Salt and Spice

Ingredients Toor dal – 1/2 cup Mixed Vegetables – 2 cups Tomatoes – 2 diced Onion – 1 medium sliced Green chillies – slit Curry leaves – 2 sprigs Dry red chillies – 4 broken Turmeric powder – 1/2 tsp Sambar powder – 3 1/2 tsp Coriander powder – 1 tsp Chilly powder – 1 [...]

In Kerala, ‘Payasam’ is made during the festivals like ‘Onam’ and ‘Vishu’.  There are so many different varieties of Payasams.  ‘Moong dal Payasam’ is a favorite of my family and I also make it to celebrate birthdays of my loved ones. ‘Cherupayar Parippu Pradhaman’ is off to EC for the event “WYF: Festive Treat” Ingredients [...]

‘Kalan’ is an authentic Kerala dish which is served for ‘Onasadhya’.  It can be made with raw bananas, yam or with a combination of raw bananas and yam.  It goes well with steamed rice. This traditional Kerala recipe goes to Shanthi for the event ” State Specials” Ingredients Raw Bananas – 3 Turmeric powder – [...]

Mango season is here and this is the right time to enjoy them by making variety dishes out of them.  It is also good that you pickle them, so that you can enjoy Mangoes even when the season is over.  Here is a recipe for ‘Mango Pickle’ which I made few days ago.  The plus [...]

‘Chawal ki Kheer’ or ‘Rice pudding’ is a favorite among kids.  In Kerala it is known as ‘Pal Payasam’.  Rice, milk and almonds makes this a healthy dessert for children! I am sending this to Trupti who is hosting the event ‘Cooking for Kids: Rice event’ which is the brain child of Sharmi. Ingredients Full [...]

Ingredients Cabbage – 1/2 shredded Carrots – 2 chopped Grated coconut – 3/4 cup Onion – 1 sliced Garlic – 1 chopped Green chillies – 4 chopped Curry leaves – 2 sprigs Mustard seeds – 1 tsp Cumin seeds/jeera – 1/2 tsp Turmeric powder – 1/2 tsp Coconut oil – 1 tbsp Method Heat oil [...]

This is a Kerala Style Lime Pickle. Lime Pickle is often served with rice and curries in Malayalee homes. There are different versions of Lime Pickle. This is my style of making it. Lovely Zlamushka of burntmouth is hosting the event a spoonful of Christmas. For the event, she wants food to be send as [...]

This is a special payasam made with chakka varatty (jackfruit jam) and aval (rice flakes). When you add jaggery and coconut milk, the payasam is called pradhaman. My husband had brought me three packets of Sara’s precooked chakka varatti from Kochi. I had some aval at home, so here came the idea of making this [...]

I like growing vegetables in my compound. In February, I had a good harvest of Pumpkins from my backyard. This inspired me to grow Bitter Gourd this time. In April, I sowed the seeds, which were bought from a nursery. It began to give yield from last month onwards! Now, every week I get enough [...]

Avial is a famous Kerala vegetarian recipe. Is is one of the essential items served in ‘Onasadhya’!  A variety of vegetables like drumstick, carrot, yam, pumpkin, string beans and snake gourd are used to make this recipe. In fact, you can use whatever vegetables are there in your kitchen! What you need: Mixed vegetables -3 [...]