EVENT: FOODIEMONDAY/BLOGHOP THEME: #223 What are Ambode/Masala Vada? Ambode are masala vada made from chana dal with a few other ingredients added. Also known as Masala Vada or Dal Vada, Ambode is a famous street snack in Karnataka. Ambode is also served as a tea time snack with filter coffee in many homes. Besides chana dal (chickpea lentil) being the main star of this crunchy, crispy, mouth watering snack, chopped fresh dill, fresh coriander, onion, curry leaves, rice flour, green chillis, ginger and a bit of coconut is added. All these different ingredients makes them taste so different from Vatidar Bhajia which are quite popular with my family as a tea time snack. I took the liberty of adding a tablespoon of urad dal (split…
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Continue ReadingEVENT: SHHH COOKING SECRETLY THEME: TRIPURA CUISINE A bit about the group: November took Shhh Cooking Secretly group to Tripura, where I got the opportunity to make a mosdeng, Phantok Mosdeng/Brinjal Mosdeng. This group is where members get together to cook a dish on the decided theme. We are paired up and give each other two secret ingredients to cook with. The group started by Priya of Priya’s Versatile Recipes.is an interesting way to know other food bloggers and try out dishes beyond one’s comfort zone.Other members have to then guess the two secret ingredients till we share the recipe link. Its a fun group and along the way have made some good friends. Where is Tripura? Tripura is one of the Seven Sister States…
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Continue ReadingRECIPE: MOONG PANIYARAM & RIDGE GOURD CHUTNEY Moong paniyaram is a version of the classical paniyaram. It makes a healthy, vegan breakfast or snack option. I have replaced the rice with green gram or moong. For added nutritional benefits I have added some sprouted green grams or moong. What is Paniyaram? Paniyaram, Paddu, Guliyappa, Yeriappa, Ponganalu is simply a steamed batter made in a mould. Usually a batter of rice and urad dal is poured into the paniyaram pan or appe pan(aebleskiver), covered with a lid and allowed to steam till done. Made either sweet or savory, paniyaram is usually served as a snack any time of the day. The savory ones are served with some chutney and or sambar. Usually made from…
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Continue ReadingRecipe: Karela Nu Shaak What is Karela Nu Shaak? Karela nu shaak is simply a Gujarati style side dish, sabji or shaak as we call it. Chopped karela or bitter gourd is stir fried till done with spices. One can cook it with potatoes or cashew nuts. I chose to prepare it with cashew nuts and raisins. After the karela are cooked, jaggery is added to make it into a delicious, lip smacking sweet and bitter shaak that is usually enjoyed with hot rotlis or phulkas, any other sabji/shaak and tuvar dal. I’ve used the description of karela nu shaak as delicious and lip smacking. These are the words that hubby uses to describe it. He loves karela or bitter gourd but I’m not a…
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Continue ReadingEVENT: FOODIEMONDAY/BLOGHOP THEME: #219 WINTER VEGGIE AFFAIR Did you miss a FoodieMonday/Bloghop post last Monday or like me, you were busy enjoying the Diwali festivities? Because of Diwali FoodieMonday/Bloghop members took a holiday, but this week I’m back with Matar Ka Nimona for another exciting theme, Winter Veggie Affair suggested by Sasmita. Keeping winter in mind, fresh and green fenugreek is available in abundance at the moment in India. This gives me the opportunity to use it in almost all the curries I make. What I like to make soon is Sasmita’s Fenugreek/Methi Mushroom Curry as I usually don’t add fresh methi. French Beans also are at their freshest and tender too. Its the right time to try out Sasmita’s French Beans Fry in Mustard…
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Continue ReadingEVENT: SHHH COOKING SECRETLY THEME: TELANGANA CUISINE A bit about the group: October took Shhh Cooking Secretly group to Telangana, where I got the opportunity to make Attu Tunukala/Tunaka Koora. This group is where members get together to cook a dish on the decided theme. We are paired up and give each other two secret ingredients to cook with. This group was started by Priya of Priya’s Versatile Recipes. Other members have to then guess the two secret ingredients till we share the recipe link. Its a fun group and along the way have made some good friends. A bit about Telangana Telangana is the 29th state of India, formed after separating from Andhra Pradesh in 2014. Hyderabad still remains the capital for both states. Situated on…
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Continue ReadingEVENT: FOODIEMONDAY/BLOGHOP THEME: #218 DIWALI DHAMAKA RECIPE: MAGAS/ CHICKPEA FLOUR FUDGE What is Magas/ Chickpea Flour Fudge? Magas/ Chickpea Flour Fudge is a famous sweet dish or mithai in the Gujarati Cuisine. Its a popular sweet fudge that is enjoyed by both adults and children. Some kids refer to it as ‘bavo’. Any Patel wedding you attend, or go to their homes during Diwali you will definitely find Magas. During weddings, huge quantities are made by the bride’s family and sent to the groom’s family and also shared with all those who attend the wedding. Made from chickpea flour, ghee, sugar and cardamom, its not a difficult mithai or sweet to make at all. After roasting the flour in ghee, sugar is added and then…
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Continue ReadingEVENT: FOODIEMONDAY/BLOGHOP THEME: #217 KHAALI FRIDGE Does the theme title sound absolutely weird? It does but its one that Renu who blogs at Cook With Renu, decided that we should put on our thinking caps. As for me as soon as the theme was chosen, I knew that Pithlu or besan ka sabji is what I’m going to make. So what is the theme all about? Well, Renu wanted us to presume that we have no vegetables in the fridge or pantry and still are suppose to put a simple and yet filling meal on the table. In reality, getting or ordering take away is a much better option. Before I tell you more about the dish I prepared, my friend Renu has a wonderful…
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Continue ReadingEVENT: FOODIEMONDAY/BLOGHOP THEME: #213 RASAM RAAGA I had initially informed my Foodiemonday group friends that I would not be participating for this theme. However, rains and more rains forced me to go into my sister in law’s kitchen as I felt like having something hot to sip on. Hubby suggested soup. I thought let me take this opportunity to make something for the theme and that is rasam. Priya who blogs at The World Through My Eyes, suggested that we try our hands at different kinds of rasam. The only rasam I know is the one made from tuvar dal. I’ve made Mysuru Saaru,which my hubby loves so much. Priya on the other hand such interesting versions of rasams like Long Pepper Rasam (Thippili Rasam),…
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Continue ReadingEVENT: FOODIEMONDAY/BLOGHOP THEME: #212 SALAD STORIES RECIPE: GREEK SALAD/HORIATIKI What is Greek Salad/Horiatiki? Greek Salad/Horiatiki is a simple refreshing salad with simple ingredients and a dressing. When garden tomatoes ripen a simple Greek Salad or Horiatiki is prepared to enjoy everyday. Also known as Horiatiki Salata, horio means village. So horiatiki means village or peasant salad. Probably the origin of this salad is from the rural areas. It is a popular salad made all over Greece during summer time. Just as the Greek don’t get tired of eating this salad, I too don’t get tired of it. Whenever, I’m able to get feta and baby tomatoes, the first thing I think of is Greek Salad/Horiatiki. What are Salads? Salads, what are salads? Salads are a combination…
