2-for-1 lentil soup becomes kale lentil flatbread

       You already knew that kale and lentils are a power couple right! But did you know? lentils or legume soup is treated as a two-for-one deal? In New Delhi, day-old lentil soup gets a fresh makeover. Shh!! Ancient indian secret 🙂 We convert it to a flatbread simply by adding a few spices to awaken…

Turmeric Hot Chocolate

Wait! Milk for a cold. Isn’t that a no no for my sinuses, Asked a friend.. Not with this special recipe. Its cold and wintry and an onset of flu symptoms seems to be everywhere. One friend was cured of a cold with this recipe and another asked for a cure. High time I shared…

Cumin pepper cold medicine soup

O dear, My boss isn’t well. I haven’t been well. A friend mentioned he’s been under the weather for a while. Cold season blues can really affect our bodies! When I feel this way-runny eyes, sore throat, I long for my grandmother’s soup. Lightweight, packed with spices, this cold medicine soup is bound to pick…

Gunpowder

Ouch! I’ve just been re-diagnosed with high cholesterol, No, said the doctor, it doesn’t matter that you do yoga twice a day, nor that you’re vegetarian, nor that you walk 1 hour in the bitterly cold winter that’s toronto, nor that you think positive.. or hang out with positive people, this is genetic. you have to…

Garam Masala

“Oh No! I used the wrong cardamom”, worried Pauline said to me one morning at work. She was trying out a malay dish that needed garam masala. Dutifully heading to the grocery store for a key ingredient, cardamom, she brought back the little green spice which bursts open to reveal the fragrant seeds. No, NO,…

Keeraithandu Sambhar-Amaranth Stem Stew

Sambar is the classic southern stew. Every kitchen has its own recipe. Amaranth stem provides a nice texture, dals add smoothness and sambar powder(the famous spice mix) add the necessary spices to this wonderful dish. I first tasted amaranth stem sambar in my aunt’s home and never forgot its mesmerizing taste.. For years now I’ve…

Hing or Asafoetida#1 South Indian Spice Secret

In my spice cupboard, you’ll find sweet, sour, salty, bitter, pungent, and astringent flavours living in harmony. “Why, sometimes I’ve believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast.” ― Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland Then there are spices which heat up the digestive fire and spices that cool down the body.. Just looking at…

Karivepilai Podi

My favourite leaf transformed into a spice powder. Watch out! Karuvepalai podi(or curry leaf spice powder) has a tendency to vanish miraculously before your very eyes. Sprinkle this heavenly spiced powder on rice, or use it to temper your vegetables or smear over a sandwich. Yum! Ingredients 4 cups curry leaves(Karuvepalai) Salt to taste Spice Mix 1/4…