Pindi Channa

Pindi channa, named after the place from where it is originated "Rawalpindi", is a dry chickpea curry that is unbelievably simple and very flavorful. This recipe uses just ginger and green chillies from the vegetable family and the flavor-part comes mostly from the fresh spice powder made with whole spices like dried pomegranate seeds, black cardamom, cloves, cinnamon etc. Apparently, this recipe gained its popularity during the Indo-Pakistan war times when there was limited access to vegetables. 

Vermicelli "Dum" Biryani

With this vermicelli recipe, take a "tasty & spicy" biryani break from the usual upma routine. Vermicelli cooks fast & easy and combines well with biryani flavors. You can make this delicious biryani in an hour's time right from start to finish. With a mild raita on the side, vermicelli biryani is perfect for lunch boxes too!

Inji Thogayal / Ginger Chutney

Apparently, I seem to do a lot of blog-hopping these days.. I am nothing but inspired by all the great blogs from across the globe with wonderful recipes and big beautiful pictures. The pictures in this post is nothing but a mere evidence of my inspiration.. otherwise, who would even think of putting a spicy ginger relish and the shot glass together? But, I had total fun playing with the light, props and my DSLR on a dark & gloomy day.. the best part, all of the pictures came out so well, I think... what do you think?

Keerai Poricha Kootu

Of-late I seem to post a lot of lentil-based recipes in the form of soups and sides. This recipe again is a lentil-based south-Indian recipe called "Keerai Poricha Kootu", a simple, creamy, luscious & comforting side served alongside rice. Though the star ingredients of the recipe is spinach & pigeon-peas, freshly ground paste of coconut, cumin seeds, red chillies/pepper corns adds a great flavor and a spicy kick to the recipe. Hot keerai kootu mixed into rice with potato fry on the side is a killer combo!

Tomatillo Dal

Today was a very tiring day. In addition to my daily cooking chores, I had too many things to take care of. During such days, I turn to this this simple "no-fail" comforting dal. Preparing dal is a simple & straightforward process - pressure cook dal/lentils along with the vegetables and finish it off with a garnish/tempering. The wonderful aroma of tempering/tadka itself is so appetizing that it will make you want to eat.

Mixed-Berry Detox Smoothie

How about waking up to a tall glass of this thick, creamy, tasty and most importantly, healthy smoothie? I would love to.... every single day for the rest of my life!! If I tell you what's in this "3-ingredient" "super-hydrating" "detox" smoothie, I'm sure you would want one too.. 

Perfect for your breakfast table, this smoothie is loaded with fiber, anti-oxidants and immune boosting nutrients - exactly what you need to start your day.

Radish - Sweet Potato - Kale Hash

A warm & comforting vegan hash that uses radish, sweet-potatoes and curly kale and spiced up with curry powder. Extremely delicious and can be prepared in minutes. Pairs up so well with rice/roti.

Sheermal

This month's choice for "We Knead To Bake" group was Sheermal/Shirmal, a Persian origin naan-like sweet, saffron-flavored flat-bread. Thank you Aparna for this unique bread recipe that I wouldn't have known/tried otherwise.

Sheermal or Shirmal is a traditional, saffron-flavored, faintly sweetened, leavened flatbread that is popular in countries like Iran, Bangladesh, Pakistan and India. It is suggested that the name sheermal comes from the Persian word "milk" which is “sheer”. In India, sheermal is predominantly popular in regions that were under Mughal influence viz Kashmir, Lucknow & Hyderabad.

Palakura Pappu with Methi

Pappu/Dal is one of the quitessentials from Andhra Pradesh, south-eastern state of India. Simply put, an Andhra meal is not complete without pappu. Pappu refers to a thick stew usually prepared with toor dal/pigeon peas with/without vegetables and is a ready source of proteins in a mostly vegetarian diet. Some of the very popular "Pappu" varieties from Andhra are thotakura (amaranth) pappu, menthikura (fenugreek leaves) pappu, palakura (spinach) pappu, dosakaya (yellow cucumber) pappu, tomato pappu, beerakaya (ridge gourd) pappu, sorakaya (bottle gourd) pappu. The basic idea of making a classic pappu is very simple & straight-forward - just pressure cook pigeon dal along with vegetables, whichever that you are using and finish it off by garnishing with tempering/tadka.

Split Peas & Barley Soup

Split pea & barley soup is a simple "no-fancy" soup made by simmered & pureed dried split green peas along with cooked barley & diced carrots. Split pea soup is often under-rated as a wholesome meal, for it is rich in protein, high in dietary fiber and a great source of complex carbohydrates that helps control blood sugar spikes. This healthy soup can be used as a base for other soups or can be enjoyed as is.

