Rava Idli and Potato Saagu/ Bombay Saagu

  Rava Idli or Rave Idli is a variation of Idli, made with Rava/ Sooji/semolina instead of the usual rice and Urad Daal.  It is a specialty of the state of Karnataka and is usually served as a breakfast item. It has been said that the popular restaurant chain, Mavalli Tiffin Room (MTR) of Bangalore invented it. Legend has it that during World War II, when rice (a key ingredient in Idli) was in short supply, they experimented with semolina as a substitute and gave us the now-famous Rava Idli. Rava-Idli translates to semolina-idli in the Kannada language. Rava idli…

Steamed Spiced Multi-Lentil Squares

OK, I have to admit this, before I go on with the recipe. I do not know the traditional name of this dish; all I know is that it is a dish from Karnataka. The English title that I put more descriptive of the procedure, seems so formal and does not seem to have that connection with the dish. If somebody knows the name please let know. Many years ago my mom had learnt this from one of our neighbor “Uma Aunty”.  She was an ace cook who could whip delicious dishes in no time. Many a times she would…

Vegan Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

After some streaks of unsuccessful attempts in baking using Flax Meal (as substitute for egg), I was thrilled when I was successful in making these Egg Free Oatmeal Raisin Cookies. The taste is close to the original (with eggs) and there is hardly indicator of the presence of flax seeds meal in these cookies. The cookie is crispy on the outside and soft and chewy on the inside, the addition of raisins gives it a special taste and texture.  I have tried some Eggless recipes before with some easy substitutes, but this was the first time, I tried out a…

Moong Daal Beans Subzi (no onion no garlic)

Onions and garlic play an important role in my everyday cooking. In fact, it would be fair to say that my cooking starts with the chopping of onions. Garlic, I could do without as there are many recipes for which I do not use it; but not onions as I use it very religiously. I guess it was a few days ago, probably Thursday or so when we were out of onions. I could do without many other items, but being so used to cooking with onions, I felt lost. Anyway I did not have the mood to go to…

Homemade Popcorn

While talking to one of my friends last week, I mentioned that I refrain from the store brought popcorns and usually make popcorn at home. She was taken aback and thought that it was a complicated process, involving lots of steps and could not imagine preparing it at home. I don’t blame her, because of the amount of commercialization, the high tech gadgets that is used for making popcorns makes us feel that it is time consuming and tedious. I walked her through the steps and finally convinced her that it could be made in a kitchen with just 2…

Methi Moong Daal Recipe

Ever since I read on Sandeepa’s blog about green whole moong’s ability to get rid of the toxins from our body, I have been thinking of ways to incorporate more of these beans in our diet. Here is what one source says about these small green beans. “They are very nourishing, while being relatively easy to digest–they do not generally create abdominal gas or bloating, the drawbacks of larger beans. According to modern nutrition, mung beans offer 14 gms of protein per cooked cup. Mung beans are also a good source of dietary fiber. They also contain thiamin, iron, magnesium,…

Savory Semolina Cake /Eggless Sooji Cake

  I had bookmarked this recipe for Savory Semolina Cake from TBC long time ago and had since been in my to-do list. She had adapted this recipe from Anjum Anand’s website from Here.  So last Friday evening when I had some time I decided to give this a try. I involved DS in this as he likes mixing, measuring etc and it is a good way to keep him busy. At the end of it all he feels proud and happy that he is a big boy and that he can bake a cake. It did not take much…