Vendakkai puli mandi recipe | South Indian gravies

Vendakkai puli mandi , is basically a chettinad recipe, with vendakkai | ladies finger based gravy, pairs well with plain rice. Though i have heard this, happened to taste this in my neice wedding, i recently attended in India. Me and my sister got hooked up by its taste and asked the person who was serving, the name of the dish. Then we both went straight into the kitchen and looked for the chief cook and asked him the recipe. He was bit busy that time and gave his phone number and asked me to contact him the next day. So after the wedding got over, the next day i called the chief cook (Mr. Janakiraman)  and he patiently explained the recipe and also clarified my queries on few other authentic recipes too.
Check out my other south Indian gravy recipes

• Vendaya keerai kara kuzhambu
• Arai puli kuzhambu 

Sun dried pesto pasta recipe | Easy pasta recipes

Sun dried Tomato pesto pasta is a simple pasta  recipe, made with sun dried tomatoes as a base. I have got few varities of pasta from Italy, during our Europe trip. And now slowly exploring interesting pasta recipes too. I have a pack of sun dried tomatoes lying in my freezer for some time. Few days back when my cousin shared a picture of a pasta in Instagram. As the name sounded interesting, i asked her the recipe. She messaged me quickly and on seeing that itself i somehow felt, i should try this soon . She made the pasta with store bought basil pesto. But since i have sun dried tomatoes wanted to make use of it and tried with that. Generally pesto recipes uses parmesan cheese in it. But since they say it is not suitable for vegetarians, i just omitted the parmesan and added olive oil in that place. Check out my other pasta recipes.

• Pumpkin sauce pasta
• Sweet corn pasta

Murmura Chivda | Kara pori recipe

Murmura chivda | Kara pori is a healthy tea time snack, with less oil.  I have tasted this for the first time when we had my first tea time party with my friends here, when we moved to the new apartment here. After that though i have tasted it many times,only now it came to my mind to post this recipe. Many readers asked me post video recipes, though i have made few videos but never made full video recipe so far. I have difficulty in taking videos in my kitchen stove and so i bought a separate single portable one. I was introduced to this Iwatani gas stove during one of my cookery show which i did in Singapore for Mother's day. It was quite comfortable and quite easy to handle.  Also i  have started teaching traditional brahmin recipes, through skype . This i am not doing as a business, but just to share my knowledge for a set of people who are learning vedic traditions.  For that also, i needed this single stove and so finally i bought that last weekend. First time used it for the skype class yesterday.  Finally tried my hands on video and for that i chose and easy recipe. I will try to post videos for my recipes whenever possible. I am still in the learning process, but will surely improve and post more quality videos in the future. Check out my beach style karapori recipe and pori upma 

Nalla karam podi | Andhra style nallakaram podi recipe

Nalla karam podi is a variety of idli milagai podi, made with  coriander seeds, red chili as the major ingredients. This is a popular andhra style podi. As we all knows Andhra style podis are more famous and quite spicy too. I have heard a lot about this podi but never tasted or tried even once. During our holiday, we met a mom and daughter, who are basically from hyderabad. Suddenly it flashed me to ask the recipe from her and messaged her yesterday. She replied back to me that her mil is expert in cooking and today morning gave me the recipe. Actually her mil wrote down the recipe in telugu and took a picture of it and sent to her. So sweet of her, she translated that and messaged me back. It turned out very well and i am waiting to have with my dosa , for tomorrow breakfast. I just had this with rice ghee and a little podi. It tasted very nice.

Chakka varatti recipe | Jack fruit preserve | jam

Chakka varatti is an authentic Kerala recipe made with jack fruit and jaggery. During my recent trip to India for my niece wedding, we as a group of family members were sitting and talking in the evening. One of my mami ,who is a native of palakad, was telling us that she sent few things for her daughter studying in abroad and one among them is her most favourite chakka varatti. Among the things sent to her, all the things reached except this chakkavaratti. Mami felt so bad and so as her daughter and she was sadly narrating to us this incident. When all of them were listening to this, i suddenly asked, "oh mami, how you make that and can you explain". For a moment everyone looked at me and we all burst into laughter. Then mami explained it well and i noted it down too. 2 days back i saw the local wet market selling jackfruit and i immediately bought and made the chakka varatti. It turned out very well and we all loved it. Its quite addictive too. Also mami shared the recipe of  payasam they make with this jackfruit preserve. Will post the recipe soon. Check out my chakka pradaman recipe. 

Aloo Baingan recipe | Potato and eggplant subzi

Aloo baingan (urulai kathrikkai poriyal) is a north indian style dry subzi  with potatoes and eggplant. I have noted down few recipes which i tasted during our trip, to London and Europe, and more than all liked by the kids. This aloo baingan subzi, we tasted on our first day of our trip. We all loved it very much and kids who generally don't take eggplant, loved it very much. So i tried this last weekend at home, and it was a super hit. This goes well with both  chapathi and rice. Stay tuned for more recipes coming up, which i learnt during my family holiday and my extended holiday to India for wedding.

Paneer Sevai recipe | Easy Tiffin recipes

A quick and easy tiffin recipe made with paneer and instant sevai. If you are looking for an easy yet delicious tiffin, then this paneer sevai is a must try one. We are back from our London, Europe holiday and after that i visited India, for my niece wedding. Still using the drafted posts which i have scheduled for the vacation. Yet to take the camera in hands and click a new recipe. Stay tuned for more interesting recipes coming up. Check out my masala idiyappam recipe and curry leaves sevai recipe.

Veg Kheema Masala recipe | Side dish for roti

Veg kheema masala is a creamy masala gravy, generally served with roti | naan. I have already posted cauliflower kheema recipe, which is a dry one. This veg kheema masala i have given for my monthly contribution for Kungumam Thozi , and got published in the May month issue. This recipe is easy to make and also the rich texture will surely impress your family and guests.

Mango dal recipe | Andhra mamidikaya pappu recipe

Raw Mango dal | mamidikaya pappu is a popular dal recipe of andhra, the dal is cooked with raw mangoes and mild spices. As mango is in season, i thought i will post this mango dal recipe. the friend of mine from whom i learnt andhra pulihora taught me this mango dal too. It is a very easy recipe and it turned out very well. Try out this mango dal in this mango season and i am sure you will love this mamidikaya pappu . This goes well with rice and roti too. Check out my cut mango pickle and avakkai pickle too.

Eggless Chocolate Brownie | chocolate brownie recipe

Eggless chocolate brownie, i have tried this recipe quite a lot of times and every time it is a super hit. Few months back when i did a cookery show in a nearby community center, i made this eggless chocolate brownie along with the hara bhara pulao and potato halwa. All the recipes were super hit in the show. I have adapted the recipe for chocolate brownie from nag's space. This brownie was super hit among my kids and their friends too.  The color of the brownie depends on the brand of cocoa powder. This time i used the bake king brand and it turned out bit dark. Check out my other eggless baking recipes. As today is Varsha's birthday, i thought today i will post this brownie recipe.
Update : You can bake this in the pressure cooker too. Check this link and follow  the instructions.