A Little Bit of Spice

Onam And Vishu

  • Palada Payasam

    Rice ada is roasted and boiled in milk, sugar and flavored with cardamom. Rice ada looks like small pasta chunks and made of rice flour. Palada payasam can be otherwise called Indian pasta pudding.

    I have a sweet tooth and love all types of payasam/kheer. But my most favorite one is palada payasam / palada pradhaman. Palada payasam from Vinayaka, Cochin would be the best one I ever had. An easy and delicious palada payasam made in Instant Pot. In this recipe, Rice ada is roasted and cooked in […]

  • God’s Own Feast-ival!

    Onam sadya served on banana leaf. Matta rice with avial, sambhar, pachadi, kichadi, olan, kaalan and chips

      By Ramya Menon Illustrations by Sajeev Kumarapuram he pitter patter of a shyly receding monsoon, greeted me as I stepped out from the airport. Loud hoardings screamed the divinity of the state of Kerala, my homeland. Everywhere I looked people were scrambling about in distracted joy, for it was party time in the toddy […]

  • Kerala Style Red Cowpea and Pumpkin Curry with Coconut (Mathanga Erissery)

    Red Cowpea(payar), pumpkin and raw banana cooked in flavorful coconut gravy. This dish is called Mathanga Erisseri in Kerala and one of the popular recipe for Onam/Vishu Sadya. This is an easy and delicious Red Cowpea, and Pumpkin curry and goes well with rice.

    Red Cowpea(payar), pumpkin and raw banana cooked in flavorful coconut gravy. This dish is called Mathanga Erisseri in Kerala and one of the popular recipe for Onam/Vishu Sadya. This is an easy and delicious Red Cowpea, and Pumpkin curry and goes well with rice. Check out more on Onam/God’s own festival. Here are other Onam/Vishu […]

  • Kerala Style Beans Stir Fry (Beans Mezhukkupuratti)

    Kerala style beans stir fry with spices, ginger, and garlic. This Beans Mezhukkupuratti or Beans Olathiyathu is a quick and healthy side dish that goes well with rice.

    Kerala style beans stir fry with spices, ginger, and garlic. This Beans Mezhukkupuratti or Beans Olathiyathu is a quick and healthy side dish that goes well with rice. Mezhukkupuratti is made with different vegetables and is very common at a Kerala home. And it’s one of the side dishes for Kerala Onam Sadya. For more […]

  • Kerala Style Cabbage Stir Fry with Coconut (Cabbage Thoran)

    Kerala style cabbage stir fry with coconut, ginger-garlic and green chilly.Cabbage thoran is one of the side dishes for Kerala Onam Sadya! A simple and healthy side dish that goes well with rice.  It’s also called as “cabbage upperi” in the central part of Kerala

    Kerala style cabbage stir fry with coconut, ginger-garlic and green chilly. Cabbage thoran is one of the side dishes for Kerala Onam Sadya and very common at a Kerala home. A simple and healthy side dish that goes well with rice.  It’s also called as “cabbage upperi” in the central part of Kerala. If you […]

  • Mushroom Masala Curry with Coconut (Indian Style) Recipe

    Mushroom cooked in spicy coconut gravy. An improvised version of Kerala theeyal preparation with mushrooms. This quick, delicious curry goes well with rice, chapati, and any Indian breads.

    Mushroom cooked in spicy coconut gravy. An improvised version of Kerala theeyal preparation with mushrooms. This quick, delicious Mushroom masala curry /Mushroom Theeyal goes well with rice, chapathi, and any Indian breads. Check out Mushroom masala stir fry, for mushroom stir fry preparation. Shallot/Ulli theeyal is a traditional Kerala dish. I’m neither a mushroom nor a […]

  • Kerala Style Ladies Finger / Okra / Bhindi Curry with Spiced Yogurt and Coconut (Vendakka Kichadi) Recipe

    Lady’s finger/Okra/Bhindi fried and cooked in spicy coconut and yogurt based gravy. It’s an easy to prepare and a yummy side dish which goes well with rice

    Lady’s finger fried and cooked in spicy coconut and yogurt based gravy. It’s an easy to prepare and a yummy side dish which goes well with rice. Lady’s Finger / Vendakka kichadi is one of the must side dishes for Kerala Sadhya which is popular during festivals Onam and Vishu.

  • Pineapple in Spiced Yogurt Sauce (Pineapple Pachadi Kerala Style)

    Pineapple cooked in coconut and yogurt based gravy. It’s a yummy sweet and sour side dish with rice. One of the must side dishes for Kerala Onam Sadya.

  • Moru Kachiyathu / Kachiya Moru / Seasoned Buttermilk without coconut

    Buttermilk seasoned with shallots, ginger and spices. This is a very easy and yummy curry which can be made in no time.  It is a must side dish with rice at any house in Kerala.

  • Kerala Style Sambar

    A lentil based vegetable stew cooked with spices and tamarind pulp. A South Indian delicacy. It tastes so good with dosa, idli and rice. This is my own evolved kinda sambar recipe with tips taken from my mom and my friends 🙂