HuLi Avalakki | Gojjavalakki

Spicy, tangy avalakki/poha with crunchy groundnuts served with curd/yogurt
07/25/2016 10:04:22 PM vindhyadesai

HuLi (tangy/sour) avalakki is a tangy and spicy poha dish. It is made by adding powdered poha/avalakki into a masala made using saarina pudi/rasam powder, tamarind and jaggery. It is a specialty dish from Mysore-Bangalore region. This is one of my favourite breakfasts. In top 5 :)! I love the spicy, tangy notes in this dish. I make this for festivals especially for no feast festivals like Mahashivaratri, Ram Navami, Nagara Chauthi/Panchmi and other festivals like Ganesh Chaturthi. It is also served as prasada/prasad/offering in temples (the tastiest). Serve with curd/yogurt, a winner combination. I learnt to make this from one my aunts, full credit to her for teaching me this recipe. My MIL makes a slightly different version, she boils the masala mixture which gives a more gojju like taste (hence the name gojjavalakki), which is again super yum! ... “HuLi Avalakki | Gojjavalakki”

Neer Dosa

Thin, soft, light neer dosas with kaayi bella and chutney
07/17/2016 4:58:10 PM vindhyadesai

Neer Dosas are made from grinding rice and coconut, they are crepe like in texture and are fluffy. “Neer”  literally translates to “Water” in Tulu. But Neer Dosa means dosa made from  a batter which is thin in consistency. Neer Dosa is a very easy recipe and light on the stomach, eaten mainly for breakfast. It’s a popular dish of Dakshina Kannada. The stepwise pictures I have here are a little dull as there was little light when I shot the pictures and white does not picture well anyway 🙂 Enjoy these soft dosas! ... “Neer Dosa”

Paddu | Davanagere Benne Paddu | Gundupongala

Crisp, golden Davanagere benne paddu, served with groundnut chutney
07/03/2016 7:16:13 PM vindhyadesai

Again, a super-speciality dish from Karnataka, Davanagere benne paddu. Davanagere/Davangere is the famous city which has given the famous benne dosa, benne khaali dosa, benne paddu is another super tasty dish. Paddu/gundupongala, is it dosa? Is it idli? It looks both like soft idli and crisp dosa, tastes like dosa and a little soft inside. Make this instead of dosa or idli for a weekend morning breakfast. Making paddu needs a special type of pan which looks like an idli plate but is like a non-stick or cast iron skillet/tawa. Making paddus needs patience but once the paddu pan is  seasoned and is hot, paddus can be made easily. ... “Paddu | Davanagere Benne Paddu | Gundupongala”

Oats porridge with toasted nuts and raisins | Oatmeal with dry nuts

Healthy oats porridge with crunchy toasted dry nuts
07/02/2016 5:09:46 PM vindhyadesai

When people think of porridge they are not very excited about it and if it is made of oats it might further drive them away. Oat is a cereal grain rich in dietary and soluble fibre and is known to lower bad cholesterol. Oatmeal or porridge need not be boring or tasteless. If it is made the right way it can be very tasty.
Do not buy the microwaveable variety instead buy regular unrefined whole bran oatmeal. Make porridge in milk, it will be very tasty and creamy. Adding in a handful of toasted nuts spikes up the health quotient of you oatmeal. Oatmeal or porridge oats are best for making porridge whereas old fashioned rolled oats can be used for making oats upma, cereal bars, crisps etc. ... “Oats porridge with toasted nuts and raisins | Oatmeal with dry nuts”

Eggless Banana Bread | Eggless Banana Loaf

Rich and fruity banana loaf, tastes best toasted lightly
06/10/2016 7:33:02 PM vindhyadesai

Banana bread or banana loaf makes for a nice breakfast. It is fruity, lightly spiced with cinnamon and wal-nutty. You can make it ahead of time. It stores well for 2 days at room temperature or 3-4 days when refrigerated. It has a nice deep colour from the brown or muscavado sugar. I make it with wheat flour(atta) and tastes better if it is toasted with butter. The key to a good loaf of banana bread is to use ripe bananas which makes the bread moist. Do not over mix the batter especially because wheat flour makes a slightly denser and chewy crumb. ... “Eggless Banana Bread | Eggless Banana Loaf”

Khaali Dosa | Khali Dosa

Light and fluffy dosas served with coconut chutney and a blob of butter
06/05/2016 1:05:57 PM vindhyadesai

Khaali Dosa, it always reminds me of Sunday mornings. A famous hotel from old Bengaluru/Bangalore, Hotel Dwarka serves the best khaali dosas. Khaali meaning ’empty’ in Kannada, khaali dosas do not have any filling in them like masala dosas. Light and fluffy dosas served with chutney and butter, simply one of the best breakfasts. Here’s the recipe for khaali dosa for you to make them and reminisce about good, old, traditional dishes from South Karnataka. ... “Khaali Dosa | Khali Dosa”

Aloo Masala

Potato gravy or aloo masala for rava idli
05/22/2016 11:50:35 AM vindhyadesai

Aloo masala is a light gravy to accompany rava idli or chapathis or rotis. Boiled and mashed potatoes are mixed in tangy tomato gravy. Simple ingredients and easy to make. MTR hotel serves rava idlis with aloo masala along with ghee and chutney, a unique combination not found in a lot of eateries. I have already posted Rava Idli recipe and here is the aloo masala recipe to go along with it. Enjoy it for a sumptuous weekend breakfast! ... “Aloo Masala”

Steamed Akki Roti | Ukkarisida Akki Roti

Light and soft, melt in the mouth rotis made from rice flour
04/29/2016 10:29:20 PM vindhyadesai

Wondering what to make for breakfast on a weekend? Try making these soft steamed akki rotis. Soft melt in the mouth rotis made from rice flour with very less or no oil are a perfect start to a day. They are extremely light, can be served with any chutney of your choice or even leftover sabji. I served them this time with cluster bean/gorikayi chutney. ... “Steamed Akki Roti | Ukkarisida Akki Roti”

Red Grape Apple Smoothie

Easy to whip up, red grape, apple, banana smoothie, thick and smooth
04/28/2016 05:49:38 AM vindhyadesai

If you are in a hurry and you are looking for a quick breakfast light yet filling then a smoothie is the answer. Loaded with fibre and packed with nutrients, fruit smoothies require no added sugar and are absolutely delicious. Here I have used vanilla yogurt icecream and milk. You can substitute them with a non-dairy icecream and almond milk and skip honey to make it vegan. I have also added weetabix which is a high fibre high protein biscuit. Whip them all up till smooth and you will be set for a busy morning. ... “Red Grape Apple Smoothie”

Haal Kesari | Milk Kesari

Fudgy, melt in the mouth sweet, oozing with ghee and kesari flavour
04/21/2016 9:34:35 PM vindhyadesai

Made with ordinary ingredients found at home, it makes for a very satisfying sweet or dessert to satisfy your sweet tooth. It is made with fine cream of wheat, cashews, raisins, milk, ghee and sugar with saffron enhancing the flavour & colour. Most importantly it can be served warm, at room temperature and you can even make it ahead of time. The classic South Indian breakfast combination of upma & kesari together is called chow chow bhaat. ... “Haal Kesari | Milk Kesari”