Telagapindi is a by-product of sesame oil manufacture. It has many health benefits and is a very versatile ingredient. This recipe is from my mom that I make quite frequently for my family. What is Thelagapindi? Thelaga pindi is a traditional ingredient in Andhra cuisine. It is a by-product of sesame oil production. Raw sesame seeds are pressed and processed to extract sesame oil. The leftover pulp from this process is then ground to a powder to make telaga pindi....

Sambar and kuzhambu are the quintessential dishes in Tamil cuisine. We relish sambar with rice and also with all the tiffin items like idli, dosa, upma, rava kichadi, pongal, and the list goes on. Ok now, confession time. :-) Seriously I can’t get enough of sambar, especially araichuvitta sambar or sambar with fresh ground spices. I make sure atleast I make it once a week. I love to eat idli and dosai for breakfast, lunch, and dinner....

A thali or full meals in Tamil Nadu / Karnataka is incomplete without raita. You will definitely find raita on all the thali, and even we prepare this on all major festivals. But for me, when I can’t make dry curry or gravy curry (kootu), this is the best bet, and this is my to-go option on those days. I love cucumber raita too. I know onion raita is pretty easy and simple....

Are you ready for all the Summer Fun, Parties and of-course Summer Food cause these Quick Tomato Mushroom Crostini are just waiting for your next party 😉 Ingredients for the Tomato Mushroom Crostini: Fresh Tomatoes Mushrooms Baguette or Baguette Slices Balsamic Vinegar Ricotta Cheese Mint Seasoning Summer is always kind of hectic for most of us and there’s nothing more special than an easy-peasy snack/appetizers that are packed with flavors and no-cook kind....

Leftover Turkey Pot Pie What do you usually do with your Thanksgiving turkey leftovers? Do you pick at them cold from the fridge? Do you slap them on bread and have dry turkey sandwiches? Or do you revive them by making something totally new, delicious, and cozy, like a turkey pot pie? I’m hoping you’ll consider the latter this year. Here’s why this needs to be on your weekend-after Thanksgiving menu:...

This healthy and quick Turmeric Broccoli Fried Rice is my favorite midweek meal as it saves me from all that brainstorming session with self regarding what to make 😉 Also, if you are following the #veganuary trend, then this is such a delicious life savor. Also, during winters, I love adding a bit of more turmeric to our recipes for that healing/protective powers. What Makes Turmeric Broccoli Fried Rice Different?...

We are starting the last week of blogging marathon today and my theme for this week is ‘Dips, Chutneys and Spreads’. First up is one of my absolute favorite chutneys and yes, it is made with eggplant (my favorite veggie, if you didn’t know that already). It is my mom’s Vankaya Tomato Pachadi. My mom makes this chutney with big baby eggplants (does that even make any sense???). Italian eggplants are probably the closest to the ones we get back home....

Using tofu in place of paneer Tofu can be a fantastic substitute for paneer in dishes like Matar Paneer to make a vegan version. It provides a similar texture and can effectively absorb the flavors of the gravy. When using tofu in place of paneer, it’s important to use firm or extra firm tofu to ensure that it holds its shape during the cooking process. To achieve a texture similar to paneer, it’s essential to press the tofu, cube it and then pan-fry it until golden brown on all sides before adding it to the dish....

Adding garbanzo beans is completely optional. I love it in this recipe and I went with the canned one. In the street side shops you can find the cook using two sharp laddles and chopping the parotta. As I mentioned I love to watch how they do the veechu, similarly I love to watching chopping action too. I didn’t do that home. I crumbled and made small pieces with hand....

I use vegetables like artichoke hearts, red onion and tomatoes to make this sandwich. But you can use your favorite veggies and customize the recipe to your liking. Great to make for lunch or dinner or even pack for lunchbox. About the recipe Hoagie refers to a long bread roll that is used to make sandwiches. Usually, these rolls piled high with meats, veggies and so on to make a filling hoagie sandwich....

