Thakkali Kuzhambu/Tomato Kuzhambu/Kongu Thakkali Kuzhambu/Coimbatore Style Thakkali Kuzhambu

Kongu Thakkali Kuzhambu – is a super delicious, spicy and tangy kuzhambu/gravy made with perfect blend of ground spices. I have already posted another easy version of Thakkali Kuzhambu which my mother makes quite often. Do check it out in the link. Do try out this Thakkali Kuzhambu and post your comments here. Meanwhile do check out other interesting South Indian Kuzhambu varieties here and Dals/Sambar/Kootus here.

Here’s how to make Kongu Thakkali Kuzhambu with step by step photos…

South Indian Special Lunch Menu-12/Lunch Menu Ideas

Hello Friends,

Today, I am going to share a very healthy and loving lunch menu. You can check out other interesting South Indian Lunch Menu Ideas here.

Here’s the Vegetarian Lunch Menu with step by step photos…

Agathi Keerai Kootu Recipe/Agathi Keerai Paasi Paruppu Kootu Recipe/Agathi Keerai Kootu with step by step photos

Today, I am going to share a very healthy and super delicious Agathi Keerai Kootu with paasi paruppu/moong dal. Agathi Keerai has numerous health benefits loaded with vitamin A, E, C and other minerals like calcium, phosphorous, Iron etc. It contains 8.4% of protein, 1.4% of fat, 3.1% of minerals. Agathi Keerai helps in easy digestion, cures acidity related problems, regulates urination, cures stomach ulcer and reduces the stress to a great extent. I have mentioned only few benefits of Agathi Keerai , with this short note let's moves on to the kootu recipe. Do check out Agathi Keerai Poriyal I have posted earlier here. Meanwhile do check out other interesting and healthy Kootu varieties here.

Here’s how to make Agathi Keerai Kootu with step by step photos…

Pachai Mochai Kuzhambu/Pachai Mochai Puli Kuzhambu/Field Beans Gravy/Fresh Mochai Puli Kuzhambu

Pachai Mochai Puli Kuzhambu is a very healthy, tempting and a lip-smacking Kuzhambu. Since it is the season of fresh mochai/field beans, I thought of sharing with you all this delectable puli kuzhambu, which is also made on Mattu Pongal and served with Paal Pongal and White rice. Do try out this Pachai Mochai Puli Kuzhambu and post your comments here. Meanwhile do check out other interesting South Indian Kuzhambu varieties here, Dals/Sambars/Kootu/Rasam varieties here and Mochaikottai Masala here.

Here’s how to make Pachai Mochai Puli Kuzhambu with step by step photos…

Chicken Fry Recipe/Chicken Varuval Recipe/Easy Chicken Fry Recipe/Sunday Special Chicken Fry – Bachelors Chicken Fry/Easy South Indian Chicken Fry

Today, I am going to share a very simple, easy and quick Chicken Fry that can be made in a jiffy. This chicken fry is made by marinating chicken with perfect blend of spices along with deep fried onions and curry leaves. The deep fried onions add an extraordinary taste to this chicken fry. This chicken fry is a perfect recipe for get together's, for bachelors and for beginners. When you prepare for parties and get together's, you can marinate the chicken the previous night,  refrigerate it and then cook just before the guest arrive. Do try out this tempting and lip smacking Chicken Fry and post your comments here. Meanwhile check out other interesting Chicken Varuvals/Fry/Biryanis/Gravies etc here, Mutton/goat Meat Recipes,Fish & Egg Recipes.

Here’s how to make Easy Chicken Fry with step by step photos…

Agathi Keerai Poriyal/Agathi Keerai Curry –How to make Agathi Keerai Poriyal/Humming Bird Tree Leaves Stir Fry

Agathi Keerai has numerous health benefits and loaded with vitamin A, E, C and other minerals like calcium, phosphorous, Iron etc.  It contains 8.4% of Protein, 1.4% of Fat and 3.1 % of Minerals. According to the Siddha School of Medicine, Agathi Keerai has 63 curative benefits. Mainly, it reduces body heat and cools the eyes, heals the wounds and is a wonderful remedy for mental depression and other illnesses. The terms “Agathi” refers to “fir inside”, it will ignite the fire inside all the organs and equalize the blood circulation throughout the body. Agathi Keerai helps in easy digestion, cures acidity related problems, regulates urination, cures stomach ulcer and reduces the stress to a great extent.[Content Source: Vikatan]. I have mentioned only few important benefits of Agathi Keerai, but still there are many more. Lets include Agathi Keerai atleast once a month in our diet and enjoy the benefits. This Agathi Keerai Poriyal is usually prepared on Dhuvadasi day[Next to Vaikunda Ekadasi] for meal after complete fasting, which helps in reducing the acidity levels. Do try out this healthy Agathi Keerai Poriyal and post your comments here. Meanwhile do check out other interesting and healthy Keerai Recipes here and other vegetarian side dishes here. Also check out Nellikkai Thayir Pachadi, PorichaRasam/Dhuvadasi Rasam and Mor Kuzhambu prepared for Dhuvadasi in the links and Dhuvadasi Paranai/Thalagam here.

