Tag: Spices

Meethe Chawal | Saffron Rice | Kesar Pulao

Sweet and fragrant, simple saffron rice or meethe chawal
09/27/2024 12:50:07 PM vindhyadesai

A comeback to blogging after a long hiatus (really long) is difficult. As I sit here at my table and type I am trying to find inspiration from the innumerable food photos I have clicked and the efforts that went into it. Trying to find words and ideas to write a good introduction to this post after a long time makes me think about those initial days of blogging 2016. Now that little ‘S’ is at school full time I will be able to give time to food blogging. It’s been so long and here we are going to learn a very simple dish, sweet saffron rice or meethe chawal. ... “Meethe Chawal | Saffron Rice | Kesar Pulao”

Methi Poori | Methi Puri | Poori Recipes

Crispy and super delicious, a family favourite methi poori
05/06/2020 12:03:57 PM vindhyadesai

Poori in India, it’s not just any dish it’s a sentiment. Pooris are eaten with breakfast, lunch or dinner. They are associated with everyday casual lunches or for special occasions or for festivals. Those puffed up beauties are indeed such a greatly versatile dish. Everyone loves them adults and children alike, they have some sort of magnetic force. Pooris come in all sorts of flavours and methi poori is a special one.
Fresh and flavourful methi is the key to make flavourful poori. And what else is fresher than homegrown fresh methi aka fenugreek leaves. With much difficulty in this sun starved place I live in, I grew fresh methi by the conservatory door (to soak in some sun at least). The result was some fresh methi leaves which got used up for these poori. ... “Methi Poori | Methi Puri | Poori Recipes”

Coconut Milk Cauliflower Pulao | Cauliflower Pulao | Pulao Recipes

Filling and delicious coconut milk cauliflower pulao, perfect for a light lunch
07/02/2019 9:57:24 PM vindhyadesai

Mid-week is here and we are half way to the weekend, well almost! Wednesdays at my home is rice day every week, different bhaats and pulaos are made for the lunch box. Yesterday, I found a nice, fresh, firm cauliflower and I have a can of organic store-bought coconut milk. So coconut milk cauliflower pulao it is for tomorrow.
Coconut milk cauliflower pulao is a very simple pulao and uses very few ingredients, you can get it ready in a jiffy. Wash the rice and keep aside. Clean the cauliflower florets and get them ready. A few spices on hand and you are ready to roll with the coconut milk cauliflower pulao. And oh yes, make it with ghee and it tastes amazing. ... “Coconut Milk Cauliflower Pulao | Cauliflower Pulao | Pulao Recipes”

Paneer Frankie | Street Style Paneer Frankie | Snack Recipes

A fun filled and deliciousness packed street food, loaded paneer frankie
06/28/2019 2:55:03 PM vindhyadesai

On many evenings I am stuck with one single conundrum, ‘what to make for dinner’! Sounds familar right? Day after day, evening after evening thinking of making 3 square meals a day. That in itself is reward-worthy, I mean just coming up with a menu. I know, not many people recognize or acknowledge that. Unfortunately wholesome cooked meals don’t grow on trees. Moreover we have to always balance and use up all the perishable items in the refrigerator. On one such day the recipe of paneer frankie came to my rescue.
Frankies are basically a kind of roll sold as street food in India. Of the many types of street foods we have in our diverse nation frankie is one of them. Paneer frankie is specially famous liked and enjoyed by many. A simple paneer gravy is made and this filled into rotis/chapathis. Then it is topped with some fun things like onions and some flavourful masalas. Some cooling yogurt seals the deal and the paneer frankie. ... “Paneer Frankie | Street Style Paneer Frankie | Snack Recipes”

Nellikayi Uppinakayi | Amla Pickle | Pickle Recipes

Lip smacking nellikayi uppinakayi or gooseberry pickle, a refreshing pickle
05/25/2019 6:13:46 PM vindhyadesai

Come summer it used to be the time for pickling, for making sundried items like papad, and jams and powders etc. We are now losing touch with these things, we buy most things from outside. But it is fun to make pickles and jams at home. Such cooking processes are fun family activities. So here is one such recipe nellikayi uppinakayi or gooseberry pickle or amla achar.
Sounds lip smacking but also sounds overwhelming to make pickles at home. But trust me pickling is an art you can easily pick up and it can be easier than making some dishes. Nellikayi uppinakayi is one of the most sought after pickles at home. But I must confess I am a lime pickle lover. ... “Nellikayi Uppinakayi | Amla Pickle | Pickle Recipes”

