Coconut Milk Murukku/Thengai Paal Murukku

South India is famous for murukkus. We make different types of murukkus, one among them is the coconut milk murukku. This coconut milk murukku is a very flavorful murukku, which is really soft, yet crunchy and melts in your mouth. Yes, friends today I am going to share this tempting murukku recipe with you all. Do try out this Coconut Milk Murukku and post your comments. Meanwhile do check out other Diwali Snacks and Diwali Sweets in these links.

Here’s how to make Coconut Milk Murukku…

Bonda Mor Kuzhambu Recipe/Ullundhu Bonda Mor Kuzhambu Recipe/Urad Dal Fritters in Spiced Yogurt Curry

Today I am going to share a very traditional recipe of Tamil Nadu, it is one of the most authentic delicacy served in weddings and full meal course. We usually make more kuzhambus with different types of vegetables or even just plain more kuzhambu, but this one is just awesome. The bondas made out of urad dal, are soaked in water and then dropped into the more kuzhambu, which absorbs the spicy butter milk and is extremely soft, which in turn just melts in your mouth and taste heavenly. Do try it out friends and post your comments here. Keep visiting for more delightful recipes from my kitchen.

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

PuliKaachal/Puliyodharai Mix

Puliyodharai is traditional and authentic dish prepared in South India. We can taste excellent and tempting puliyodharai as prasadham in all the Perumal temples in Tamil Nadu. Triplicane Parthasathy temple’s puliyodharai is very special and has unique taste and flavor which is always close to our heart and soul. I just love it to the core. Pulikachal is a paste prepared with tamarind/puli, dal and spices. If we have pulikachal at home, then we can prepare puliyodharai at any time and serve it pappad or appalam. Puliyodharai/Puli sadham is also served during valaikappu with other rice varieties. Do try out this pulikachal and post your comments here. Meanwhile do check out other rice varieties here.

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

Manathakkali Keerai Thuvaiyal Recipe/Black Night Shade Keerai Thuvaiyal Recipe/Healthy Manathakkali Keerai Thuvaiyal with step by step photos

Today I am going to share with you all a very healthy and a different thuvaiyal recipe which not many people are aware of. I have already shared the benefits of manathakkali keerai earlier. Do check it out in Manathakkali Keerai Thanni recipe, Manathakkali Keerai Kootu  which I have posted earlier. This keerai has numerous health benefits and cures ulcer and acidity problems. For today, I made Thuvaiyal with this keerai, you can add it to plain white rice and have it with pappad or you can also serve it as side dish for idlis, dosas or chapathis. Another lovely way to make your kids eat this thuvaiyal is, spread it on bread slices, arrange more vegetables and serve them healthy and tasty sandwiches. Meanwhile do not forget to check out other keerai/greens recipes here. & Keerai Varieties with recipes here

Here’s how to make Manathakkali Keerai Thuvaiyal recipe with step by step photos…

Keerai Varieties/Keerai Vagaigal/Greens in Tamil and English with Photos And Traditional Keerai Recipes

Today I am going to share with you all glossary of keerai varieties/Greens in English and Tamil. I have arranged the glossary with photos of keerai/greens, will be updating when ever possible as well. Please give me more suggestions and other different varieties of keerai/greens. Also check out interesting Keerai Recipes in this link.

Here's the glossary of keerai vafaifal with photos....

Manathakkali Keerai Thanni Saru Recipe/மணத்தக்காளி கீரை தண்ணி சாறு/Black Nightshade Soup with Coconut Milk/Solanum Nigrum Soup/Makoi Soup with Coconut Milk-Keeraithanni Recipe with Video in both English & Tamil

Manathakkali keerai/Black nightshade has numerous medicinal properties. It is rich in antioxidants, iron, vitamins, minerals and loaded with calcium. The amount of phosphorous present in it helps in the growth and development of brain nerves.  Manathakkkali Keerai is an excellent cure for mouth ulcers and stomach ulcers. In Tamil medicine it said that you should consume the manathakkali keerai raw leaves [7-8] in the morning in empty stomach. This is an excellent remedy and cure for stomach and mouth ulcers. This manathakkali keerai thanni, prepared with coconut milk is my grandma’s recipe. After I got married, when I made this recipe, my husband and my in-laws were surprised, it was really new to them and they loved it. Anyway friends try out this keerai thanni and post your comments. This keerai thanni or soup can be made with agathi keerai or murungai keerai which also has unique and wonderful taste. Do not forget to check out other keerai varieties & healthy Keerai Recipes here. Please check out the video for for both English & Tamil Recipe

