Pooranam Kozhukattai Recipe– With Kadalai Paruppu Pooranam/Paruppu Mothagam/Kadalai Paruppu Pooranam Kozhukattai – Vinagayar Chaturthi Special

Advance Vinayagar Chaturthi wishes to all of you. For this Ganesha Chaturthi I am posting a very special Kadalai Paruppu Kozhukattai, I have already posted modagam with coconut and jaggery earlier. Do check out the link as well for the recipe. For this Ganesha Chaturthi make this special modakam for neivadhayam and enjoy the day. May the blessings of Lord Ganesha always be upon all of us.

Here’s how to make Modagam with paruppu pooranam with step by step photos…

Vendhaya Rasam/Fenugreek Seeds Rasam/Vendhaya Rasam Recipe/Easy Rasam Recipe

Rasam is a staple food  made in every South Indian homes. We make rasam almost every day for lunch, so why not add a twist and make it more interesting and also make it healthy. I have posted several interesting and aromatic rasam’s earlier, do not forget to check out other RASAM VARIETIES here.

Here’s how to make Vendhaya Rasam with step by step photos…

Onion Raita/Vengaya Pachadi

A very simple and healthy onion raita is today’s recipe. This is a perfect accompaniment for biryanis, pulavs and ricevarieties. Check out other raita and pachadi varieties here.

Here’s how to make Onion Raita with step by step photos…

Beetroot Poriyal/Beetroot Stir Fry Recipe

Hello friends,

Today I am going to share a very simple, healthy and quick Beetroot Poriyal. This is perfect and lovely accompaniment for any rice varieties or any type of rotis or naans. With not much of introduction I am moving on to the recipe. Meanwhile do not forget to checkout other delectable vegetable poriyal varieties here.

Here’s how to make Beetroot Poriyal with step by step photos…

Meal Maker Fry/Soya Chunks Fry – Soya Chunks Stir Fry

Today I am going to share and very healthy, protein packed side dish that can be prepared for lunch for any rice varieties or for any kind of rotis. This is one kind of side dish that can be made in less than 15 minutes and packed for lunch. I have already posted Soy chunks 65, Soy chunks biryani and Soy chunksvegetable curry, do check them out as well. For now try out this quick Meal Maker Fry/Soya Chunks Fry and post your comments.

Here’s how to make Meal Maker Fry/Soya Chunks Fry with step by step photos…

Kollu Podi/Kollu Idli Milagai Podi/Idli Milagai Podo with HorseGram – Side Dish for Idlis/Dosas/Uthappam

Today I am going to share a very healthy and Idli Milagai Podi made with Kollu/Horse gram. Horse gram/Kollu is most protein rich lentil high in rion, calcium and protein. It is low in fat content and actually helps in management of obesity, because it has the ability to attack fatty tissues. There are several recipes made with Kollu like kollu kootu, kollu rasam, kollu chutney, kollu drink/water, kollu thuvaiyal, kollu sambar, kollu sundal etc which I will be posting in the future posts. For now try out this healthy Kollu/Horse gram Podi and post your comments. Check out other Podi and Chutney Varieties here.

Here’s how to make Horse Gram/Kollu Idli Podi with step by step photos…

Thoothuvalai Keerai Rasam/Thuthuvalai Keerai Rasam/Thoothuvalai Keerai Rasam Recipe with step by step photos

The scientific name of Thoothuvalai Keerai is Solanum Trilobatum. Thoothuvalai keerai has lots of health benefits and is commonly used for treating cold, cough, throat infections and acute asthma. Thoothuvalai leaves can be used for preparing thoothuvalai chutney, thuvaiyal, dosai, candy etc. Thoothuvalai keerai can be roasted in ghee, powdered and added to hot steaming rice for respiratory problems and as sinus cure. For now I am going to share Thoothuvalai Keerai Rasam, do try it out and post your comments. Please check out other interesting “RASAM VARIETIES” here.

Here’s how to make Thoothuvalai Keerai Rasam with step by step photos…

Ponnanganni Keerai Poriyal Recipe– Simple & Healthy Keerai Poriyal/Ponnanganni Keerai Poriyal with step by step photos/How to make Ponnanganni Keerai

Ponnanganni Keerai is called as “Dwarf Copperleaf” in English, is a green variety available throughout the year. The name “Ponnanganni” means glow like gold. It is loaded with iron, calcium and other vital nutrients that make our hair and skin glow. When Ponnanganni is taken for a period of 48 days regularly, it heals our body of all kinds of deficiency and reduces the body heat, as it is an excellent body coolant. Ponnanganni is specifically recommended for eye ailments, asthma, gonorrhoea, syphilis. Most of them avoid these types of greens, because they do not know how to cook them or to use them. A very simple ponnanganni keerai poriyal/stir fry included twice or thrice a week in our diet is a wonderful remedy to stay healthy. Ponnanganni oil/thailam is very famous in Tamil Nadu and is used for treating headaches and also for treating excessive body heat during the summer months. For now friends I am going to share this Ponnanganni Keerai poriyal, do try it for sure and post your comments. Meanwhile do check out other Keerai Recipes here.

