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…

Bitter Gourd Curry/ Karate Ghashi

  Bitter Gourd I feel is a funky vegetable, so different in its taste and texture as compared to any other vegetable. The bitter taste is what sets it apart and you either love it or hate it. Luckily everybody in my family loves it and we cannot have enough of it. This is a favorite dish of mine and is a typical Konkani recipe. I have learnt this from MIL. She is an expert in making this and whenever she is here, she makes an extra batch for me and stores it in the fridge. I then go on…

Cucumber Dosa/Taushe Polo

After getting married, I was introduced to an array of new, delicious, and fascinating dishes that were previously unfamiliar to me. Despite both of us being Konkanis, vegetarians, and sharing the same cultural roots, our families had unique styles and combinations of cooking. One such delightful discovery has been the Cucumber Dosa, a savory Indian pancake that is incredibly easy to make yet so flavorful. This dosa requires just two primary ingredients: cucumber and idli rava (cream of rice). It’s a quick recipe, perfect for those busy days when time is short but you crave something satisfying. The result is…