Here’s how to make Manathakkali Keerai Thanni with step by step photos…

Vallarai Keerai Thuvaiyal Recipe/Brahmi Leaves Thuvaiyal/Indian Pennywort Thuvaiyal/Vallarai Keerai Recipe with Benefits/Vallarai Keerai Thuvaiyal with step by step photos

Vallarai is known for its brain boosting abilities and to cure many diseases in Ayurveda and Siddha treatment since the ancient period. Vallarai is used to revitalize the brain and nervous system, increase attention and concentration, and combat aging. The extract from Vallarai is used in treating memory enhancement and neurodegenerative disorders. Vallarai has amazing medicinal properties which help in fighting many diseases. It plays a vital role in treatment of Alzheimer’s disease and brain related problems like insomnia.

Vallarai has wonderful properties, which helps in curing skin problems like eczema, leprosy, psoriasis and ulcers. Vallarai helps in relaxing muscles and alleviates menstrual pain and disorders. It promotes youthful vitality and longevity and prevents early greying of hair. Hair fall and premature greying of hair can be controlled by using vallarai oil which is readily available in Ayurveda shops.

Vallarai acts as a great cure for joint pain or inflammation, rheumatism, arthritis etc. Not just the above mentioned benefits, vallarai has many other medicinal values and properties and the list goes on. The above information is collected from various websites like Wikipedia, ayurvedictalk.com etc. For people who live outside India can buy the vallarai tablets from Ayurveda shops when you visit Chennai and consume it. For now I am going to share Vallarai Thuvaiyal, do try it out friends and enjoy the benefits of Vallarai. Meanwhile friends, do not forget to check out other chuteny/thuvaiyal varieties here.

Here’s how to make Vallarai Keerai Thuvaiyal with step by step photos….

Karpooravalli Thuvaiyal Recipe/Country Borage Thuvaiyal Recipe/Karpooravalli Thuvaiyal with step by step photos

Karpooravallli(Tamil) otherwise is called as  Country Borage plant. It has lots of medicinal benefits. The karpooravalli leaves are used for treating common cold, cough, sore throats, nasal congestion, indigestion, rheumatism and so on. The leaves of karpooravalli plant are quite fleshy and very aromatic. These leaves are very good source of vitamins and minerals. Karpooravalli plants are easy to grow and maintain. Cut a small piece of the plant from where it is available and plant it in soil with ample amount of water. It will grow and spread faster. I have karpooravalli plant in my balcony and I have made different recipes with it. For now I will share with you all a simple and aromatic Karpooravalli Thuvaiyal. Do check out other delectable chutney and thuvaiyal varieties here.

Here’s how to make Karpooravalli Thuvaiyal with step by step photos…

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…

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…

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…

Cabbage Vadai Recipe/Cabbage Paruppu Vadai Recipe/Cabbage Vadai with Channa Dal/MuttaiGose Vadai with Kadalai Paruppu

Making different types of snacks for the guest, our family and especially for kids is always a pleasure. We make different types of vadai, but adding vegetables to them is another way to make our kids eat vegetables. I know this might not be the healthy version, but we are not going to make fried foods every day at home, so making them once in a while is totally fine.

Here’s how to make Cabbage Vadai with step by step photos…

Green Peas Vadai Recipe/Dried Green Peas Vadai Recipe/Pacchai Patani Vadai Recipe/How to make Green Peas Vadai with step by step photos

Today I am going to share with you all a very quick, easy, colourful and tempting evening snack. This Green Peas Vadai is totally irresistible and another shortcut to get the kids to try the dried green peas. There are certain dishes which look very complicated, everybody might think this vadai is also in the same category. But to tell you the truth, this is one of the easiest fool proof and hazzle free vadais.  Do try this Green Peas Vadai for your evening snack with a cup of hot tea or coffee, then you will surely agree with me. Meanwhile do check out other interesting Starters/EveningSnacks/Appetizers here.

Here’s how to make Green Peas Vadai with step by step photos…

Thavala Vadai Recipe/Thavala Vadai/Mixed Dal Vadai/How to Thaval Vadai with Step by Step Photos

Thavala vadai is an authentic and traditional prepared in Tamil Nadu. It is made with four different types of dals along with rice, coconut, chillies and ginger. It is a delectable and addictive tea time snack. Check out other different types of vadais here and other  interesting Starters/EveningSnacks/Appetizers here.