Tzatziki Sauce

My first ever post on a classic yet simple "Greek" recipe, Tzatziki sauce. Incase you are hearing it for the first time, don't let the name "Tzatziki" intimidate you, as this is the greek version of our very own "Indian Raita" but flavored with garlic, olive oil, lime juice, mint/dill leaves and cucumber. 

Onion Rava Dosa

Onion rava dosa is a popular south-Indian breakfast that is super-instant and irresistible when crispy & golden brown. Making regular dosa takes a lot of time & effort right from soaking of lentils to fermentation. But onion rava dosa is quick and time-saving - you can pretty much start making dosas as soon as the batter is ready.

Quinoa & Peas Pulao

Confession time.... "I was never a fan of quinoa!". Infact, I hated quinoa for its 'weird' nutty taste and smell. I could never understand why people loved it so much. I have "occasionally" used quinoa in chili, burger patties, chowder, salad etc, but never had the courage to use it in my everyday cooking.

Upma Kozhukattai / Steamed Savory Rice Cakes

Upma kozhukattai / Pidi kozhukattai is one of the oldest and popular breakfast in any south-Indian household. Naturally rich in calories, these steamed rice cakes perfectly fits the bill as breakfast and will satisfy kids and adults alike. Best of all, these savory cakes tastes great just by themselves and doesn't need a side. But if you have the taste and time, a simple chutney is all you need.

"Seven Cup" Burfi

"Seven cup" cake/burfi is a sugar based Indian fudge made with chickpea flour, coconut flakes, milk and ghee (clarified butter). Though it looks similar to Mysore Pak, "Seven cup" burfi is a soft, 'coco'-nutty flavored fudge where coconut & condensed milk (from all the boiling of milk) are the dominating flavors. The name "Seven cup" burfi comes from the fact that seven cups of different ingredients are used to make this sweet.

"Three layer" PB & Chocolate Fudge

"Peanut butter & Chocolate fudge" is a simple, minimal-ingredients, "no-bake" three layered fudge, that screams peanut butter & chocolate in every bite & every layer. Inspired by hundreds of peanut butter fudge recipes across the internet (Thanks to each & everyone of them), this recipe however is original, very new & intact. (PB fans would know!!)

Carrot Thogayal

When my neighbor handed me a cup of "Carrot" thogayal a.k.a rice-mix to taste, it didn't hit the right note for me. I mean, I have never tasted.. let alone tasting, I would've never even imagined such a recipe using carrots. "Carrots", "Fenugreek leaves", "Thogayal", all sounded like a strange combination, BUT..... only till I tasted it.

"Curried" Capsicum & Quinoa

To all health-freaks and quinoa-lovers out there, say "hello" to this healthy & whole-some fusion of "Curried" capsicum with Quinoa. This recipe sure will be a welcome break to your monotonous quinoa routines but with an interesting "desi" spin. The recipe bursting with vitamin "C" and protein, is mildly spiced and full of flavors from freshly pound spices & curry powder.

Raw Banana Subzi

Not all recipes that I see in a book/blog/TV show inspires me. But, this one surely caught my interest. I saw this recipe in a popular south-Indian TV cook show and fell instantly in love with this north-Indian recipe. 

Ofcourse, there are other reasons too. To my knowledge, raw bananas is a not-so-frequent vegetable in north Indian kitchen and so, I thought that this recipe was unique. I adore chef Mr. Venkatesh Bhat (who happens to be the host of that cook show) for his passion and interest in culinary field and that reason was more than convincing for me to try the recipe. Last but not the least, the recipe seemed to be simple, quick with minimal ingredients.

And, the good news is my instincts did not fail me...

Eggplant Pesto

Hello there.. it's been long time since I have posted anything on the blog.. just couldn't recollect when my last post was. I decided to ditch my poor little blog to have a relaxed and enjoyable summer vacation. All these while, I was pretending to be busy (in a way I was..), while having a good time with my family & friends. I intended to catch-up with blogging after my vacation, but warm-up time took a little longer than expected. Otherwise, things are perfectly fine at my end. 

So here I am, finally, dusting off my blog with a simple recipe for eggplant pesto, a pesto that you could use as a spread in sandwich or as a pesto for pasta or as a dip for chips/veggies.

