Besan Ladoo | Besan Unde | Ladoo Recipes | Sweet Recipes

Melt in the mouth, laden with ghee and crunchy nuts, special besan ladoo
08/07/2018 9:18:23 PM vindhyadesai

When summer holidays used to arrive we used to always have besan ladoo, avalakki chivda and kodubale at home. My mother always ensured she stocked up on these favourite North Karnataka snacks. Besan ladoo and avalakki chivda are infact the 2 most important snacks in a North Karnataka household. When you visit someone’s house you are sure to be offered these snacks. A cup of fresh chai and guests are served!
The trick to make fragrant and non-pasty/non-dry besan ladoo is patience. Yes you heard me right, you have to fry the mixture on low flame for quite sometime to get the right consistency, colour and taste! I mention it multiple times throughout this post, never ever be tempted to increase the heat on your pan, the mixture will turn into a clay like colour (ew!).

... “Besan Ladoo | Besan Unde | Ladoo Recipes | Sweet Recipes”

Beetroot Halwa | Halwa Recipes | Sweet Recipes

Bright, sweet and delicious beetroot halwa
05/30/2018 12:21:51 PM vindhyadesai

Halwa is one of the easiest sweet dishes to prepare. It is quite easy to get the correct consistency when one follows a recipe. Beetroot halwa definitely falls in that category. Bright coloured grated beetroot simmered with milk and sugar and adorned with ghee fried cashews and raisins. That is a winner!
Beetroot halwa sounds rich and indulgent and for me the colour is the biggest factor of this delicious halwa. We always make carrot halwa and is pretty common across India. But beetroot halwa can also be just as delicious and because beetroots are naturally so sweet they make the halwa sweeter. ... “Beetroot Halwa | Halwa Recipes | Sweet 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”

7 Cups Barfi | Seven Cups Recipe | Sweet Recipes

Traditional and tasty, 7 Cups barfi with a nutty texture
04/24/2018 10:14:06 PM vindhyadesai

How do I begin to describe this all time favourite barfi of mine. Years ago I tried this recipe and I have used the same recipe ever since making minor adjustments and changing the size of the ‘Cup’ used to make this 7 Cups barfi.
This 7 Cups barfi has 7 Cups of a combination of simple ingredients like besan, sugar, coconut, ghee, milk and big handful of cashews. The nuttiness imparted from cashews makes the 7 Cups barfi a sure shot favourite with kids. Making this does require patience but the fruits of labour are sweet and rewarding, you do get a very nice barfi to eat. ... “7 Cups Barfi | Seven Cups Recipe | Sweet Recipes”

Majjige | Chaas Recipe | Summer Recipes

Cool and refreshing, Ram Navami special homemade majjige or chaas
03/23/2018 10:01:59 PM vindhyadesai

A glass of majjige or chaas is what one needs in sweltering heat. It is like a lifeline to the parched throat. The coolness of watery majjige is very good for the gut and has a cooling effect on your body. Very simple to make, all it takes is a little set plain curd/yogurt and little salt. You can add chopped coriander and a little tadka for some extra flavour.
Majjige also aids in digestion and is made throughout India and called by different names. It is usually given as an after meal drink or served for festivals like Ram Navami. Curd/yogurt is beaten/churned till it turns even and then lot of water is added so it becomes watery. This is then chilled till it is served or you can serve majjige by adding ice cubes in them. ... “Majjige | Chaas Recipe | Summer Recipes”

Bellada Panaka | Gur Ki Sharbat | Juice Recipes

Cool, refreshing, a must for Ram Navami celebration – bellada panaka
03/21/2018 9:50:23 PM vindhyadesai

Panaka is a refreshing drink made with fresh lemon juice and it is generally sweetened with sugar. But this authentic cooling beverage is made from jaggery to result in a very nice bellada panaka. Jaggery or bella is unrefined and is not processed as much as sugar and is better for you. Moreover it is rich in minerals making it a healthy drink.
Bellada panaka is a must for Ram Navami festival. Along with majjige these are served in big pitchers on the streets by enthusiastic people and it’s for a good cause. It definitely helps the people to recover from the heat and is a big colourful celebration! It is flavoured with elaichi and a little dry ginger powder, black pepper powder and is chilled before serving. The lemon juice rounds up all the flavours so well, a simply super drink! ... “Bellada Panaka | Gur Ki Sharbat | Juice Recipes”

Carrot Saaru | Carrot Rasam | Rasam Recipes

Mild, sweet & piping hot carrot saaru or rasam, a great accompaniment with steamed rice
03/19/2018 9:41:50 PM vindhyadesai

Saaru or rasams are simple and light especially after making a heavy meal for festivals like Ugadi. I am a big fan different kinds of saaru and one such easy one is carrot saaru. It will be great to incorporate vegetables into saaru, they give a distinct taste. Carrots are very versatile and they really blend in well in this carrot saaru a slightly carrot’y taste, a little sweetness and also has the healing properties of saaru.
Piping hot carrot saaru mixed with hot steamed rice and there’s nothing like it. Very comforting and soothing, makes you feel refreshed and satisfied after a heavy meal. I have added some additional spices like jeera and black pepper along with saarina pudi/rasam powder. These spices take the taste and goodness of carrot saaru to the next level. ... “Carrot Saaru | Carrot Rasam | Rasam Recipes”

Maavinakayi Chitranna | Raw Mango Chitranna | Bhaat Recipes

Flavourful & fresh, marking the arrival of spring and Ugadi special, maavinakayi chitranna
03/17/2018 7:17:01 AM vindhyadesai

Raw mangoes/maavinakayi are best eaten during the ‘season’. Firm, fresh raw mangoes taste best when made into a spicy maavinakayi chutney i.e. mango chutney or this maavinakayi chitranna. It’s heaven in the mouth with the play of all flavours, sourness from the raw mangoes, spiciness from chillies, light bitterness from methi seeds and sweetness from the jaggery.
It’s the best combination there is to mix with some cooked rice. The crunch of the groundnuts makes this super simple maavinakayi chitranna fit to made for a grand festival like Ugadi. It’s that time of the year when you get the first good crop of raw mangoes and they are very juicy and flavourful. Try this maavinakayi chitranna this Ugadi. ... “Maavinakayi Chitranna | Raw Mango Chitranna | Bhaat Recipes”

Dry Nuts Holige | Dry Nuts Obbattu | Ugadi Recipes

Rich, nutty, delicious, Ugadi special obbattu, dry nuts holige
03/14/2018 10:24:30 PM vindhyadesai

A rich and delicious treat is the best way to celebrate grand festivals like Ugadi and Deepavali. What better dish than dry nuts holige or obbattu for such festivals. Dry nuts holige has a rich dry nuts filling inside a thinly rolled out whole wheat dough then roasted with homemade ghee.
For dry nuts holige you can basically add any kind of dry nuts like pistachios, cashews, almonds, walnuts, pecans all unsalted and unroasted of course. The dry mixture consists of dry nuts obviously and some subtle spices like elaichi and javitri (mace). It’s made into a nice soft filling and then rolled out just like a paratha. ... “Dry Nuts Holige | Dry Nuts Obbattu | Ugadi 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”