Here’s how to make Ponnanganni Keerai Poriyal with step by step photos…

Oats Carrot Smoothie – Healthy & Light Breakfast Smoothie

Today I am going to share with you all a very light, healthy and filling breakfast smoothie. You can make this smoothie is no time and it can also be served as snack between meals. The carrots offers vitamin A & C, dates offer iron & minerals, milk provides calcium & minerals and oats gives enough fibre and energy. So why not start your day with this healthy smoothie? Meanwhile do check out other interesting, tempting, refreshing and lip smacking Smoothies/Ice-creams/Milkshakes/Juices here.

Here’s how to make Oats Carrot Smoothie with step by step photos…

Onion Rice/Vengaya Sadam - Natural cure to reduce body heat & to heal stomach pain

I have been thinking of posting this recipe for a very long time, but could not. This is a recipe which my grandma used to make, then my mom and now me. This onion rice is very special and has lots of medicinal values in it. My grandma used to make this rice, when someone is suffering from stomach pain. She used to say that the onions, cooked in ghee, combined with black pepper powder reduces the body heat, heals the stomach ulcer and cures the pain. I make this a lot in summer days to cool down the body temperature. My grandma makes this only with white onions, but I switch between white, red and small pearl onions depending on the availability of onions in my kitchen. Any way friends do try out this wonderful, healing Onion rice and post your feedback.

Here’s how to make Onion Rice with step by step photos…

Mochai kottai Masala/Field Beans Masala/Mochai Kottai Stir Fry

Mochai [fresh] is a type of field beans available in the market during winter. The same is dried and available in all provisional stores throughout the year. The dried Mochai [Tamil] is called as Mochai Kottai. This mochai kottai masala/stir fry is quite common in South India. The other most commonly prepared recipe with this bean is the mochai kottai kara kuzhambu, I will post this recipe in my future post soon. For now try out this protein packed healthy Mochai Kottai Masala/Stir Fry and post your comments.

Here’s how to make Mochai Kottai Masala with step by step photos….

Dates & Almonds Milkshake Recipe - Super Healthy Milkshake for kids

Today I am going to share a very simple, yet healthy and nutritious milkshake made with just three ingredients dates, almonds and milk. Dates are loaded with iron and potassium. They are excellent source of dietary fiber and numerous health benefits packed in them. Almonds are a great source of many nutrients which help in development and health of human brain. Almonds help in regulating cholesterol and improve the strength and durability of bones and teeth. Almonds are good for our heart as they have unsaturated fats, proteins and potassium, the vitamin E present in it reduces the risk of heart disease. Daily intake of 2 or 3 almonds strengthen our immune system and improve skin health and complexion. Milk as we all know provides calcium, phosphorous, magnesium and protein which are all essential for healthy bone growth and development. Try out this healthy milk shake and have a great day. Meanwhile do check out other interesting, tempting, refreshing and lip smacking Smoothies/Ice-creams/Milkshakes/Juices here.

Here’s how to make Dates & Almonds Milkshake...                                                                                             

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

Spinach Kofta Curry/Palak Kofta Curry- Healthy Microwave Spinach/Palak Kofta Curry with step by step photos

Today I am going to share a very healthy version of Spinach/Palak Kofta curry. The koftas are not fried in oil; rather they are cooked in microwave which reduces the calorie content. As the koftas are made in microwave, they retain the colour and also taste great. I came across this delicious and creamy recipe in Nisha Madhulikas, but I made some variations in the gravy and it was a big hit in my family. Feed your family with this healthy spinach kofta without any guilt. Do try out this kofta gravy and post your comments.

Here’s how to make Spinach Kofta Curry with step by step photos…

Bitter Gourd Fry/Pagarkai Poriyal

Bitter melon/Bitter gourd/Bitter squash/Pagarkai/Karela is an extremely bitter vegetable with numerous health benefits. This edible fruit widely grows in tropical places like Asia, Africa and the Caribbean. Bitter gourd is loaded with vitamin B complex, folate, zinc, phosphorous and is an excellent source of fibre. It is rich in iron, contains high levels of beta-carotene, calcium and potassium. It has insulin like compound known as polypeptide P which has been suggested as insulin replacement in some diabetic patients (info from various websites).  Though I was not a great fan of Bitter gourd when I was a kid, things have changed a lot and I like to eat it once in a while because of its health benefits. But to my surprise my elder daughter loves bitter gourd in any form – touch wood for the same. This pagarkai poriyal is delectable and a perfect side dish for any meal of a day.

