Spanish Gazpacho Soup / Creamy Gazpacho Andaluz

Today we will relish the Spanish Soup - Great Gazpacho Soup. This soup is screaming healthy with loads of veggies and so flavorful also.. This is one of the soups you can make the day before as it tastes best when served cold.. I got this recipe from Americas Test Kitchen. This is so flavorful, elegant and richer..

 

Parupu Usli

Parupu usli is a very popular dish which is made from dals and green beans. This is served in almost all marriages and functions. This is very rich in nutrients from parupu which is rich in proteins and green beans which is a green vegetable. This one is also very appealing to the eye with green, yellow and red colors. It is a great accompaniment to mor kuzhambu, rasam or sambar. It is very filling as it comes with a lot of protein. Since the grinded dal tastes similar to vadai, we also call this vadaikkari..

Vangi bath / Brinjal Rice - Karnataka

Cuisine of Karnataka has a lot of influence from Tamil Nadu, Andhra and Maharashtra. There are lot of bath here - Bisi Bela bath, Vangi Bath, Bagala Bath, Kesari Bath etc.. Bath mentioned here is for the rice. Some sweets are very popular here like the Pedha from Dharward, Mysore Pak and the very famous Maddur Vada from the city of Maddur and the list goes on.. Today we are enjoying Vangi bath which is a rice variety made with Brinjal / Eggplant. It can be accompanied by curd, appalam or vadam. Vangi Bath is best when had hot, but also makes a great travel food and lunchbox dish. This is also a great way to sneak in some brinjals for folks who do not like it…

 

Vegetarian Thupka - Arunachal Pradesh

Today we are travelling to the North Eastern part of India – Arunachal Pradesh. Arunachal translates to “Aruna” is the one of the names of Sun god. Arunachal Pradesh translates to “Land of dawn lit mountains”. Some states were very hard to find recipes and Arunachal Pradesh is one among them.. I was hardly able to get any vegetarian recipes that are authentic to this state. Most of the recipes had dried fish in them.. This thupka was finally a breather.

Pavakkai Pitlai (பாவைக்காய் பிட்லை)

Pavakkai Pitlai is a type of Sambar. Pavakkai is Bitter gourd and is one of the healthy vegetables out there. This recipe tastes best when served hot with rice.

Mushroom Aloo Mutter

For Vegan Thursdays, I chose to write Mushroom Aloo (Potato) Mutter (Peas) which is a great side served with rice or roti or naan. It tastes best when served hot. You can skip the peas soaking part if it is made with frozen peas, in which case, just thaw it.

Aloo Gobi

Aloo (potato) Gobi (cauliflower) is a very tasty North Indian Side dish that is accompanied to Naan, Roti or Paratha. The ingredients are simple and this can be done in less than 20 minutes from start to finish.

Kathirikkai Kootu (கத்திரிக்காய் கூட்டு)

For the theme of "Different types of Kootu", I could not miss adding one of my favorite kootu. This kootu is aromatic and super delicious. A very simple and flavorful kootu.  This goes so delicious with hot rice, jeera rice, roti, phulka!!

Cauliflower Sambar (காளிப்ளவர் சாம்பார்)

Cauliflower Sambar is a tasty variety of sambar which is little different from traditional sambars. You can also substitute cauliflower for ridge gourd.

3 Parupu Kootu (3 பருப்பு கூட்டு)

3 parupu kootu is a very tasty kootu that is made with three types of parupu (dals). This recipe is for pumpkin kootu, but chow chow, cabbage can also be made like this. This is very healthy and rich in protein. This is pretty easy to do. Adjust chili and salt to taste. This is another homey food that I do quite often but never got a chance to take a picture..

Ennai Kathirikkai(எண்ணெய் கத்திரிக்காய்)

Ennai Kathirkkai is an authentic dish. I was actually very skeptical before doing this as I did not know how good the brinjal will get cooked and how it will taste, but I was blown by its flavor and aroma and taste. So delicious!!!

