara kebab is a starter / appetizer made using spinach, peas, potato and some spice powders. I love this kebab as it tastes pretty much like pani puri because of the amchur powder. This is such a tasty appetizer for any party. This is healthy and a nutritious dish. Easy to prepare as well….
Keerai Masiyal
Keerai masiyal is a healthy dish made using spinach. There are many variety of spinach. Spinach is nutritious and can be incorporated in a variety of dishes. The most common South-Indian dish prepared at my home is keerai masiyal or keerai poriyal. This masiyal tastes excellent when made with “Araikeerai”. I have made this recipe…
K A Y A L 's Cookbook Homemade goodness! 