Cranberry Pickle – Yummy
- 18
- February
- 2009
Cranberries are in season again. We love berries, when mother nature gives us bounty harvest, pickle it. Where I come from…we turn all the tangy food into succulent pickles for the rest of the year. In tropical India, summer is the best month to pickle goods. Here, I continue the tradition in early spring. However, […]
Jack Fruit Nut Salad
- 26
- January
- 2009
Pala Kottai Poriyal: Jack Fruit Seeds/Nuts Poriyal. Pala Pazha Kottai Poriyal. Jack Fruit belongs to Moraceae family similar to Mulberry trees. Its native to Eastern Indian part. The Botanical name of this tree is Artocarpus heterophylla. Well its appreciated for its huge fruit…which can be shared among groups. Very thorny outer leathery shell and inside […]
Koduka Puli – Remember This?
- 06
- January
- 2009
Also Known As: Manila Tamarind. Kodukkai Puli, Kodi-kai puli. Kodukalikai. Konakai, Konai-kai. Sweet Tamarind. Thai-Sweet Tamarind. Camachile Fruit. Koduka Puli. My back home cook, Usha Nandhini…brought some surprise to me! These Camachile fruits!!! The Botanical name of this tree is Pithecellobium dulce. Sources say it originated from Mexico! Then traveled to America, Central Asia and […]
Jamun’s Salad
- 19
- November
- 2008
Naawal Pazham – Tempered with Spices: The Botanical name of this tree is Syzygium jambolanum. Commonly known as ‘jambolão’ in Brazil. We call this as ‘Naval pazham’ in Tamil and in English-speaking countries they call it as jambolan, sweet olive or java plum. One of my Kenyan friend called it as wild blue berry! The […]
Ice Apple Drink
- 11
- November
- 2008
My way: Nungu Juice. One could also eat them raw with skin-on, if it is immature and transparant. Edile Jellies with fine skin-on. Over-ripe Edible fruit…which could be also grilled. Unripe fruits…which could possibly bear 2-4 jelly fruits in each one of them. Nungu with Illaneer: Borassus flabellifer is the Botanical name of Asian Palm […]
Anasi Pazha Pongal
- 02
- November
- 2008
Pineapple Pongal: Sweetened Pineapple Rice. Anasi Pazham Pongal Sweetened Pineapple Rice. Annasi Pazha Pongal. This is my friend Farah’s recipe. She is my next door neighbour back home. She was also teaching in the same school….I used to go to (years back & not to my class tho’) When they moved into our neighbourhood….she was […]
Star Fruit
- 09
- October
- 2008
Star Fruit Salad: I happen to spot this fruit recently in the local market! Its very low in calories….just 30 cal af fruit and good source of vitamin C. Its a winter fruit….helpt to ward cold, flu..etc. They are rich in fibre…promotes digestion! Since the fruit is star shaped…makes excellent choices for salad decoration! The […]
Blackberry Juice
- 09
- October
- 2008
Blackberry Juice: Blackberries, its leaves, roots even bark is said edible here…..and also folk remedy for various ailments. The Native American tribes, used them extensively… it had many other surprising uses! The leaf is more commonly used as a medicinal herb, but the root also has medicinal value. Young edible shoots are harvested in the […]
Orange Rasam
- 09
- October
- 2008
Orange Lemon Soup: Orange-Lemon Rasam. Orange-Neembakai Saaru. Lemons and Oranges are rich in Vitamin-C. Most of vitamins lie only close to the skin and on the skin. The lethery rind(jacket)is also loaded with essential oils! Since some of the vitamins are oil soluble and to make use of those essential oils….its good to cook them […]
Nellikkai Oorugai
- 06
- October
- 2008
Nellikkai Instant Pickle: Gooseberries Pickle. Amla ki Achaar. Ingredients: Gooseberries 1 cup crushedsaltTurmeric powder 1/4 spoonFreshly ground chili powder 1 spoonsAsafoetida 1/2 spoonMustard seeds 1 spoonsCurry leaves fewSesame oil few spoons. Method: Crush these berries. Oh yeah….discard the seeds if you don’t like them! Set them aside in a display bowl. In a pan, heat […]
