Gasagase Payasa, is a traditional dessert authentic to Karnataka. My mom makes this every time I visit her, since I am crazy about desserts made from jaggery and coconut milk. The poppy seeds by themselves are pretty tasteless, but some kind of magic happens. I can promise you that the delightful alchemy of poppy seeds, nuts, coconut milk and jaggery flavored with cardamom is truly going to be a treat for your taste buds.
Are you craving a silky smooth, rich soup without the heaviness of cream? Do you love the satiny texture and rich flavor of creamy soups, but want to keep it “light”? In short, do you want to eat the cake and have it too? If yes, then, come along and let us show you how to quickly make a delicious broccoli-asparagus creamy (sans cream!) soup.
The story goes that this wonderful fermented milk drink, originated in the Caucasus Mountains and is made with kefir “grains”, a yeast/bacterial fermentation starter. It is prepared by inoculating cow, goat, or sheep milk with kefir grains. Traditional kefir was made in goatskin bags that were hung near a doorway; the bag would be knocked by anyone passing through to help keep the milk and kefir grains well mixed. The word is rooted in the Turkish word kief, meaning “good feeling”.
This South Indian breakfast dish made primarily from rice and lentils is delicious! Enjoy it with sambar, coconut chutney or tomato chutney.
This week’s recipe uses broad beans (also known as fava bean, Chikkudukaya in Telugu, Valor or Val Papdi in Gujarathi, and Chapparada Avarae in Kannada). It is a delicacy in several parts of the world. I have eaten these beans in a sweet-ish dish in Egypt, where our guide had pointed out that beans are one of the oldest and longest cultivated crop and they have found references to beans in ancient hieroglyphics.
Still eating boxed cereal with unpronounceable ingredients and a whole lot of added sugar? Instead, I prefer to steer clear of such controversial ingredients, even if they are touted as ‘marginally safe’. Instead, I reach out to whole grains to provide me a satisfying kick-start to my winter mornings. Simple ingredients, whole grains, easy to make, freezes well, and tasty to boot!! I can live with that.