Vangi Bhaat Masala | Bhaat Pudi | Homemade Bhaat Powder

Aromatic homemade vangi bhaat masala, a spice powder to make rice bhaat
08/26/2018 6:37:10 PM vindhyadesai

Homemade masalas are the best, they are fresh and aromatic. Such masalas are free from preservatives and artificial additives. That’s a good start to any dish especially rice based dishes. Different kinds of bhaat are made in South India which are based on some vegetable. Freshly powdered masala should be a part of such flavourful dishes. Vangi bhaat masala is very essential in Karnataka.
Vangi means brinjal or aubergine and a tasty rice dish is prepared with it called vangi bhaat. A special spice powder or masala that goes into it is vangi bhaat masala. It has a variety of spices mostly commonly available at home. These spices are lightly toasted till aromatic and ground into a powder.

... “Vangi Bhaat Masala | Bhaat Pudi | Homemade Bhaat Powder”

Mini Idlis | Baby Idli | Hotel Style Mini Idli | Idli Recipes

Mini and fun to eat, drizzle with ghee or dunk in sambar, super tasty mini idlis
07/19/2018 10:02:49 PM vindhyadesai

As a kid when I used to go to hotels or darshinis (few & far between), I always ended up ordering masala dosa. But I used to be always fascinated by nice looking dishes like mini idlis served with tiffin sambar and chutney. Those mini idlis served with ghee and piping hot sambar is a sight!
Not to worry, making mini idlis might seem like a difficult task. I have always found that we, as home cooks get intimidated by making something mini or miniature in size. It somehow becomes a daunting task although we can rustle up big batches of meals to serve a crowd. Making these mini idlis is not that difficult after all. It is essentially idli recipe but made into mini idlis. ... “Mini Idlis | Baby Idli | Hotel Style Mini Idli | Idli Recipes”

Mangalore Southekayi Huli | Mangalore Southekayi Sambar | Sambar Recipes

A gem from Mangalore, a super delicious sambar, Mangalore Southekayi Huli
2018-05-27 3:48:00 PM vindhyadesai

Hot huLi a.k.a sambar with rice is a staple in most households in South India. Different regions of course have different ways of making sambar. Varieties of sambar with different vegetables are made. Each type of sambar is different as the masala added varies and vegetables render a special flavour of their own. Mangalore southekayi huli or sambar is a specialty from the Mangalore, Malnad and Udupi regions of Karnataka.
Soft Mangalore southekayi simmered in coconut masala and dal mixture is a super combination. Mixed with hot steamed rice and some ghee on top is a match made in heaven. Mangalore cucumber/southekayi is a cucumber variety grown in Malnad region and it has a very unique taste and texture. It is not very watery like regular cucumber and somewhat resembles a small white pumpkin in texture. ... “Mangalore Southekayi Huli | Mangalore Southekayi Sambar | Sambar Recipes”

Hotel Style Tiffin Sambar | Tiffin Sambar | Sambar Recipes

A must with idli, dosa and uddina vada, hotel style tiffin sambar
05/01/2018 9:45:27 PM vindhyadesai

Most hotels serve sambar with idli, dosas, pongal, and the ever popular uddina vada. Hotel style sambar also called tiffin sambar is an absolute must in tiffin centres and darshinis. Served with rice and a papad on the side is the saviour lunch for many people. It provides warmth and comfort to a hungry stomach. Daily office goers and factory goers depend on this tiffin sambar and rice.
So it is not only breakfast items but it is a staple in ‘tiffin’ boxes and carriers as they are called. Imagine dunking a piece of uddina vada in hot tiffin sambar, absolutely to die for! Plain tiffin sambar has pearl or sambar onions and tomatoes. A fresh masala is roasted and ground everyday and then simmered in a dal gravy. The more it boils the better it tastes. ... “Hotel Style Tiffin Sambar | Tiffin Sambar | Sambar Recipes”

Menthya Soppina Dosa | Methi Leaves Dosa | Dosa Recipes

Delicious and healthy, menthya soppina dosa or methi leaves dosa
04/26/2018 10:18:23 PM vindhyadesai

Finding ways to make dosas is one of my favourite activities in cooking. Dosas are delicious any day be it neer dosa, hotel style rava dosa or the ever favourite masala dosa. If you can incorporate leafy veg like menthya soppu/methi/fenugreek leaves to make menthya soppina dosa then kids will love it.
Menthya soppina dosa is also rich in protein with toor dal and urad dal. Rice provides the body and the all the masalas are added while grinding the batter giving it a super tasty flavour. Finely chopped methi leaves are then added and dosas are made. Menthya dosa tastes best with only a dollop of ghee. Some chutney on the side can also be served. ... “Menthya Soppina Dosa | Methi Leaves Dosa | Dosa Recipes”

Bendekayi Gojju | Okra Gojju | Gojju Recipes

Delicious and special gojju, Karnataka style bendekayi gojju
04/22/2018 5:44:14 PM vindhyadesai

