Category Archives: easy dishes

Pazham Nurukku/Jaggery Coated Plantain/Steamed Plantain

Plantains are an integral part of Onam, the harvest festival of Kerala. Malayalis cannot think of an Onam without plantains. Keralites leverage plantain in all its forms and age. Raw plantains are deep fried and salted or jaggery coated to … Continue reading

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Paniyaram

What your mother cooks for you always holds a special place in your heart. Everyone has a long list of items that they love about their mother’s cooking. I have my list of items too, right from the jeeraka vellam (jeera/cumin … Continue reading

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Milaga Podi (Dry Chutney Powder)

There are two items that you will definitely find in every South Indian household – curd and milaga podi (dry chutney powder or gun powder as non-Southies call it). Podi IS potent gun powder that can make any food item … Continue reading

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Killu Kondattam (Rice Crisp Fries)

Coming up with good translations of traditional South Indian dishes is a huge challenge for me. The closest I can think of is Sun Dried Rice Crisp Fries. But that’s such a long name! Kondattams (or Vadaam as some call … Continue reading

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Enna Pothi/Sweet Pouches

A fitting follower to Ela Ada, my previous post. The ingredients are the same as ela ada. Just that the proportions are different and they are mixed differently. These are little steamed pouches of a mixture of rice, jaggery, jackfruit … Continue reading

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Ela Ada (Sweet Parcels)

Ela in Malayalam means leaf (in this case banana leaf) and ada means thick flat bread. Back home at Palakkad, ela ada is a  must item on the day of Thiruvonam (harvest festival in Kerala) and sure shot on the menu when … Continue reading

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Raw Papaya Salad

A quick and healthy salad, simple and easy to make. Grated raw papaya, seed-ridden green chillies finely chopped, generous sprinkle of sesame seeds (may be some crushed flavored peanuts as well!), dash of lime and salt. Yummy salad is ready. … Continue reading

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Sharkara Payasam (Sweet Pongal)

People in different parts of India celebrate each festival in their own unique ways. In South, Makara Sankranti is a harvest festival. One of the items made with the newly harvested rice is Sharkara Payasam or Sweet Pongal. Back home we do not have … Continue reading

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Thiruvathira Kali (Rice halwa)

Thiruvathira Kali, another festival special, the sweet rice halwa, also a kind of dance that women in Kerala perform during the Thiruvathira festival and during Onam. I still remember the kali that my ashalaathu mami (neighbor) used to make. Mami … Continue reading

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Poha Cutlet

Ingredients: Poha (beaten rice/aval) – 3 fistfuls Boiled potato – 1 medium sized Bread – 1 slice (optional) Onion – 1 medium sized Coriander leaves – 4-5 stalks Curry leaves – 2 stalks Lemon juice – juice of 1/2 a … Continue reading

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