VIRUNDHOMBAL

Tired of preparing kuzhambu every day? This quick and easy Paruppu Thuvaiyal is the perfect solution for busy days. Made with simple pantry ingredients like toor dal, chana dal, red chillies, garlic, and coconut, this flavorful chutney comes together in just 10 minutes. Roasting the dals until aromatic and grinding them to the right consistency gives this thuvaiyal its authentic taste. When mixed with hot rice and served with a crunchy appalam, it becomes a comforting and satisfying meal that proves simple food can be the most delicious. This Paruppu Thuvaiyal is also a perfect beginner-friendly recipe, especially for those who are new to cooking. With just a few basic ingredients and simple steps like roasting and grinding, anyone can prepare this dish without any difficulty. There are no complicated techniques involved, and even if you are short on time, you can still make a delicious and satisfying meal. It’s a great recipe to build confidence in the kitchen while enjoying a wholeso...

Today’s recipe is a simple, wholesome Bitter Gourd Fry that’s both flavorful and light, using just 2 tablespoons of oil. It’s a great way to enjoy this nutritious vegetable without overwhelming bitterness. We begin by lightly steaming the sliced bitter gourds, which helps mellow their natural bitterness while preserving their shape. Next, they’re gently tossed with a few basic spices and slow-roasted in a well-seasoned cast iron skillet. The result? Crisp, golden edges with deep, earthy flavors — all achieved with minimal oil. Why cast iron? Cooking in cast iron not only enhances texture and flavor but also distributes heat evenly, making it perfect for achieving a delicious roast without soaking in oil. It’s a practical and healthy choice for everyday home cooking. A few tips to get the best results: Steam just until tender – avoid overcooking to keep the slices firm during roasting. Stir occasionally – this helps the pieces brown evenly and prevents sticking. Serve this fry as a perf...

Looking for a simple, flavourful lunch that comes together in just 20 minutes?Try this easy and traditional Poricha Kuzhambu!This comforting South Indian kuzhambu is a lifesaver on busy days—no tamarind extraction, no garlic or onion peeling required. Just use fresh vegetables of your choice, toor dal, and a fragrant, freshly ground masala made with urad dal, pepper, cumin, dry red chillies, and coconut. Back in my childhood, my mom often prepared this kuzhambu with garden-fresh drumsticks—it’s still one of my all-time favourites. This recipe is similar to our traditional puli illa curry (tamarind-free curry), with its signature roasted and ground spice-coconut paste. There's no need for any store-bought masala powders, except a little turmeric powder. In this version, I’ve used drumstick, brinjal, and potato, but you can mix in vegetables like broad beans, chayote, carrots, or green beans. If you're using a mix, be sure to balance the quantity so the dal doesn’t get overwhelme...

Welcome to our new series featuring my beautiful cast iron vessels! During our recent trip to Madurai, we discovered the wonderful Sikandar shop, where we picked up these stunning cast iron vessels. They have an amazing variety of products, and we were impressed with the quality. In today's post, I'll show you how to make a delicious sweet potato fry using one of our new cast iron skillets - and the best part? It's made with very little oil! Sweet potatoes are a staple in our kitchen, adaptable to countless preparations like fries, sabji, and roasts. This pan-fried version is quick and delicious, seasoned with a simple mix of crushed garlic and homemade red chili flakes. Customize the spices to your taste and enjoy a flavorful side dish.  This pan-fried sweet potato recipe is one of the easiest ways to get crispy sweet potatoes without any complicated steps. Many recipes suggest parboiling or steaming the sweet potatoes first to shorten the cooking time. However, this recip...

Drumstick gravy - Summer season always brings plenty of fresh drumsticks, with bright green colour. For four to six months we have a continual supply of fresh drumsticks. During drumstick season, we add them in most of the kuzhambu dishes. There are different recipes with drumsticks that can be enjoyed for your lunch. To get the most benefits of drumstick, try adding fresh drumstick to your kuzhambu, poriyal or in kootu. It's better to use fresh drumsticks. To store fresh drumsticks in the refrigerator, tie them with a knot and daily change its position and keep it in a dry rack.  This drumstick gravy is very simple to make and requires very few basic ingredients. This gravy tastes good with rice, dosa and also for rice dishes like lemon rice, mango rice and coconut rice. In this post, I have shared a unique recipe from our family friend Regina aunty. It has delicious flavours from small onions, crushed garlic and the ground coconut paste. This dish is light and not heavy like kurm...

Lady's finger coconut milk curry - recently we got fresh lady's finger from our friend's garden. I usually prepare poriyal or pachadi with lady's finger. But this time, instead of trying routine recipes, I made a delicious curry with a combination of spices and coconut milk. It tastes awesome with dosa, chapathi and even with rice.  Lady's finger is the one vegetable which is best when consumed young and fresh. This vegetable has a very short shelf life, so it is best to use it as soon as possible. After refrigeration, the lady's finger turns fibrous, and it doesn't cook well. Fresh young ladys finger tastes delicious whether it is in the poriyal, sambar or pachadi. The curry base is made with a specific spice blend to produce a unique flavour. This time Madhav gave me the ideas for the curry base. Now let's see how to prepare Lady's finger coconut milk curry in detail.  Similar recipes Kadala Curry  White Vegetable Kurma Kumbakonam Kadappa Mochai an...