Gojjus hold a special place in South Indian cuisine. Different regions and states have their own special and unique way of making gojjus. This bendekayi gojju from South Karnataka (Mysore style) is one such tangy and delicious gojju. The combination of flavours sweet, sour and spicy makes a very disliked vegetable like bendekayi/lady’s finger/okra look really good.
Bendekayi gojju can be eaten with chapathis or steamed rice. It is so delicious that it will leave you licking your fingers after eating a meal involving this gojju. As always with bendekayi/okra ensure they are not wet and damp. Wash them overnight, spread them on a kitchen towel and let them air dry. ... “Bendekayi Gojju | Okra Gojju | Gojju Recipes”

Mixed Vegetable Upma | Mixed Veg Uppittu | Breakfast Recipes

Most common yet best breakfast ever, mixed vegetable upma
04/11/2018 3:15:36 PM vindhyadesai

Upma or uppittu, how should I start describing this delicious, healthy dish. Most households in India make this super tasty breakfast. After idli and paratha, upma is the most commonly made dish, it is indeed an everyday dish. However upma is disliked by many, if you do not get the consistency right, it will lump up or become dry and boring. Try this mixed vegetable upma and follow the steps, you will always make upma the way it should be made. 
Mixed vegetable upma can be made with a variety of vegetables, like cabbage, beans, carrot and peas. Generally I add carrot, beans and peas the best combo. Upma needs to have the rava roasted well along with getting the right amount of oil/ghee and water to make the upma. Only then mixed vegetable upma for that matter any kind of upma will taste good. ... “Mixed Vegetable Upma | Mixed Veg Uppittu | Breakfast Recipes”

Allam Chutney | Ginger Chutney | Chutney Recipes

Spicy, tangy, a perfect accompaniment -allam chutney with pesarettu, mung beans dosa
04/07/2018 6:11:20 PM vindhyadesai

Chutneys are the heartbeat of any kind of dosa or idli. They bring the whole dish alive and gets your taste buds going. Chutneys should have the correct balance neither too spicy nor too bland, just the right amount. That is the reason why chutneys hold a dish together. Mouth-watering, lip-smacking and finger-licking, those are the exact phrases you will remember after eating a good chutney. One such chutney is this allam chutney or ginger chutney.
Allam chutney is the perfect chutney to go with pesarettu, spicy and tasty. Pesarettu are mung beans dosas and they taste best with this chutney. It is infact a classic combination, tasty and delicious. Allam chutney has some simple spices like methi seeds and black pepper. Ginger itself has a strong and unique flavour it makes this allam chutney fresh and tasty. ... “Allam Chutney | Ginger Chutney | Chutney Recipes”

Sweet Potato Chutney | Genasina Chutney | Chutney Recipes

Mildly spicy and sweet, easy side dish, sweet potato chutney
03/07/2018 10:09:09 PM vindhyadesai

Making chutney always seems like a daunting task. Especially if you have to grate loads of coconut. Sometimes it’s best to make chutneys with any available ingredient like any kind of vegetable, vegetable peels, dals, spices etc. Sweet potato chutney is one such chutney, easy and very flavourful, it has the right balance of flavours.
If you have a pile of sweet potatoes lying at home, pick up 1 or 2 of them and make this easy sweet potato chutney. It makes a great combination for dosa, idli or rotis. Sweet potato chutney does not involve a lot of ingredients, it can get ready in a jiffy and then you can savour your dosas and idlis with this chutney. The sweetness of sweet potatoes makes the chutney have rounder and full flavours. ... “Sweet Potato Chutney | Genasina Chutney | Chutney Recipes”

Malnad Style Gojjavalakki | Malnad Gojjavalakki | Breakfast Recipes

A simple and flavourful poha/avalakki dish, malnad style gojjavalakki
03/05/2018 10:00:05 PM vindhyadesai

I am always looking for new ways of making poha/avalakki. Most common ones are kayi avalakki, batata poha, kanda poha, matar poha etc. In Karnataka another famous poha/avalakki dish is huLi avalakki/gojjavalakki which I have already posted here. In this variation, I tried a malnad style gojjavalakki version with simple spices from Malnad region of Karnataka. All spices give a fresh flavour and make this dish really tasty.
Malnad style gojjavalakki can be eaten for breakfast or even for a light dinner. Tastes best served with curd/yogurt. The difference between Mysore/Bangalore style gojjavalakki and Malnad style gojjavalakki is the way in which the ‘gojju’ is made.
In Mysore/Bangalore gojjavalakki the ‘gojju masala’ is not cooked but it is allowed to set for a few hours and then mixed with powdered poha/avalakki. Whereas in Malnad style gojjavalakki the gojju is made fresh and is cooked just like in puliyogare. Either way both dishes taste great.
... “Malnad Style Gojjavalakki | Malnad Gojjavalakki | Breakfast Recipes”