Here’s how to make Thavala Vadai with step by step photos…

Ullundhu Paal/Urad dal Milk/Urad dal Payasam/Urad dal Kheer/Health drink for Kids - Tamil Nadu Special

As a parent and mom of two kids I am always on the lookout of healthy and tasty food that can be made easily without any hassles. This Ullundhu paal/Urad dal payasam is one such recipe I came across in Vikatan long time ago. Ullundhu Paal is a special, traditional and authentic health drink prepared in Thirunelveli district of Tamil Nadu. It is a very healthy drink, prepared with milk and palm sugar. This Ullundhu pal is a must for girls and growing children as energy booster and helps in maintaining a healthy body and mind.  Do check out urad dal kali/urad dal halwa, yet another urad dal dish made especially for girls. A short note about the panam/panang kalakandu which is used in preparing this milk. Panang kalkandu is a kind of rock sugar made from panam pathaneer[Palm tree] which is extracted from the flower of palmera tree. It is loaded with medicinal value, reduces the body heat, cures cough, cures gastric problems and is rich in minerals like magnesium, chromium and iron.  Try this authentic and traditional health drink of Tamil Nadu and you will surely love it. Check out other Payasam Varieties here.

Here’s how to make Ullundhu Paal with step by step photos…

Dill Leaves Vadai Recipe/Dill leaves Kadalai Paruppu Vadai/Dill Leaves Paruppu Vadai Recipe/Dill Leaves Vadai with Channa Dal

Dill leaves vadai is a very aromatic, delicate tasting and flavourful vada. Before going into the recipe I would like to share a few things about Dill leaves. Dill is native to Mediterranean and East European regions. Dill leaves are feathery, fern like and dark green in colour. Fresh and dried dill leaves are widely used as herbs in Russia, Germany, Greece, Poland, Norway and many other countries. In India dill is known as shepu in Marathi, savaa in Hindi, soa in Punjabi, sadhakuppu in Tamil, soa-kura in Telugu, sabbasige soppu in Kannada and chathakuppa in Malayalam. Dill is a unique plant, because both its leaves and seeds are used as seasoning. It is rich in vitamin A, C, B6, folates, riboflavin, calcium, iron and other important minerals. Dill has an essential oil called Eugenol, which has been in therapeutic use as local anaesthetic and antiseptic. Eugenol also has been found to reduce sugar levels in diabetics. Dill seeds have been used in traditional medicines for digestion, as disinfectant, for more milk production in nursing mothers and to cure neurological symptoms like headaches and neural instability. [Information collected from various websites including Wikipedia]. Do check out other Vadai Varieties here and other interesting Starters/EveningSnacks/Appetizers here.

Here’s how to make Dill leaves Vadai with step by step photos…

Peerkangai Thol Thogaiyal/Ridge gourd Peel Chutney

My previous post was Peerkangai/Ridge gourd kootu, so I did not throw away the peel rather made my favourite peerkangai thol thogaiyal. It is rich is fiber and very delicious and traditional thogaiyal of Tamil Nadu. I wrote a few benefits about ridge gourd/peerkangai in my previous post and I want to share a few more here as well. Peerkangai helps in lowering the blood and urine sugar level, not only that it helps to purify, restore and nourish liver and also helps to cure skin diseases like eczema, psoriasis etc.  When the ridge gourd is allowed to mature and dry in the vine, it is later harvested like a sponge. This sponge is one great natural exfoliating product used for bathing to remove dead skin cells and thereby leaving the skin soft and conditioned. I think with this note I will move on with the recipe. Check out other chutney & thogaiyal varieties here.

Here’s how to make Peerkangai Thol Thogaiyal with step by step photos…

Thayir Vadai Recipe/Curd Vadai Recipe/Dahi Vadai Recipe/Uraddal Vadai Soaked in Yogurt/How to make Thayir Vadai with step by step photos

Thayir vadai is yet another delectable and my favourite evening snack. I love it so much I can finish off one whole plate in no time. The best part of thayir/curd vadai is, though the vadai’s are fried in oil, as they are soaked in water for about a minute and when squeezing out the water all most all the oil also comes out of the vadai and they become very soft. All the goodness of yogurt/thayir, protein from urad dal, added vegetables makes this a delicious evening snack. Do check out other Vadai Varieties here and other starters/Appetizers/Evening Snacks here

Here’s how to make Thayir Vadai with step by step photos….