Tuesday 19 December 2017

Capsicum Pulao | Capsicum Rice | How To Make Capsicum Masala Rice


Capsicum Pulao or Capsicum rice - an easy, delicious and highly aromatic one-pot meal.  This is a perfect lunch box option too and does not require any side dish, just papad or even chips will do.  I have used carrot here along with the capsicum, but you can use other veggies too like peas, potato, brinjals and garnish with cashews.  This rice dish with the fresh crunchy capsicums and the flavorful masala is the go-to dish when you are bored of other pulaos and rice recipes.


Capsicum Rice, Bell Pepper Rice


If you are looking for more capsicum recipes, do check -


Saturday 9 December 2017

Atukula Upma | Aval Upma | Poha Upma | Aval Recipes


Atukula Upma or Poha Upma -- an easy, quick and delicious breakfast recipe.  Upma is a regular breakfast in most South Indian homes.  This Poha upma is a variation of the South Indian Upma recipe.  You can add veggies too to this aval upma, but I have skipped them here.

You can serve this healthy poha upma for breakfast or as an evening snack.

If you are looking for more breakfast recipes, do check idli, rava upma, vermicelli upma, coconut sevai, masala dosa, aloo paratha, instant oats paniyaram.


Poha Upma, Aval Upma


Tuesday 28 November 2017

Idli Milagai Podi | Andhra Idli Karam Podi | Side Dish For Idli Dosa


Idli podi or gunpowder as it is popularly known is a flavorful spice powder that accompanies idli, the healthy south Indian breakfast. Even if there are umpteen side dishes/chutneys, this idli podi occupies a special place.  You can finish off an entire plate of idlis with just this flavorful podi.

There are so many variations to this podi depending on individual tastes.  Some add bengal gram, dry coconut, garlic, sesame seeds, etc.

I am presenting here the basic version of the Idli milagai podi.

Idli Milagai Podi, Idli Karam Podi

If you are looking for more side dishes to idli, dosa or uttappam, check out these -- Tomato Onion Chutney, Groundnut Chutney, Potato Masala for Dosa, Idli Sambar, Mint Coconut chutney.

Saturday 4 November 2017

Ragi Dosa | Finger Millet Dosa | No Fermentation Ragi Dosa


Ragi Dosa or Finger Millet Dosa is a very healthy South Indian breakfast recipe.  Ragi (Finger Millet) is a very popular and nutritious cereal which is used in most South Indian households.  It is highly rich in calcium and iron and is quite easily digestible.

There are so many recipes that can be made using ragi like ragi dosa, ragi roti, ragi balls, ragi poori, ragi rotti, ragi uttappam etc.  Ragi dosa is quite easy to prepare and very tasty too.  It is quite apt for busy mornings and is a healthy lunch box option too.


Ragi Dosa, Finger Millet Dosa

If you are looking for more breakfast recipes, do check these out -- Dosa, Pesarattu dosa, idli, Instant oats paniyaram, Coconut sevai, Semiya upma.


Saturday 28 October 2017

Tawa Pulao | Mumbai Tawa Pulao | Pulao Recipes


Tawa Pulao is a popular Mumbai Street Food.  As the name suggests, it is made on a tawa.  The street vendors use a huge tawa, but at home it is difficult to make it in a small tawa. So you can make it in a kadai.  This pulao can be made with different combo of veggies and the main ingredient here is Pav Bhaji Masala.  This tawa pulao recipe can be made with leftover rice too.  It is very easy to prepare and quite delicious.  Tawa pulao tastes best with raita, yogurt, chips or papad.


Tawa Pulao, Mumbai Tawa Pulao


If you are looking for more pulao recipes, then do check out Channa Pulao, Methi Pulao, Green peas Pulao.

Tuesday 5 September 2017

Bachali Kura Pappu | Malabar Spinach Dal | Andhra Bachali Koora Pappu


Bachali Kura is also called Malabar Spinach or Indian Spinach and Pui saag in Bengali.  It is very rich in iron and protein.  There are quite a few dishes made with these leaves like Bachali kura fry, bachali kura pachadi, bachali kura pulusubachali kura ava pulusu, bachali kura pappu, bachali kura majjiga pulusu, etc.


Bachali Kura Pappu, Malabar Spinach Dal

Today's recipe is Bachali Kura Pappu, a traditional Andhra recipe.  This is a simple yet tasty dal and with the combo of lentils and protein-rich bachali packs quite a nutritious punch.  A must-have healthy dish on your weekly menu.  It tastes awesome with plain hot rice and ghee.

If you are looking for more dal/lentil recipes, do check these out:

Mullangi/Radish Sambar,   Idli SambarMenthi Koora/Fenugreek leaves PappuVankaya/Eggplant Pullagura

Saturday 19 August 2017

Macaroni Pasta | Indian Style Masala Macaroni Pasta | Kids Lunch Box Recipe


Veg Macaroni Pasta or Masala Pasta is a tasty one-pot meal that is prepared with desi spices, macaroni and mixed vegetables.  This flavorful pasta tastes super yumm and is a sure hit with the kids.  It is quite easy to prepare and can be served as dinner for kids or even pack as lunch for school.

There are different variations to preparing pasta, but this version of the Macaroni Pasta is very tasty and can be prepared quickly compared to the others.  I have used elbow-shaped macaroni here, but you can use any other shape pasta too like spiral or cylindrical and make this recipe.

