Carrot Kosambari/ Carrot Lentil Salad

Kosambari is a traditional salad in Karnataka. It is prepared during major festivals, auspicious occasions, and marriages and even offered as ‘prasada’ in temples. This is also called as Koshimbir in Konkani and Maharashtra and is very easy to prepare. Kosambari does not involve any cooking, it is basically a mix of soaked lentils and vegetable of choice (cucumber or carrot or both) with right seasoning.  It is healthy, high in protein and also has a cooling effect on the body. This is one salad, we love to have during summers. I have already posted the Cucumber Kosambari recipe here.…

Easy Coconut Rice Recipe, South Indian style

In India coconut is one of the most common offerings to God.  Since is considered ‘sreshtha’ (superior) and auspicious it is offered as a way of prayer. It is first de-husked, broken along with the shell and then offered. After that the coconut is treated as part of prasadam and is consumed by making variety of eatables.  Being a Konkani, coconut is a part of our everyday food. The morning ritual starts by breaking a coconut offering it to God and making some preparations out of it. There are lots of recipes sweet, savory and curries that use coconut. In…

Corn Chivda/ Corn Mixture

Chivda is a popular snack of Maharashtra and North Karnataka usually made of flattened rice/poha. It is then spiced with masala and jazzed up with other ingredients like peanuts, raisins, cashews etc. When we talk about chivda, usually the picture of poha chivda comes to mind. But this chivda/mixture is made of Corn Poha. Please note that I am not referring either to the frozen corn or corn flakes (cereal). This Corn Poha is available in the Indian stores right and is usually placed next to the regular poha. It is yellow in color and is bigger, puffed than the…