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

Thiruvathirai Kootu/7 Kari Kootu/EzhuKari Kootu/Pongal Kootu – Thiruvathirai Special Recipes/Pongal Special 7 Kari Kootu

Thiruvathirai Kootu is a special kootu made with country vegetables [Nattu Kaikarigal] during thiruvathirai festival and offered to Lord Shiva along with Thiruvathirai Kali and steam cooked white rice. This kootu is also prepared on Pongal and offered to Sun god along with Sakkarai Pongal, Ven Pongal and Paal Pongal. This kootu is made with a minimum of 7 different types of vegetables and increase the number up to 21, but always odd number of vegetables only must be used. Try to add as many as country vegetables which available abundantly during this season. I have made this kootu with 9 different types of vegetables like Avarakkai, Mochhai, karnai kizhangu, white pumpkin, yellow pumpkin, brinjal, Do try out this Thiruvathirai Kootu and post your comments here. Meanwhile do check out other interesting and tempting Dal/kootu/kuzhambu varieties and Thiruvathirai Kali here.

Here’s how to make Thiruvathirai Kootu with step by step photos…

Thiruvathirai Kali – How To Make Thiruvathirai Kali- Special Neivedhyam for Lord Shiva

                                         தென்னாடுடைய சிவனே போற்றி!
                                        எந்நாட்டவர்க்கும் இறைவா போற்றி!
                                        ஓம் நம சிவாய  

Thiruvathirai [Arudra Darisanam] is a Hindu festival celebrated in the states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala, which falls in the month of Margazhi [Dec- Jan] on the full moon day. This Pooja is especially dedicated to Lord Shiva and Shivagami. This festival celebrates the cosmic dance form of Lord Shiva [Nataraja] on Thiruvathirai star and is also known as Arudra Darisanam. According to ancient Indian scriptures, Arudra is the largest star, bigger than the Sun. Arudra is synonymous with a ‘Red Flame’, this red flame also denotes the cosmic dance [Thandavam] of Lord Shiva. 

This festival is celebrated in a grand manner in  all the 5 sabhas of Sri Natarajar namely Kananga Sabai[gold] at Chidambaram Natarajar temple, Velli Sabai [Silver]  at Madurai, Rathna Sabai [Ruby] at Thiruvalankadu, Thamira Sabai [Copper] at Tirunelveli, Chitra Sabai [Pictures] at Kutralam. A very special Abishekam and Pooja is performed in Uthirakosa Mangai, where Natarajar is 6 ft tall, made of one single stone of Maragatham[Emerald] and also in all other Shivan Temples.  

In Thillai Chidambaram, a 10 day festival is held during Thiruvathirai. On this day, Lord Natarajar and his consort, Goddess Shivagami [Parvathi] are taken out in a grand procession. It is a very special event in which the cosmic dance of Lord Shiva is enacted. On Thiruvathirai, women will fast during the day time and break the fast after witnessing the moon rise. A special neivedhyam of Thiruvathirai Kali and Thiruvathirai Kootu are prepared and offered to Lord Shiva and Shivagami. Thiruvathirai  kali is a very simple and divine recipe made with broken rice, jaggery, coconut and ghee. Do try out this Thiruvathirai Kali and offer it to Lord Shiva and enjoy. Meanwhile do check out other interesting and tempting Sweets here. Wishing you all a very happy Thiruvathirai.  

திருவாதிரைக்கு ஒரு வாய் களி' என்பார்கள். அன்று ஒரு வாய் களி சாப்பிட்டு மகிழ்வார்கள். சிவபெருமானுக்கு உரிய நட்சத்திரம் திருவாதிரை. இந்த திருவாதிரை நாளன்று ஒரு வாய் களி தின்றால் அதன் பலன் அளவிடற்கரியது என்கிறது புராணம். 

Here’s how to make Thiruvathirai Kali with step by step photos…

Nellikkai Pachadi/Nellikkai Thayir Pachadi/Gooseberry Raita Recipe/Amla Raitha

“Nellikkai” is the Indian gooseberry is called the Power House of Nutrition. Neelikkai in Tamil is called as Amla in Hindi and Gooseberry in English. Nellikkai is a wonderful fruit is extremely good for the hair, immunity and a great remedy for cold, coughs and helps in fighting infections. Nellikkai pachadi is usually made on dhuvadasi which falls after the ekadasi fasting. This is a very easy thayir pachadi that can be made in a jiffy and is a perfect side dish with SundakkaiVatha Kuzhambu or any South Indian Kuzhambu variety and with Poricha Rasam. Do try out this healthy and tempting Nellikkai Pachadi and post your comments here. Meanwhile do check out other interesting Raithas/Pachadis here.

