Sago Rotti (Sabudana Thalipeeth)

Tension filled engineering exams, vast syllabus, Parents care and concern; these are the memories that come to me whenever I cook this. Years ago I used to be a nervous wreck when it came to my exams, the last minute cramming, never ending studies, burning of midnight oil, lack of sleep etc.   As usual, my parents were concerned and wanted to alleviate my tension in ways they found feasible. Somewhere along the way they came with the idea of making my all time favorite dish “Sabudana Thalipeeth” during my exams, so that I could relax and take a break for…

Soft Idli and Chutney- South Indian breakfast

       The idli or”idly” or “iddly” is a savory cake popular in South India. The cakes are usually two to three inches in diameter and are made by steaming a batter consisting of fermented black lentils (de-husked) and rice. Most often eaten at breakfast or as a snack, idlis are usually served in pairs with chutney, sambar, or other accompaniments. In addition, idlis are considered one of the top ten healthiest foods in the world. (Source:Wiki)   Idli along with Coconut Mustard chutney makes a flavorful combination and can be served as breakfast/brunch. I learnt making this mustard chutney from…

Traditional Konkani Recipe: Kokum Kadi/ Sol Kadi

Kokum is a dark purple to black sticky fruit with curled edges. It is very abundant in the west coast region of India and hence mostly used in Konkan homes. It adds tart taste to the food and many use this as a substitute for tamarind. Studies have shown that this fruit can reduce fat, cool body, purify blood and also reduce cholesterol. Since it is difficult to find the type of kokum we use at home, here in the US, I load bagful of kokums when in India and stock it for years. At home we enjoy drinking this…