Thakkali Sambar / Instant Tiffin Sambar

I can never imagine making a sambar without lentils, PERIOD! Pressure cooked, mashed lentils is used mainly for getting thicker consistency. So, when I had this thakkali sambar at my friend's place, I simply couldn't believe that the sambar hadn't use any kind of lentils / thickening agents. 

Infact, I did not believe until I tried it for myself. And YES, this sambar is one of the quickest & easiest recipes around that goes with any kind of south-Indian breakfast. 

Beets Stir-fry

"Beets Stir-fry" - One of the many ways to enjoy beets. Grated beets aids in quick cooking and you can enjoy this curry as a side... or as a rice-mix or even better, as a simple salad. The addition of moong dal to this curry not only makes it hearty & healthy, but super-filling too!

Kala Channa Masala

Of late, I am focusing more on adding traffic to the blog. One such effort of mine is to get the blog "Yummly Certified". Yummly has a large user base and features some of the best food blogs from around the world. All I had to do was to write a guest-post for them with a new, simple recipe (that is not featured in my blog so far), with high resolution pics. If they approve of my recipe and the pictures, then the recipe is featured in their site while the blog also gets "Yummly Certified"! "Win-win"!!!

Paal Poli

I suppose every one of us have a favorite childhood food memory that can transport us back in time. The taste, smell, and texture of such foods can bring back powerful memories with amazing details. So, do you have one that can bring out the child in you? Do you have one that you can't possibly pass up?

Well, for me it is "Paal poli", undoubtedly one of my childhood favorites. Over the years, the list of my favorite food has grown long for sure, but this one always have a special place. Paal poli, deep-fried semolina flatbread soaked in thick & reduced cardamom-flavored milk, is a sweet, delectable and oh-so good dessert! A rich, special south-Indian sweet course that right royally makes its way into almost every wedding menu. If my memory doesn't fail me, I too remember eating paal poli only at the weddings.

Broccolette Pesto

This vibrantly green "broccolette" pesto recipe is a sure winner in satisfying your family's palate while being healthy too! "Broccolette", this amazingly healthy and quick veggie tastes great in this pesto. It’s easy to cook and good for you too! Whether you call it broccolette or broccolini, this vitamin-C rich veggie is an easy and nutritious addition to weeknight dinners. 

Ginger Cardamom Chai

Authentic Indian milk tea spiced up with ginger & cardamom. Hot & cozy chai is "the" perfect choice to warm up your cold mornings or to unwind after a long, stressful day. This recipe serves just ONE, but you can easily double (or) triple the recipe for more servings.

Aloo Poha

Aloo poha is probably one of the earliest recipes that I remember learning from a south-Indian cookbook "Samaithu Par" by Meenakshi Ammal. This recipe is very simple, with lot of flavors & textures going on.

Cilantro & Channa Pulao

Such a simple & vibrant pulao in under 30 mins, perfect for your busy mornings and works great for lunch box! Healthy, nutritious and very filling too!!

The only catch in this recipe however is to remember and soak garbanzo beans the previous night. Incase you forget, this recipe is so flexible that it will work great even with canned garbanzo.

Mughlai Vegetable Biryani

Just wanted to give a little shout-out as this marks my 300th post on Sasi's kitchen! Yayyyy!!!! "300" - this BIG number sure is exciting and the experience... very rewarding!! I got into this whole "blog" thing just to record & remember some of the traditional recipes that were passed down to me and now has turned into one of the serious hobbies of mine... and ahem, ahem.. an expensive one too!! Come home and see my collection of kitchen gadgets and utensils, you 'll know what I am talking about!! Oh, and how did I forget the DSLR that I recently added to this list!

Inspite of all this, let me confess that I have enjoyed doing all the 300 posts and it had been such a wonderful journey for me. Beside having fun trying out new recipes, what's more exciting is that I’m constantly learning something - be it a new technique in cooking or food photography. So, I want to take this opportunity to sincerely thank all of you for trying my recipes, reaching out to me with your comments & criticism and for constantly encouraging me, one way or the other and that’s what keeps me going. Without you, my readers, this blog would have never been possible. And, to all my silent readers out there, I would like hear from you too - Just shout back to me so I can hear you all!

Beetroot Dal

Beetroot Dal - well, what's so special about this dal?! Besides beets & lentils, this dal also has beet stem and greens. All these days I have been trashing away beet greens without knowing that they are edible, how ignorant of me?! But, when I saw this recipe here, my whole perspective about beet greens changed. I just had one bunch of beets in my pantry, and I decided to put them to best use along with the beets & lentils.

Fresh Tomato & Basil Sauce

What is your favorite go-to recipe when you' re in a time pinch?!

