Murmura Upma/Puffed Rice Snack

Hope you had a good and relaxing weekend!  Remember the rant I made last about the relentless summer heat here in Texas, with the temperatures being above 100+ for the past 45 days? Guess what? The rain Gods finally answered our prayers and it rained here for a little bit providing much needed relief.  Come Saturday morning, we woke up to the smell of the earth. And not to mention the grass, yard all soaked in water provided a happy sight. As I stood there it reminded me of the old age adage, that it is the simple things in…

Cluster Beans Curry/ Guvar ki Sabzi

Cluster Beans are called Gorikayi or ChavaLikaayi in Kannada, Guvar in Hindi and Chitmitki/ Chitmitkesanga  in Konkani. They are flat and smaller compared to the regular string beans and have slight bitter taste too. They are rich in proteins, fiber and considered very nutritious. For us they are available in the Indian stores and if I am not mistaken they are present all the year around, so I cook this pretty often. They have a mild bitter taste, so I add little shredded coconut to the curry to compensate for it. If you want you can also add little bit of…

Capsicum Masala Recipe/ Bell pepper coconut curry (dry)

While there are different ways of making capsicum curries, this way of making capsicum/bell pepper curry is my all-time favorite. The pungent capsicum is simmered in a coconut masala, perfectly balancing sweet, spicy, salty, and sour flavors. This combination transforms the bell pepper into a captivating dish. Preparing this Capsicum Masala is a breeze. While the onions and capsicums cook in a pan, I quickly grind the coconut masala and mix it with the sautéed vegetables. Since everything cooks rapidly, this dish is ready in no time and tastes incredible. Pair it with rice and dal, like “Daali thoy,” and…