VIRUNDHOMBAL

Ginger Thokku, also known as Inji Thokku, is a traditional South Indian condiment that is loved for its bold flavour and medicinal benefits. During my childhood, my grandmother used to prepare many varieties of thokku at home. I still remember enjoying her style of cooking, especially the generous use of oil and jaggery that made every thokku taste divine and stay fresh for a long time. This Ginger Thokku is my own kitchen experiment inspired by her methods. It turned out to be a big hit at home and tasted absolutely delicious with curd rice. You can also mix it with hot rice and enjoy it as Inji Puli Sadam. Watch the video carefully and try this traditional ginger thokku at home. Important Tips for Preparing Ginger Thokku 1. Peel the ginger and rinse it well. Chop the ginger into medium-sized pieces. If chopped too finely, ginger may taste bitter. Since the ginger is sautéed and then ground, medium-sized pieces work best. 2. Instead of grinding, you may also grate the ginger using a c...

This Mushroom Kurma is a simple, flavourful one-pot recipe that can be prepared within 20 minutes. It has a light, well-balanced gravy without heavy cream or cashew paste, making it perfect for everyday cooking. During our recent Christmas long weekend trip to Ilanji, we tasted this delicious mushroom kurma in a small hotel near Virudhunagar. Because of heavy traffic in Madurai, our lunch got delayed and it was already around 4 PM. Most hotels had no meals available, so we stopped at a small roadside restaurant. There was no crowd, but the food turned out to be surprisingly good. We ordered parotta and mushroom kurma, and the gravy was incredibly tasty. I enjoyed it so much that I asked the cook about the recipe. He kindly shared the base gravy ingredients, which inspired me to recreate this kurma at home. This mushroom kurma has the perfect consistency—not too thick and not too watery—making it ideal for parotta, dosa, chapathi, and idiyappam. If you prefer light, flavourful gravies o...

Today, let’s prepare a soft, healthy, and delicious Little Millet (Samai) Idli, a perfect millet-based tiffin for breakfast or dinner. This recipe is completely rice-free, making it a great option for those looking to include more millets in their daily diet. I regularly prepare millet tiffins for dinner and have tried many millet recipes like millet khichadi, millet dosa, and millet kozhukattai. After experimenting with different methods, I understood one important rule while cooking with millets – proper soaking is the key. For easy digestion and soft texture, millets should be soaked for at least 3 hours. But for recipes like millet idli and dosa, soaking for a minimum of 5 hours gives the best results. Another important tip is to use a slightly higher quantity of urad dal compared to regular rice idli batter. This helps in achieving soft and fluffy idlis. By following these simple steps, you can easily prepare nutritious, light, and tasty millet idlis at home. This recipe has alrea...

Tomato Mint Leaves Chutney is a delicious variation of the classic onion–tomato chutney, prepared with green chillies, fresh mint leaves, chana dal and coconut. We first tasted this chutney at a small millet restaurant, where it was served alongside kodo millet dosa, and the flavour was truly impressive. The mint leaves add a refreshing aroma without overpowering the chutney. Using fresh mint or coriander leaves is essential for achieving the right colour and taste. A key technique is to sauté the leaves only until they wilt, which helps retain their natural flavour. Green chillies are preferred in kara chutneys for a fresh spiciness, while a small amount of Kashmiri red chilli powder can be added at the final stage for colour, if desired. This chutney pairs beautifully with idli, dosa and millet-based tiffin items. Follow the recipe and video instructions to prepare this flavourful chutney for your breakfast or dinner. Here is the video link for Tomato Mint Leaves Chutney...

Today we are going to enjoy another refreshing and colourful salad recipe. This is one of my all-time favourite salads – a simple yet flavourful Boiled Peanut Salad. Growing up, the aroma of freshly boiled street-style peanuts wrapped in newspaper pottalam still brings back warm childhood memories. Though those days are gone, this bowl of goodness always takes me back. Boiled peanuts are not only tasty but also packed with nutrition. They are rich in protein, fibre and good fats, which help keep you energetic and full for a long time. Peanuts also support heart health, improve digestion and provide essential vitamins and antioxidants. Including boiled peanuts in your diet is one of the easiest ways to add plant-based protein to your meals. To get perfectly soft-boiled peanuts, the cooking process is very important. Raw peanuts take longer to cook, so make sure to soak them for at least 8 hours. After soaking, pressure cook the peanuts with enough water and salt until they turn soft and...

 A rich, flavorful and aromatic South Indian gravy made with mushrooms, onions, tomatoes and freshly roasted spices. This gravy pairs perfectly with idli, dosa, idiyappam, parotta or steamed rice. This year during the summer holidays, we planned a ladies’ trip to Pondicherry. Early in the morning, we started from Chennai and reached Pondicherry just in time for lunch. Since it was a long weekend, the place was fully crowded. After lunch we relaxed at the resort, laughed, chatted, and enjoyed ourselves. By evening, we headed to the beach – but with heavy traffic on the beach roads, we could spend only a little time there. When dinner time came, we began searching for restaurants, but everywhere was crowded. Finally, we decided to go to Karaikudi Chettinad restaurant. Even though it was far from the beach, we went by walk through the buzzing streets. That walk itself turned into a fun memory – moving slowly through the festive crowd, chatting and laughing all the way. Once seated, we...

If you're searching for a healthy, quick, and delicious salad recipe, this Broccoli Mushroom Salad is just what you need. Made with steamed broccoli, carrots, mushrooms, and sweet corn, this vibrant salad is not only visually appealing but also loaded with nutrients. The sautéed garlic and spring onions in coconut oil add a subtle depth of flavor, making every bite refreshing and satisfying. Whether you're trying to eat clean, looking for a light lunch, or adding more vegetables to your daily meals, this salad is a great choice. It’s easy to prepare, vegan-friendly, and gluten-free — perfect for anyone looking to enjoy healthy eating without compromising on taste. Watch the Broccoli Mushroom Salad Video Recipe More Healthy Salad Recipes You’ll Love Sweet Corn Pomegranate Salad Sprouted Green Moong Salad  Black Eyed Cow Peas and Sweet Potato Salad Healthy Black Chickpeas Salad  Rajma Sweet Corn Salad with Curd Dressing Broccoli Mushroom Salad Recipe Details  Ingredients...