Here’s how to make Nellikkai Pachadi with step by step photos…

Dhuvadasi Rasam/Poricha Rasam/Poricha Rasam Recipe /Poricha Saathamudhu – Rasam Without Tamarind, Tomatoes or lemon/ Special Rasam for Fasting days

In South India we make different types of Rasam, but this is, one special type of rasam prepared without tamarind or tomatoes or lemon. This rasam is called the Dhuvadasi Rasam or Poricha Rasam prepared on Dhuvadasai which falls after Ekadasi thithi. Ekadasi vratham is observing total fast [suddha upavasam] on Ekadasi Thithi. After fasting on Ekadasi day, people have a special food or thali called “Dhuvadasi Paranai” which is devised by our ancestors for breaking the fast and balance the acidity levels. So in this Dhuvadasi special meal, tamarind is totally avoided, since tamarind consumed on an empty stomach can cause ulcers and stomach problems. The freshly prepared masala has grated coconut and added to the rasam which is makes this rasam divine. Generally the Dhuvadasi menu consists of Mor Kuzhambu, Poricha Rasam, Nellikkai Thayir Pachadi, Agathi Keerai Poriyal, Poricha Kootu, Sundakkai Vatral fried in ghee, white rice, ghee, mango pickle, yogurt/thayir. I will be posting more of Dhuvadasi recipes in my future post.Do try out this Poricha Rasam and post your comments here. Meanwhile do check out other interesting and lip smacking Rasam Varieties here and other Vegetarian dals/Kootus/Sambar/Kurma varieties here.

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

Double Beans Curry/Double Beans Fry/Lima Beans Fry

Double Beans Curry/Fry is a very flavourful and aromatic side dish with freshly prepared masala. I came across this healthy and tasty side dish in one of the cookery shows and gave it a try. It is one healthy and delectable side dish with perfect blend of spices. Do try out this Double Bean Curry and post your comments here. Meanwhile do check out other interesting and healthy Vegetarian Side dish recipes here.

Here’s how to make Double Beans Curry with step by step photos…

Akkaravadisal/Akkara Adisil/Sweet Pongal Cooked in Milk and Jaggery/Sweet Milk Pongal/Iyengar Special Akkaravadisal –Pongal Special

Akkaravadisal is an authentic neivedhyam offered to Lord Perumal in Sri Rangam temple on Panguni Uthram and also in other Vishnu temples during festivals and special occasions. Akkaravadisal is similar to Sakkarai Pongal except it is fully cooked in Milk along with jaggery and generous amount of ghee which gives a creamy, rich and divine taste to it. Akkaravadisal is prepared on the “Koodaravalli day” which falls on the 27^th day of Margazhi [tamil month] and offered as neivedhyam to Lord Vishnu and distributed to devotees in small dhonnais[leaf cups].

A little about Koodaravalli day - Koodaravalli is celebrated to commemorate the acceptance of Andal by Perumal after her 26 days of penance. Sri Andal sang the Thiruppavai containing 30 verses – one verse for each day of Margazhi [December-January] in praise of Lord Narayana. On the 27^th day, while singing “koodaarai vellum seer Govinda…”, the Lord  fell for her divine love and blessed her with the boon of marriage. This occasion is celebrated in a very special way in Srivalliputhur Andal temple, where Akkaravadisal is made in 108 vessels along with butter and offered to Lord Vishnu and Goddess Andal is very beautifully decorated and kept in the Arthmandapam.  Make this super delicious rich and creamy rice milk pudding cooked with generous amount of ghee and offer it god and enjoy the prasadham with the blessings of Lord Vishnu and Sri Andal.  Meanwhile do check out other interesting Pongal recipes here and All about Pongal here.

Here’s how to make Akkaravadisal with step by step photos…

Kondakadalai Kurma/White Channa Kurma Recipe/White Chickpea Kurma - How to make Kondakadalai Kurma

Kondakadalai Kurma/White Channa Kurma is kurma variety made with Kondakadalai and coconut paste as main ingredients along with other spices. It is one healthy and great alternative when you run out of vegetables in your refrigerator. This kurma can be made with black kondakadalai or white kondakadalai. This kurma is a delectable and protein rich kurma that can be served with white rice or with idlis, dosas, chapattis/rotis etc. Do try out this Kondakadalai kurma and post your comments here. Meanwhile do check out other interesting Vegetarian Gravies/Dhals/Kootu varieties here and KurmaVarieties here.