Veg Macaroni Pasta, Indian Masala Pasta

Thursday 17 August 2017

Cornflakes Mixture | Corn Flakes Chivda | Makai Chivda


Cornflakes Chivda or Corn Flakes Mixture is a delicious healthy snack that is quite easy to prepare.  Generally this is made with plain corn flakes (not the cereal version like Kellogs that is available in stores) and deep fried in oil.  I have used the ready-to-eat cereal cornflakes where I do not have to deep fry them.  So it does not require too much oil and if you are looking for a healthy snack for your kids, you can try this out.

Cornflakes mixture is very easy to prepare compared to the traditional South Indian mixture.

If you are looking for more snack recipes, check these out:

Masala Vada
Potato Bajji
Medu Vada
Beguni/Brinjal Fritters


Cornflakes Mixture, Cornflakes Chivda


Tuesday 8 August 2017

Coconut Sevai | Thengai Sevai | Easy Idiyappam Recipes


Coconut Sevai or Thengai Sevai is a simple, delicious South Indian breakfast item that is packed with flavor.  It does not have too many ingredients and is quite easy to prepare.   The preparation of this rice noodle recipe is quite similar to how we make coconut rice.  This makes for a good lunch box recipe too.

I have used instant sevai available in the market and cooked as per instructions on the packet.  You can make this coconut sevai recipe with fresh sevai or even with idiyappam.  There are so many healthy variations that can be made with sevai like lemon sevai, vegetable sevai, curd sevai, tamarind sevai, masala sevai that are all equally delicious.

Coconut Sevai, Thengai Sevai

Monday 31 July 2017

Vankaya Batani Kura | Brinjal Green Peas Curry | Vankaya Batani Curry Andhra Style


Brinjal is one veggie which not many people like, but they don't know what they are missing out on.  There are quite a few delicious recipes made with brinjal like gutti vankaya kura, baingan ka bharta, aloo baingan sabzi, noone vankaya koora, vankaya pachadi, beguni, begun bhaja, vankaya pulla kura or pullagura.

I am sharing here one such tasty recipe - Vankaya Pachi Batani Kura.  It  is a simple, delicious and flavorful curry that goes very well with plain hot rice and rotis.


Vankaya Batani Kura, Baingan Matar Masala

Thursday 27 July 2017

Seppankizhangu Varuval | Crispy Arbi Fry | Chamagadda Talimpu | Arbi Roast


Arbi Roast / Chamadumpa Vepudu is a stir-fry dish from South India.  I consider arbi, also known as colocasia or taro root, to be one of the tastiest vegetable (of course next to Potato).  It tastes best when deep fried, but those who don't prefer deep fried, can try this version.  Here Arbi is boiled, peeled and cut into circles and pan fried with spices.  I like both the versions as both taste equally good.  Sambar with Seppakizhangu Fry is one of the most amazing combos.

This no onion no garlic arbi recipe is quite easy to prepare.  If you are looking for more stir-fry dishes, do check these out:  Raw Banana Stir Fry, broad bean stir fry, banana stem stir fry, grated carrot stir fry.


Arbi Roast Seppankizhangu Varuval



Saturday 22 July 2017

Aloo Tamatar Ki Sabzi | Potato and Tomato Curry for Poori | Aloo Tamatar Curry


Aloo Tamatar Ki Sabji or Tomato and Potato Curry - a classic combo of potatoes and tomatoes along with the spices gives a delicious, flavorful and tangy curry.  This simple and flavorful dish is a regular breakfast item in most Indian households.   This delicous Aloo Tamatar Curry can be served as a perfect side to Pooris and parathas and this being a dry version goes well with all types of lentils too.


Aloo Tamatar ki Sabzi, Potato Tomato Curry


Saturday 8 July 2017

Beetroot Stir Fry | Beetroot Poriyal | Beetroot Fry Andhra Style


Beetroot is one of the wonder veggies that is packed with nutrients and is a natural blood purifier.  Normally kids don't prefer it.  So it is a task for mummies to make sure they take it at least once a week.  There are quite a few dishes where we can use beetroot like curry, stir fry, salad, kootu, sambar, chutney or even as a stuffing in parathas.

I am presenting here one such dish, beetroot stir-fry with coconut.

Beetroot Stir Fry or Beetroot Vepudu is a delicious, simple and healthy stir-fry that tastes best with sambar or rasam. Can be had with roti too.   It is easy to prepare and doesn't require too many ingredients.  Make sure to include this healthy beetroot sabzi in your weekly menu..


Beetroot Poriyal, Beetroot Vepudu


If you are looking for more poriyals or stir-fry recipes, check the recipes below:

Raw Banana Stir Fry
Chikkudukaya Vepudu/ Broadbeans Stir Fry
Banana Stem Stir-fry With lentils
Radish greens stir fry/ Mullangi Keerai poriyal
Grated carrot Stir Fry

Saturday 17 June 2017

Raw Banana Fry Recipe | Vazhakkai Varuval | Plantain Stir fry


Raw Banana Fry or Vazhakkai Fry is a traditional poriyal or side dish from South India.   Raw banana is one of those vegetables (apart from potato, of course) which tastes awesome when stir fried. Unlike other stir fries, aratikaya vepudu cooks real fast.  This vazhakkai curry tastes awesome with sambar or rasam and goes well most of the rice varieties too.


Raw Banana Fry, Aratikaya Vepudu

If you are looking for more stir fry recipes,  check these out:

Okra Stir Fry

Bengali style Brinjal Fry

Potato Fry