Appetizers, Healthy, Quick meals, Soups and Salads

Fig and Bacon Salad with Feta with Balsamic Dressing

July 2, 2018 No Comments

Fig and Bacon Salad with Feta

Fig and bacon salad. I should have called it my fig and pig salad (I make myself laugh). My friend got me some juicy and delicious figs from Bangalore recently and I’m glad I put them to good use. I used the more firm ones for the salad and saved the mushy ones for another delicious adventure. But that’s for later. For now, stick a fork into this sweet, plump, salty, sour and fresh salad. It’s got all that and more. I made a very simple dressing of balsamic, honey and EVOO (extra virgin olive oil).

Appetizers, Healthy, Soups and Salads, Vegetarian

Roasted Beetroot and Cauliflower Soup

December 1, 2017 No Comments

Roasted Beetroot and Cauliflower Soup

Last year around the same time I made this beautiful roasted beetroot and tomato soup. Roasting beets is the best way to cook them, I believe. Simply wrap them in foil, throw them into a preheated oven and let them cook for about an hour, depending on their size. They seem to retain their colour, flavour and form when roasted. But with cauliflower, I just cook it in water till it’s tender. Another simple soup I had made was this cauliflower soup.

Appetizers, Chicken, Sauces, pastes, spice mixes

Old Monk Sticky Chilli Chicken Recipe

November 29, 2017 No Comments

Old Monk Sticky Chilli Chicken

A bottle of Old Monk and chilli garlic paste got me going with this Old Monk sticky chilli chicken. To be honest, it was Nigella Lawson’s tequila lime chicken that made me do it. That’s why you should let me watch her all day every day. Anyway, she did some fiery chicken with tequila and lime. I went a similar way but instead of tequila I had a bottle of Old Monk in the house, so I used that. What goes well with rum? Chilli, lemon and honey. I added coriander stems, ginger and lemon zest in the marinade to give it more punch. It was awesome.

Appetizers, Healthy, Quick meals, Vegetarian

Beetroot Pachadi Recipe – How to make beetroot pachadi

September 12, 2017 No Comments

Beetroot Pachadi Recipe

Pachadi is traditionally from Kerala. And as we, southern neighbouring states have adopted and adapted several recipes from one another, we add pachadi to the list. Beetroot pachadi is easily one of my favourite summer side dishes. It’s very close behind the curry leaves thambuli. Anything yoghurt based to beat the heat is a blessing. Since monsoon has officially cracked its way down on us, it’s been great. The heat though is still here. A bowl of rice, some pachadi and some crisps make for a perfect lunch during these days.

Appetizers, Chinese and Thai, Healthy, Quick meals, Vegetarian

Shiitake and Tofu Stir Fry

August 24, 2017 No Comments

Shiitake and Tofu Stir Fry

Yes, the looks like one sad pile of brown things that didn’t belong together. However, they tasted pretty good. And that’s because shiitake is so flavourful, it could lift any boring dish. This was my first time cooking shiitake and I wanted to pair it with something that wouldn’t take away from it. Enter, tofu. Tofu essentially soaks up anything that’s around it. Simply put these two together with some soy, chilli, ginger and garlic. Easy and quick dinner in under 20 mins.

Appetizers, Chinese and Thai, Healthy, Quick meals, Soups and Salads, Vegetarian

Crushed Cucumber Salad with a Soy Miso Dressing

August 23, 2017 No Comments

Crushed Cucumber Salad with a Soy Miso Dressing

It’s what you think it is. Cucumber, crushed and served with a dressing. As simple as that. I recently saw someone on I follow and admire on Twitter post her meal which had this cucumber crushed and served on the side. Given how hot it still is in this part of the country, a cucumber salad seemed ideal. Well, I took it to my friend’s place and it was a hit. You can make this is in 5-8 minutes and is a great addition to your dinner.

Appetizers, Healthy, Mangalorean, Quick meals, Vegetarian

Kadle Manoli Aajadina / Ivy Gourd and Chickpeas with Coconut

August 1, 2017 No Comments

Kadle Manoli Aajadina / Ivy Gourd and Chickpeas with Coconut

This one’s no different from the beans aajadina I had cooked recently. This one too uses the same coconut mixture in the end to be stirred in. Ivy gourd, from what I’ve seen and eaten around here, is almost always cooked to death. Well, that’s true for most vegetables. Homemade or not, these lovely crisp veggies are often overcooked with so many spices that you won’t know what you’re eating. I guess that’s why many twitch their face when they see these vegetables being served at lunch in the office or at home. Thankfully, I’ve grown up eating vegetables cooked lightly so they retain their colour, shape and original taste.

Appetizers, Baking, Chicken, Healthy

Roast Chicken with Cherry BBQ Sauce

July 29, 2017 No Comments

Roast Chicken with Cherry BBQ Sauce

I think I’ve made a chilli sauce with almost all fruits except papaya. Good lord. Anyway, this one time I bought a big box of cherries and made a really good compote with it and we had great pancakes that Sunday. I saved some to try a savoury sauce. It turned into a BBQ sauce when I added tomato puree, garlic and chilli I guess. The cherry flavour by the end of it was quite mild but overall the sauce tasted slightly fruity and really good. I used this to marinate and brush over some whole chicken legs and used the air fryer to toast them.

Appetizers, Healthy, Mangalorean, Quick meals, Vegetarian

Beans Aajadina / Beans Sukka / Beans stir fried with coconut

July 20, 2017 No Comments

Beans Aajadina / Beans Sukka / Beans stir fried with coconut

French beans are one of my favourite vegetables. It cooks fast and works in any form and cuisine. Be it a quick stir fry with salt and pepper or garam masala or in sambar, beans are made a number of ways in India. One of my go to recipes is a sukka. We are more familiar with chicken, mutton and seafood sukka dishes at restaurants. But back home, sukka or as it’s called in Tulu “aajadina”, is a common way of making a side dish with vegetables. Beans, ivy gourd, chickpeas and many other legumes and vegetables are made this style.

Appetizers, Healthy, Makeover for Leftovers, Quick meals

How to Make Zucchini Corn Fritters – Guest Post by Susan Conley

July 11, 2017 No Comments

Learn how to make zucchini corn fritters that you can pack for lunch the next day. This recipe is very simple to follow, too. Working moms know how difficult it is to prepare dinner, especially when coming from work. I’ve been there before; rushing home after work and thinking of what to prepare for my kids and husband not just for dinner but also for breakfast and lunch the following day. It can be very, very exhausting. Are you the type of mom who would cook 1-2 meals in the evening, so there’s extra food that can be packed for lunch? If so, then you would likely be interested in the zucchini corn fritters recipe that I am to share with you.