Last week, I focused on South Indian-inspired dishes, and this week, I’m mixing things up. 😊 I’ve started sharing daily meal inspirations on my WhatsApp and Instagram channels, so be sure to join for fresh ideas every day. If you’re into journaling and need a meal planner, check out my VVK Meal Planner. Leftovers for the win- I’m a big fan of leftovers—they’re a lifesaver! While opinions vary, I believe homemade leftovers are far better than takeout or frozen meals....

This just may officially be the cocktail you want to be sipping on all summer long. A white wine spritzer is a classic cocktail that is so easy to make you’ll be wondering why you haven’t been making them for years. How long it takes: 5 minutes (additional time to freeze the berry ice cubes) Equipment you’ll need: ice cube tray, freezer Servings: as many as you like A wine spritzer is one of the most refreshing cocktails you can think of....

Today, we’re talking about one of the most versatile ingredients that’s a staple in every meat lover’s kitchen – boneless skinless chicken breasts. Why chicken breasts are great Easy to Find and Cook: Boneless skinless chicken breasts not only readily available, but they are a blank slate, ready to be prepared in any number of ways. There is very little prep work involved. Versatile: Chicken breasts can be used in so many different ways....

It’s so famous in Punjab, that it can be found in any of the local street food stall or the best of the hotels. Its popularity is similar to Tandoori Chicken. By now, you must have guessed that since the dish originated from that city, hence it’s named ‘Amritsari‘ which literally means from Amritsar. Process to Make the Amritsari Fish Pakora: For this particular dish, we use freshwater fish known as ‘Singhara‘ or ‘Sole‘ which are thick/chunky white fishes(boneless fillet)....

Are you craving a burst of flavors that will tantalize your taste buds? Look no further than the delightful concoction of beetroot, carrot, and radish instant pickle, also known as ‘Gajar Mooli Pickle’. This is a particularly famous pickle in North India and I grew up eating this pickle with mom along with fresh warm Indian paranthas, roti and rice/dal. This easy-to-make Indian pickle is not only a treat for your palate but also offers numerous health benefits....

The first chaat recipe that I am going to post for this marathon is Cutlets – these deep fried or shallow fried goodies are perfect tea time snack. It is pretty much similar to tikkis. Like many other recipes, cutlets can be prepared in zillion ways. But here is my super simple kid’s friendly deep fried beet root cutlet. Cutlets are perfect recipe where you can sneak in any veggies....

The Best Beignet Recipe With Mardi Gras right around the corner I thought it might be a good time to share my easy to make and impossible to resist beignet recipe! When making beignets (pronounced “ben-YAYs”), there are two different ways you can go about it, the traditional French way or the New Orleans way. Traditional French beignets are made with pâte à choux (AKA, the base used for gougeres and to make the shells for my cream puffs and eclairs)....

Perfect Grilled Salmon (With the BEST Marinade!) We have salmon about every other week in our house. Ben loves it, I like it, it’s healthy (hello, omega-3s) and there are actually so many ways to enjoy it. My lemon salmon with dill is one of my go-to recipes, as is this walnut crusted salmon for special occasions. When summer rolls around and grilling season begins, naturally, salmon is on the menu....

Are you a salsa fan? I sure am! I can totally make a meal out of chips and salsa. Put a basket of chips in front of me and watch out! The problem is, a meal of chips and salsa doesn’t have a lot of nutritional value. How long it takes: 15 minutes Equipment you’ll need: sharp knife, colander, mixing bowl Servings: makes 4 cups Tada! Black bean corn salsa comes to the rescue....

This phrase ‘Are you pudding me??’ makes me smile every time I read it – great choice of theme name Valli. So for the final day of this week’s blogging marathon I made a simple bread pudding using challah bread. Bread Pudding is a classic bread-based dish that is popular in many cuisines. There are both sweet and savory versions of bread pudding. The method of preparation might vary from country to country, but in most cases bread in soaked in a liquid (either a egg based custard or milk or sugar syrup) and then baked until set....