Puran Poli | Flatbread with Cardamom Infused Sweet Lentil Filling

The first time I heard of Puran Poli was as a kid visiting a friend's home in Bombay! It was coming up to Holi and we had just popped in after an afternoon of skating. The home was replete with the aroma of ghee and cardamom and there was much bustle in the kitchen. On the dining table were large plates piled high with what looked liked parathas. But these parathas were sweetly fragrant, incredibly soft, and oozing with butter fat!!

Lemon Oats Bhaat | Savoury Lemony Oats

After publishing the Oats Pohe recipe earlier this month, I got many requests from my readers for more Indian Style Oats Recipes. I use Oats in so many recipes that I was surprised to see only two Indian Oats recipes posted to this blog! So here goes another favourite at my home - Lemon Oats Bhaat | Savoury Lemony Oats. In this recipe, I substitute old fashioned oats for rice in the traditional South Indian recipe of Lemon Rice. The result is delicious.

Palak Uppu Kozhukattai | Spinach and Cream of Rice Dumplings

Kozhukattai is a steamed dumpling. It can be made with pretty much any type of flour but it is most commonly made with rice or ragi. It can also be savoury or sweet. I love kozhukattai in all its forms. I make the rice flour and ragi flour one at home for snacking all the time. I also love making the Uppu Kozhukattai. Its got a moreish texture that adds so much to the flavour. Today I made these steamed dumpling with spinach. The were perfect with some delicious zucchini kootu!!

Lemon Quinoa | Lemony Quinoa Pilaf

South Indian style lemon rice is probably one of my favourite rice dishes. It is a delight both to make and to eat - the fragrant tempering, the hot and sharp tastes, and the beautiful yellow colour are so inviting! Its also so easy to make that it can be ready in a snap. It is also great to make if you have left over rice from a party or get together. Lemon rice is one of the dishes I love to make when we are planning a road trip or a picnic. It travels so well, tastes delicious hot or cold, and you never have to worry about the accompaniments.

Chana Dal Takda | Tempered Bengal Gram Dal and a Round Up of Healthy Me and Healthy Us

Dal is a staple in Indian homes - prepared at least for one meal if not two. As I kid I remember enjoying dal for both lunch and dinner. Moong was our lunchtime favourite and for dinner Arhar or Toor Dal always won hands down. Other dals were always included in the diet and my Mum always alternated between making the wide variety of dals and beans that are available in India. Today I follow this tradition of cooking dal at home. Often I use the pressure cooker as it is perfect to get dals ready in a jiffy. But sometimes I like to soak dals for up to two hours before cooking and then slow cook them in a stock pot on the stove!

Til Chatni | Sesame Seeds Powder | Chutney Powder

Dry Chutney Powders are a perfect accompaniment to a simple dinner of dal, rice, and vegetable. I learnt about these powders when we moved to Mumbai and I began school there. The variety of dry powders and their delicious hot and spicy taste were a treat to my tongue. I loved to eat them with everything - yes pretty much everything! I included them in sandwiches, inhaled them with batata vadas and sago kichidi, and sprinkled them on dal and yogurt.

Mixed Dal Vada | Mixed Lentil Fritters

I have a soft spot for Dal Vadas | Lentil Fritters. I am always on the lookout for opportunities to make them. They are so good with tea or a glass of lemonade. They make a perfect snack - deliciously crunchy with a soft centre. Dal Vadas are a lunch box favourite and they travel well. Pack a box for your next holiday and enjoy with a glass of sweet milky tea. I promise you will not regret it:)

Katachi Amti | Chana Dal Amti | Spicy Split Bengal Gram Soup

Katachi Amti  is the famous spicy lentil accompaniment for Puran Poli. The combination is a festive treat and this year I had made both for Holi. And as today is the first day of the Navratris, Ugadi, and Gudi Padwa, Katachi Amti with Puran Poli would make the perfect meal. This version of Amti is a little different from those I have made previously. This time I chose to make the masala for the Amti with raw spices. I brought together the Khara | Saabot Masalas | Whole Spices and ground them without dry roasting them first. This lent a very fresh and mellow taste to the Amti. The aroma was also very delicate and went beautifully with the cardamom and sweetness of the Puran Poli.

Masala Chana Dal Vadas | Spicy Lentil Fritters

This year I decided to make some typical and traditional treats for Diwali. Apart from the sakarparas and namakparas, I thought it might be a good idea to have some nice food from the South for Choti Diwali and something from Delhi for Diwali. So I made tamarind rice, masala vadas, and sambar on the 27th! And while I often make tamarind rice from scratch at home, I usually make my sambar using MTR sambar masala. I always plan to make the sambar masala at home but just never get round to it. So this time I decided I just had to make the masala at home and I did. And I have to confess - the sambar was the best I have ever tasted. Well, enough said about my adventures with masalas and onto the Masala Vadas!! (And of course, you might well ask: what did you make for Diwali? Keep tuned for some delicious Delhi Chaat!!)