Thattai (Rice Crackers)
Thattai is a popular south Indian snack. You may call them crispy rice crackers. This is made with rice flour and a few spices. It is both vegan and gluten free. Thattai is a great snack to have on hand in your pantry.
Jeera Rice (Cumin Rice)
Jeera rice is a simple rice dish flavored with cumin seeds. Jeera Rice or Cumin Rice makes a delicious side dish which can be served with any meal and makes it festive.
Crispy Jalebi
Jalebi is a warm crispy, delicious treat. It can best be described as funnel cake. In my home town jalebi was a breakfast treat like pancakes, especially when they were served with kachori (puffed fried bread filled with spicy dal). I know jalebi is mostly served as a dessert, but for me jalebi still makes the best breakfast treat.
Masala Vada (Vadai)
Masala Vada is a South Indian favorite snack that is made with spiced chana dal. They are delicious crunchy on the outside and soft inside. Masala Vada is a popular street food in South India. Try serving along with your afternoon tea.
Paneer Bhurji
Paneer bhurji is a delightful and spicy paneer dish. Paneer bhurji is a quick and easy recipe to make, made from crumbled paneer simmered in spicy tomato gravy. Paneer bhurji tastes great with roti, paratha, or even with regular bread! This is also makes a good stuffing for dosas or vegetable Frankie rolls.
Oat Dosa (Spicy Pancake)
Instant Oat dosa is an easy recipe that is perfect for busy families. Sometimes you want to make something that is easy and hassle free and of course healthy. Oat dosas are instant dosas and make a great breakfast or any time snack. This gluten-free dish is made with oats, rice flour, yogurt, and a few spices. I am also adding cabbage and carrots for texture. This will definitely be a staple in my house.
Menu Suggestions for Lunch/Dinner
What’s for lunch or dinner? This is a question most of us struggle with on a daily basis. When I ask my husband Alex what I should cook for our meals, his answer has been the same for the past 45 years! It’s that I should give him some choices and he will then select his preference. So I have decided to come up with some great, easy, and healthy choices for lunch and dinner. It’s a long time overdue and no more excuses! I would love to get your thoughts on these suggestions and if you find them helpful.
Check out the below menu for one week’s worth of lunches/dinners. I have also provided some tips and suggestions to make it easy. It may be helpful to read the entire menu before and make a shopping list for the ingredients you need. Plan to do your shopping the day before you cook.
Bread Uttapam, South Indian Snack
Uttapam is a popular South Indian dish. Traditionally uttapam is made with rice and lentil batter, which can be a long process. Bread Uttapam, on the other hand, is instant and easy to make. Not to mention it tastes delicious. Uttapam is a thick dosa, or pancake, with vegetables cooked over skillet. It tastes divine served hot and with a side of coconut chutney.
Chakli (Crispy Rice Snack)
Chakli a popular snack all throughout India. Chakli is a crispy and delicious snack that is prepared for holidays. It is perfect with a hot cup of Chai. In my opinion, chakli is a must-have munchie! Chakli is prepared many different ways using different pulses with rice. I plan on making Chakli with rice flour and moong dal.
Diwali Menu
Deciding on the perfect menu for the upcoming holiday of Diwali can be challenging! I have been trying to decide the menu for a Diwali party I am hosting for the last couple of days. It’s the time of year to indulge in delicious and tasty food, without a regard for calories! This year I […]
Bread Dahi Vada
Bread dahi vada is a quick and delicious version of the original dal – lentil vadas. There is no soaking of lentil required, no grinding and no frying required; this is an instant version of dahi vada. This can be served as a snack or appetizer.
Kulcha (Punjabi Flatbread)
Kulcha is a soft textured flatbread; this is very popular in northern states of India. They can be made in a tandoor (clay oven) or on a skillet. I am using a skillet. Traditionally kulchas are served with spicy chole (chick peas). This delicious combination is known as “Chole kulcha”. This is also another popular street food.
Handvo – Baked Spicy Lentil Cake
Handvo is a popular Gujrati snack. This is a baked, spicy lentil cake made with rice and different lentils fermented batter mixed with spices. This is served with chutney. Handvo is crisp outside and soft inside.
Dabeli Spicy Potato Sandwich
Dabeli is a popular snack on the go, with street vendor in Mumbai. Pav (small burger buns) filled with spicy potatoes and topped with peanuts, chutney, fine save and pomegranate. Enjoy this delicious sandwich;
Tomato Rice (Pulao)
Tomato rice or pulao has a South Indian flair as I have used samber powder in this recipe. Samber powder is a spice mix used in many South Indian dishes. It has a spicy and tangy flavor. This flavor combined with tomato and rice taste great! This dish will also make a nice lunch box meal.
Sweet Corn China Grass Kheer
Sweet Corn has a natural sweetness and a wonderful flavor that suits best for a kheer. China grass or kadal paasi (as we call in Tamil Nadu) is very good for health and it is used in a famous drink called Jiharthanda. It adds a great texture to the drink. Hence I combined both and developed this delicious Kheer.
