Poori and Vegetable Saagu (Karnataka Style)

Growing up, Poori (fried flour flatbread) was always my first choice whenever we dined out. Of course, I often skipped the accompanying chutney, Potato Bhaji, Korma, or Potato Masala back then because they felt too spicy for my young palate. Over time, I grew accustomed to their flavors, and soon enough, my love for Poori expanded to include the side dishes too. I even reached a point where I found myself visiting restaurants just to savor their chutneys and Vegetable Saagu—though the Poori was still the main attraction! These experiences came from old-school, traditional eateries that focused on the authentic…

Cucumber Kosambari / Taushe Koshimbir

Kosambari is a typical and traditional saladin 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. Kosumbari does not involve any cooking, it is basically a mix of soaked lentil and raw vegetable of choice (cucumber or carrot or both) with right seasoning.  It is very high in protein and also has a cooling effect on the body because of Moong Daal and Cucumber.   Kosambari tends to become runny if kept for a long…

Dry Brinjal Potato Fry (Badnekai Alugadde Palya)

And so it happened, even before I could realize it. The clean record that I had maintained for 8 long years was finally tarnished. All my sanctity, my pride just evaporated in thin air when I got my first ever speeding ticket! Just to lay out a brief background, I had my yearly performance review scheduled at 9:00 AM that day. I started early from home knowing that the traffic would be crazy as usual at that time. I skipped jeans and wore formal even though it was a Friday just to make a statement and create an impression. I…