Fraud Sambhar Sadam with Cauli-Rice

Have you every wondered how good it would be to have a typical South India feast without the typical “rice”? What is a typical South Indian feast you might ask?

Why it’s decadent Onion tomato sambhar sadam, with potato curry, tomato rasam, yogurt rice, lemon pickle and fried appalam. Oh gosh, my mouth waters just thinking about it. Well, everytime I do think about it, I cannot get past the fact that the omnipresent rice has so much carbs and no real nutrients for that matter.

How good would it be to substitute rice with something so nutritious, and something that you can eat how much ever you want and one who taste is exactly the same as rice? So Good!!!.. Yep, that is what I have here.

Enough of chatter, lets get down to business so you can rediscover your South Indian feast. Enjoy!!

 

Not So Regular Avial / Coconutty Stew’p

Generally, people look in to what vegetable they have to decide what they are going to make. I am the other kind, where I decide what I want to eat and generally put whatever vegetable is at hand. That is why is this the “Not-So-Regular-Avial” because it has vegetables that is not used to make one but the concept is the same.

The painting (Reproduction – Mexican Folk Art) is one I did as a gift for friend’s wedding. I just wanted an excuse to show it here.  Enjoy!

Pumpkin, Mung and Coconut Stew’p

Isn’t it cold and gloomy already. It’s only a matter of days before the snow creeps up on us. That is why I have a perfect remedy for your cold weather blues. This stew’p has more than just pumpkins, Mung dhaal and Coconut. Infact it has a mix of tasty ingredients that would warm you from inside out. I personally loved it more than any other soups or stew I made. This is nothing but a toned down version of the humble South Indian Kootu. The Kootu is a little spicy to allow it to mingle with rice, but here it’s mellow and warm. Enjoy!

Green Peas Masala

This post is dedicated to two of my colleagues at my office who have been patiently asking me about this recipe when I made it for an office cultural diversity program. Thank you so much for your interest it means a lot to me.

And also presenting to you below is my recipe for #thanksgiving.  Happy Dining everyone!!!

Happy Navarathri with Low Calorie Iced Tea

It has been a long time since I posted something on this blog and that is indeed a crime. But I am very happy that few of my friends came to me and asked why I have updated my blog for a long time. It definitely brought a smile to my face and it felt good. Hence this post.

I am hoping that Navarathri ended happily at your house. For me, it has been a pretty hectic weekend (Wish it had come over two weekends like last time).  Had invited guest for Breakfast, lunch and dinner. No kidding! Here is a list of items that I prepared on various days for guests.

• Moong Dhal Dosai
• Coconut chutney
• Red pepper chutney (thogaiyal actually)
• Onion Tomato sambhar (araichutvitta sambhar)
• Chick Peas sundal
• Spicy Buttermilk (With ground onion and green chillies)
• Okra sambhar (Araichuvitta sambhar)
• Eggplant Stir fry (Kathirikkai podi potta curry)
• Cucumber raita
• Kara Paniyaaram (Made from medu vada maavu)
• Chick peas sundal
• Tapioca Pudding (Javvarisi Payasam)
• Semiya Kichadi
• Lime pickle
• Peas masala
• Dhal Tadka
• Onion pakoda (the south indian one)
• Low Cal Iced Tea

Of all the things that I have noted above, the one we love the most is the Low Calorie Iced tea. It’s a wonderful replacement to all those sugary drinks for those hot days (It’s almost fall!!, please excuse). It is ridiculously easy to make and it keeps well in the fridge

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My Garden–Part 2

There has been some new additions to be garden.

First off, my sunflower has bloomed! Yay! I waited patiently for it to grow from seeds, to baby plant to full grown plant and to a flowering plant. I “noticed” a curious thing about sunflowers. They do follow the sun!! I mean, I knew it from biology classes and everything, but it was a pleasant revelation to “discover” it. In the mornings, the flowers face the sun, at noon, they are upright and in the evening they point west! I think someday, I should shoot a time lapse video of its doing.

The next is a huge dinner plate sized Hibiscus. I have never seen such a huge flower in my life before I moved to New England. I had been wanting to get one for a long time and I finally found a nursery near my place that sold it. So here is the treat for your eyes. Enjoy!

Salad To-Go

We take salad for lunch. I am sure there are eyebrows being raised and I can understand the reasons for it. Here is why we do.

1. It is healthy to eat a salad. This is given. But be warned, that you could ingest more calories in to you than from a simple lunch, if you do not watch what you are putting in to it
2. It is really, simply, the most easiest thing you could ever do for lunch. Trust me. You can pack this overnight or, you can do this in the morning in 15 mins
3. It is a great way to get some fruits in to your diet, especially, apples. Since we started, we are averaging 1 apple a day, half goes in to the salad and half we munch later.
4. It is also a great way to count your calories
5. Your intestine will thank you

I originally started making salad to really have something healthy and light to eat for lunch. But then since I figured out point #2, I cannot stop making it. Enjoy!

My Dirty Cherry Tomatoes

Fresh off my garden. ‘nuff said!

Tomato Soup

I love tomato soups. That sounds simple enough right? No. I love those creamy, decadent types that brings so much warmth to your heart. With it comes this uncomfortable amount of calories and fat, because of which I never used to make soups at home. Having it at restaurants once in a blue moon was luxury. This all changed one night, when I let my hubby make this soup. Two surprises, one,  I let my hubby in to the kitchen to *GASP* cook. Second, I absolutely, head-over-heels loved it (not because he cooks bad, but I am just difficult to please). So I am, sharing my hubby’s recipe with you. Relish it to your heart’s content, because its vegan. Enjoy!

VegWorcester Dining Guide

Hello All,