Sambar is a famous South Indian side dish. It is like a vegetable stew cooked with all kinds of vegetables, lentil, asafoetida, sambar powder, and a final touch of tamarind broth. All these ingredients make sambar healthy, creamy and delicious. Altho you can choose any vegetables you want, lentil and drumsticks are must-have ingredients for sambar. Finally, sambar is seasoned with mustard…
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Breadfruit Curry (Kada-chakka Curry)
Breadfruit curry (kada-chakka Curry) is a Kerala curry served with rice. Breadfruit belongs to mulberry and jackfruit family. Some say breadfruit taste like freshly baked bread or like a potato. In Kerala, India, it is known as kada-chakka or sheema-chakka because it looks like a small seedless jackfruit. A long time ago voyagers took bred fruit seeds to different parts…
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Cauliflower Stir-Fry
Cauliflower is the crunchy white vegetable that is popular in America and many other parts of the world. It is one of those rare vegetables in South India. As South Indians adopted to America, we made our recipe out of this vegetable too. Cauliflower stir-fry is another recipe from my mom’s kitchen created with local fresh produce. Cauliflower is rich in vitamin K,…
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Seasoned Plain Yogurt with Coconut (Pulisheeri)
Seasoned Plain yogurt is a classic curry that is present in almost every celebration in Kerala. Pulicheeri (seasoned plain yogurt) can be made with or without coconut. Adding some coconut will give it a unique nutty flavor. Homemade plain yogurt has impressive health benefits. It’s rich in calcium, and vitamin A. Homemade yogurt is an excellent source of probiotics, helps with…
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Pumpkin Eriseeri
When it comes to pumpkins, it’s time to think beyond Halloween decorations and Thanksgiving pie fillings. Pumpkin eriseeri is a commonly made in Kerala during festivals like onam, vishu, and in many other celebrations. This curry is a combination of pumpkin and small red beans (adzuki beans) cooked in fresh coconut gravy. If you make this curry right, it’s very…
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Green Papaya Stir-Fry
Papaya plants are prevalent in south India. You can find papaya plants in almost everyone’s backyard in South India. Papaya plants are also grown abundantly in Central America, Thailand, and in many other tropical regions of the world. Although papaya fruits are papular in the world, green papayas also have its value among the vegetables. Green papayas or unripe papayas…
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Carrot Stir-Fry
Carrot stir-fry (carrot thoran) is a colorful and delicious Kerala side dishes for rice. Carrots combined with onion, garlic, coconut and curry leaves creates a unique flavor. This stir-fry adds, color, taste, and texture on to your dish with plenty of health benefits. Carrots is filled with vitamin A which is very good for healthy eyes. It is also rich…
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Green Plantain Stir-Fry
Green plantain stir-fry (Vazhakka) is a typical vegetable side dish for rice in Kerala, India. It’s high in potassium, vitamin A, vitamin C, and calcium. Green plantains contain plenty of vitamins and minerals per serving that it is a very healthy choice to include in your food. It is also one of those vegetables that lasts longer in your fridge.…
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Bitter Gourd (Bitter Melon) Pavakka Theeyal
Pavakka Theeyal or bitter gourd (melon) curry is a typical Kerala curry served with rice. Bitter melon is a common vegetable in Kerala. It is used all over the world because of its health benefits. Bitter gourd plays a significant part in preventing diseases. It contains polypeptide—plant insulin which helps in lowering blood sugar levels. Bitter gourd is known for…
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Seasoned Plain Yogurt (Pulisheeri)
Seasoned plain yogurt is a typical curry in Kerala, India. It is the combination with rice on almost every special occasion. The preparation for this curry starts a few days before by making plain yogurt at home. The taste of this curry depends on the quality of your yogurt. You can also find plain yogurt in grocery stores. The…