Here’s how to make Pagarkai Poriyal with step by step photos…

Karuvepilai Podi/Curry Leaves Powder/How to make Karuvepillai Podi/Karuvepillai Podi

Karuvepillai podi/curry leaves powder is a boon to lot of bachelors living abroad and in hostels. I would say not just bachelors, when we are in no mood to cook and if we have karuvepillai podi handy, we can just pressure cook some white rice and enjoy the meals with chips or pappad. Karuvepillai podi, is available in most of the shops, but nothing can beat the fresh, homemade aromatic powder. Though I have shared the benefits of curry leaves several times earlier, I cannot stop myself from writing about it again. It is a nature’s gift to us right in our back yard, loaded with iron, calcium and vitamin A. Regular intake of curry leaves helps in preventing hair fall and greying of hair, not only that it also helps in the growth of healthy and beautiful hair. I think for now I will stop with this and let you know about another interesting recipe, I have shared earlier -  this instant  "Bachelor's Karuvepillai Kuzhambu” with this karuvepillai podi/curry leaves powder, which actually is a short cut and can be made in no time. I have also shared the regular karuvepillai kuzhambu where the curry leaves are ground freshly; do check it out in the corresponding links. I think it’s time now, I move on to the recipe. Do try out this karuvepillai podi friends and have a great day.  Do check out other South Indian Kuzhambu varieties here.

Here’s how to make Curry leaves Powder/Karuvepillai Podi with step by step photos…

Zucchini Patties/Zucchini Tikkis

You want your kids to have vegies, then here’s an ingenious idea to make a perfectly healthy and tasty appetizer or evening snack for your kids. Zucchini patties are perfect appetizers or evening snacks. Do not forget to check out zucchini chutney, Zuchhini kootu which I have posted earlier.

Here’s how to make Zucchini patties with step by step photos…

Baingan Bharta/Punjabi Baingan Bharta

Baingan Bharta is a simple and delectable Punjabi recipe. Though the recipe is very easy and simple the taste is extraordinary and complex because of the smoky and charred flavour of the Baingan/Eggplant. The word bharta or bhurtha means chopped or minced vegetables made from egg plant with is grilled over charcoal or direct fire to infuse the dish with a  smoky flavour. In South India especially in Tamil Nadu we make Kathrikkai Chutney/Baingan Chutney/Egg plant chutney which is also smoked and made with less ingredients but also is fantabulous. Do check out Kathrikkai Chutney/Baingan chutney, Baba Ganoush[Middle Eastern delight] made with Aubergine/Egg plant/Baingan in the above links. Try this baingan bharta and baingan recipe friends, each recipe has unique taste and you will surely fall in love with it instantly.

Here’s how to make Baingan Bharta with step by step photos…

Pottukadalai Sambar/Roasted Gram Sambar/Dalia Sambar

Sambar is a South Indian delight prepared in all the houses either as side dish or for lunch to be had with white rice. We make different types of sambar like drumsticks sambar, small onion sambar, milagai killi potta sambar, pachhaparuppu sambar, arachu vitta sambar, paruppu kuzhambu, paruppu thakkali etc. But each sambar has unique taste and different from one another. Even adding different types of vegetables adds different taste to the sambar. In this post I am going to share a very healthy and unique Pottukadalai sambar, made with just roasted gram/pottukadalai and vegetables. Do try out this healthy and finger licking sambar and post your comments. Do not forget to check out other interesting and delightful Sambar Varieties here.

Here’s how to make Pottukadalai/Roasted gram sambar with step by step photos…

Cucumber & Bell pepper Salad

Hello friends,

With not much of introduction toady I am going to share a very simple, quick and super healthy cucumber & bell pepper salad.

Here’s how to make Cucumber & Bell pepper Salad...

Chickpea Salad

Hello friends,

Today I am sharing a very healthy, filling, colorful and delicious chickpea salad. Check out oher interesting Salad varieties I have posted earlier in the links.

CarrotSalad [grated]
Cucumber Capsicum Salad
Cucumber Tomato Salad
Carrot Moongdal Salad[Gosumalli]
SproutedMoong dal Salad

Chickpea Salad
Grilled Pineapple

GrilledEggplant Salad [Grilled BrinjalSalad]

PineappleSalad

Here's how to make Chickpea Salad with step by step photos....