My go-to recipe is "Pasta", without a doubt. There are days when I am in a hurry to rush things done and then, there are days when I want to relax and unwind after a long exhausting day or days when I simply don't feel like cooking anything elaborate. During such times & more, pasta is my only consort. I love pasta for it is very versatile and has never failed to satisfy me or my family's taste buds (inspite of our non-Italian origin)!

Oreo Banana Shake

What comes to your mind when you hear the word "milkshake"? For me, milkshake means just two things - "sugar & fat". Milkshakes can be once-in-a-while indulgence for it has an unbelievable amount of sugar & fat from ice-cream which is usually added to the shakes for that sinful, creamy texture.

But, with this recipe, I think I hit the bull's eye! No compromise absolutely on taste (or) texture and very healthy too. By healthy, I don 't mean any kind of substitutes, only natural & perfectly healthy ingredients. And the best part, no one would even guess what's in the milkshake, I bet!

Roasted Corn, Veggies & Quinoa Chowder

I was seriously contemplating with myself.... on whether to call this recipe a soup (or) chowder. Chowder is presumably thick, cream-based and is one of the many variations of soup while soup is much thinner and uses only broth. So, now you know why I call this thick, heavy cream based recipe a "chowder".

But, whatever you call it, this simple, hearty, nutrient-rich recipe has bunch of colorful veggies, roasted in oven to perfection and blended together into one thick, creamy & delicious soup. When it comes to seasonings, I have kept it really simple and straight-forward, with just salt & pepper. But, feel free to use seasonings of your choice ranging from cumin powder to chilli powder to fresh/dried herbs.

Paneer Bhurji

Paneer bhurji is the vegetarian version of egg bhurji (scrambled eggs saute'ed with onion, tomatoes, chillies and other spices). Paneer is an excellent replacement for eggs in this recipe. With minimal set of ingredients from your pantry, you can make one delectable paneer dish in less time, that pairs up so well with rice/roti!

Mint flavored Quinoa Pulao

So, here we are.. with a fresh start to another week.. My weekends are the busiest with a load of things to juggle around other than the regular stuffs that I do through-out the week. Managing both the kids at home full-time, shuttling my older one to her music & dance classes, stocking up vegetables, fruits and other provisions for the week, a week load of laundry, and other sundries... well, two days had never been enough for my never-ending list of chores!! And, that's one reason I don't get to blog during the weekends. But, weekdays are different. With VJ & my older one are busy at their respective places, I get lot of time, trying new recipes, clicking and blogging them away to glory!! 

Lavash Crackers

It's time for yet another "We Knead to Bake" project, but with a small change. Just for this month, Aparna let us choose to bake any bread of our choice. Coincidentally, I had this book "The Bread Baker's Apprentice" by the ever so famous "baking guru" Peter Reinhart lent from our local library and had umpteen different options in front of me to choose. Just like a kid in a candy store, I was completely lost, over-whelmed with the varied options that the book had to offer, right from stiff breads like lavash to rustic breads like ciabatta and anything & everything in-between. The book has a lot of information from different types of flour to detailed recipes, very well laid out, thorough and precise, all at the same time. The book clearly shows the experience and wisdom of the author in the art of bread making. It is a baking tutorial, recipe collection, and also a bedtime book, for baking enthusiasts like me!!

Long story short, I decided to start with the easiest one, Lavash Crackers which is a stiff (50 - 57% hydration and that means easier handling of the dough), and a direct bread (without the need for pre-fermentation)!

Raw Cashew Cake

This recipe made me change my opinion about desserts... totally!!! Desserts needn't have to be always high-fat and healthy dessert doesn't necessarily mean compromised food!

The terms "healthy" and "tasty" have always been mutually exclusive in most of the "so-called" health recipes that I have tried. But, on the other end, you also have recipes.. dessert recipes like this.. which uses natural & healthy ingredients, is surprisingly simple and delicious, all at the same time!

Garlic butter

The best garlic butter recipe ever!

This recipe was inspired from "cheesy garlic bread" that we recently tasted in a local Italian bistro here! Hands down, theirs are probably one of the best in town. Garlic bread were fresh & hot out of the oven, and every bite was cheesy and crunchy with lot of flavors going on.

"Curried" Lentil Soup

A perfectly spiced, warm & hearty Indian "curried" lentil soup!

Avocado Pasta

Want the best of both worlds?! Say hello to this creamy, filling & healthy pasta recipe that you can proudly add to your repertoire!!

One of the easiest pasta recipes around and undisputedly healthy... that too in under 20 mins! To all pasta-holics out there, this is one great recipe for your busy mornings...!!

