Have you ever eaten Venn Pongal as prasadam 'chuda chuda' (meaning 'hot hot') on a Sunday (or any day) after perumal dharisanam at the friendly neighbourhood kovil? BLISS ! Although nobody can replicate that taste in its entirety, it remains my gold standard for pongal, and this recipe comes quite close, I daresay 🙂 Venn … Continue reading Venn Pongal (Savory Pongal/Kaara Pongal): Step by Step
DH is a huge fan of 'After Eight' thin Mints - those incredibly thin wafers of dark chocolate, encasing zesty and sweet peppermint inside. They're just the right size, right thickness, and right amount of sweetness from the mint filling to balance the bitterness of the dark chocolate. If there ever was a chocolate made … Continue reading After-Eight Thin Mints Ice Cream (No-Churn, Eggless, Without Machine)
Last year, we travelled to Leh, nestled in the Himalayas. For people who desperately need to take a break from the monotony of everyday work, the corporate rat race, and other materialistic pursuits, this is the right place to go to. With majestic and serene Himalayan mountain range surrounding you all round, greenery everywhere, traditional … Continue reading Leh, Ladakh : A food journey
Rome is not exactly a great place for vegetarians, because the cuisine is extremely meat centric. However, times are changing now, and because of the greater influx of tourists who demand vegan and vegetarian food, and also locals who have adopted a vegetarian lifestyle, we now see a range of options for vegetarians in the … Continue reading A Vegetarian’s Eating Guide to Italy: Where to eat in Rome / Roma
Florence, or Firenze, is one of the most beautiful places in Italy. We spent five days soaking in the sights and sounds of Florence, and it was an experience like no other. The city is lost in time, with antique buildings, palazzos and cathedrals. Every nook and corner has a museum, and you will be … Continue reading A Vegetarian’s Eating Guide to Italy: Where to eat in Florence / Firenze
One of the biggest challenges of being a vegetarian, i.e. not consuming any animal meat or eggs, is surviving in a country which is different from your own. In India, vegetarianism is linked to culture, religion and Ayurveda, hence it is deeply rooted as a way of life. It is very easy to find 'pure … Continue reading A Vegetarian’s Eating Guide to Italy: An Introduction
This recipe here is one of the best ways to use up leftover pizza dough. These are basically veggie pizza rolls, that taste delicious and are really easy to make. They look like wheels when you cut and bake them, hence the name pinwheels. Whether you get the shape right or not, they taste incredibly … Continue reading Veggie Pizza Pinwheels: Step by Step Recipe
Flattened rice flakes are a popular South Indian staple for breakfast. It is called 'poha' in Hindi, 'aval' in Tamil, and 'avalakki' in Kannada. It is generally available in the thick and thin varieties, usually used to prepare breakfast or dessert. It is also used to make sweet and savoury dishes as offerings during festivals and … Continue reading Savory Raw Mango Poha (Flattened Rice): Step by Step
Nellikai, or the Indian Gooseberry, is a very potent fruit. It looks somewhat like green grapes, only bigger and round in shape. It tends to be sour, astringent and slightly bitter in taste. The essential vitamins and minerals that it contains are extremely beneficial to the body. This is a summer berry, and is traditionally … Continue reading Easy Gooseberry Pickle South Indian Style / Nellikai Oorugai: Step by Step
Our love for rasam is already documented on this blog, here. Being a South Indian Tamil Brahmin, rasam is a well-loved, time-tested, and central part of our everyday traditional cooking repertoire. Rasam is generally had as a soup after the meal, or eaten with rice as a main dish. Although this is a very simple … Continue reading South Indian Style Pineapple Rasam : Step by Step Recipe
a burst of flavor 