Click the link below to watch a very brief video of frying a poori: Poori Frying Video Print Recipe 100th …
Venn Pongal
Ven pongal (white pongal) is a simple and soothing comfort food. The main ingredients are white rice and split moong dal, with very few spices/seasonings. It is easy to digest and therefore makes a great comfort when you’re sick and craving something warm. It is made during the month of Margazhi/dhanur (roughly mid December- mid Jan) in the early mornings. My memories of school days during this time is going to the temple early in the morning to get the hot prasadam of pongal (sweet and savory).
A point about pongal: If you don’t have fresh ginger, curry leaves, black pepper, cumin, cashews, and ghee, don’t even attempt it because none of these ingredients are optional for a good pongal.
Cracked Wheat (Dalia/Godumai rava) Upma
This is a quick, wholesome, one pot light meal. It’s great for breakfast, or a light lunch or supper. And it’s a breeze to make. Made with cracked/broken wheat, the carbs break down slowly and keep you full for longer.
Multigrain Thalipeeth
Video Links: Thalipeeth 1 Thalipeeth 2 Thalipeeth 3 Thalipeeth 4 Print Recipe Multigrain Thalipeeth Thalipeeth is a snacky dish …
Bisi-Bela-Huli-Anna (Spiced Lentil Rice)
Bisi-bela-huli-anna is a signature dish of Karnataka cuisine. I have split the name to explain what it means.
In Kannada (language spoken in the state of Karnataka), bisi means hot, bela means lentil (paruppu/dal), huli means tamarind/puli, and anna means cooked rice. The name pretty much gives you the recipe in a nutshell! It’s a wholesome dish that has starch, protein, fat, and vitamins in the form of vegetables. Can be a one-pot dish if cooked the traditional way, but for ease and quickness, I cook the rice and the dal separately and add to the pot in which the tamarind is boiled with vegetables and spices. So, mine is kind of a 3-pot meal, but takes a lot less time.
This is an involved recipe and the list of ingredients could be intimidating at first, but if you plan and get organized, it really is a simple dish to make and enjoy for a couple of days! On to the recipe now!