Quinoa and Roasted Pepper Chili

What's better than this vegan, protein-rich quinoa chili to enjoy on a cold & dull rainy day! Low fat, low calories, cholesterol free; with a toast on the side, this is one guilt-free food that you can go on & on! Besides being loaded with lots of vegetables, this recipe also has shelled edamame which significantly helps in increasing the protein content of this chili!

Chocolate cupcakes with Strawberry cream frosting

This year, ❤ Cupid ❤ decided to show up at our house a little early! With valentine's day just around the corner, is there a better way to celebrate cupid's arrival than baking a delicious "double" chocolate cupcakes with strawberry cream cheese frosting, that too an eggless version?! Pure joy !!!!

Avocado Raita

This cool & refreshing avocado, cucumber and mint raita is a healthy tweak to your regular raita's and a great way to add yogurt to your diet.

Avocado gives this raita a thick & solid base and so, you could even use buttermilk to make this raita. If using yogurt, add required water to thin it out. Use greek yogurt / sour cream to make this raita and voila.. you've just made yourself a creamy & healthy dip for your veggies & chips!!

Quinoa-Avocado-Mango Salad

With super foods like quinoa & avocado, the options are endless!

Quinoa & Veggie Patties

The first time I made veggie burgers at home, it was a big flop show. The problem.. no binding agent to hold the patties together and so they were falling apart. Moreover, the main ingredient that I used was sprouted moong dal and for whatever reasons, the patties tasted awful and it didn't go well with the burger buns. After that experience, I never had the courage to try veggie sliders again, until I recently saw this recipe for quinoa patties here.

Focaccia

The "baking-obsessed-cells" in me is all happy & dancing in joy. I am sure 2014 is gonna be an exciting year on the baking front. Starting this year, I am also a part of the one-year old baking group "We Knead to Bake". This group have been successfully baking various kinds of yeasted breads (one bread a month) all through the year 2013. This group is led by Aparna of "My Diverse Kitchen". Being the live-wire of this group, Aparna does all the ground work, comes up with a solid recipe, and shares it with the group. Then, the group has this easy task of following the recipe, bake & enjoy! It is also worth mentioning that the group is a lively crowd & full of baking enthusiasts.

Based on a poll within the group, "Focaccia" was voted to be the first bread for the year 2014. Focaccia is a flat, oven baked Italian bread which is topped with herbs and/or other ingredients. Ofcourse, I got a detailed recipe from Aparna for "Focaccia Caprese", but I decided to skip the caprese part and settle down for a simple focaccia with just cherry tomatoes on top.

Breakfast Burrito

A healthy Mexican spin on the regular breakfast, "breakfast burritos" minus the eggs ofcourse. But hey, what if there are no eggs? Every other ingredient in this recipe is nutritious & golden. Corn, black beans, avocado.. I wouldn't want to alter a single thing in this recipe, it's that good.

But, if you are particular about including eggs in your breakfast, just scramble the eggs and add it to your burritos (or) scramble some tofu and add it to the burrito.. Now, how do you like that idea?! Personally, I have not tried tofu in burritos but I bet it should be good & healthy.

Corn & Avocado Sandwich

A great way to start your mornings... t(o)asty, healthy, satisfying breakfast that you can put together in under 15 mins. Can you find a better recipe than this for your busy mornings??!! I don't think so..

Breakfasts have to be this good.. very quick & effective, no compromise on the ingredients, rightly portioned and perfectly filling.. can it get any better?! Just trust me and try this recipe for your breakfast tomorrow... and everything 'll start to make perfect sense for you!!

Buurrrrrrpppppp!!!

Vegetable Lasagna

"Bye-bye" 2013 and "Hello" 2014! Yes, this is my first post in the year 2014. 

Well, 2013 had been a great year for me especially on the blogging side. Must say that some of the best things happened to me last year. Moved on from P&S to DSLR. Extended my blogging boundary with the help of "food-porn" sites like foodgawker, tastespotting, pinterest etc. (Now, getting my photos accepted by these sites is a different story altogether...) and these sites helped bringing in a lot of traffic and my blog reached 100K page-hits in a remarkably short span.

I am totally geared up for more such experiences this year too. I have signed up with "We Knead To Bake" group and I am so looking forward to wonderful baking experiences with them. I have a lot of favorite/pinned recipes from various cuisines that I just couldn't wait to try in this new year! 

Last but not the least, I wish all my readers, fellow-bloggers a very happy & peaceful 2014!