Biryani Masala | Homemade Biryani Masala

Fresh and fragrant homemade biryani masala made with whole roasted spices
05/08/2019 6:05:47 PM vindhyadesai

Following the post of how to cook biryani rice or biryani chawal it’s time to learn the recipe of homemade biryani masala. Making biryani masala is a challenge in the sense that buying all the whole spices is a big activity. Making the homemade masala is easy after that.
Some spices are available at home but you will generally need to buy spices. After all it is worth it, royal homemade biryani masala for a royal biryani dish. Although it looks like a lot of effort to make this homemade biryani masala it is better to make it at home. Fragrant and aromatic fresh masala, waah! ... “Biryani Masala | Homemade Biryani Masala”

Biryani Chawal | Biryani Rice | How to cook biryani rice?

Super fragrant, with each grain of rice blooming like a jasmine flower, biryani chawal
05/06/2019 8:34:51 PM vindhyadesai

Any rice based dish is always defined by the way one cooks the rice. The texture of rice is very important to make any biryani or pulao. Imagine eating a paste like textured pulao or biryani where the rice grains are sticking to each other with no bite. Sounds unappetizing isn’t it. But let’s not ruin the actual dish and we’ll learn to make some good biryani chawal today.
Biryani chawal or rice for biryani is made with basmati rice. Basmati rice is long grained and filled with a fragrant aroma. It defines your biryani with all the masalas making it a signature dish. Biryanis have layers of flavours and each layer should ooze with aroma. This is the reason why biryani chawal or rice for biryani is flavoured with some spices to make it extra special. ... “Biryani Chawal | Biryani Rice | How to cook biryani rice?”

Besan Oats Cheela | Oats Cheela Recipe | Cheela Recipes

Wholesome and soft, with the goodness of oats, besan oats cheela
05/04/2019 9:39:39 PM vindhyadesai

On any day we prefer wholesome fibrous breakfasts at home. Be it these fancy eggless whole wheat waffles, paneer paratha, banana apple oats smoothie or oats upma. So you see the common theme is using whole grains like oats, whole wheat and serve it with fruits or a portion of vegetables. Such breakfasts set you up for the day’s challenges. Keeps your tummy happy, so add one more to that list, besan oats cheela.
The batter for besan oats cheela gets ready in a jiffy and you will be gorging on some tasty breakfast in a matter of minutes. No soaking, no grinding. Besan or gram flour or kadale hittu is protein and mixed with fibrous oats will create the right balance. Some simple spices add flavour to this besan oats cheela making it very tasty. ... “Besan Oats Cheela | Oats Cheela Recipe | Cheela Recipes”

Aloo Kurma | Potato Kurma | Gravy Recipes

Rich coconut gravy, with soft aloo and matar, aloo kurma
04/30/2019 9:56:07 PM vindhyadesai

Coconut based gravies go so well with rice or chapathis/rotis. Aloo kurma is definitely in that category along with veg kurma, mixed veg saagu, peas kurma etc. I love eating aloo kurma with whole wheat puri or just chapathi, the best combination there is. Although it seems complicated to make, don’t fret, it’s not so. The recipe is divided into sections in the ingredients area so it is very easy to follow.
Aloo kurma like any kurma has delicately ground coconut paste with some fragrant spices. Cashews and coconut give body to the paste. A squeeze of lime/lemon juice rounds up all the flavours making it very tasty and lip-smacking. Of course feel free to omit the garlic and onion and make it, tastes just as delicious! ... “Aloo Kurma | Potato Kurma | Gravy Recipes”

Moolangi Sambar | Radish Sambar | Sambar Recipes

Aromatic and super tasty, Karnataka style moolangi sambar or moolangi huli
04/24/2019 6:29:40 PM vindhyadesai

Today morning as I was looking for vegetables to make lunch, found the radish I bought 3 days back. So immediately I decided it was Karnataka style moolangi sambar for lunch today. We love moolangi sambar or moolangi huLi at home, it’s my favourite!
The good news is that, there is no need of grinding a fresh masala always to make a delicious moolangi sambar. Using homemade sambar powder you can make a super tasty moolangi sambar and it is just as thick and aromatic as the freshly made one. See notes below if you want to add some fresh masala paste. ... “Moolangi Sambar | Radish Sambar | Sambar Recipes”