Parangikkai Kootu

Parangikai Kootu is a very simple quick and tasty kootu. This can be done in less than 15 minutes from start to finish.

Quick Pizza / Bread Pizza

On day in the morning a conversation starts between me and my daughter like this:
Me - what do you want for lunch (Yes I ask my 3 year old what she wants for school everyday)
Daughter - Pizza
Me - Pizza shops are closed in the morning
Daughter - You make it at home for me amma
Me - But it will take me at least 2 hours sweety
Daughter - No I want only Pizza for lunch
Me - Confused as to what to do!!!!
My daughter is very picky in what she wants (most moms have this complaint) and she is even more picky on the things she like. She is not going to be ok with me telling her that I will do Pizza for dinner nor can I give her a bread slice with Italian Seasoning and cheese and call it pizza. She will say this is NOT PIZZA!!! So I thought I will tell her that I will give her something similar to Pizza.... After my long thought, conversation continues
Me - Ok I will make something like Pizza
Daughter - ????? gives me a look where she questions what do u mean mom!!!
Me - It is called Quick Pizza
Daughter - How will it be
Me - It will be very yummy like pizza but I will do with bread
Daughter - Ok, but you should also do Correct Pizza for Dinner today
Me - Ok will do.. and now I rush to the kitchen to do this Quick Pizza
You can adjust the amount of salt, spices, veggies and cheese in this quick pizza. Also if you are doing this for a party, then have everything ready and do the few minutes of broil just before serving. You can broil at least 4 slices at the same in the oven.

Vegetable Puff

Puff is leavened bread with stuffing. It is a great snack, a perfect party dish and a great food on the go. It tastes best when served hot and can be accompanied with tomato Ketchup. The stuffing is really a personal choice and can be adjusted according to taste, preference and availability. Making puffs are so easy if you have the puff pastry sheets readily available. When I was in US, I used to get it from the freezer section in the grocery stores.  You will get 9 Puffs from the below recipe. I am starting the Month long marathon with this great Party food.

Stuffed Garlic Bread - Dominos Style!!!

We love garlic bread and the stuffed one from Dominos is even tastier and more delicious!!! I wanted to try this bread at home for a very long time now and finally have done it today!!! I am so happy with the result and it has vanished in seconds... no minutes!!!! I got 2 10 inch semi circles out of this recipe. Filling is more a personal choice.

Stuffed Masala Bun

Stuffed Masala Bun is a very tasty and interesting snack or tiffin item. It tastes best when served hot and can be accompanied with ketchup or spicy chutney or I can relish it as is. I got this recipe from here. Stuffing is a personal choice and you can change according to taste and preference.

Couscous Upuma (கஸ் கஸ் உப்புமா)

Couscous Upuma is a quick, healthy and tasty tiffin. I have fallen in love with this recipe that I love to include it as much as possible on my menu...

Bruschetta

Bruschetta (pronounced as brusketta) is an Italian Appetizer which is quick and easy to make. It is an appetizer from Central Italy whose origin dates to at least 15th century. It consists of toasted bread rubbed with garlic and topped with olive oil, salt, and tomato salad. It is a very healthy breakfast consisting salad, toasted bread and very little cheese. The key of tasty and refreshing bruschetta is from its fresh ingredients.

Sweet Potato Fries (baked)

Substitutes are very hard to make especially if you love the original dish... French Fries or Finger fries or just fries, however it is called is a side dish that so many people love and can actually eat as the main dish!!!! Fries are with regular potatoes and are fried..This is a very healthy dish which tastes yummy and is a great substitute for French fries. I served it with a side of ranch sauce (recipe coming soon) and it tasted out of the world and was done in a few minutes!!! I am so excited to share this for BM #24

Thiruvathirai Kootu

Thiruvathirai kootu is a festival food done on Thiruvathirai. It is accompanied with the Thiruvathirai kali done on Thiruvathirai. It is done with a lot of vegetables (seven), tamarind and a grinded mixture. It is very aromatic from freshly ground spices and tastes very delicious.