Vazhakai Podimas (Steamed Plantain Curry)
This is a low fat, vegan, gluten free, tasty side dish made out of steamed plantains. A healthy alternative to fried plantains. Excellent accompaniment for sambar rice and rasam rice. Simple ingredients, steamed, and delicous.
Instant Pot Basic Dhal
This is a basic, beginner recipe. No frills, no fancy, just a simple dal. Only, you don’t need 2 pots – one to cook the dal in, one to add the seasonings. It’s all one pot, turn it on, set the timer and forget it. When done, add tempering, and salt. Total comfort food, ready in about 25 mins (including pressure release time).
Green Chili Thokku (Spicy Chili Reduction)
I am not sure what language thokku is in, most likely Telugu, but it refers to any fresh herb/vegetable pounded/ground to a paste with salt, tamarind and jaggery, and reduced in sesame oil. The key ingredients are tamarind, jaggery, and sesame oil. This recipe makes a thokku out of fresh green chilies and is dynamite!
Mint Rice (Pudhina Rice)
This is one of the easiest lunch/rice recipes. Perfect for summer afternoons, paired with a cucumber or onion raita and a cruncy papad. Fresh mint flavors this rice, I don’t add cilantro as I want the flavor of mint to be the dominant one.