Here’s how to make Kondakadalai Kurma with step by step photos…

Paalada Paayasam/Paalada Pradaman/Rice Palada Paayasam

Paalada Paayasam/Pradaman is a traditional and mouth watering dessert of Kerala and holds an important place in Sadya. Rice Ada is nothing but rice flakes which are then cooked with milk and sugar until it thickens and turns to light pink color. Originally rice ada/flakes are prepared by soaking the rawrice, grinding, making thin ada’s and steam cooking them. But here I have used the store bought Rice Ada and followed the instructions given in the pack. Do try out this rich and creamy Paalada Pradaman and post your comments here. Meanwhile do check out other interesting Paayasam/Kheer varieties here and other interesting sweet recipes here.

Here’s how to make Paalada Pradaman with step by step photos…

Rava Idli/Sooji Idli/Semolina Idli –How to make Rava Idli /How to make Soft Rava Idli

Rava Idli is a popular breakfast recipe originated from the state of Karnataka. It is soft and fluffy idli made with sooji/rava/semolina, yogurt, eno fruit salt and other spices. Rava idlis are steamed cooked idlis that can be made instantly and involves no grinding. These rava idlis are easy, quick, healthy and filling alternative to the regular idlis or any breakfast items. Do try out this soft and fluffy Rava idlis and post your comments here. Meanwhile do check out other interesting and traditional Breakfast recipes here.

Here’s how to make Rava Idli with step by step photos…

Rice Bonda Recipe/Left Over Rice Bonda Recipe/Cooked Rice Bonda-How to make easy and quick Rice Bonda/Deep Fried Rice Balls

Today, I am going to share a very easy and quick bonda recipe made with leftover cooked rice. This rice bonda is a wonderful evening snack and a easy way to finish off the left over rice.  The best part is, this recipe does not involve any grinding and can be made in a jiffy. Do try out this tempting and crispy Rice Bonda and post your comments here. Meanwhile do check out other interesting Starters/Appetizers/Evening Snacks here.

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

Red Rice Dosa/Sivappu Arisi Dosai/Healthy Sivappu Arisi Dosa –Healthy Breakfast Recipe

Red Rice/Sivappu Arisi is a special variety of rice loaded with antioxidants called anthocyanins. This antioxidant gives a beautiful and rich red color to the rice. The anitoxidants in red rice helps in reducing symptoms of inflammation, helps in preventing cancer and weight loss management. This red rice is one healthy alternative to the regular idli rice. Red rice/Sivappu arisi has a nutty flavour and packed with nutrients such as Vitamin B, iron, calcium, zinc etc. This dosa has a beautiful pink color which will surely attract the kids. Do try out this red rice dosa and post your comments here. Meanwhile do check out other interesting Breakfast recipes here and Red Rice Idli here.

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

Cooking Rice in a Pot/How to Cook Rice without Pressure Cooker or Rice Cooker/Cooking Rice – The Healthy Way/Sadham Vadippadhu Eppadi –Sadham Seivadhu Eppadi

Today, I am going to share a very basic recipe of how to cook rice in a pot. In those days, even when I was a small girl “vaditha Sadham”/Rice cooked in pot was very common in all the households. But later on, the popularity and convenience of the pressure cooker, has changed every bodies lives. So, it’s become very common to make rice in pressure cooker and electric cooker. Vaditha Sadham is healthy when compared to the pressure cooked rice, because we are draining out the excess starch from the rice. This is a very basic way of making rice, so I thought of sharing with you all. Do check out the recipe with step by step photos and post your comments here.

Here’s how to make Vaditha Sadahm with step by step photos…

Pori Arisi Urundai/Arisi Urundai With Jaggery – Sweet Rice Balls with Jaggery

Pori Arisi Urundai is a Sweet Rice Balls made with either idli rice or parboiled rice/puzhungal arisi and jaggery. This pori arisi urundai is usually made on fasting days especially in the month of Puratasi and offered as neivedhyam for Lord Balaji. This pori arisi urundai is a very healthy recipe, it can also be made as evening snacks for kids. Do try out this healthy and tempting Pori Arisi Urundai and post your comments here. Meanwhile do check out other interesting Ladoos/Urundai and other sweet varieties here.

Here’s how to make Pori Arisi Urundai with step by step photos…

Instant Wheat Flour Appam/Sweet Wheat Appam/Sweet Godhumai Maavu Appam – How to Make Godhumai Maavu Appam with Appam Pan

Wheat Appam is a sweet dish that can be made easily with very little time. This Sweet Appam can be made as neivedhyam for Vinayaka Chathurthi, Krishna Jayanthi, Sathya Naraya Poojai or for any special occasions or just as evening snacks for kids. Do try out this Instant wheat flour appam and post your comments here. Meanwhile do check out Instant Sweet Rava Appam I have posted earlier here.

Here’s how to make Instant Wheat Flour Appam with step by step photos…